Brentford to stop taking the Knee

A well reasoned response that broke down and countered all the points that troff made.

 

Which would the unfriendly areas be?

 

I ain't a fan of a political group in my watching my sport

 

I definitely think it's lost its power and the best way to explain that is to say do you actually pay any attention to players shaking hands before games? It's the same thing really, a gesture prior to games.

You're right though about what is the next step? For me that's send players, both black and white, into schools and show the unity and togetherness that there is. If kids see from a young age that there is no difference between a black player and a white player and that by working as one they are stronger then it will have a much bigger impact on their views than seeing someone kneeling down will.

As a Barnsley fan the biggest impact anyone has made on me in the last year regarding racism was Clarke oduor who hit out at racists in twitter yet in the last quarter of a century I've never once heard a black player on our PA system calling for an end to racism. We have an anti racism message played before every game and it's recorded by a faceless guy who nobody knows. For me that shouldnt be a faceless guy reading off a script and going through the motions (so much so that our safety officer payed so little attention to it that he didn't even know what it said) it should be one of the players our fans look up to making an impassioned plea to the fans. This isn't a dig at Barnsley because I assume it's the same up and down the country.

There's nothing particularly wrong with them kneeling down for a second, it causes me no pain, harm or inconvenience. It pretty much doesn't affect me one bit. But the problem there is that in the same way it doesn't affect me negatively it doesn't have any effect positively either. That doesn't mean it should stay or go, I don't really care one bit either way. What it does mean is that it's not enough, not even close. Seeing players kneel down because it's the socially acceptable thing to do won't stop one single racist from being racist. Getting out and showing our players black and white together and being equal is what will change things.

 

It was when they were taking the knee during the national anthem and as I say I didn't have a problem.

 

What's the political group responsible for Alex Mowatt kneeling down?

 

it's not a political group. But just supposing you're right, is there a gesture that you would support and join in with against racism?

 

• In a perfect world Helen everyone would be free of every prejudice peoples race rich or poor, but I do know that black people and womans rights have started to get better from the dark days and will continue too at natural pace. It's the beating of the chests and ramming your a racist down peoples throats suddenly that gets on people's nerves. It will happen steadily and a think everyone around the world knows about BLM.

 

You mean the black athletes in America?

 

I think you're probably right that we get more enlightened over time but you do need the protest to begin with, unions, universal franchise, disability laws would have been a lot longer coming if no one had been prepared to protest for them.

 

As I have said previously I do not have any problems with the campaigns that sport does against any racist or anti gender. I in fact support a lot of good that sport campaign against across the world

 

I am of the opinion that if you're made to do something to show support, whether that's taking the knee, wearing a poppy, clapping the NHS, or whatever, then it loses its value. it should be a personal choice. And if you make the choice not to, it shouldn't be assumed that you disagree with the message.

I didn't clap NHS workers, but I do vote Labour and the reason I vote Labour is I believe they offer NHS workers (and care workers and many other critical workers) the best opportunity of better wages and better working conditions. Tory MPs did clap NHS workers, as did Tory voters. Give me a petition that asks for an extra 5p to be added to my taxes on the understanding that it will pay for increased wages and better working conditions for frontline workers and I'd sign it instantly. The conservative party are systematically destroying the NHS. But they clap NHS workers. Which is why I won't. I won't do empty, meaningless and superficial.

I wouldn't take the knee on a football pitch (not that I'm good enough to be on one). Football is inherently racist, from association, to boardroom, to changing room to press room. Taking the knee gives the impression that something is being done. Taking the knee by its very design is all style over substance. It has been asked what a club could do other than instruct its players to take the knee. We have two threads on this forum talking about the racist language used on BFC facebook groups: ban those people from Oakwell. When racist language is used in relation to the club, whether that be an official platform or not, exclude them from the club. It would not be difficult to track them down.

If you believe taking the knee is of value I am not attempting to convince you otherwise. My opinion is no more valid than yours and I have no problem at all with individuals who choose to show their allegiances in that way.

It's not the right thing to do for me personally. I know my values and I have scars on my knuckles and my face from being very vocal with those values from being a child.

 

Enjoy your day Jeff. You’re definitely not an abhorrent, ignorant, racist bigot.

 

Yeh don't bother teacake.

 

Yes I didn't have a problem they were showing unity against racism and were not doing it under any political banner.

 

You are Young Nudger and I claim my £10

 

Haha thanks, you ******* *****.

 

Very well put.

 

Agree with this.

Personally though, taking the knee or not should be a choice.

Understand why it's done, but let's be honest, anyone who is racist taking the knee wont change their views.

Ejecting them from being a supporter of a club, sends a stronger message by kicking them out.

The let's kick it out campaign should change tact to actually track down and help kick people out of the sport they like to watch.

Action, speaks louder than words. So to speak.

 

A well reasoned and legitimate argument.

I hated the hypocrisy of the right wingers clapping on their doorsteps too.

I also wonder about the efficacy of taking the knee. But something still needs to be done, as has become apparent on this very thread. I have no problem with its continuation, even if I question it’s chances of success in what it is being done to achieve.