Forum Topic

Azeem Rafiq~ Another Hypocrite

Azeem Rafiq apologises for antisemitic messages in 2011 - 'I am ashamed'http://news.sky.com/story/azeem-rafiq-apologises-for-making-antisemitic-comments-in-2011-12471813

Sue Hammond ● 1537d24 Comments

That's a big problem.  I think I remember that from 20 years ago. The selling off of playing fields and lack of sport in schools is bad news.  It's a good start in life.  What has been created is a lot of private clubs which are just not accessible to all.  Also I remember that we used to play different sports during different school terms but it has now become more competitive and they tend to be all year round sports. It is a shame to have to specialise so early.

Philippa Bond ● 1535d

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/oct/08/the-class-ceiling-does-england-cricket-team-suffer-elitismThen there is this which said, back in 2012, that 90% of UK state school attendees had no access to cricket at all:https://www.pitchcare.com/news-media/a-rethink-needed-on-schools-cricket-says-ed-smith.htmlSo the answer is probably a very loud "No".

Michael Winstanley ● 1535d

Do all state schools have cricket teams?

Philippa Bond ● 1535d

Thanks for the informative outburst Gulls. Pleased to hear about your physical well-being. I think the reason you have never experienced any racism in cricket is probably on account of you being white British. Never met you - just a guess. As I said previously, the head of English cricket (and also the heads of all the county sides) DO appear to believe it is an issue. My judgement is that they are better informed.

Michael Winstanley ● 1536d

Winston , I call you that as as a bit of light hearted fun and your one of the reasons I come back to the forum. I find you very funny. You need to chill out a bit which is highlighted by your recent outburst. I was appalled by what poor Raffiq had to go through and watched his statement live. I played cricket for a number of years at Roehampton up on Putney Heath and also rugby for London Welsh, Barnes and captained my University side, UWE to a famous victory over Bristol in front of 2,800 crowd . I’ve never experienced such issues with players of any race I can assure you and keep in touch with many past players still. I still play cricket, wicket keeper , you’d be impressed with my catching Winston and I play a very good cover drive. I had to build a trophy cabinet for all my school medals and cups. I also challenge you to a bleep test on Putney Common to show you my fitness ? I can still get to 14. I’ll take you for a chamomile tea after.I went to watch Rosslyn Park last night to support my local team which I do regularly . I was impressed to see Fleur Anderson watching as wellWinston! You should’ve come .

Nick Gulliford ● 1536d

Feel better after yet another micro-agression St Francis? But tell me, do you like badminton?

Michael Winstanley ● 1536d

Feel better after that bit of hot air, Winston?

Freddie Francis ● 1536d

Why Gullible Gulliford, do you want to call me Winston, when my name is Michael? Are you the only person in the country not appalled by what has been revealed about YCC? I suspect you may be. I also suspect you may be totally confused as to the difference between PLAYING a sport and sitting on your backside watching one on telly. Or standing in a pub watching it whilst swilling pints.In the present context, your comments make you one of the most ridiculous commenters on this forum. Obviously the WHOLE of cricket is not racist and elitist as Indians can play it wherever they live. However, English competition cricket obviously is and that is why the head of the ECC is on the news every day apologising. If you think he's wrong about this, maybe you should take it up with him. I suspect that people like you are at the root of the problem.As to rugby - no - I don't like it - I have played it and it is unpleasant and dangerous. In later life, it is only beginning to be realised how many ex-rugby players will go on to suffer dementia as a result of their pastime. But let's face it, most rugby fans don't play rugby, they drink beer and jeer as other people play rugby. That is not sport, it is beer drinking. Living in a haze pretending to be "sporty" whilst in fact being really unfit. Gullible, how fit are you?

Michael Winstanley ● 1536d

I’d be interested to know whether Winston Winstanley ever played a competitive team sport himself . I suspect not. In which case not sure he is best to comment on thinking the whole of cricket is elitist and racist . One of the most ridiculous comments seen on this forum. Winston do you like rugby ?

Nick Gulliford ● 1536d

makes perfect sense Michael.

Maxine Campbell ● 1536d

If one had gone through one's entire life without ever making a single derogatory comment about any racial group, it would be fair to call Rafiq a hypocrite without oneself being a hypocrite.The cosy (racist,misygonist, homophobic, classist) world of UK cricket is currently being exposed for what it is. Small wonder that everything whistle-blower Rafiq has ever said or ever done is now under the microscope - he has made himself a lot of enemies. Hence the false equivalence some are attemting to draw between years of persistent racist bullying with a young man's single ill-considered tweet. Is there anyone who cannot see through this?

