To be utterly disgusted by the protests today.

[SoggySocksAgain]

Am I alone here?

I am utterly disgusted by what I have seen in the news.

@CockCarousel yes, it’s been eye-opening, and very disheartening.

Clavinova, yes! You got it, the protests are about much more than one individual. This is a protest against racism. And why are we still protesting against racism in 2020?

I'm surprised that people in the thread don't know about Colin Kaepernick's actions, and the subsequent reaction etc

It was on the news over here a lot

Here's the wiki link for those who don't know about this en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Kaepernick

Or perhaps Chamberlain was a visionary man of peace who was ousted by the profitable war machine. ...who knows...we certainly don't.

There is that, and the terrible slaughter of the First World War was only 20 years earlier so obviously most people wanted to avoid another war.
However the alternative was invasion and rule by the Nazis.

'couldn't they have chosen something different' 'mawkish'

Fucks sake.

Disgraceful behaviour and the rent a mob are now out in force throwing their weight around. Dont like a stature, pull it down, dont appreciate what Churchill did then spray paint his memorial.

I hate child marriage, slavery in the ME, forced arranged marriage, cruelty against animals, child murder. I have spent time in the Middle East. Some of the workers describe themselves as servants. Is that right in 2020?

For those who say that its worth the risk? I bet you arent social distancing when you get home. Have you taken that decision for people you mix with in the middle of a pandemic or do you not think the virus will get YOU? And for those who say it might overwhelm the NHS for a bit. Are you serious? You are asking the nurses and doctors to take that risk too.

Or just convinced that the removal of a slave trader statue in Bristol will lead to a Pol Pot style revolution?

Well that would have been my sentiment, but I notice activists are now demanding the removal of statues of Oliver Cromwell.

And I have a bit of an issue with that. Yes, Cromwell the man was responsible for atrocities in Ireland, but Cromwell the symbol is a reminder that it is possible to remove autocrats from power.

So my attitude to this is starting to shift, I'm afraid.

Quite.

All this 'oooh, they shouldn't have put a BLM placard on the cenotaph' is really irritating me.

Many, many Black and other minority ethnic groups died fighting in both world wars. Millions have died as a direct result of British flag waving imperialism and colonisation, and still do.

A BLM placards belongs on the cenotaph.

Rent a mob?

Seriously - they were all Bristolians.

Oh wait, I did see someone from Bath...

Let's just say it again, 99% peaceful.

Old people cant kneel. Saw a group trying to do it in a court, old folk struggle to get down and kneel, and a lot cant balance. They could have thought of a better symbol

When that is the only objection to taking the knee you can think of, you really reveal your desperation. As if anyone is going to object in the slightest if an older person chooses another method of showing solidarity.

@TabbyMumz, I see that you've come back onto the thread but haven't answered my question about Churchill. Do you accept that there is indeed evidence of his racism?

@Destroyedpeople

Or perhaps Chamberlain was a visionary man of peace who was ousted by the profitable war machine. ...who knows...we certainly don't.

There's also a very well-respected view that, by appeasement, he bought time for us to put in place much better preparations for war. It's generally acknowledged that, for instance, a very major factor in winning the Battle of Britain was our superior aircraft production capability.

@Bflatmajorsharp

Quite.

All this 'oooh, they shouldn't have put a BLM placard on the cenotaph' is really irritating me.

Many, many Black and other minority ethnic groups died fighting in both world wars. Millions have died as a direct result of British flag waving imperialism and colonisation, and still do.

A BLM placards belongs on the cenotaph.

No is doesn't, any more than a placard saying white lives matter would be appropriate. Not on the Cenotaph.

Let’s also remember The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. An unknown soldier from The Great War known only to God. Whatever colour skin he had in life is immaterial. The only criteria was to be a Soldier in The British armed forces.

When I went on a battlefield tour. The guide pointed out names on the Menin Gate, those names rightly included regiments, where the skin colour wouldn’t have been white. The same in the Cemeteries, whereby Members of The Chinese Labour Corps, The Underaged Soldiers, Those Shot at Dawn were all shown to us along with the VC winners.

All Lives Matter

But saying 'all lives matter' is like rushing angrily into a breast cancer discussion group and shouting 'all cancers matter!'

This indeed

Who is talking about 'foreign nationals'?

@halogran What does that have to do with this conversation? Does non-white = foreign national? Your racism is showing

The question is being answered. Why are so many people protesting against racism in 2020? Because there is still so much racism.

@BristolProud It's been really enlightening the past few days seeing threads on here. On the one hand - there are clearly lots of people really listening, fighting for change, educating themselves, and calling out racism. But my lord there's been so much racism to call out.

The question is being answered. Why are so many people protesting against racism in 2020? Because there is still so much racism.

People were boycotting tea brands yesterday because they spoke up against racism. You couldn't make it up! Then they will try to claim that there is no racism in the UK 🙄

@halogran What does that have to do with this conversation? Does non-white = foreign national? Your racism is showing

Well obviously

Non-white Brits are not really British and should be grateful to this country that they are allowed to be here.

You only have to look at the hostile environment, Windrush and even Afua Hirsch's recent TV appearance talking about having a difficult conversation about statues (she didn't even say we must remove them) before one of the panelists asked her if she is so bothered she must leave.

Why must she leave? She is British and born and raised in this country.

I sincerely doubt if she was a white British commentator with one French parent and an English parent anyone would say go back to France, especially if she was born and raised in this country and had never set foot in France.

But time and time again, this is trotted out as a response to non-white British people when they ask to have a conversation about race and racism in this country.