peanuts Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Nothing but repect for this guy http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-37047318 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Burns Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Particular guffaws at 'we do not comment on individual cases'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opinions4u Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 I can only remember him playing once for Liverpool. European Cup semi in Munich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeslover Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 I wouldn't be tempted by one either (service in educating motorists?) but it's historically dodgy. The Empire found a booming slave trade when it came to Africa and joined in, but then had a think and shut it down not just themselves but the rest of the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piglinbland Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Remember Gayle well because I lived behind Ewood Park when he played for 'Bastard' Rovers. A bloody good player for them too. I admire people who turn down their honours - although I do intend to accept my OBE (when it comes). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanuts Posted August 11, 2016 Author Share Posted August 11, 2016 im the same dont agree but will gladly accept my George cross for the pain and suffering endured suporting the latics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBosch Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Isn't the fact he's being given one validation of a society & world that he, and others, have rightly been working to bring about? Granted we could do with dropping the "Empire" from these things.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfatjoe1 Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 I'm moderately left of centre, but his reasoning actually shows him as part pretentious, part ignorant of history and part thick. British reformers were at the forefront of the crusade against slavery. The 'empire' bit is just an archaic throw back. Meaningless gesture, which is just slightly insulting towards his own country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piglinbland Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 It's a complicated thing but I think the crux of the matter is that we should be happy to live in a society where we CAN refuse an honour. A bit like performance art, Tracy Emin, Wendy O. Williams and assorted people taking a dump on the floor. Not necessarily my cup of tea (sic) but happy that it exists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeslover Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 It's a complicated thing but I think the crux of the matter is that we should be happy to live in a society where we CAN refuse an honour. A bit like performance art, Tracy Emin, Wendy O. Williams and assorted people taking a dump on the floor. Not necessarily my cup of tea (sic) but happy that it exists. Refusing them has always happened but it's always been considered poor taste to announce it. Not sure I see why really as so many awards make political statements themselves, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Burns Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Yeah cos slavery doesn't exist anymore ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritchierich Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 Whilst I respect his choice to turn it down I find it pretty insulting that he associates modern Britain with events that happened hundreds of years ago Times were different and the U.K. has much to be proud of in the way it has built an open, tolerant, multi cultural and free society.....of course it is far from perfect but we have a fairly large population on a smallish island and all things considered, the vagaries of human nature included, we don't do too bad a job of things! "Empire" was complex and owed as much to trade and the British spirit of adventure as it did to greed and developed world arrogance but conquest and enslavement were sadly the norm throughout history and continue to be so in parts of the world today. Britain has far more to be proud of than be ashamed of and it would have been better I think for Gayle to accept the honour for the reason it was given....i.e his valuable work to help ensure we continue to make the UK an even better place for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayItLivo Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 Not really much to it, he doesn't want to accept an award from an instituion that is still inherantly racist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nonaenever Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Nothing but repect for this guy http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-37047318 Why ? Unfortunately, human slavery has been a "constant" throughout history (and remains so). The people of these Islands were enslaved in large numbers by the Romans and Vikings amongst others - that doesn't mean I hold it against present day Italians, Danes or Swedes. Unfortunately the left wing latched onto "black slavery" many years ago and we are all supposed to walk around in a state of apologetic guilt. Sorry but Gayle needs to learn his history - ALL slavery is abhorrent - let's not focus on one particular part of it simply along the racial divide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimsleftfoot Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 I personally blame the present day Italians for the Romans invading Britain nearly 2000 years ago. Particularly the ones who are completely unrelated to my invading ancestors!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kowenicki Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 (edited) There is more slavery in black, arab and asian nations than anywhere now. Perhaps he can go and make a real statement and campaign to work against slavery where it is actually still an issue, rather than a pathetic weak gesture like this. Edited August 27, 2016 by kowenicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piglinbland Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 I really don't care if he accepts his award or not . That said, his gesture is anything but pathetic and weak- "I am British, I was born here and my children were born here. There is no argument to be had about my patriotism. But the empire is something that oppressed black people." Sounds reasonable to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kowenicki Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 I really don't care if he accepts his award or not . That said, his gesture is anything but pathetic and weak- "I am British, I was born here and my children were born here. There is no argument to be had about my patriotism. But the empire is something that oppressed black people." Sounds reasonable to me. The empire doesn't exist any more. The name of the medal is just that, a name. He contradicts himself in that very paragraph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 There is more slavery in black, arab and asian nations than anywhere now. We'll ignore human trafficking across Europe and the Americas. Whether we agree with his take on history or not, he has a choice and has given a principled stance, challenging the honour. Incidentally, I believe we should have civic awards and honours that aren't connected to the 'Empire' - it's all a bit stuffy, dated, and Faragesque. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimsleftfoot Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 (edited) It's not really meant as a go at us, the average man. To me it's a bit like someone having a go at the bedroom tax I.e. the government and the establishment. The Empire 'ended' after the 2nd World War (some would argue 1997) and the Conservatives and the old money are currently running this country, quite a big link to the past. I can understand his reasoning. I agree with Rummy, keeping old traditions make it hard to give the message that we've changed. Edited August 28, 2016 by jimsleftfoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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