Players taking the knee

I'd probably suggest that means @Rogered Tart is correct in that case - in the UK at least.

 

Great points. Its a complex subject, with few easy answers and unfortunately is doomed to fail from the start because racism and prejudice will never be eradicated.

Personally, I think that far too much of the narrative focuses on the negative and the aspects that divide, rather than the positive. Look at the example with Saka, Rashford, Sancho from the summer. They received online abuse by a relatively small number of idiots (mainly online), most of which look to be based outside of the UK (not that it make's it ok, or that social media platforms don't need to do more). But look at the outpouring of support they received. Look at the large number of black players who forge careers in professional football and who represent England. Football is a great platform for black players to have successful and prosperous careers, but it never seems to be at the forefront of the discussion. I think much more emphasis needs to be on what unites rather than divides and the instances of racism that occur should be dealt with appropriately and visibly, whilst being starved of the oxygen for that most idiots who perpetrate these offences seem to crave.

The symbolism of taking the knee will be an issue for some - I think its time to look at something that's less divisive.

 

Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri was the catalyst, certainly first time I saw Black Lives Matter scrawled on makeshift cardboard posters.

 

Because it isn't true. The fact that you don't see it and don't want to acknowledge it doesn't mean it isn't happening.

 

Taking the knee uuummm, but why do players have to go one step further ala Aubameyang and give the black power salute ?
Give an inch take a yard springs to mind.

 

No, I don't know that at all. We'll have to agree to differ.

I firmly believe that most people in this country associate the phrase Black Lives Matter with the broad global movement, not the US organisation. However, the minority who are badly disposed towards the broad movement look to discredit it by constantly and deliberately highlighting BLM Inc, as though they are the same as the broad movement.

 

Why would they not? No issue with that at all.

 

That's almost the point again mate. Once again so close to seeing it and then veered away.

So when people hear - directly from people involved in BLM in some cases - that BLM are an organisation that are interested in destroying capitalism, defunding the police and promote violent protests and the destruction of property they link it to the Black Lives Matter movement.

They also link taking the knee to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Do you see the issue yet?

 

But do they? How many people in this country are that interested in the detail of US politics? Most people here associate BLM now as a global phenomenon involved with protesting against racism and associated with taking the knee, not a small organisation in the USA. Only a tiny minority of people will be aware that there is a small cadre of anti-capitalists within BLM Inc, and most of those will be right wingers who've made it their business to dig it up and make it a far bigger issue than it really is.

 

It's not just US politics. After George Floyd these people were all over TV and Social Media under the banner of BLM explaining their outlook. People heard them and the link sticks.

 

I think most people are capable of distinguishing between what was going on in the US on their TVs last summer and the much bigger phenomenon that Black Lives Matter has since become. Apart, of course, from those people who would be opposed to taking the knee whether or not BLM Inc had ever been heard of. BLM Inc is just a convenient excuse for people who don't want to have to think about racism (plus those who actively support it) to oppose the knee gesture.

 

Do you know what, I can't make you see.

You veer from saying that most people aren't aware of the difference between BLM US and the BLM movement and the in the next message say that people should be able to differentiate between the two. Both can't be true.

Regardless of how big the movement becomes for some people BLM will always be linked to what people representing BLM said last year and the knee will always be involved in that too. You can dismiss it if you like but you'll be continually missing the point sadly.

 

From OUR PLATFORM - Black Lives Matter (ukblm.org)


WE WANT


• An end to prison and police expansion.

• Immediate dismissal of any police officer who is discriminatory, corrupt or uses excessive force.

• An end to police surveillance and data-collection technologies (e.g. facial recognition and digital comms monitoring).

• An end to ‘Prevent’, the ‘war on terror’ and the surveillance and criminalisation of Muslim communities.

• An end to the incarceration of children, including in so-called ‘secure schools’.

• An end to the gangs databases, gang injunctions and joint enterprise doctrine.

• An end to the arming of police (e.g. tasers, spithoods and firearms).

 

They don't want much do they

 

I am not white. I can tell you are incredibly wrong on both points there.

and thats from personal experience.

 

Are any of those things bad? If so why?

 

You should see the rest...

 

I am truly sorry if you have ever experienced anything untoward, alas current events will not help your cause but you like any of us should not have to live under any threat in the UK...