Current Affairs The Landmarks of Slavery;

[dead_soft]

I have no sides in that conflict - in the left corner in the red trunks you have authoritarian thugs & in the right corner in the blue trunks you have racist morons.

I hope it chucks it down over the weekend or I fear its going to properly kick off and the old bill wont be able to stop it - their resources are limited and have been neutered by a government not looking for any further bad press.

People laugh but army on the streets of the major cities (certainly London) even just as a visual deterrent may just calm things down from reaching boiling point.

It's hard not to think you do actually have a side in this conflict when you mainly seem to have an issue with one side.

 

[dead_soft]

People don't get this part of it. It's the "normal" person watching the news. The people who aren't racist at all but look on wondering why they hell they're being painted with one brush and why the hell anarchy is being rewarded.

This isn't progress. The aim of the movement against racism is surely to win hearts and minds, to make society at large understand the struggles in modern day society ethnic minorities face and ask for more consideration as equals. You don't achieve that by threatening to tear down statues of Churchill and throwing rocks at police.

The net result is a load of people in this country rolling their eyes and, alarmingly, reinforcing existing racial stereotypes.

I get that they feel they have no choice, that they have no voice. That's why I won't speak a word really about the US protests that were fully justified.

But here? Nah, sorry, not for me. It's not spontaneous, an outpouring of grief and anger - it's opportunism.

No one I know who's normal has used this to reinforce any stereotypes, and I'm not sure anyone who has used it for that reason need much of a push.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

People don't get this part of it. It's the "normal" person watching the news. The people who aren't racist at all but look on wondering why they hell they're being painted with one brush and why the hell anarchy is being rewarded.

This isn't progress. The aim of the movement against racism is surely to win hearts and minds, to make society at large understand the struggles in modern day society ethnic minorities face and ask for more consideration as equals. You don't achieve that by threatening to tear down statues of Churchill and throwing rocks at police.

The net result is a load of people in this country rolling their eyes and, alarmingly, reinforcing existing racial stereotypes.

I get that they feel they have no choice, that they have no voice. That's why I won't speak a word really about the US protests that were fully justified.

But here? Nah, sorry, not for me. It's not spontaneous, an outpouring of grief and anger - it's opportunism.

The real danger in this is the longer term impact on the little England types and those that voted Brexit. They'll have the right wing media ramming stories about boat loads from Africa and we'll all end up suffering the consequences.

 

[Blue 1]

Out of interest, do you think that it was a majority BAME mob that pulled that statue down?

No, that's partly my point.

It was a right old mix though tbf, which is pretty reflective of Bristol. I've seen the footage.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

No, that's partly my point.

It was a right old mix though tbf, which is pretty reflective of Bristol. I've seen the footage.

For me and this is just my opinion but I have a feeling that a lot of what we are seeing is being driven by anarchists and the like. If this is the case then its a different set of considerations.

 

[dead_soft]

For me and this is just my opinion but I have a feeling that a lot of what we are seeing is being driven by anarchists and the like. If this is the case then its a different set of considerations.

Why is it your feeling? If it's going to colour your whole thoughts about this, it's probably worth having some basis for it?

 

[ForeverBlue92]

It's hard not to think you do actually have a side in this conflict when you mainly seem to have an issue with one side.

Well its only been the one side causing bother so far hasn't it.

 

[verreauxi]

Well its only been the one side causing bother so far hasn't it.

Brilliant!

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

Why is it your feeling? If it's going to colour your whole thoughts about this, it's probably worth having some basis for it?

Because the same types infiltrate any opportunity they can and its never peaceful or lawful. There is plenty of reporting on what is happening. The BLM protesters have even been protecting businesses and people from them. Also worth noting is that I am a trained ninja and my feelings are guided by a higher force so its probably worth considering that in future.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Why do people keep bringing up the pyramids ffs lol

 

[Tubey]

No one I know who's normal has used this to reinforce any stereotypes, and I'm not sure anyone who has used it for that reason need much of a push.

It's not something that's going to be obvious.

Think of it this way - why would a "normal" person be enthused about a cause if the immediate net result is chaos?

Strangely enough, they had the win on this pretty much immediately. Everyone in their right mind looked at the murder of George Floyd and thought "that's bang out of order, can't be allowed to continue that" and the initial protests had 100% non-racist support - but they've put that progress at risk with the nonsense after it. So now it's "that murder was terrible but if supporting change means a load of bells causing criminal damage in the streets then nah" that is in danger of being the ultimate takeaway from it.

Again, I know people will disagree with that because they can't see things from different angles. Can't help that.

 

[Tubey]

Why do people keep bringing up the pyramids ffs lol

Because people keep saying public monuments to terrible things need to be pulled down.

So the obvious extension to that is, well, other monuments.

There's a bit of "whataboutery" to say the least but in this case it can't be helped, because people seriously can't understand the point about historical significance being a barrier to just demolishing things.

Also, this: https://egyptindependent.com/british-anti-racism-protestors-call-for-destruction-of-giza-pyramids/

If you like, I can change the alternative to Nelson's Column - again, a ridiculous suggestion to be pulled down, but people are genuinely calling for it to happen.

The 10 London statues that Black Lives Matter want to see removed

The anti-racist group has shone a light of the dubious history of some of London's memorials

www.mylondon.news

 

[dead_soft]

It's not something that's going to be obvious.

Think of it this way - why would a "normal" person be enthused about a cause if the immediate net result is chaos?

Strangely enough, they had the win on this pretty much immediately. Everyone in their right mind looked at the murder of George Floyd and thought "that's bang out of order, can't be allowed to continue that" and the initial protests had 100% non-racist support - but they've put that progress at risk with the nonsense after it. So now it's "that murder was terrible but if supporting change means a load of bells causing criminal damage in the streets then nah" that is in danger of being the ultimate takeaway from it.

Again, I know people will disagree with that because they can't see things from different angles. Can't help that.

It’s quite a patronising attempt to win an argument by saying ‘people can’t see things from different angles’ especially when it doesn’t seem like you can.

If anyone has changed their opinion on the George Floyd murder, or on whether black lives matter because they Don’t like the protests then I’m going to assume they weren’t that much of an ally to begin with...

 

[dead_soft]

Well its only been the one side causing bother so far hasn't it.

By the side I presume you mean the one that promoted the hostile environment and made it more likely black men would be stoppedby police?

 

[Tubey]

It’s quite a patronising attempt to win an argument by saying ‘people can’t see things from different angles’ especially when it doesn’t seem like you can.

If anyone has changed their opinion on the George Floyd murder, or on whether black lives matter because they Don’t like the protests then I’m going to assume they weren’t that much of an ally to begin with...

Not changing their minds; just, to be blunt, less arsed.

Im telling you mate that the vast majority of people in this country will meet the suggestion of tearing down statues of Nelson and Churchill with disdain, and because the BLM movement is associated with that call then that disdain will be associated with them.

Look at the reaction whenever PETA say something stupid about animals - the public roll their eyes, even if the cause is at its heart a pretty noble one.