- Jan 18, 2009
- 4,886
So really it's a matter of interpretation...
Trouble is that interpretation is broadly along political lines and people's stance on this is generally predictable.
Once again, I am sure there are hidden agendas on both sides of the divide - and for some it is the political perspective that dictates how they respond, in spite of Southgate reassuring the public that the team gesture is first, last and only about racial inequality.
For many reasons this is a deeply divided country and as far as I can see reaction to 'the knee' showcases those divisions; but I don't think it caused them.
Agree with that. Won’t replay views but on knee, however re the divided country point, think divisions in the U.K. have always existed, maybe with today’s 24 hour media, the rise of the commentariat and social media there is an amplification of that division which makes the divisions feel deeper than they really are.
That said their certainly feel like there are more divisions today, and that the divisions are more polarised. Sport and football should be a unifying medium (as much as it is possible in a game with rivalry) with the euros/World Cup providing periodic nation unifying experiences (like Russia last year).
This is the first such event where that more broadly unifying experience has been lost, and that is a shame.
The olympics start in a month and I think we will see more of the same there, especially now the IOC has banned the knee. Interesting that the ban was following polling of 3000 participating athletes of which over 70% said the Olympics should not be used as a means of registering any political protest. A landslide.