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!!

Stupid woman (her, not you). What has colonialism got to do with the modern generation. It's not like we can go back in time and change anything!
I'm sick and tired of this attitude!
Mind you I don't think we help ourselves(or the press and social media doesn't) with all this "it's coming home" bollox! Save that until we actually win the final! I can understand other nations being annoyed by that 😄 but yeah, you're living here so don't be so damn rude woman!!!

🤣😅😅😅😅

I bet she has good reasons for being here. Better ones than supporting the football team.

Beyond rude. Same as the stupid stunt pulled by the Argentinians - just rude and nasty.

I think it’s her choice. It’s not mandatory to support a football team. However it does make her seem like she despises the very place and people she lives among to declare it rather than just believe it quietly. Maybe she’d prefer Scotland…

@ProudBlackMomma

What would you make of this?
Nothing. It's entirely her business who she supports/doesn't

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. you are also entitled to your opinion, as is she

Most people had been enjoying cheering on England in the World Cup so to hear this felt a bit like raining on the parade. how sensitive. Get a bigger umbrella over your parade

This woman is African but living in England and reaping all the benefits that come with that. Presumably she's working hard for said benefits, like you and your colleagues? Does she need to express an extra layer of gratitude for being an African in England?

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!! Whoopee for you! Like her, you live in an England that allows free will to support or not support any England team

To take travel to the next level, be among different cultures, life experience and to earn money.

I would never be so disrespectful to tell an enthusiastic and proud local that I wouldn’t support their team due to their past history. I’m not that ignorant.

Maybe you don't. But that does not mean other people don't.

And it does not mean bitterness to not support a football team. It's only a game. Someone can choose not to support a team for historical reasons without these reasons being some sort of overwhelming issue in their lives.

For example. If I were at a work buffet and they had farmed Salmon. I would say no thanks. I would refuse it because of the damage the industry does. And I would mention that if pressed by colleagues. That does not mean bitterness or anything like that. Just a casual " in principle" thing.

And same with football.

Yes, actually in the case of this silly cow, yes.

Cool. So you accept that other people travel as well for the same reasons I assume.

I don't really get the " disrespectful" thing here. It is only a game.

So many stupid and ignorant people calling this woman 'stupid and ignorant '. Colonialism defines so much of contemporary issues - social and economic - that only the ignorant and stupid think it's a historical issue that can now be dismissed.

Ffs what is she doing living here? Seriously.
Oh and yes every single player in the England team plus all the supporting staff, all of them personally have gone to other countries and colonised them. Each and every one has done this…..,.
She needs to engage critical thinking.
Does she hate the entire Japanese population for the way they behaved in WW2?

Once you voice an opinion absolutely anyone can disagree. I can say it’s stupid. I could say it’s hypercritical. I could even call it aggressive. That’s allowed.

Your example for me wouldn’t work because it’s relevant to now. It’s important and makes a difference now. Plus I’d be on your side for that.

It's absolutely fine. She's not rude.

I am English and absolutely understand people not wanting use to win stuff due to our colonial history.

Oh and it’s absolutely fine to say I have no interest in football. Or any other sport or tv show, film, artist, food type etc etc. Then leave it at that.

What has our young football team got to do with events of hundreds of years ago?
are you having a laugh?
Do we despise Germany, Italy etc for trying to destroy Europe recently. Don’t be so ridiculous.

But she didn't say she despised England or blamed the team for colonialism, did she.

She said she wouldn't support our football team. That's fine.

I don't despise Germany at all, but I don't support their football team.

Critical thinking to me, says you can not support a country, its government, its policies, its history; without disliking the individual citizens and it's sports players.

I watched an interview recently with a lady from East Africa talking about her experiences as a maid in a Middle Eastern country. She opposes the system that allows her and others to be exploited and doesn't support the government, but, she loves and appreciates the people and organisations in that same country that fight for her rights and freedom.
And she hasn't gone home... She's stayed to help others like herself, and to support the organisations with her experience, language skills, etc...

The blanket like it or go home is ridiculous! Everyone will decide what a country offers them and whether it serves them to stay or not.

No but you wouldn’t stand in a Berlin office and start telling them you would not support their team because of the war.
i would be over her like a rash, as a manager dealing with Prevent. She needs to know that inciting hatred is not acceptable, if it causes offence. She would be on her way out of it continued.

My guess would be she is from Nigeria.
Where you or I could never be top of a company as we are white.
Where millions are kept in slavery.
Where children are pimped openly.
Thats her roots - would you speak out about this to her face?

Or the Scandis, because of the Viking invasions.

And the Italians, because of the Romans…

It’s crazy that she’s able to say such anti English rhetoric in a professional setting. If people were spouting anti African nonsense I imagine she’d be straight to HR

The OP has only said she is from Africa.

There are 54 nations in Africa.

So your "guess" and subsequent challenge is wild, presumptuous and... telling.

Has the op said she’s Black African? If they did then guessing Nigeria would probably be a fair assumption.

I wonder why the OP started this thread……

Because I thought it was rude? Because she certainly doesn’t speak for all Black people? Because I found it embarrassing? Because I think that you should have respect for where you live? All of the above.