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!!

Yes, claimed victimhood (as opposed to actual victimhood) is very popular indeed. It can be really powerful in getting what you want.

Yes, this?

There is a good chance that their country might also have fought for freedom. There are 61 countries that have an Independence Day. Independence from the UK.

The UK set's the record for that.

In fact, the USA just had a big celebration of their indy day. They had a war against the Brits and won.

Plenty of nations have fought for freedom.

Why would it upset people ?

I am Scottish. Would I upset people if I said I had decided not to support England because of historical wars ?

Are you including wars where Scotland and England were united? We’ve fought under the same flag for a couple of centuries now.

I’d find your reasoning uneducated, I wouldn’t be upset though.

I suppose you could find my reasoning uneducated. But it is a bit odd for you to say my reasoning is uneducated without you knowing what my reasoning is.

I think that is very odd.

In what way-“getting what you want”?

Yes they should be to a degree...but no one seems to talk much about the French, German and the appalling Belgian colonies.

I personally would complain to hr as its not acceptable in this day and age to make comments like that in an office.

Plus and I know it would be immediately seen as racist, I'd point out that had it not been for Britain's past she wouldn't be living in a modern first world country and undoubtedly her life in her country of origin would be so much different.

I am Scottish. Would I upset people if I said I had decided not to support England because of historical wars ?

You literally put your reason in your post so….

Did you not mean World war 1/2? Falklands? Napolian? Only those which suit your narrative or you were aware of? Maybe if you had named the war which personally upset you?

We would think you were a plonker yes and considering you were in recent wars too, you would start a very unpleasant scene at work.
You manager would have a quiet word and tell you to shut the f up.

Oh you are one of those? Do you want a cookie?

her opinion is valid to her! Any African knows how colonialism still impacts the everyday lives in every of sphere of modern day Africa.

And all these other comments? The education system in this country that barely acknowledges history that impacted a huge part of the world lets you all down so much you’re so gleefully and yet painfully ignorant.

No and those countries don’t talk about it either. Mostly because we helped to liberate them from evil, in recent times. Not hundreds of years ago.

Yep. I mentioned this on the MN site stuff thread. Everything is always in the name.

‘Another vile person living in a country that has fought for freedom…. Go back to your own country if you don’t like it here.’

that made me laugh! Unfortunately British history shows they fought against freedom far more than they ever did for it… Ireland, Middle East, South Africa, India, Caribbean, Africa … making a fortune from slavery. Repressing the native people annd their culture, language even sport. and in and on and on.

The British ignorance of their own history never fails to amaze me, unsurprising that they just prefer to pretend that the World
Wars were the only conflicts they were ever involved in. And even then WW1 was absolutely partly the fault of the British.

If you want to see how colonialism still impacts lives just look across the Irish Sea. Or at I Di’s/ Pakistan. Or Israel/Palestine.
The work of the UK is still very much a current thing. Well done chaps!

Except slavery in Africa is still very much alive today. If you want to see it at its very worst go and live in Lagos or Port Harcourt.

Yup. I did not name the historical wars. It was a hypothetical question. And nor will I, because you have already stated your position.

As an example though, have you read the 6th verse of the UK national anthem?

And no, the '45 does not upset me. It was not technically Scotland V England. But it could upset me, and I reckon I could put a good case forward using it as a reason not to support England at football. Singing the "God save the King" would be a good starting point.

But the Glorious Revolution that is connected to the '45 does still upset some people.

Yes, exactly this! It’s up to her

More people live in slavery today than ever did in history.
Are you going to blame us for that too?

It’s quite typical isn’t it.. 🙄

I think you need to pipe down.
You are insulting an awful lot of people.

Unfortunately British history teaching is still tainted with the 1066 and all that ethos of the victorian public schools which lead to a generation thinking they were in a boys own annual and heroic leaders of men in the first war. Their life expectancy was 6 weeks.

British history is full of self interest and abuse of others. Like every other country. Take Zulu history where UShaka had thousands impailed or the hords of Attilla or the Romans or the Vikings

But that was then and this is now. Thus lady has used the current state of the world and undoubtedly British reaction to the colonial past to make a better life in the UK than she would have had. So why does she feel the need to bring up the very thing that has personally benefited her?

I do not understand why MN allows these obviously made up posts which are clearly designed to stir up racial hatred to stay up. I honestly wonder if they now care so much about profit they are willing to turn a blind eye so as to drive engagement and thus advertising money.

And I bet they remove my post rather than engaging with what I am saying.

I mean given that they invented the game, and haven’t won any tournaments in over 60 years, is quite unacceptable.. Then comes the blame game, it’s so pathetic. Really, they just need to accept they aren’t that great at all!

Any African knows how colonialism still impacts the everyday lives in every of sphere of modern day Africa.

How do they "know" this exactly? Have the run the historical version of history where colonialism didn't happen in their country?