07 Oct 2016 15:09:32
A ex Liverpool player called Howard Gayle was offered a MBE, he refused the honour saying it is against his values, that is fair enough.

He went on to say it was only because it had the word Empire in the honours full title, and the honour should have it's name altered.

That is the problem with racial issues in my opinion, on the one hand you get idiots from this country that are outright bigots.

Then you have people like Mr Gayle that look for racism at every quarter. Why would he accept the honour if the name was changed if he would not accept it with it's current title. It still represents the same thing whatever it is called.

Im not saying the honours system is used properly, but to expect for a country to change something that is part of its culture to please you an outsider, clearly that is hows he sees himself is wrong.

I would not dream of going to a new country, no matter how long i lived there and ask, or expect them to change their culture to make me happy.

It is the same as Female Chess players not wanting to go to the games World Championship in Iran and wear a head dress females in Iran wear, What is wrong with that, it is their culture to wear one and they are playing not just as individuals but also representing their country.

{Ed001's Note - you are completely missing the point. It was nothing to do with racism at all. You immediately assume it was because he is black, which is the racist part of all this, so perhaps you should look in the mirror before making false accusations.

Take the time and look at the way the British empire treated people from those countries it ruled over. It was the British empire that invented the concentration camp for instance. You should apologise for being so bigoted as to accuse Howard Gayle falsely.}

1.) 07 Oct 2016
07 Oct 2016 16:00:51
Ed001

You are missing my point, i would never suggest this country has never committed atrocities, many countries were unfortunate enough to meet our ancestors.

I do not care about people's colour, or the country they are from, i judge people i meet based on the way they are with me.

I judge people i have not met based on their words, or actions.

You should not judge every person by what their ancestors were guilty of. Should history be forgotten, off course not but to let it make you bitter to people who have never done anything wrong to you, or your ancestors is wrong.

My point was, or is Mr Gayle clearly is bitter as to what this countries ancestors are guilty of towards his ancestors Will not accept the MBE for what it represents.

Yet if it was called something different he suggests he woyld accept it.

Like i said before Whatever it is called it will still Represent the same thing.

That is why i said he looks for racism in every quarter.

If i were so bitter about how my ancestors were treated by a certain country i would not accept any honour Whatever it was called if the honour was anything to do with how that country treated my ancestors.

{Ed001's Note - but you were accusing him of racial overtones etc. So you missed your own point, obviously. He is right, it should be changed, as it represents what the empire stood for - conquest and subjugation of others. You may be happy to be associated with that, but that says more about you than him.}

2.) 07 Oct 2016
07 Oct 2016 16:18:14
Can we not go down the "let's chat about racism" on a football banter site. As forest fans, its bleak enough as it is. Tngh, if you want to get on your high horse, spouting absolute nonsense, do it somewhere else.

3.) 07 Oct 2016
07 Oct 2016 16:21:26
Cant agree with you there Ed.

4.) 07 Oct 2016
07 Oct 2016 16:35:42
If i were to go to a country and effectively say what your ancestors are guilty of makes my acceptance of a honour impossible, but if you change the whole honour system i might accept.

That to me, be it right or wrong is saying as a country you need to change what is part of your culture, why say that, when it will not happen, and when royalty is still going strong, rightly or wrongly.


Asking, or expecting a country to change its culture is effectively is being racist.

Is that culture right, or wrong is another matter, but it is up to the people with the power within that country to decide for itself not someone with ancestors that suffered to ask for it.

The way i word things may not be brilliantly put, but in no way am i racist.

{Ed001's Note - again, ignorance. You do realise that he did not come to the country, his family was brought here. He was born and brought up in Toccie and is English. Anyway enough, this is meant to be about football.}

5.) 07 Oct 2016
07 Oct 2016 17:19:22
Happy days!

6.) 07 Oct 2016
07 Oct 2016 18:02:57
All stop trying to trip people up on racism too much of it no one here is being racist! What has this got to do with a forest banter site? 😄.

7.) 07 Oct 2016
07 Oct 2016 19:49:02
FFS I'm almost looking forward to the next defeat (when we next play) after reading that.

We can back to discussing mad Arabs and Frenchmen!