Most liked posts in thread: Players taking the knee

@1975citygent is correct, the chant did happen during the early to mid 1970's in the Bradford End aimed at Ces Podd, the actual words were zigger zigger zigger city's got a ni***r, and the other chant quoted by @Bantam-in-Greece was something like zigger zagger, zigger zagger, oi oi oi x2. zigger, zigger, zigger zigger zigger, oi, oi oi,
I must add that the chant aimed at Ces Podd was not in anyway hostile, it was more of an endearment.
It was wrong i know but that's how it was in those days.

 

The debate was there before the knee and will be there after the knee has been consigned to the history books. You want change, then take real action, not sympathic gestures that make people feel all fuzzy and warm inside but actually do little to understand the how racism manifests itself and how to allow society to deal with the problem. That said I have no problem with the players making their own decisions.

 

Or in a lot of cases, sick to death of having it rammed down our throats at every opportunity.

 

Football players taking the knee has nothing to do with politics or any movement it’s drawing attention to racism black players feel they are subjected to.
For the life of me I can’t see how a few seconds of kneeling can upset anybody

 

Because unfortunately for some, those few seconds equates to having it rammed down their throats.

 

Some very good comments amongst this. The Kaepernick comments are interesting, rather than empty gestures like wearing t shirts and the like Kaepernick put his whole career on the line to back his stance by kneeling while the national anthem was played, something which infuriated the jingoistic yanks. Such a strong and impassioned stance decreed that Kaepernick wouldn't play again. Until he took that stance no one else had the balls to make a stand.
Time for players to stand up and be brave in this country, the knee has been done to death.

 

Seeing as you seem to be an expert tell me what my 'inherent bias' might be judging by a few comments on an Internet forum? Should be a laugh.

 

Whether onlookers think it has run its course or not is irrelevant it’s the people taking parts opinion that counts and they feel it’s hammering the message home it’s worth it.
The fact that this thread exists shows that is because we are talking about it

 

Footballers are all sheep.
Wearing earbuds getting off the coach and walking into the stadium.
Silly religious gestures walking onto the pitch, 90% prob never been in a religious building.
They just copy whatever filters down from the premiership.
If the premiership players hadn't taken the knee do the think our players would be?

 

Why are people still saying taking the knee is politics on the football pitch. WRONG. Its simply making a statement against racism.

Such a shame when some people choose to twist its meaning and pair it to blm. I certainly dont see it that way based on what I've taken the time to read.

Some people here have even had political statements on their bantamstalk avatar if im not mistaken, but then go on about political statements having no place in football!

Politics and racists have won here if BLM have the full Monopoly on going on bended knee now.

Here is a quote -

Gareth Southgate said the England team's actions were not in support of the Black Lives Matter organisation. He said: "We have got a situation where some people seem to think it is a political stand that they don't agree with. That is not the reason the players are doing it. We are supporting each other."

 

Isn't Dr King kneeling in prayer rather than a sign of protest? Unless my history is evading me it wasn't something he commonly did as a symbol.

 

He keeps saying he is happy to discuss it with any City player or Premier League player, they are unlikely to be reading this so thought he could contact them

 

Not bothering me one iota so can go on as long as it does. If you don't like it close your eyes for approx 10 seconds before kick off then it will all go away.

 

In an ideal world but we all know that doesn't exist and that racism in one form or another will always exist. You will never end racism.

 

I don't presume to know why people applaud, stay silent, or boo, and unless such people publicly explain their reactions, or perhaps tell us in person, neither should you. Whichever option one picks, one can come up with "right" and "wrong" reasons for doing so. I am not so naive as to think that everybody does what they do for the "right" reasons.

I do propose that there *are* well-rationalised and logically-driven arguments on the opposite side, and I maintain that football supporters, rather than being the knuckle-dragging thugs of stereotype who are incapable of thinking on anything but the most basic level, are on the contrary perfectly capable of such higher thought. If that leads some to boo, so be it. Most of us, I expect, would choose to remain silent. And again, I am not so naive as to think that all those who boo do so for the "right" reasons.

RCB

 

The operative word in all those reports is 'movement' rather than 'organisation'. The FA and players take the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter 'movement' - which is many millions strong and in the vast majority of cases involves no membership of an organisation. They are not signed up or affiliated to any Black Lives Matter organisation.

As Wikipedia says:
"While there are specific organizations such as the Black Lives Matter Global Network that label themselves simply as "Black Lives Matter", the Black Lives Matter movement comprises a broad array of people and organizations. The slogan "Black Lives Matter" itself remains untrademarked by any group"

"The phrase "Black Lives Matter" can refer to a Twitter hashtag, a slogan, a social movement, a political action committee, or a loose confederation of groups advocating for racial justice."

"the movement "encompasses all who publicly declare that black lives matter and devote their time and energy accordingly"

When the FA and players say they are supporting Black Lives Matter it is that broad definition of the term they are referring to. The phrase is so broad as to be virtually synonymous with being opposed to racism.

Those who want to hang the FA and players for taking the knee have deliberately chosen to misinterpret the stance as support for a specific organisation which they fear has revolutionary intentions. That interpretation is a politically motivated attempt to obscure the fact that the FA and players are actually supporting the much broader, non affiliated Black Lives Matter social movement.

 

What gets people's goats is that taking the knee is a visible stance that actually has an impact, in that they are forced to acknowledge its existence. Whereas Kick it Out and other such worthy campaigns can be safely and easily ignored by those who don't want to acknowledge the reality and extent of racism.

 

Just because you aren't witnessing it personally doesn't mean it isn't happening. For many people, racism is still impacting on their lives on an almost daily basis.

 

A lot of those points already exist. Police number have been cut to unsustainable levels and courts only use prison as a last resort as criminality becomes more expansive throughout society. Police officers will be sacked if found guilty of code breaches (they are literally filmed 24/7 now).
I'm all for police reform, the service is not fit for purpose anymore. But it's also a two way thing and sections of society who cry foul also need to understand that they are also part of the problem in a world which seems to have more of a blameless culture about it.