I believe, but am prepared to be corrected, that it shows support for BLM. Which, given it's mission statement, I wouldn't be prepared to do.
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SubscribeMy DH watches football a lot. It really gets on my nerves to see footballers taking the knee in support of BLM at the start of a match when I've not heard one of them protest against the working conditions of those building the stadium for the World Cup in Qatar, which amount to slavery.
They're happy to make meaningless gestures but indifferent to issues which they could actively do something about.
I believe, but am prepared to be corrected, that it shows support for BLM. Which, given it's mission statement, I wouldn't be prepared to do.
Aaah, so what you really object to is BLM? Which bit of their aims do you object to?
From blacklivesmatter.com/about/
‘#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.
We are expansive. We are a collective of liberators who believe in an inclusive and spacious movement. We also believe that in order to win and bring as many people with us along the way, we must move beyond the narrow nationalism that is all too prevalent in Black communities. We must ensure we are building a movement that brings all of us to the front.
We affirm the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, undocumented folks, folks with records, women, and all Black lives along the gender spectrum. Our network centers those who have been marginalized within Black liberation movements.
We are working for a world where Black lives are no longer systematically targeted for demise.
We affirm our humanity, our contributions to this society, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.
The call for Black lives to matter is a rallying cry for ALL Black lives striving for liberation.’
Or from the U.K. blacklivesmatter.uk/about-us/who-we-are
‘We operate as a broad inclusive non-political unifying arm of the Black Lives Movement in Britain within the UK.
Your political position is yours to own, an individual choice. We don't and can't talk for all people and all views, but we stand and will fight for racial and social justice for black people who are discriminated based on the colour for skin, and hope you will too.
United we stand with the British public who abhor racism, shoulder to shoulder, side by side with all people, allies of all colours and ethnicities unified in fighting to end racism by supporting the black lives matter cause breaking down the walls of silence that uphold and sustains racism in Britain. Our fundamental goal is racial and social justice for black citizens that has and is denied on par with fair justice received and extended to white citizens, these injustices for black people that been going on for far too long and within all British systems AND we will not, must not stop until all people are treated equally.
Currently we are working hard behind the scenes in creating many exciting new working partnerships, particularly now that we have attention of the world, humaity. Attention of British citizens and businesses alike, of course all this takes time to plan, coordinate and evolve, seeking and accepting partnerships. Donations, funding is part of the support we need so that we may continue to work to achieve the human right to be treated fair and equality to other citizens.’
Aaah, so what you really object to is BLM? Which bit of their aims do you object to?
No. I think footballers are being hypocritical when they take the knee.
But I am also uncertain about an organisation that supports defunding the police, and the breakdown of capitalism and the nuclear family. You have cherry picked the less egregious parts of their mission statement, but you must be aware that there are less palatable elements within it.
I also disagree with their support of trans rights, but that's a whole different thread.
You can vote for a political party and disagree with some of their policies if overall they suit your political leaning. Overall, BLM supports equal treatment for people of colour.
And 'breaking down cisgender privilege ' it's bollocks like that that mean I'm not going to be voting Labour in the near future.
And defunding the police? Really?
Flopen, you keep moving the goalposts. First you object to it because it’s ‘meaningless and easy’ hypocrisy, and when people point out that all symbols are meaningless and easy, then you say it’s about BLM. When someone responds to that, you go back to your thing about hypocrisy. As this is an AIBU thread, I can only respond yes, you are, on all sorts of levels.
Slightly OT but ... am I alone in being teeth-grindingly annoyed by the term "taking the knee"? They're kneeling down for goodness sake! Why not just say that?
I agree Scribbles.
flopen
My DH watches football a lot. It really gets on my nerves to see footballers taking the knee in support of BLM at the start of a match when I've not heard one of them protest against the working conditions of those building the stadium for the World Cup in Qatar, which amount to slavery.
They're happy to make meaningless gestures but indifferent to issues which they could actively do something about.
If you want to draw attention to another abuse of power then that’s fine, but don’t denigrate the efforts of those who are doing their bit.
It is not ‘meaningless’ just because it ‘gets on [your] nerves.
Absolutely no comment.
Well put 25aAvalon.
And as for football and the BLM i no longer watch it and neither does my DH and we shant be following it in anyway shape or form.
NO MORE FOOTY TOPS IN OUR HOUSE.
Words fail me.
And please don’t shout, it’s very rude.
No, I do not believe that footballers who take the knee are being hypocritical.
I believe in white privilege. It's real. Black Lives Matter.
timetogo2016
Well put 25aAvalon.
And as for football and the BLM i no longer watch it and neither does my DH and we shant be following it in anyway shape or form.
NO MORE FOOTY TOPS IN OUR HOUSE.
Can’t have been devoted fans then.
If a soldier salutes is that a meaningless gesture ? If a person puts their hand on Their heart for a national anthem ?
Gestures are gestures and who is to say they are meant less for those making them ?
As for the pathetic fuss about saying taking the knee instead of kneeling........what does it matter.
Nobody can know what those footballers who take the knee are feeling. It may feel very relevant to them and to call them hypocrites is wrong.
When I pin on a poppy I feel sad for all those who lost their lives. Is that hypocritical?
Anybody who does not agree with BLM should watch this
youtu.be/HUOeeGDUdD8
flopen
And 'breaking down cisgender privilege ' it's bollocks like that that mean I'm not going to be voting Labour in the near future.
And defunding the police? Really?
You feel cisgender privilege is bollocks because you don't have any gender issues.
You don't value BLM because you're not black.
You won't vote Labour because they don't have EXACTLY your own opinions about peoples lives.
If your politics are becoming more right wing, that is fair enough. But don't denigrate organisations that are trying to improve the lot of those with less power and who suffer discrimination. You don't have to agree with them. Doesn't make them bollocks.
I don't agree with the pubs being open. It doesn't mean that I think everyone in a pub at the moment is an idiot. Their choice.
Yes, I do have gender issues. I'm a woman.
Gosh flopen are you for real? if so, I count myself fortunate not to have met you.
Alot of footballers are BAME, they just wanted to show support for BLM.
They are not hypocrites and people who think they are should look at the labels in their clothes and see where they are made. No one is perfect, we can only try.
Why is it wrong for people to express their views in whatever way they choose? Why do some people think their way is the only way? The footballers are role models for many of our young so it seems a very positive thing for them to do.
Sorry to repeat myself, but I find footballers taking the knee moving.
Another repeat - I go to league football 20+ matches a season, and it's very, very rare to hear racist chanting (twice in 30 years?) and individuals who loudly use racist language are ususually told to shut up.
Jackie Charlton , who has recently died aged 85 was a very vocal anti racist. He & Brian Clough campaigned together to rid football of racisim.
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