Ex-Liverpool player Howard Gayle turns down MBE

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Eeyore

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Apr 5, 2014
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My ancestors were enslaved by Romans. I've got over it.

Yeah, but they weren't given lofty and questionable tokens of esteem that made them members of the Roman Empire....
 






Eeyore

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Apr 5, 2014
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That's OUTRAGEOUS...................what about the M6?

They're having Wolverhampton Pride at Hilton Park Services this Saturday as most of them are still stuck there.
 


Eeyore

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GT49er

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Yeah, but they weren't given lofty and questionable tokens of esteem that made them members of the Roman Empire....
They weren't given free health care, a good education (also free at the point of delivery too) and a good job playing football for a living either, were they? Of course, if they had been offered that, they should have turned it down on principle...................................
 




Eeyore

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They weren't given free health care, a good education (also free at the point of delivery too) and a good job playing football for a living either, were they? Of course, if they had been offered that, they should have turned it down on principle...................................

There was me thinking that it was their taxes that paid for their health care and children's education- as well as undeniable talent affording the job of footballer...
 


GT49er

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You should probably try thinking less. It's not producing very good results. It often misses the point entirely.
 


1066familyman

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Jan 15, 2008
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You should probably try thinking less. It's not producing very good results. It often misses the point entirely.

And you should try looking into the history of Liverpool and Bristol and ask yourself a few questions.
 




Pavilionaire

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Jul 7, 2003
31,274
Political cronyism has so much to answer for.
 


clapham_gull

Legacy Fan
Aug 20, 2003
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Loads of people have turned down gongs.

David Bowie, Albert Finney., even Kipling.

When a black person does it the old "chip on the shoulder" line comes out - I've seen it commented underneath a couple of newspaper reports today.

You are allowed to turn down award and this man has reasons for doing so (which I fully understand due it's ridiculous name in 2016) so be it.
 


Eeyore

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Ludicrous thread. Peevish scouser sticks two fingers up at the non scouse universe. An everyday happenstance in the land of Paddy's Wigwam. Nothing to see here.

I disagree, I think it's relevant. Actually, I rarely disagree with you. #HealthyDebate
 




catfish

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Dec 17, 2010
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This is the same honours system that endowed Lord Archer and Sir Philip Green.
 


Triggaaar

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Oct 24, 2005
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He is not suggesting that black people should not accept anything from Britain. He is rallying against the symbolism of the award itself. For many of his ancestors the Empire was a rotten thing. It's like a disabled German accepting an award for modern endeavour under the name of 'Member of the Third Reich'. The descendants of those who suffered would understandably have issues with it.
I understand your point, although I don't quite agree with your comparison. The British Empire was not only a force of evil.

I suggest a more modern system would have left him better disposed.
Yep, fair enough.
 








KingKev

Well-known member
Jun 16, 2011
867
Hove (actually)
It's a personal choice and good luck to him.
I would have personally thought more highly of him if he'd turned down the gong on the basis that there really should be no need for his work in this 'enlightened' age, rather than harking back to historical issues, but I also do get that the notion of Empire doesn't sit comfortably with a lot of people.
We won't change the 'empire' thing in honours, primarily because it forms part of our pomp & circumstance offering / unique selling point to our own people and the rest of the world. For some that will always create issues, but hey-ho.
 


Harry Wilson's tackle

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Oct 8, 2003
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I disagree, I think it's relevant. Actually, I rarely disagree with you. #HealthyDebate

Apologies. I did't express myself very well. Its a little difficult. Personally I don't like our honours system. not because we have one, but (i) because it has so many levels of hierarchy (unlike the US system); what is the first thing two Englishmen do when washed up on a desert island? Create a class system. So last century (ii) because it is routinely abused by politicians, as it has been since Lloyd George and most certainly before then; this means it is a degrated and discredited system. And yet, lots of people are touched and feel justified if they earn an MBE or OBE for self sacrificing service, especially when the honour was neither anticipated or expected. On the whole I remain against honours; after all, just because something makes a lot of people happy doesn't mean it is good; I give you: an arm full of heroin; East Enders; following the the Palace.

In the present case, I do think it is a bit rich for this bloke to say or imply (I can't be arse to read the source text) that all honours venerate slavery or somesuch sweeping generalisation. It sounds like a product of the oft cited lazy scouse victimhood that cuases southern eyebrows to raise from time to time. And that is a view that I have had reinforced by my best mate, a true red scouser who saw the Beatles at the cavern more than 20 times. He is a Corbynite old socialist, born and raised near Anfield as well, so its not snootiness from Hoylake speaking here.

All the best
 


cheshunt seagull

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
2,596
In the book about John Barnes' time at Liverpool by Dave Hill there is a section on how Gayle was treated and that he was virtually airbrushed out of the club's history. He may have grounds for some skepticism about the motivation and timing of this.
 




alfredmizen

Banned
Mar 11, 2015
6,342
Loads of people have turned down gongs.

David Bowie, Albert Finney., even Kipling.

When a black person does FOR THE REASON HE GAVE the old "chip on the shoulder" line comes out - I've seen it commented underneath a couple of newspaper reports today.

You are allowed to turn down award and this man has reasons for doing so (which I fully understand due it's ridiculous name in 2016) so be it.
Ive added a little bit to make it a bit more truthful.
 


alfredmizen

Banned
Mar 11, 2015
6,342
Are you suggesting that non-white Britons should keep their heads down, question nothing and be thankful for what they've got?

Either that or go somewhere that doesn't have a history that they claim exploited their ancestors.
 


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