Kick It Out - what do you know about them ?

[Utah Owl]

One thing I just cant stomach its racism

My dad is Polish and my surname reads the bottom line of an eyechart. Back in the mid 80's the firm of Solicitors I worked for "requested" that I change my name to an Anglicised form as their clients were unable to cope with it. Incidentally they were all die hard socialist libertarians (allegedly). As far as I was concerned they were a bunch of hypocrites, it was very hurtful and I left shortly afterwards.

Apart from anything else when I was introduced with a different name I didn't have a clue who they were talking about!

My point is that racism is endemic in our society. Even on here the occasional comments about Poles taking our jobs or similar comes out, yet when the boot is on the other foot and we want to go live in some foreign clime it's "our right".

Edited November 3, 2012 by Utah Owl

[Stoop]

How do you stop someone being racist though?

Go knocking on doors?

Hello there are you a racist

Err yes I am actually who wants to know

I'm from kick it out and I'd just like to ask you to stop being a racist

No I'm quite happy being a racist if its all the same

Please stop its not nice

Nope bye now

[Mike Hunt]

I expect Rio and Roberts will chuck a few quid in

[horny owl]

It's the human condition to be intolerant of different cultures

This has happened right throughout history and although the media try and convince everybody that multi cultural societies work together, history tells a very different story.

This is NOT the problem solely of whites as I have encountered racism because I am white.

The world is not a fluffy tolerant place

At every border in the world different cultures live side by side in intolerance and when ever these cultures mix it becomes the melting pot we know as racism.

[Freshfish]

...whenever I hear the '...there is also racism against whites etc...' my head explodes.

Stop making excuses and look at yourselves first. Admit the racist in you and stop seeing 'black/eastern european/asian/romany' as being work shy, scrounging, drug dealing, peadophiles.

Then maybe the culture in football will change.

[ChapSmurf]

I bleed red, what colour do you bleed? Good, then you are my brother.

[whatdial]

I blame the teachers.

I blame the parents

[Guest]

I know you can't turn a page in the newspaper or switch the channel over without someone banging on about it.

Compare it with other countries at football and we haven't that much, obviously it doesn't make it right and like at the Chelsea game you're going to get the odd dummy but have we really got that much?

[@owlstalk]

Thats 6 staff and 300k too much, if they have no powers they cannot make changes needed and are therefore pointless, if you want make the attitudes of people in football change you start at the top.

What about publicising the issue and raising awareness of the general public ?

Your point doesn't make any sense

[shandypants]

Unfortunately a lot of ppl confuse racism with ignorance and the need to offend. Although it's not right in any shape or form, racist language is most often used to get a reaction or to offend. It is most often used in the same way that any other kind of abuse is. A true racist wouldn't accept or support any minority at all. It wouldn't matter whether the player played for us or the opposition, a racist would not tolerate them. Like I said it doesn't excuse it or make it acceptable's but it does ask the question that if it is used as an attempt to upset or get a reaction then what makes it worse than a lot of other abuse that gets used on the terraces. I've encountered true racists from all backgrounds and believe me, it's not the white mans desease as the media and some groups would have you believe. I was never allowed in my friends house as a kid because I was white and my wifes friends children have been disowned by their fathers family because they are half white. I have also encountered ppl who won't eat anything that isn't english or buy anything that isn't English. It just shows how deep racism goes in all walks of life

I've read this several times now and, at best, it reads like its written by someone with a very naive view on racism. Racism isn't as defined as you state here - you can't state that people are either truly racist or not. Here is an example: As a young teenager in the early 1980s, I used to have a circle of close friends. We were all white apart from one of us being mixed race. One of our group was terribly racist and used the racist terms beginning with 'N' and 'C' when referring to black people. When challenged about using this term in the presence of our mixed race friend, he would say something along the lines of 'it doesn't matter because he's one of us'. The fact that he accepted our mixed race friend did not classify him as anything other than racist. He was a racist pure and simple.

Now, I don't want to get all 'holier than thou' about this. I grew up in the 70s and 80s when racism was ingrained into society. I have been racist at times during my life - sometimes unintentionally and, I am sorry to say, sometimes intentionally when it suited me. In my defence (not that I deserve one), I was a young naive and unsophisticated person with little sense or tact and very little life experience or skills. I shouldn't have acted in this way but, unfortunately, everybody did. I challenge any white man who grew up as a working class lad in or before the 70s or 80s to tell me that they haven't been racist. If anyone says they haven't then they are either exceptional people or liars. As I moved into my mid teens and into adulthood, I realised and accepted that the way I acted was wrong and, since then, I have, hopefully, not been racist. I am sure that on occasions, I have been unintentionally racist as I am not a perfect person.

The last thing we need as a society is for a belief to exist that racism is something that is either on or off - particularly when it was the norm for, at least, 90 years of the last century. If we do have this 'on/off' view then racism will prevail.

To conclude (my rant): I can see the point that Jason Roberts and the Ferdinand brothers were trying to make when they didn't wear the 'kick it out' t-shirts but given what Neil has revealed in this thread then I believe that they were either ignorant or misinformed about this noble initiative. 'Kick it out' has my utmost respect and admiration given what they have managed to achieve with so little resource.

[@owlstalk]

I know you can't turn a page in the newspaper or switch the channel over without someone banging on about it.

