Will racism ever end?

That's just simply untrue and (yet another) attempt to frame people who are against specific gestures or methods as against the cause (in this case, ending racism)

Nobody is advocating against the cause of ending racism, but people are rightly and justly calling out specific parts of a campaign which they feel is more divisive and actually to more harm than good to the overall cause.

This thread asks one simple question, will racism ever end. The answer is no. There will always be racists. It's an unfortunate part of life.

Actual racism is not accepted in society as a whole, and rightly so, but there will always be pockets of genuine racists.

But when certain groups try to level accusations of racism where it is not warranted, it only cheapens the claims of people who suffer actual racism on a daily basis and initiatives linked to divisive gestures or rhetoric do much more harm than good.

Being called a racist used to be one of the biggest slurs on a persons character. Now it might simply mean they aren't a fan of illegal immigration.

Overuse and misuse of the word has made it lose its power.

That's because there are intrinsic problems with all of the topics you mentioned above. I'm more than happy to debate the demerits of feminism, immigration, homelessness BLM and the emergence of people outdoing themselves to be "woke". Because I am not happy with aspects of how some of the current campaigns are handled in the media and in conversation with people who try to out-do themselves to be the most "progressive", doesn't mean that I should shut up because it's a good cause.

Because I argue my point on such topics, I have been labelled some disgusting and offensive names and even my daughter's parentage was called into question. It seems that unless you wholly accept and go along with what is the current "progressive" view of certain topics, you are vilified. It's a nasty tactic to shut down any opposition by trying to shame people into silence for fear of being called a bigot/phobe/ist. It's pathetic.

I don't particularly give a flying **** who's on the same side of the argument as me. I get to my opinion based on experience and learning.

If I happen to be of the opinion that taking the knee is a bad idea because of it's link with BLM & St Floyd making it divisive, my opinion wont change because a member of the KKK also doesn't like the knee.

If I oppose Antifa because of their actions, it doesn't make a difference if Richard Spencer also hates them

If I am opposed to third wave feminism because it's steeped in misandry, I don't care if a wife beating misogynist also doesn't like feminism

I don't lump all vegetarians in with Hitler and Manson. I'm not responsible for other people's beliefs. I can only represent mine. I don't care who is on my "side" as long as my side is reasoned and not coming from a dishonest place.

I'm not a racist, yet the amount of pussyfooting around calling me one, or trying to "gotcha" me into saying something that can be misconstrued as one is tiring.

So in other words, if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all?

I have a vested interest in the topic of racism, feminism and immigration and I wish to discuss my opinions on them.

I have issues with how people who have similar outlooks as me are portrayed by certain sections of the media and in certain conversations. So no, it isn't telling. It's as telling as your constant opposition to my opinions, which I'm sure you feel are righteous and justified.

As to why you don't see many threads looking for guidance or support? Because it's a discussion board, not an progressive activist hub (although sometimes it's hard to tell)

Negative, divisive attention. Surely a unifying gesture which didn't polarise people would have been much more adventageous.

You aren't going to "bring the racists" on board with any initiative. Racists gonna racist.

I think therein lies the problem Robbie.

When I talk of unification, I mean have a campaign that everyone who is not a racist can support. By having a gesture which polarises people who aren't racist, you are automatically pushing people with valid concerns about the gesture (unfairly) into the "racist" camp by default.

That makes zero sense. That would only give a false impression that those against the knee are racist and that racism is a bigger issue than it already is......

hmmmm. Perhaps you may be onto something.

Don't be sorry Robbie, at this stage I am used to you misrepresenting what I said.

There was NO way I said that racism doesn't exist in soccer. Even the least generous interpretation would have to acknowledge that I specifically said that racism was an issue. I did half expect you to wrongly accuse me of downplaying it, but I never thought you would go all the way as to attempt to frame it that I denied it's existence. I'm not sure whether that type of leap is impressive or pathetic. Cathy Newman would be proud.

What I said was that by highlighting around the globe that people boo the knee, could give a false impression that those who were booing were racist, thus falsely inflating the amount of racism that needed to be tackled by counting non-racists as part of the toxic racist element.

You are going around in circles here Robbie. I don't care what Gareth Southgate said. Regardless of the best of intentions or the most pure of ideals, because of BLM and George Floyd inspired riots, the gesture of taking the knee will be an offensive and polarising gesture to giant swathes of people because of the link that has already been created (intentional or otherwise).

At risk of repeating myself, it is the gesture that people take issue with, not the message behind it which makes it such an idiotic gesture to use if your goal was to unify the non racists supporters against vile racism.

I think in all this I forgot to say to you that I genuinely hope your wife is ok. From my own experiences with my family, I know how **** it can be to be racially abused. It's great to see someone who experiences it with a close family member have such a balanced and considered opinion. Fair play op.

I would not expect anything less to come from you Robbie.

If you don't wholly get behind taking the knee, REGARDLESS OF YOUR REASONING, you are a supporter of racism.

FFS Robbie, you are a parody at this stage. It's this kind of bollocks that tries to shame people into blindly following any initiative, no matter how flawed.

Do as we say, clap along, ask no questions or you are no better than the racists.

Lol.

Educate their children that nobody is better or worse than the other by virtue of their ethnicity.

Teach them that you shouldn't accept being told your ethnicity gives you an advantage or a disadvantage.

To ignore bigots and to acknowledge that while some people will insult and disparage them because of something they can't change, society doesn't agree with them.

Teach children that they are more than their ethnicity and never to play the race card.

Teach kids that there will be virtue signalling dicks that will try to convince you they are a victim.

Not assign every negative comment or insult to racism.

Treat people equally.

That's just a couple of things off the top of my head. Granted, they are all about teaching children stuff, but that's the majority of my experience in combating racism.

What's yours? Apart from telling people that by not kneeling or booing kneeling that they are racists.

Oh right, sorry Robbie, what's your idea again?

Telling people that unless they agree with what you believe, then they are racist?

I'm all ears Robbie.