AIBU to think my colleague's anti England comment was rude?

[ProudBlackMomma]

What would you make of this? A colleague declared in front of the whole team in the office the other day that she’d never ever support England in any sport due to their history colonialism. Personally I think it’s rude and fails to read the room. Most people had been enjoying cheering on England in the World Cup so to hear this felt a bit like raining on the parade. This woman is African but living in England and reaping all the benefits that come with that. I’m Black too but proud to say I’m English and happy to cheer on the players, who include plenty of black men who I assume also cheer on England!!

I just mean the language is meaningless (especially as “blackness” is just a meaningless term invented my Europeans and it’s a weird defence) and it also ignores the two unique things Europeans did which was industrialise it and create a racialised pseudoscientific superstructure to uphold it.

No published definite figures of aid since 2nd WW but could be around 100 million.

i can’t define “strings” for you though.

Oh- that was just for Jamaica.

Exactly. Most English/British people were working in the fields or down the mines/in factories at the time we are supposed to have been oppressing everyone else.

Anyway both Spain and Argentina have been involved in colonialism too so who is the OP's colleague going to support this evening? And indeed the English-France game must have conflicted them somewhat too.

And yes, no politics or religion in the workplace. Totally inappropriate unless you work for a think tank!

If the woman feels so strongly about this topic, I wonder why, of all the places in the world, she chose to work in England. Surely she’d resent paying taxes to a former colonial country ?

No, we need to stop visiting the sins of past generations on their offspring. The world would be a much better place if we looked forward and worked together, rather than constantly harping on about perceived slights from centuries ago.

This thread is absolutely fascinating, and some posters’ defensive, chippy John Bull-ishness and under-information makes Brexit retrospectively far less surprising.

As an Irish person I will never support England, before you judge her read a little and learn some history about the genocide and atrocities committed all over the world by England and the British empire. So Boohoo you feel she was rude and to all the commenters saying go home you are racists, this is why we wont support your teams. We work here because we can and tough if you don’t like it.

Do you know that she doesn't hold the sw views towards the countries you've listed?

People on MN despise the people they live with, but won't leave them. It's not much of a stretch to think of why she'd live in a country (vaster expanse than a home) you've decided she doesn't like.

Ain’t that the truth!

But it’s part of some people’s identities to keep old conflicts alive, I guess.

Why are people responsible for atrocities committed by their ancestors before they were even born?

No- one expects or wants you to support England though.

What you say doesn’t correspond to what’s been said in most posts.

i have a postgrad in history, thanks.

Your history degree is irrelevant to this persons very real experience of generational trauma. And before you tell me to ‘go home’ I’m English who supports England in the World Cup. Living here doesn’t mean people have to especially when their experience with England and its colonial history is bad

Because she said she doesn't like England as a country - claiming that England/Britain is still a colonialist power centuries on.

If she'd said that she didn't support the England football team because she doesn't like football, or she doesn't like something about the way the team plays (as lots of people have said about Argentina), or she prefers any other team for any reason... surely not a problem.

It's the false, incendiary accusations against England - the England she lives in and not rhe England of centuries ago, where bad things were done by people who died many, many years ago, and which have been roundly rejected by their descendants - that are the issue.

claiming that England/Britain is still a colonialist power centuries on.

Isn't Britain still a colonial power, or did they relinquish power on all their territories while I've been asleep?
I know they were also a colonial power in my country less than a century ago.

Are you Irish? Apologies, my timing was off as it wasn't multiple centuries ago but only just over one, I believe.

The Commonwealth still exists - and is formed mainly of former British colonies - but we are no longer in charge of any of them and they are free to leave if they want to - as some indeed have. Just like the EU is not a Belgian colony, but and - as we've seen with Brexit - members are free to leave if they wish to.

It's often said in half-jest that Britain has provided the world with more independence days than any other country... but surely this has only been possible because we are no longer a colonial power?!

Why would anyone want to settle in country that they hate due to that country's history? I just wonder if your colleague's 'homeland' is totally innocent of any human exploitation? That aside, your colleague is entitled to her opinion and also entitled to express it. She was rude, and clearly does not care, but lots of people are rude. I was delighted to cheer on England in their win against Argentina in last night's rugby match in Santiago. 🏈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I am from a Commonwealth country and independence was gained in the 60s, so quite recently.

Our highest Court of law sits in London - Privy Council; and King Charles is still our head of state. Colonialism is not something in our distant past, unfortunately.

Op, are you not British as opposed to English? Just wondering…

But your country is free to leave the common wealth. You don't have to have king Charles as head of state either.

So no one alive in the UK today had anything to do with it.

I work in the public sector and I’m the only one supporting England in my team, everyone else seemed to think it was cooler not to despite being born here!

Really? We hadn't realised that 😳.

Yes, my ex was one and I put up the anti English rhetoric for years. I obviously didn't expect him to support England if we were playing against his country but he would support anyone England was playing against. Rude arsehole.

Would you though?
Because that would be harassment and she'd be well advised to report you, and there'd be witnesses.