The Football Lads

We should have some empathy.

Try to imagine your family being taken from you by forceable means & transported 1000s of miles away, some dying in the process. Those surviving treated as sub-human.

Then imagine a commemorative statue being erected to the great man who did this. Imagine walking past it.

Then, imagine others telling you it’s criminal to deface it.

 

And worse some people still.viewing you as lesser than white folk, albeit subconsciously.

 

Empathy for the people who have suffered absolutely, not for the people who hijack the event and turn it in to a circus.
It’s two completely separate issues albeit joined together by one statue in this case.

 

Very well put.

 

Woah.

That's classic things were better in the old days.

More people work and they work longer hours now than in the 50s 60s and 70s.

Many people now are working multiple jobs to make ends meet.

So, don't come the "lesser (or no role models)"

I grew up in a house where my dad worked and my mum worked part time. My kids are growing up in a house where both parents work full time... and my wife works extra hours into he evening.

There is no lack of role models around here.

 

Women have the vote because women smashed windows, chained themselves to railings, threw themselves under horses, exploded bombs.

Union membership would get you transported.

Holding public meetings would get you prison time.

Asking for the vote would have seen you added to lists that would mean you would be denied employment and housing.

All our freedoms have been wrestled from the grip of the hands of those who did not want to give them up.

 

You say that from a privileged position.

You have the vote. You have rights. You have a comfortable life.

People struggled for many years for you to have that privilege, died for it.

For some people in this country they are still struggling to gain what you have.

 

Ask these 'lads' about empathy and they'll assume it's a kind of pill to help them get wrecked off their heads.

Ask them about post-colonnial guilt and they'll think it's when you question your sexuality after anal sex with a Polish prostitute.

Ask them to name a single Pope (they love singing about fuccxking him) and they won't get beyond Nick.

There's no hope for some, but it shouldn't stop us trying to engage in conversations, listen and educate with points they can't refute.

 

That’s what I meant,. It’s not about the number of hours, more the willingness to work when possible. But to say things and manners weren’t better in society in the ‘old days’ is just wrong they patently were.

 

That’s the answer then move to a lawless society.

 

Disband the police force BLM say, I hope they do it. Some of the wet flannels on here wouldn’t know what’s hit them

 

So, if I say they patently weren't, without any proof other than my own personal recollection, would that be ok?

 

That escalated quickly.

How about we move to a more just society, where we actually listen to people?

 

that’s up to you, it’s your opinion, but I can assure you they were. Yes there were rough Occasions Some times when you got together with a team of other lads, but I guarantee you that in my experience in general people were way more respectful Of each other and especially their elders and more law abiding

 

I’m all for a fairer society and would happily welcome it.
To listen to people it needs law and order, to mange the process etc, you just listed causes that used other actions to raise awareness. I am assumed by doing so you was justifying criminal activity.
If you was actually just listing historical events then I apologise for misunderstanding.

 

Apologies, I am white, I work full time, I obey the law and think that others should. I’ve grown up poor on a council estate with one parent and nowt int fridge. It didn’t give me a chip on my shoulder about others being privileged. It motivated me make a better life. Legally. To my knowledge no one is denied the vote based in the colour of their skin, we all have the same rights under law. I’m no more privileged than the next man. I won’t be guilt tripped by this current phrase being bandied about by the ‘woke’ fraternity to make an issue of the fact that I’m white, I work full time, I obey the law.

 

I'm saying that in an unjust society people who have no recourse to justice, will find other routes.

Always has been, always will.

Were the early trades unionists wrong, were the Chartists wrong, were the suffragettes wrong, were the bus riders wrong, was the ANC wrong?

 

We live in far less violent time. Source: The nature of violent crime in England and Wales https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...entcrimeinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2018

We live in a time where crimes are committed less often. Source: Crime Survey for England & Wales https://beta.ukdataservice.ac.uk/datacatalogue/series/series?id=200009

In my dealings with people now, I find that young people are on the whole much more respectful that the elderly who seem to think that they can take everything for granted and that the world owes them a favour. But that's just my viewpoint. I doubt we can find actual evidence to support either point of view other than anecdotal.

 

Do you get stopped and searched regularly?

Have you ever been discriminated against because of your background?

If you ever did break the law (and we all do) would your journey through the justice system be the same as others from different backgrounds?

As someone who grew up poor, had you got into trouble as many did in the past you would have had a much worse outcome than someone from the middle or upper classes, would you agree that this situation is one that needs changing?

 

Violent crime down? Knife crime is through the roof