 |
| Photo taken by myself of Ashley Young after an Aston Villa training session at Bodymoor Heath on December 24 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
 |
| Sign for "colored" waiting room at a Greyhound bus terminal in Rome, Georgia, 1943. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
It pleases me no end that even our politicians are getting involved with racial discrimination in European football. However, I would like to remind them that there is still racism in UK football. Also, racism is still very prevalent in our daily lives, here in the smoke, and around Britain.
It is right for our politicians to condemn racial discrimination in Poland and the Ukraine. It is also right for us to be reminded of how Bulgaria stood by as Ashley Young was fed to its racist sons, in September last year.
However, I still feel uneasy that politicians such as Mr Alexander, can only now see the folly of racism, and the many lives it continues to destroy.
I wonder, where has he been, all this time? To those of us who are experiencing racism in our daily lives -- that is everyday, that is the question we must ask him.
And, as such, we remind him that when racist workmates, police officers, landlords, etc, blatantly abuse us, we cannot just walk off the field of play.
It is not play, in fact. It is real black hatred. Neither is it a joke. We are not highly paid footballers who have that choice to leave. And, the choice to do what they want after they have left the vicinity. Indeed, we must stay and fend racism off the best way we can. That alas, is never easy.
We are merely humble human beings going about our daily lives, the best way we can. Only to be humiliated and discriminated against, by those who MUST know better. Yet they repeatedly attack us, in any and every way that they can. For no good reason -- except that they have the power, so to do, knowing that they have to answer to no one.
If Mr Alexander and other politicians concerns about our black footballers in Poland, Ukrane, Bulgaria and such countries, are genuine, then great. Whether it is or isn't, however, ordinary black folks need their support. And now. Black and Asian people need protection against some racist government officials. They need protection from rogue landlords and slapdash employers too. Most of all, Black citizens need recognition from local government town halls and the careless staff working in them.
It was Black Britain who came to clean the nation's wounds, and the rest of its hospitals. Black Britain's who cleaned its streets and kept its transportation revving. It was Black Britain's who kept its textile and other industries in the North, among other things, in ship shape. That was when it mattered. Now however, racists can do as they like because Black Britain's do not matter.
The same ones who forever make monkey chants at Black and Asian footballers; as well as supporters. The same ones who given the chance, would try to kick the living daylight out of them.
This is not a slight on the good natured, decent citizens from those nations at all. We are aware that just as here, the racists there, are a minority, as well. Their base behavior however, must serve as a wake up call to our politicians. Mr Alexander and other rainy day politicians, jumping on the Euro 12 bandwagon, must step back and examine their domestic surroundings; to see the dangers that lurk within.
They must clean up their own back yard; before they look over their neighbor's fence and start shouting the odds. In other words, Danny Alexander cannot claim that racism is NIMBY(not in my backyard); when he knows full well that racism is still rife in the UK. There really is no shame to admit Mr Alexander, that 'racism is RIMBY' (right in my back yard) -- the UK. Own up to it, and then a welcome change could come.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Meanwhile, on the field of play:
Game One: England v France -- France 1: England 1: Joleon Lescott -- a deft header.
Game Two: England v Sweden -- Sweden 2: England 3: Theo Walcott to Danny Welbeck -- a sublime winner. Scorers= Andy Carroll, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck.
Game Three: England v Ukraine -- Ukraine 0: England 1: Wayne Rooney -- a brilliant header.
ENGLAND WINS GROUP D:
Quarter Finals: England v Italy -- Italy 0 : England 0 : -- England loses on penalties (Ashley Young & Ashley Cole)
# RIMBY? You saw it here first -- Right in my back yard.
