Having read/listened to his apology and reason for not taking the knee prior to the last T20 game South Africa played, I think it proves the point of never assuming or making judgements of another persons character. For those that have not seen his reasons. They were ordered (without consultation) by the South African Cricket Board on the morning of the game they must do it and QDK did not agree with this command. Just as a point of interest, he was brought up in a mixed race family, his step mother is black and 2 sisters are mixed race.
I know nothing of this so may go and have a Google on the subject. Surely ordering people to take the Knee completely defeats the object of it.
I’ve not read it, and I wouldn’t agree that mandating players to take the knee is a good idea. However if my employer insisted I acknowledge an anti racist stance before a meeting I would comply whilst feeling I shouldn’t be mandated to do so. But if they insisted I do something ‘unreasonable’ ie kick a dog or tell a granny to fu ckoff then I might decide to take a stance. edit to add: having a mixed race extended family isn’t a get out of jail card, it’s just ‘I can’t be racist I’ve got black friends’ from a different angle. Let’s not pretend otherwise.
Now he's going against what he stood for in the first place by the looks of it. Which has to beg the question why not just do it in the first place?!?
because he had not realised the power of the internet and social media, where anonymous people are writing judgements about him on a football forum in northern England , his pregnant wife been abused in street saying her family racist scum, the internet means there is no way to go but with the mob
But it does show how complex this situation is, for example is it Wilfred Zaha who does not take the knee? By the way I tend to do the opposite to what my employer tells me to do (while they're not looking)!
As an experienced professional sportsman it beggars belief he doesn't understand the power of the internet and social media.
He'll also get a lot of support on SM. When black athletes first made a stand they lost a lot more than he did. Not much sympathy from me, did he not even talk to his captain about this?
I’ll not point any fingers; but it’s ridiculously reactionary to assume that people of colour can’t be racist. Why would you not do what your employer requires of you? They enable you to pay your bills, go on holiday, have a nice life.
I think he does now.But given SA history it seems that doing anything that doesn't show unity is going to come under a he'll if a lot of scrutiny.
Hence his apology! Bavuma (his captain) was very sympathetic to his stance. Holidays, what are they? Doing the opposite saves my employer £££££££!
There’s a difference between challenging decisions and ‘not doing as your told’. One is being a valuable part of a team, the other is being a nob. And holidays are your just reward for doing a job.
Exactly my point and reason for this thread. Who is assuming that people of colour cannot be racist, if you are implying me you're wrong. I mention his background as a point of interest. To be clear I would have voluntarily been taking the knee on the same lines as the England team do. If someone told me I must do, I would have to reconsider.
As a team sport you have got to accept you lose some personal autonomy when you are representing the team- ie immediately before the game starts would definitely fall into that category. It seems he has apologised and wants to play and will follow the team directive to take the knee. Think it should be left there - he was wrong, but not because he's a racist. He's changed his mind, move on. probably wishful thinking on the last point of course as no ones ever allowed to move on from the internet mob are they?
Can you believe the BBC have let an article of that magnitude go out with “I think it would of been better if……”