xiaolan Prof. Member
Geregistreerd op: 10 Apr 2017 Berichten: 602
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Geplaatst: 16-07-2018 01:57:25 Onderwerp: In toxic times |
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When England make it to a World Cup in normal times there is never too much need to agonise over the significance of it all beyond the football itself; the coherence of midfield, confidence on the ball, the astonishingly fine margins between progress and exit. But these are abnormal times with the UK divided by the toxic, anti‑immigration Brexit campaign so, understandably, people have agonised.
Looking for optimistic signs, many people have seen a warmer‑hearted version of England being encouraged by the extended exposure to the inclusive values of Gareth Southgate and his diverse, likable group of players. In a tweet just after Englands elimination by Croatia, Kyle Walker channelled the spirit and nearly the exact words of the Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered by an English fascist just before the referendum: We might live in a time where sometimes its easier to be negative than positive, or to divide than to unite, but England: lets keep this unity alive. I love you.
We can all hope for a lasting legacy of unity from Englands surprisingly extended and heartening journey to the semi-final, but there is a queue of cautionary notes. The first is that it is not clear whether or how this message particularly communicates itself to the millions of people supporting England, whether in an ecstatic, pint‑chucking city square crowd or at home on the couch with a brew.
For some the participation in Englands squad of 11 sons of immigrants may be absorbed, notable and a source of pride including Southgate himself no doubt, given his comments about wanting to heal the countrys divisions. For others it may not be; Bob Lilly Womens Jersey if England had actually triumphed, perhaps for some the lesson would have been that the country is superior, we can stand alone, that the Brexit decision was somehow vindicated.
The memory lingers of fans at the European Championship just before the 2016 referendum chanting in a French square: Fuck off Europe, were all voting out.
Perhaps there is no unity to the perception of the England team and what it all means; maybe it is split 48%-52%. Maybe not; but if Southgates statement of values and his teams amiability did show the country a better vision for itself, what now?
We have a previous experience of this, the 2012 London Olympics, and the http://www.ottawasenatorsofficialonline.com/Adidas-Mike-Hoffman-Jersey legacy was not long‑lasting. Then, the whole United Kingdom was treated to the stellar achievements and unrestrained patriotism of a Great Britain team including many black and mixed-race athletes. Few corners of the country were left unaware of Mo Farahs inspiring story, that he came to London as a refugee from war-torn Somalia, and here he was with his cockney accent and smile as bright as a floodlight, running round the track with a gold medal, wrapped in the union jack. Danny Boyles opening ceremony was hailed around the world for its celebration of modern, multicultural Britain, showcasing the NHS and the Windrush Caribbean immigrants who helped to build it.
Now we know too well what happened, despite that summer when the country was being told http://www.officialnhlhockeyonline.com/TORONTO_MAPLE_LEAFS-c-1087_1122.html that old divisions and resentments had been overcome. At the very same time Theresa May, then the home secretary, was implementing her policy to make the UK a hostile environment for illegal immigrants, many of whom are simply asylum seekers, like Farah was, whose claims the Home Office does not accept. We know what the results of that policy scandalously were for so many distinguished members of the Windrush generation whose contribution had been celebrated at the opening ceremony. They have been hounded for impossible proof of their existence in the country, lost jobs, been denied Ben Ijalana Jersey health treatment, detained, deported. May did all this because she believed years in which asylum seekers and immigrants were negatively portrayed in the media meant the public wanted a hostile environment, and perhaps she was right.
The warm vision for Britain presented by Boyle was a memory four years later when the referendum campaign got going. Then the media was dominated not by positive stories of immigrants lives and achievements but relentless caricature and scare headlines, Nigel Farage standing in front of that Leave.EU poster of refugees with its blood-curdling warning: Breaking Point.
http://www.bulkmoneyforum.com/showthread.php?t=50954&p=201354#post201354
http://www.cobalt-forum.ru/club/showthread.php?t=3593&p=12162#post12162
http://hundetreff.hunde4um.com/t9417f2034-NFL-players-have-succumbed-to-protest-pressure.html#msg11380
http://trueblood.tv4um.de/t5139f2048-Pons-outduels-Rondina-as-FEU-piles-on-UST-woes.html#msg6464 |
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