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!!

Oops. That was in reply to @BMW58 suggesting a slow hand clap and eye-rolling.

No one expects you to support England. I do find it bizarre that people who claim to hate a country choose to live and work there, why do that?

I assume you also feel the same about practically every other Western European country too (except Ireland obvs)?

Where the heck do you work @countrylife00 that your manager would "have a quiet word" (nudge, nudge) with someone not supporting THE team? Have you time-travelled from the early 70s?

Okaaay...manager who "would be all over her like a rash" you're surely not really saying you'd move to fire someone because they don't support England in football and "she would be on her way out"?
I think what you mean to say is that, as a manager, you've always discouraged discussion of politics (including colonialism) at work?

I’d certainly take it as a deliberate insult aimed at English people and intended to provoke, just my opinion. Best to ignore it though, it’s not a big deal but remember the incident when it comes time to voting . I don’t really understand why people who don’t like English people would move to England in the first place, the weather?

It is very rude and disrespectful to try and push her opinion on a group of people who just want to watch football. She was clearly looking for an argument just so she could say how terrible the British people are and voice her outdated opinion.

Its fashionable for us to hate England these days and to endlessly apologise for things that happened years ago.

It’s pretty boring. If people hate the place that much, bugger off somewhere else.

Could you ask her why Man United is so popular with young boys/men in Africa?
Despite being a huge continent, English football and footballers have a massive following and the dream is to play for Man U and/or England.

its incredible you think this is a positive and not a longstanding result complete whitewash of local identity

If it’s not too painful to think, ask yourself why most economic migrants are from the countries that the British colonised.

They are benefitting by the colonisation, so does she want to not!! Ask them to research the realities of what happened, then come back and discuss. History by those who seek to divide, via the net, is not history!

who does she support?

Rude

This is just not true. It's ok to have opinions contrary to others, and to express them.

They're still a colonial power in northern Ireland and plenty of people alive today were alive when they had soldiers there. I supported England over Argentina btw, but colonialism is a fact, and it helps explain patterns of migration into the UK

Your wrong but growing belief is precisely why our society is increasingly unpleasant and unsafe. Your opinions are usually worthless but have the power to aggravate and distress. Therefore, unless there is a pressing need to do so, keep schtum at work.

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.

So, she won’t have supported France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden or Norway then?

France had around 90 colonies worldwide, including territories in North America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. French colonization was extensive in West Africa, Indochina, and parts of the Caribbean.

Spain colonized large parts of the Americas, including Mexico, Central America, much of South America, and the Caribbean. It also held enclaves in Africa, such as Ceuta and Melilla.

Portugal established colonies in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Goa and Macau.
The Dutch established colonies in Indonesia, Suriname, the Caribbean, and parts of Africa.

Belgium controlled the Congo (modern DRC), Rwanda and Burundi), as well as smaller concessions in Guatemala and China.

Germany had colonies in Africa, including modern-day Namibia, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Togo, as well as Pacific islands.

Italy colonized parts of Africa, including Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia.

Denmark-Norway controlled colonies in the Caribbean, Greenland, and parts of India.

Sweden and Norway had smaller colonial ventures in the Caribbean and Africa.

Has she never stopped to consider why Spanish, French and Portuguese is widely spoken in other countries?

Whilst enjoying and thriving off the very colonialism and freedoms she SO detests as she says it… 😂 the irony!

I agree that it is best not to do this at work, as we are forced to be there along with our colleagues and maintaining a polite atmosphere is important. You didn't originally specify at work though. And I believe that in day to day life, expressing opinions, politely, is perfectly fine. Opinions that are linked to good evidence are not worthless. Random beliefs that are clearly just prejudiced and have no evidence to sustain them are pretty worthless. Education is meant to teach us how to assess if there are facts to support our beliefs, but not everyone is well educated, sadly.

So counter her argument. Explain to her why she is wrong. Turn it into a discussion.

Even if they were alive it doesn't mean they were responsible. If a person or people from a particular country commits a crime that does not mean everyone else from that country and everyone whoever lives there for all eternity is responsible.

I could understand it if she was being offered an OBE and decided to turn it down, but the England squad is a positive reflection of the modern reality of our colonial past. Sad she's only focussing on the negative.

of course we as a nation are complicit. We benefit from the riches stolen from other cultures many of which still sit in british museums and we do nothing to compel those places to return those items.
also not all the sins of the english establishment are that long ago. The flooding of capel celyn happened in the 60s.

She needs to grow up personally and with her immigrant community!! Those of us who live here are supporting all England teams and are proud to do so. This is the country we have CHOSEN to live, work and bring up families. It's a emotional betryal to keep harping on colonialism. That was then, it is now. We are here and need to be grown up to be proud of this country. Not sure what part of her being religious, family, education prevents her to be so miserable!!

How is everyone in the nation benefiting or complicit from items in the British museum etc We haven't been asked if we want to give them back but I am sure that most people couldn't care less. And who alive today had anything to do with the decision to flood Capel Celyn? It's fucking ridiculous that some people in north Wales are still using that as an excuse to be anti English.