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 do wonder how black players feel singing God Save the King…

She’s allowed to feel this way, it was probably best not to state it at work though.

Claimed victimhood )thanks to the poster above) Unless you know someone 300 years old?

They are English.
He is their King.
They all sing it.

If this is real then no she is not being unreasonable.
however, this is clearly a rage bait attempt to get the Farage fans out and riled up on a Sunday morning, congrats OP

So it turns out the British are no different to any other individual, family, village, town, country, civilisation or species who put their own self-interests first...

Not if my manager was a Scottish Nationalist. Or if I was the manager come to that.

If a white country said the same thing back to her about the current slavery in her country and they would never celebrate any team in her country, that would be an acceptable reply?
if you did say that in her country, there would be a good chance you might meet an early ending.

Why is it claimed victimhood ?

The England football team is incredibly diverse & is unlikely to support colonialism either ! Everyone can support who they wish but it’s a ridiculous comment to make !

She's a racist and can fuck off to any of the other many countries she may prefer she's also blind if she hasnt noticed that many of the players have African ancestry.

I often wonder why people who don't like it here, don't just go live somewhere else.

It is not that hard. I have lived in 4 other countries. If you have half a brain cell, you can go work somewhere else.

If some of the countries that these people are from are so great, why don't they go back there? Or, are they here to cream the system, save lots of money then go back with a wad of cash and live life like a prince.

Most Brits don’t appear to like it much either, judging by the streams of ‘failed state — I’m emigrating’ posts on here.

Totally depends on the tone and body language used to make that comment. Could be acceptable or provocative depending on the above.

Exactly this.
I really don’t know why we are expected to put up with it.
If she went back to her own country she would be put firmly in her place.

People feel emboldened to say these things because there are no consequences for their actions and no boundaries placed on their behaviour whilst here. People come here and abuse our system and hospitality.

If you are not British and you have come here to work, you are a guest here.

Try living in the 2 European countries and the 2 Asian countries I worked in and saying this crap to one of the locals at work. They would tell you to your face to piss off back to your own country and you were not welcome, and quite rightly so.

When I worked overseas I always knew my place - I was a guest, there at their discretion.

This is a very good point, though I agree you could never say it.

Why did you live in 4 other countries ?

After all, if you had a good reason to live in another country, is it not possible others do too ?

It would be like me wanting Germany to lose in the World Cup because I’m upset about the Second World War which my grandad fought and subsequently had life changing injuries from.

That would be, in my opinion, bloody stupid and trying to make a past event about me and how I have suffered because of it and everyone must recognise it and respect it. You might think that’s an acceptable argument. I don’t.

It's not rude. It is what she feels based on things that will have happened to her family. These feelings go deep.

Not really. Because if your grandad was disabled it would have impacted on your parents upbringing, and that could pass to you.

In Ireland and I had to tell my kids near the start of this World Cup to cop on that what England did was a long time ago after they said they and their friends all thought the same and the people who hold grudges now are just looking to make trouble in general anyway, that we’re all friends now!!! I also said that if they watch premiership they’re mostly supporting English!! They were cheering for both last night .

Very unwise comment. I can see why it made you join Mumsnet with a very descriptive name that makes you nominally immune to criticism on this subject, post about this 'ungrateful immigrant' and then disappear, allowing the immigrant hatred to self propogate! I really can.

Colleagues principles cannot be that strong or she would t be living here . Theses types of ppl are a strong eye roll for me . Performative political views are meaningless when you you don't live by them

It probably did. In fact I’d bet money my mum and her siblings suffered for it! But there comes a point where the bitterness ends. Do I blame the Germany in Europe now? 🤣 No. That would be useless and again bloody stupid!

If I was her line manager I'd offer words of advice, something like "if you keep raining on other people's parades you are not going to be terribly popular" , From a colleague I'd ignore it.