john craig wrote:Lando_Griffin wrote:john craig wrote:Lando_Griffin wrote:Why is it that a few members on here insist on accusing people of being racist (dressed up however you like) when they express a dislike for a foreign player/person? Must we all fall head-over-heels in love with every non-English player or forever be classed a bigot? This is beyond obsession.
I refer you all to the George Best thread. I hate everything the man stands for. Yes he was a fantastic footballer, but this doesn't mean a thing in real life. Do some people think that should Best get to the Pearly Gates, the wretched actions of his past will be forgotten as St. Peter says:
"Oh yes, Mr Best. You may have beaten countless women, etc, but that goal you scored in the FA cup was brilliant. Welcome aboard."?
Where are the moral standards of people right now? Are they in the gutter? The sewers?
I may be no Angel, but I would say that I have a good idea of what is right or wrong most of the time. Hitting women is certainly wrong, and no amount of classy goals will counter that. Had Best shown remorse, fair enough. He hasn't. But I digress:
The fact is, certain people on here seem to think that if an English poster disagrees with a foreign one, or, God forbid, dares to type an insult about a foreigner, they should be immediately branded racist.
This is absolutely incorrect, unfair, and slanderous.
Everyone is entitled to hate anyone, foreign, English or bleeding Klingon.
The race card is being shown more than yellows at a Sheffield Utd match. Stop it right now.
In terms of the Best comment there, can I ask if you've actually read that thread properly mate? Who called you a racist? Who insinuated you were a racist? Who called you a bigot? The answer is no one.
I mentioned that it is my opinion that many English people may have a tainted view of Best because of a lot of nonsense written about him in the English press. If that constitutes me accusing you of being racist then I'm guilty as charged.
The racist card is thrown about in here a bit too much, but sometimes it is justified. However the Best thread is a bad analogy, I can't see any hint of racism in it at all. Seems you are acting a bit defensive about this issue.
Back to the issue of the English press that I speak of. How do you know that he beat 'countless' women?? Were you there Lando?? Of course you fu.cking weren't, that's what you read in the tabloids like everyone else. Best was certainly no angel and I've said several times that any abuse towards women is indefensible, but I'm not going to judge the guy by things that I've read in the tabloids.
I never said I had been accused. But it's patently obvious that in your posts to that thread you are insinuating that us English can't take it that it's not an English player regarded as the best, and that we dislike Best because of his nationality.
The media is sh*t in this country, but Best has himself admitted to beating women. I say countless as no one knows the exact amount but him, if he can remember.
Just as a matter of interest, how would us English be percieved if we said;
"You Irish (dodgy start) hate everything thats English (no better) because you've got an inferiorority complex (terrible ending)?"
I don't believe that last sentence. I said it purly to highlight a stereotype which would be hammered by everyone.
Just because you are doing it the other way around should we allow it?
Why is it expected that the English must rise above the abuse we often recieve from the other British countries, yet as soon as we retort, we are hounded?
I'm don't want to have a bust up with you John. I have nothing against any nation, but I do have problems with certain people (such as Best).
I don't wish to argue about race, I'm just making a point that whats seemingly acceptable for one nation, isn't for another.
I want to know why.
Fair enough Lando, it's fair to say our opinions on the Best issue clash and we're not going to agree on it, we've both had our say on it so there's no point in going on about it.
I take your point about turning the stereotype round and saying you'd get slated for making a general statement like that about the Irish. My comments may have come across like that, but I didn't mean it like that. I do think that English people have a tainted view of Best because of the media, but that's the media's fault, as I said before I have nothing against English people.
Anyway, I'm not going to get into this racist debate any more. Basically I do think certain people can be over sensitive to it, but there have been a few dodgy comments on here as well. Thing is, some of those dodgy coments probably have something to do with peoples' age as well. Younger members here have been brought up in a politically correct world, older members grew up in a different era where certain comments construed as racist now were not back then. I'm sure no deliberate offence is intended with these comments.
Thats a fair enough response John. I agree with you on the age thing.
