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Blue tinted optimist⭐🦐
Earlier in the season at the Hall (can't remember which game) there were 2 coloured linesman who both were bald and who both had chequered flags. Consequently, in my review of the match, I made a comment about an appalling decision in each half by the linesman but said that I couldn't tell whether it was the same lino or not because they were both black, bald and had the same flag.
Surprisingly, a couple of people picked up on this comment and said they "didn't know where I was going with it". I wasn't going anywhere - I used the word "black" merely as a description. Because they were, in fact, black.
Have we really all become so PC these days that the mere mention of the word "black" in a sentence constitutes some sort of racism?
Consider the following.
Black people are descendants of those who were originally born outside these shores and their skin colour is so as to protect them from the more powerful rays of the sun in those parts of the world.
The above sentence is purely factual and something similar could be found in many junior school text books or encyclopaedias.
Now, people born WITHIN these shores have no need for such pigmented skin as the sun rarely shines that much. Consequently, we tend to be fair skinned (forget half-caste and mixed race for the moment, as they aren't relevant to my point).
When we want to fire some abuse at people who live elsewhere in the UK and who possess the same skin colour but who nonetheless have a different lifestyle or culture, then we will normally come out with something like -
"You Welsh sheep-shagger",
"You Irish bomb-happy tw&t" or
"You Scottish kilt-wearing pansy".
Please note that I am not suggesting that people from Wales, Ireland or Scotland fall into this bracket - it is just illustrative of things that some might say. Stick with me.
If any of you were to stand face to face with a person from one of these places and hurl the appropriate verbal insult then there would be a very good chance of a brawl ensuing. Now, consider what the result would be if the words "Welsh", "Irish" and "Scottish" were omitted from the said insults? Would the result be any different?
I doubt it. I would think that Hamish MacDougall and his clan may be just as wound up at being called kilt-wearing pansies. If they were actually wearing kilts, they would probably even react in the same way at being called pansies.
So what exactly is the insult here? After all, the people concerned are Scottish, Welsh, Irish, whatever... so would those words be merely descriptive? I would suggest yes. The insult comes with the other part - after all, to call anyone of any race or description a sheep-shagger, bomb happy tw&t or kilt-wearing pansy is something guaranteed to raise the blood pressure and probably the fists.
So, when we refer to the Bradford fans as "Northern Scum" we, I guess, would generate the same reaction as if we just called them "Scum". Similarly, if they called us "Southern Chavs" they, again, would cause the same effect by just calling us "Chavs".
We both would take exception at the insult and not the descriptive term, as we are Southern and they are Northern.
I don't recall either set of fans whingeing about any "placeist" remarks.
Now, why is it that the word "black" generally makes people think of racism?
To me, a racist remark would be something like "You dirty monkey-loving ******" followed by a series of ape-like noises. Such a remark, or anything remotely like it, would be totally unacceptable and fully deserving of all the anti-racism remedies available. Lets analyse the sentence -
"Dirty" - used in this context to mean the colour of the skin being akin to filth rather than skin pigment. Not a very nice thing to say at all and casts a personal slant on hygiene.
"Monkey-Loving" - A reference to the similarity in colour to our primate cousins and again, highly offensive to coloured people.
"******" - An unacceptable slang term for Negro, which again is offensive to all coloured people, mainly because it is rarely used in any sort of endearing fashion and only normally to insult.
The Monkey noises are again references to Primates and I am pleased to say have been absent from UK grounds (generally) for many years, as has the throwing of bananas at coloured players.
Now I very much doubt that anyone in Roots Hall would have uttered such racism towards Ricketts or any other player. If so, our own coloured clan would no doubt have something to say.
But, in the heat of the moment, I consider it perfectly possible for at least one member of the South Upper or Lower, whilst in the throes of launching vitriolic and venomous abuse at Donovan Ricketts for whatever reason, to have uttered the words "You black *******".
Question - If that is what was in fact said (or something similar) is that a racist comment?
Using my above examples, the word "Black" can be argued as being purely descriptive because Ricketts is, indeed, black. He seems to have not picked up on the word "*******" for one of two possible reasons;
1) He wants to play the racism card as some sort of justification for his own actions, or
2) He is, in fact, a ******* and therefore doesn't mind being described as such.
I find it sad that these days our society dictates that to merely call someone black constitutes racism. Of course, to call someone a black ******* is not very nice but I consider it no more insulting than to call someone an old *******, a lanky *******, a northern ******* or even a fu.cking *******.
Why is it that the word "black" - the only truth in the statement - is the one that causes the grief?
If that is in fact what has happened then it is an insult to all those who suffer real racial abuse and inequality on a more dangerous and severe level.
Finally, not so much in Ricketts defence (and I wasn't there and can't comment on the incident itself), but having spoken to a couple of people who were in the South Upper, and playing Devils Advocate, I really don't think it is acceptable for any player to receive the sort of (non-racial) abuse that it appeared was dished out on Saturday last.
