The problem with politics is that it is soooooo like football. The difference for me is that it is unacceptable to change your football team, but equally unacceptable to stick to one political party as different situations and times demand diffrent political stances. I really don't like the "I've always voted X party as did my Dad and my Grandad did", yet I can only consider a football fan one who has supported only one team all their life.
I always assumed that the "gay" label foisted upon Le Saux was due to the fact that the Guardian was a broadsheet newspaper. As such, it contains multi-syllabic words (albeit usually misspelled), a foreign concept to the standard tabloid with a "page 3" which would be the zenith of most professional footballers ambition. The fact that it is "left wing" is probably irrelevant- I'm sure the response would have been the same had he been reading The Telegraph It's all lazy( and false) stereotyping, and is not the sole preserve of the so-called "right wing" It's similar to the sort of attitude which labels anyone opposed to "left wing" ideology as "fascists", or those against the EU's undermining of national democracy as "little Englanders"
I've really enjoyed this thread. I have quite strong political views but I've moved from the left wing to the right wing and back to the left again more times than Lallana over the last 5 pages. If I was a Mod I would take this opportunity to ban whoever has complained about it - Without them I imagine it would make for a much more pleasent forum to visit.
Well said! It's been a very enjoyable read - I'm not versed enough on political theory to get involved though I've enjoyed having my views questioned internally!
Bloody hell, lads and lasses. I go away for a few days to La Belle France (mais pas belle) and what happens? We lose to Millwall and everyone one here has become philosophical! We should publish this thread as proof that football fans are not thick! The "oh that's gay" is used for anything foreign in blokes circles. When I worked on the shop floor I was considered a wierdo as I read the Guardian. When I was in management the boys on the shop floor in Manchester and Liverpool assumed I was a **** as I was a Southerner. The political debate is another dimension in my view. I have never switched my views as they are based on fundamental principles about social justice. I am strong believer in "from each according to their abilities, to each according to their need" and consequently have always been a socialist. In the last few years this has meant a reluctant cross in the Labour box, but I could never vote Tory. But this thread has been challenging to an old red, and that has to be good.
You're right of course. If he'd been a reader of the left-wing Mirror, no-one would have batted an eyelid. In Ferdinand & Co.'s eyes, anything remotely intellectual is gay.
I was a bit spaced last night, but reading the thread through again this morning I can see why Beddy might have pulled it, but what a sad indictment. The key point raised at the start was about homophobia. This is arguably the biggest elephant in any room! During my working life I saw racist taunting become outlawed. As a white man, I could support my black colleagues who were abused quite openly. Sexist language is also considered anti-social now, and as a bloke back when sexist comments were not just permitted but encouraged I could make my feelings known. BUT no-one ever thought I was black or a woman (stay with me).If I openly support a gay friend there are lots of blokes who will assume I am a closet gay. The real problem is that men are terrified of "being gay" and think that gay men inevitably fancy them and will attempt to grab their plonkers if they go into the shower together after a jolly good game of rugger. As a gay lad I worked with some years ago put it "all blokes think I fancy them. They should be so lucky"! The abuse of Le Saux was outrageous. As someone who has lived in Liverpool for decades I have come to love scouse humour, but thought that Fowler's antics were disgraceful - as did many of the scousers I knew (most of them Mirror readers, by the way). If Fowler had been given a long ban it would have helped, but homophobia was clearly an accepted sport by the football authorities. Let's hope they've changed. Maybe the introduction of some pretty sharp foreign players - many multi-lingual and clearly very bright - will change attitudes.
