Race Relations Commisssion - overstepping its remit?

[heathfield]

The Race Relations Commission has criticised the wearing of 'Anyone but England' T-shirts by Scots football fans, calling it a racial issue. Since we're all British, I see it as being like Sunderland fans wearing T-shirts saying 'anyone but Newcastle' - i.e., simply naming traditional rivals. Would the RRC consider that one racist, too, or are they simply overstepping their regulatory powers, and putting their nose in where it's not wanted?

[jno]

I don't think either English or Scots can truly be called a race, so it shouldn't be the province of the RRC.

[jenstar]

Damned Anglo-Saxons telling us Celts what to do. We should send them back to where they came from.

[Booldawg]

feel sorry for the scots really. would be nice for them to get a chance to support their team, rather feeling victorious in another teams failure.

[noxlumos]

Nothing wrong with a bit of "friendly" hostile rivalry which is what these shirts are.The RRC should honestly find something better to do with itself.

[gazzawazza]

Agree with Nox.

[Holidaylover]

Hi Heathfield. I'm English first, British second. There are many British people. For example, British Indians, British Canadians. All part of Britain. I thinks the Scots are being racist.

Look at the Americans, if you're a Texan, you're Texan first, American second, New Yorkers, same goes.

Be proud of your country not your nationality. And 2 words to the RRC, get stuffed.

[littleoldme]

Speaking as an Englishman - of course it's not racist. The Scots and English are not different races - a T-shirt saying "any team that doesn't have any black players" would have been racist, but this is just rivalry. Perfectly OK in my book.

I suppose it's good to know that racism (real racism) in this country is obviously so completely under control that the RRC have nothing worse to worry about! Ahem.

[littleoldme]

jenstar - I take on board your point about Celts and Anglo-Saxons, but I think we've become rather diluted since those days. :-)

[Booldawg]

everyone shows preference towards 'their people' and the line between friendly banter and racism is purely in the eye of the beholder; in this case the RRC has deemed it racist when 99% of the population see it harmless fun. This is why the RRC is a total waste of effort and does more to stir up racial tension than a van load of BNP politicians.

[THECORBYLOON]

CRE Scotland is reacting to complaints it has received, see the statement here. I can see no mention of t-shirts so can you post a link heathfield?

[heathfield]

Hi, corbyloon - the problem is that most of the newspaper reports on the subject haven't made it to their websites, except for this one from the Daily Mail Note that they report two complaints to the CRE!! BBC Radio Scotland News also covered the story, but I can't find it on their 'Listen Again' service.

[THECORBYLOON]

Does md know where I can get one?

[Dolly1308]

What an inferior complex the Scots who wear those T-shirts must have ! I am English but my fathers' family originated in Wilsonton (sp) Scotland ,we have never held it against him !! My mothers'family originated in Wales but once again it was never a problem . LOL. The RRC or CRE create trouble .England forever !!!!!!

[vehelpfulguy]

A lady phoned the radio the other day and said she was English living in Scotland.

She had an English flag flying from the car, but had been the subject of V signs, abuse, and swearing from scottish people.

She had also had the flag ripped off the car and thrown in her front garden.

If someone from Scotland (or England) tore down a pakistani flag or west indian flag and threw it away there would be an outcry and that would be seen as racist.

What is the difference.

[sp1814]

veryhelpfulguy - the difference is that the Scots and English are the same race, therefore you cannot have one claiming racism over the other.

It's 'nationalism' rather than racism.

The reason why racism is treated with more sensitivity than nationalism is because English people very rarely ever get murdered by Scots because they're English, and vice versa.

[JudgeJ]

It is such a pity that these great displays of (and arguments about) patriotism only occur every two years � i.e. when the football World Cup and the football European Championship take place. There are plenty of other opportunities to demonstrate patriotism but these are generally ignored.

I am English and fiercely proud of the fact. I am not British or European and have no wish to be associated with either of these two artificially contrived groups of nations. However, as far as I am concerned, the quicker the England team is eliminated from this ridiculous competition, the happier I shall be. The thought of them advancing to the final, let alone winning it, fills me with absolute dread.

Football is a tedious game with an unusually high preponderance of cheats amongst its participants. Unfortunately it reflects some of the seedier aspects of English life a little too closely for my comfort.

[jno]

JudgeJ, surely, insofar as Britain is artificially contrived, it was contrived by the English? So contrivance is part of your heritage, whether you like it or not: your ancestors thought it good to subsume other nations.

[gessoo]

Good hearted rivalry is good, but as vehelpfulguy's post shows there are really horrible things going on in the name of rivalry. I dread the coming weeks and the amount of 'bad sportsmanship' that will be shown by the so called football fans. I am with JudgeJ here and I shall be glad when the whole thing is over.

On the question, I think it's a great pity the the RRC haven't got anything better to do. Totally ridiculous ban.

[tyler06]

the jocks & the aussies love to hate us.but they are always there to fight our wars. bless em

[Booldawg]

and to work behind the bars in our pubs