I've never seen the Black Lives Matter movement as saying that it's only black lives that matter. But I don't think that the average white man in the street can honestly say he has it as hard/easy as the average black man in the street. I fully believe that there is systemic racism across western societies. Some worse than others, and some instances where individual examples are blown out of proportion. Now, the Black Lives Matter movement has been politicised to an extent but as I understand the poster here has also said, it's emphasising that black lives are equal to others. The reason we need to explicitly state this is because I don't think society as a whole agrees this. I think most of us here would, although there might still be prejudices, but until society as a whole agrees this, we have an issue.
I disagree to a point. Sadly racists exist in every corner. Living in Romford I see a lot of white people being racist. However move asking a few miles to Ilford and there are a lot of black people who are racist. The last school I taught in was 75% black and didn't notice any racism. What I did observe was black on black, white on white, Asian on Asian etc. Finally, I think it was my post that started the BLM comments. Just for clarity that post wasnt about BLM and bending the knee it was about people like Anthony Joshua and Lewis Hamilton promoting black businesses in a similar way to that Amazon button.
I don't think its racist but is perhaps ill thought out. I assume its similar to the approach in South Africa with affirmative action. Always controversial but its simply a mechanism to try and quicken the process of equality. Some white's in South Africa complain now of poverty and discrimination as a result. Now I sympathise with them and I don't think the solution to black poverty is to thrust white people into poverty, but the burdens must be shared equally among races somehow. I'm not sure I'm a big believer in it over the long term though. Surely it just divides people for the future regardless? I do think you have to keep things in context. If people don't think systemic racism exists, then its pointless discussing things like this. Its a world moulded by white men for white men in the main. I don't think the likes of AJ and LH, Amazon should be promoting that kind of thing, but I have no problem when this is decreed from say a government. I just think you have to be careful with it. Governance is not individuals or companies.
Disagree with this to a point. It's BLM because they are the ones suffering. But I wish BLM would add "A" in there to make it BLAM: Black Lives Also Matter. Not only would this negate all this argument about the meaning of it but it could be advertised and drawn up with a picture of Blatman (black batman) punching some cracker, peckerwood, honky, Joker in the face with BLAM denoting the punch. But people would get their pant's in a twist over that... TBH as a white man I don't think we'll ever truly understand the plight of the black man - had a discussion surrounding racism in the UK with my Filipino mate (yeah I have multi cultural friends....) and we been friends for 15+ years and use to be together, what I felt like was constantly, every day at school and after, on the weekends etc etc - I'd made the assumption because when I was with him I'd never seen any form of discrimination towards him that he'd agree that we were a bit sheltered from it living in posh old Surrey, going to private boarding schools etc. and he told me he was constantly harassed by people when he was on his own, TI's on trains walking past everyone not checking tickets of others until they got to him and then would ask him. Stop and searched on his road 3 doors down from his own house by police because they didn't believe he lived there and there had been a crime locally, racial abuse from people on the way home after nights out when he was walking on his own etc. So embarrassed I assumed it never happened because I'd never seen it. Honestly made me so upset that he suffered like that and I was so blissfully unaware and ignorant that I assumed it didn't happen. Do agree though that racism and discrimination (i.e. women ) is there in each and every ethnicity towards others just it affects some a lot worse than it does others.
I think Morgan Freeman summed it up best, when he said "I long for the day when it's not a black man, or a white man, just a man." Or words to that effect. This was, of course, before the time when you couldn't say "man" as it was discriminatory against people who don't identify. I wonder what Alan Partridge or Ali G would make of it all. We'll never know, that's for sure.
I saw the news the other day where it was stated that post first spike infections are now no different across blacks as they are across whites (although it said Asians are now at higher risk). Some of those black activists were trying to lay the boot in to the NHS for not treating blacks as well as whites which magnified the symptoms. This new data puts those arse wipes firmly in their boxes.
Watched the rugby on Saturday,Billy Vinipola did'nt take the knee,no one called him a racist to his face
I love all of this taking the knee bollocks. The hysteria and media interest around it is pathetic, and all they've achieved is a shed load of negativity around the subject. You shouldn't be criticised for taking it, and you shouldn't be criticised for not taking it is my standpoint. Its a personal choice surely? Some will see it as virtue signaling, some will see it as important. On a personal level they should do what feels right to them. Why there has to be this weekly drama around the subject I'm not quite sure. If anyone is offended by those taking or not taking the knee, I suggest they watch this little clip about being offended - its ****ing meaningless wet wipes.
I think we go searching to be offended now. If everyone could just stop being so sensitive, live and let live, we'd all be much happier. I have mates who are becoming angry at the BLM and taking the knee stuff. I personally think its an absolute load of bollocks. However I can't see why I'd be offended by it? If it is something which makes them feel better, or empowers them, makes them feel they've made an important point, then crack on for me.