Michael Winstanley ● 1536d

Surely, one must be allowed to change one's views, if necessary admitting one was wrong, as one learns and becomes more aware and understanding or an issues? (Otherwise we'd all still believe the Earth was flat and the centre of the universe?) Perhaps it's necessary to consider that multiculturalism isn't a one dimensional problem? Perhaps we need to understand if comments and actions result from ignorance, thoughtlessness, or unconscious bias; deliberate bigotry; institutional and cultural attitudes; or societal attitudes in general? Cultural attitudes seem unlikely to change until we have leaders from more diverse backgrounds? And it's not just an issue around racial diversification and multiculturalism; I'd suggest (for example) going to the pub after a formal meeting or event is part of the British white male culture (and I know some women and people from racial minorities have adopted that). However, I also know others who don't enjoy it - nothing to do with race or religious reasons (although that may be one) - there may be many reasons: family commitments, health, a dislike of alcohol, they have a journey home that involves driving, etc..Perhaps I'm completely wrong; I'm sure that will be pointed out (!), but I'm just promoting discussion. I'd say the more I consider and experience this the more I think I've been wearing the rose tinted glasses in the past. Do we need to accept there will always be tensions in a multicultural society and learn to live with ways to tolerate and mitigate them that allow mutual respect for many different views?  

Michael Ixer ● 1536d

Matt, also my son isn't in Stockholm, he's up the top of Sweden. About 30 miles from Umea. At the present time a Black man and somebody else have been trying to kidnap children into a car. They have caught one person but not sure if the right person. Now my sons Father in law is collecting the girls from school with the dog. The Headmistress in my son's school hasn't even bothered to notify the parents, other schools have. Nobody likes the Head at the school and a lot have complained about her and staff have left and she is rude to the parents. Obviously she isn't cut out for her job. My son did share a news clipping on Fbook but I couldn't read as in Swedish. So he told me himself. Never mind about racial comments I think parents have a lot more to worry about.

Barbara Stevens ● 1536d

No Maxine because I became aware of both revelations at the same time.

Sue Hammond ● 1536d

I'm inclined to agree Barbara. At my sons school they recently had a chat by the police about what to do if you are attacked/mugged by someone with a knife. Now he's really nervous about walking home from school on his own :(I appreciate that it's v low risk but even so it's tragic that he has to feel that way.

Matt Palmer ● 1537d

This may have sounded wrong what I put on here, but if the people in Authority don't do anything about bully's what are people meant to do to stop them. Youngsters have no respect these days for Authority the Police or anybody. Look at who are in the papers all the time doing the stabbings, or selling drugs. I bet if you lived on a Council Estate in Peckham or somewhere you wouldn't want to go out at night. It feels like that here, what woman wants to walk down the road late at night, unless they have driven, or are with friends, that includes men as well probably not being safe, this might sound a bit of an exaggeration. But it is very worrying. I don't mean all children don't have respect.

Barbara Stevens ● 1537d

I'm sick of all the racist remarks, it's no different from somebody saying you stink, your barmy, your mum's an old tart, your a bastard. Kids put up with things for years at school. Why now is it any different. My granddaughter is getting picked on at school in Sweden, she white and a young Afghan girl is picking on her. Two boys are sticking up for my granddaughter and my son who works at the school said wack her when nobody is looking. The world has gone barmy, all people want to do is make money out of a situation.

Barbara Stevens ● 1537d

we are all hypocrites. however Sue, just wanted to ask.....you have commented on Azeem now that it has been found that he has made anti Semitic comments. did you comment when he talked about the racial bullying he experienced?

Maxine Campbell ● 1537d

LOL. With everyone's whole lives now being scrutinised especially if in public life doesn't it boil down to just meaning you never get a chance to even change your mind?  Isn't that still a freedom?

Philippa Bond ● 1537d

I'm not sure I about the down hill spiral - things are definitely different but I wouldn't put rose tinted glasses on the past either.The BBC for example reluctantly has only just cleared up it's iPlayer content, removing some material that it wouldn't dare broadcast - well in the UK that is.

Ed Robinson ● 1537d

Sue and Philippa, are you hypocrites?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1537d

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/feb/10/why-everyone-hates-a-hypocrite-oliver-burkeman

Philippa Bond ● 1537d

It is quite surprising how many people manage to find fault on things that people say 10 or more years ago.  That means that many of them were still "imberbes". I agree that those messages were unacceptable.  So are those that are being "extolled" today, a decade later.Excuse me for saying this, but British society today is going on a downward spiral that is beyond scary.  What happened to the multicultural society?  What happened to people speaking other languages?  What happened to the people with broad minded people?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1537d

It's not good but it doesn't mean English cricket culture isn't racist and needs fixing?

Michael Ixer ● 1537d