Removal of Statues
- Thread starter TitanTim
- Start date
There is racism in this country and in my opinion the frustration with that and anger at an establishment that has been slow to act has been a major contributor to the whole statue thing and the protests. It might make people angry to see statues of well known historical figures being pulled down and defaced but imagine how angry and frustrated you might be if you or your family were fighting the disadvantages that the system imposes on you just because of the colour of your skin. Disadvantages that have operated for decades. I don't excuse the acts of vandalism but I can understand them.
If you accept that we are all the same then there is no reason why parts of the BAME population should have worse career prospects, be more criminalised, have worse health outcomes, be more likely to be stopped by police, be more likely to be unemployed etc etc. The reason for these things is that there is systemic racism at play and that they don't start their lives from a level playing field. They are not treated as equals. I'm sure none of us would regard ourselves as racist but until we start to cast a light on, examine and correct the causes of the disparities that are out there we won't truly be able to say we have rid ourselves of the scourge of racism. I don't buy the argument that says the reason for their position is that they see themselves as victims and everything would be fine if only they raised their game and stopped complaining.
If you accept that we are all the same then there is no reason why parts of the BAME population should have worse career prospects, be more criminalised, have worse health outcomes, be more likely to be stopped by police, be more likely to be unemployed etc etc. The reason for these things is that there is systemic racism at play and that they don't start their lives from a level playing field. They are not treated as equals. I'm sure none of us would regard ourselves as racist but until we start to cast a light on, examine and correct the causes of the disparities that are out there we won't truly be able to say we have rid ourselves of the scourge of racism. I don't buy the argument that says the reason for their position is that they see themselves as victims and everything would be fine if only they raised their game and stopped complaining.
The world has gone stupid ,the media are making a saint out of the criminal George Floyd who died after being arrested.
We know the American police don't come out of this with any credit,but to have our police going down on one knee is a nonsense as they then are not impartial ,when it comes to upholding the law.
We know the American police don't come out of this with any credit,but to have our police going down on one knee is a nonsense as they then are not impartial ,when it comes to upholding the law.
Liverpool
When I was a kid (over 40 years ago), the (West Indian) night baker at the shop my nan worked at for 30 years in Toxteth was called 'chalky' and we were told it was simply because he was covered in flour all the time.enuff_zed said:
As far as I remember, there was nothing racist mentioned or implied, and he'd drop off a fresh loaf when he handed over the keys to my nan at about 6am.
But thinking back, you start to wonder...although the company name was Chalkin too, so maybe we misheard at the time.
I'm sure the 24" dough knife he wielded would have made short work of anyone he felt had offended him.
PDJ said:
It was me said that, not Mr Bear.
Anyway, after spending 9 years on 617 Sqn at Marham, I was well acquainted with the rivalry between us and 9 Sqn (something to do with who actually sunk the Tirpitz). But it did mean that poor old (D)igger had his grave desecrated on many occasions. I doubt there's much in there anymore.
Dav the wheel nut said:Activists have now drawn up a list of statues they want to removed to include the following
Lord Baden Powell
William Gladstone
Robert Peel
Captain James Cook
Sir Francis Drake
The problem is, where does this stop. Next it will be attacking farms and butchers shops in support of vegans!
And as for police officers kneeling in front of demonstrators, don’t get me started
We’re turning into a nation of pussies
Pulling down many of the items on this list would be little different to what ISIS did in Palmyra. Discuss..........
maxman said:
Give someone a nice nickname like ‘gentle giant’ and it changes your perspective like Harold ‘cuddles’ Shipman and Myra ‘hugs’ Hindley :roll:
prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.
This is not about people of different races, this is about Black and White. One Woman who was interviewed ‘on the street’ said that there would be more to come and if you are white, you had better watch out.
A lot of what I hear disturbs me because I hear myself being criticised, verbally abused and branded a racist from people who I don’t know, who don’t know me and who I have never met. This abuse is solely based on the fact that I am White.
I like to go to root cause on many points (not always popular but it works on the principal that if you did this, that, would not have happened). A starting point would be that if someone is arrested they should not resist and ‘sort it out’ at the Police station. The mobile phone shots that I have seen over the past few years from the USA that show black people resisting arrest have never ended well because the Police then use extra force. If the prisoner dies then too much force was used. The recent case was exceptional.
I do not see an end to any racial disputes and have to put it down to Human Nature, survival etc. In the main we tolerate each other and I think that is all that can be expected.
I am constantly disappointed to hear of ‘our communities’. As an example, Tottenham in London has a Black Community, Jewish Community, Turkish Community, Asian Community and more communities. Surely if it was a community there would only be one, the Tottenham community.
Rant over.
This is not about people of different races, this is about Black and White. One Woman who was interviewed ‘on the street’ said that there would be more to come and if you are white, you had better watch out.
A lot of what I hear disturbs me because I hear myself being criticised, verbally abused and branded a racist from people who I don’t know, who don’t know me and who I have never met. This abuse is solely based on the fact that I am White.
I like to go to root cause on many points (not always popular but it works on the principal that if you did this, that, would not have happened). A starting point would be that if someone is arrested they should not resist and ‘sort it out’ at the Police station. The mobile phone shots that I have seen over the past few years from the USA that show black people resisting arrest have never ended well because the Police then use extra force. If the prisoner dies then too much force was used. The recent case was exceptional.
I do not see an end to any racial disputes and have to put it down to Human Nature, survival etc. In the main we tolerate each other and I think that is all that can be expected.
I am constantly disappointed to hear of ‘our communities’. As an example, Tottenham in London has a Black Community, Jewish Community, Turkish Community, Asian Community and more communities. Surely if it was a community there would only be one, the Tottenham community.
Rant over.
Vornwend said:
I'm genuinely curious on this perspective. It's very easy to just say "There is racism in this country"....but I struggle to really nail down any examples of where racist behaviour is in play?
School
Where are the schools, colleges or University that exclude people based on their skin colour? I accept that family money or where you live impacts decision, but that isn't racism....that's a different problem.
Crime
My best mate works on Trident in the Met Police, his response to being more likely to be stopped is very simple. In certain parts of London, young black males disproportionally commit more crime than other races....it might be hard to want to accept that, but it's a simple truth. If a street crime has been committed it is statistically more likely to be a black male, whereas a burglary tends to committed be a white male. The police only go with what they have to go on.
Jobs
If there are better-qualified candidates for the role, then that's life. I've worked in the technology marketing industry for 20 years and not once have I heard or seen anything that would have meant a person was being excluded from anything because of their skin colour. It simply doesn't happen.
The media hype this up into such an issue it's so frustrating. Britain is the most liberal, diverse and open country in the world.....how anyone thinks the British people are racist is utterly clueless IMO.