Banter is one thing - abuse is another. If it continues, then I am sure players will react again. Seeing this as a good way of reducing the other side to 10 men, the abuse will increase, and no doubt after a barrage of complaints the FA will investigate and our club will tarnish its reputation considerably. That will do none of us any good at all.
Surprisingly, a couple of people picked up on this comment and said they "didn't know where I was going with it". I wasn't going anywhere - I used the word "black" merely as a description. Because they were, in fact, black.
Have we really all become so PC these days that the mere mention of the word "black" in a sentence constitutes some sort of racism?
Consider the following.
Black people are descendants of those who were originally born outside these shores and their skin colour is so as to protect them from the more powerful rays of the sun in those parts of the world.
The above sentence is purely factual and something similar could be found in many junior school text books or encyclopaedias.
Now, people born WITHIN these shores have no need for such pigmented skin as the sun rarely shines that much. Consequently, we tend to be fair skinned (forget half-caste and mixed race for the moment, as they aren't relevant to my point).
When we want to fire some abuse at people who live elsewhere in the UK and who possess the same skin colour but who nonetheless have a different lifestyle or culture, then we will normally come out with something like -
"You Welsh sheep-shagger",
"You Irish bomb-happy tw&t" or
"You Scottish kilt-wearing pansy".
Please note that I am not suggesting that people from Wales, Ireland or Scotland fall into this bracket - it is just illustrative of things that some might say. Stick with me.
If any of you were to stand face to face with a person from one of these places and hurl the appropriate verbal insult then there would be a very good chance of a brawl ensuing. Now, consider what the result would be if the words "Welsh", "Irish" and "Scottish" were omitted from the said insults? Would the result be any different?
I doubt it. I would think that Hamish MacDougall and his clan may be just as wound up at being called kilt-wearing pansies. If they were actually wearing kilts, they would probably even react in the same way at being called pansies.
So what exactly is the insult here? After all, the people concerned are Scottish, Welsh, Irish, whatever... so would those words be merely descriptive? I would suggest yes. The insult comes with the other part - after all, to call anyone of any race or description a sheep-shagger, bomb happy tw&t or kilt-wearing pansy is something guaranteed to raise the blood pressure and probably the fists.
So, when we refer to the Bradford fans as "Northern Scum" we, I guess, would generate the same reaction as if we just called them "Scum". Similarly, if they called us "Southern Chavs" they, again, would cause the same effect by just calling us "Chavs".
We both would take exception at the insult and not the descriptive term, as we are Southern and they are Northern.
I don't recall either set of fans whingeing about any "placeist" remarks.
Now, why is it that the word "black" generally makes people think of racism?
To me, a racist remark would be something like "You dirty monkey-loving ******" followed by a series of ape-like noises. Such a remark, or anything remotely like it, would be totally unacceptable and fully deserving of all the anti-racism remedies available. Lets analyse the sentence -
"Dirty" - used in this context to mean the colour of the skin being akin to filth rather than skin pigment. Not a very nice thing to say at all and casts a personal slant on hygiene.
"Monkey-Loving" - A reference to the similarity in colour to our primate cousins and again, highly offensive to coloured people.
"******" - An unacceptable slang term for Negro, which again is offensive to all coloured people, mainly because it is rarely used in any sort of endearing fashion and only normally to insult.
The Monkey noises are again references to Primates and I am pleased to say have been absent from UK grounds (generally) for many years, as has the throwing of bananas at coloured players.
Now I very much doubt that anyone in Roots Hall would have uttered such racism towards Ricketts or any other player. If so, our own coloured clan would no doubt have something to say.
But, in the heat of the moment, I consider it perfectly possible for at least one member of the South Upper or Lower, whilst in the throes of launching vitriolic and venomous abuse at Donovan Ricketts for whatever reason, to have uttered the words "You black *******".
Question - If that is what was in fact said (or something similar) is that a racist comment?
Using my above examples, the word "Black" can be argued as being purely descriptive because Ricketts is, indeed, black. He seems to have not picked up on the word "*******" for one of two possible reasons;
1) He wants to play the racism card as some sort of justification for his own actions, or
2) He is, in fact, a ******* and therefore doesn't mind being described as such.
I find it sad that these days our society dictates that to merely call someone black constitutes racism. Of course, to call someone a black ******* is not very nice but I consider it no more insulting than to call someone an old *******, a lanky *******, a northern ******* or even a fu.cking *******.
Why is it that the word "black" - the only truth in the statement - is the one that causes the grief?
If that is in fact what has happened then it is an insult to all those who suffer real racial abuse and inequality on a more dangerous and severe level.
Finally, not so much in Ricketts defence (and I wasn't there and can't comment on the incident itself), but having spoken to a couple of people who were in the South Upper, and playing Devils Advocate, I really don't think it is acceptable for any player to receive the sort of (non-racial) abuse that it appeared was dished out on Saturday last.
Banter is one thing - abuse is another. If it continues, then I am sure players will react again. Seeing this as a good way of reducing the other side to 10 men, the abuse will increase, and no doubt after a barrage of complaints the FA will investigate and our club will tarnish its reputation considerably. That will do none of us any good at all.