Compare it with other countries at football and we haven't that much, obviously it doesn't make it right and like at the Chelsea game you're going to get the odd dummy but have we really got that much?

If we HAVEN"T then how come it's always in the paper or on the TV etc ?

You contradict yourself

Even if this is one fella - it's one fella too much

Add that to the rise of the EDL and we have a really worrying situation right now..

[Plymstockowl]

May be if the powers that be and those that try to control our lives just kept quiet about these things and let people just get on may be we will see a decrease in abusive language and behaviour. Discrimination is wrong in any way shape or form, but you will never get away from one group of people disliking another. The hypocrisy in our society is mind blowing, it is OK to call someone a Scouse ##### or a French so and so yet we are disgusted when we change Scouse or French to black.

Take out the hypocrisy and the faux outrage then we might get on the right track, but whilst we walk on eggshells when it comes to talking about or with people of a different ethnicity nothing will change it will only get worse.

[@owlstalk]

May be if the powers that be and those that try to control our lives just kept quiet about these things and let people just get on may be we will see a decrease in abusive language and behaviour.

I thought the powers that be only deal with issues as/when they arise ?

[Blueblood]

I've read this several times now and, at best, it reads like its written by someone with a very naive view on racism. Racism isn't as defined as you state here - you can't state that people are either truly racist or not. Here is an example: As a young teenager in the early 1980s, I used to have a circle of close friends. We were all white apart from one of us being mixed race. One of our group was terribly racist and used the racist terms beginning with 'N' and 'C' when referring to black people. When challenged about using this term in the presence of our mixed race friend, he would say something along the lines of 'it doesn't matter because he's one of us'. The fact that he accepted our mixed race friend did not classify him as anything other than racist. He was a racist pure and simple.

Now, I don't want to get all 'holier than thou' about this. I grew up in the 70s and 80s when racism was ingrained into society. I have been racist at times during my life - sometimes unintentionally and, I am sorry to say, sometimes intentionally when it suited me. In my defence (not that I deserve one), I was a young naive and unsophisticated person with little sense or tact and very little life experience or skills. I shouldn't have acted in this way but, unfortunately, everybody did. I challenge any white man who grew up as a working class lad in or before the 70s or 80s to tell me that they haven't been racist. If anyone says they haven't then they are either exceptional people or liars. As I moved into my mid teens and into adulthood, I realised and accepted that the way I acted was wrong and, since then, I have, hopefully, not been racist. I am sure that on occasions, I have been unintentionally racist as I am not a perfect person.

The last thing we need as a society is for a belief to exist that racism is something that is either on or off - particularly when it was the norm for, at least, 90 years of the last century. If we do have this 'on/off' view then racism will prevail.

To conclude (my rant): I can see the point that Jason Roberts and the Ferdinand brothers were trying to make when they didn't wear the 'kick it out' t-shirts but given what Neil has revealed in this thread then I believe that they were either ignorant or misinformed about this noble initiative. 'Kick it out' has my utmost respect and admiration given what they have managed to achieve with so little resource.

So are you a racist then?? You admit to using racist language in the past and you admit to being "unintentionally racist" (what does that even mean, how do you be unintentionally racist". I would say that there aren't many ppl on the planet that can say they've never done or said something that could be classed as racist. Does this mean the whole world is racist. I said many times that it doesn't make it acceptable. But what really makes my blood boil is when you get ppl like Fresh Fish making the types of comment that implies that only white ppl are racist. I don't judge a man on the colour of his skin or his ethnic background, I never have and hopefully never will. A man should be judged on how he treats others and his actions

[Guest MrsGoggins]

Football should not be expected to clean up what is STILL a major problem in society. Offensive behaviour is alive and kicking, how many of you recieve joke texts on a daily basis that could be deemed offensive? I think most of the behaviour from players and fans over the past few months is mostly offensive and not racist.

After a great summer of sport it's back to norm with the football.

[Guest]

If we HAVEN"T then how come it's always in the paper or on the TV etc ?

You contradict yourself

Even if this is one fella - it's one fella too much

Add that to the rise of the EDL and we have a really worrying situation right now..

That much.

[Blueblood]

These threads always end in the same bullsh!t. There's no middle ground you're either a dogooder or a racist.

So please make your choice.

Change starts from within and all I can do is teach my children that everyman deserves respect until he gives you reason to take away that respect. If someone calls me a WHITE BARSTEWARD I take offence at being called a BARSTEWARD

[Plymstockowl]

I thought the powers that be only deal with issues as/when they arise ?

The powers that be deal with things when it suites their agenda, whether it is the FA, government or whatever. If it creates votes then a political party will highlight race for example.

Do the acts of some mindless idiots affect the amount of money coming in to football? The FA, FIFA etc will go along with the KIO and respect campaigns as it means they have little to do with it but add their support.

[@owlstalk]

The powers that be deal with things when it suites their agenda

Really ?

Elaborate on it - because I've only seem them reacting to recent incidents

[the_forgotten_city]

These threads always end in the same bullsh!t. There's no middle ground you're either a dogooder or a racist.

So please make your choice.

Change starts from within and all I can do is teach my children that everyman deserves respect until he gives you reason to take away that respect. If someone calls me a WHITE BARSTEWARD I take offence at being called a BARSTEWARD

Have you ever suffered from racist abuse/discrimination? Cos it's not the name calling, it's the context. Huge difference if a white bloke who has never suffered from racism is called a WHITE illegitimate