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Where has he picked up that bile? However, this is a great opportunity to educate the lad. Take him to Villa and let him chat to the black players of even meet up with Zaha. Everyone is capable of change, just a misled kid.
no wonder this worlds fucked up.
It’s undoubtedly an idiotic & despicable act at any time, but the culprit has picked the worst possible time to commit it. Given the current high-profile of the whole racism issue there’d have been a massive outcry if the police had failed to take any less decisive action.
Are you saying that the police are acting simply out of deference to public expectation? It is the law they are upholding here, but should we ask whether the full weight of that law should fall on an ignorant 12 year old? Should we irretrievably criminalise a child, not yet into his teens, for such stupidity? But if we don’t, does that set an unwelcome precedent in these fevered times?
I’m saying that the current sensitivity surrounding any racism-related acts may have contributed to the course of action taken by the police. I think unfortunately they are in a ‘damned if they do/damned if they don’t’ situation, depending on your viewpoint. Given that, the police really had no choice but to follow the letter of the law.
So Archie you asked the questions what are your thoughts on this?
Not necessarily the parents fault. When I was about 13/14 I thought I was joking when I called my mother a silly old cow just before going to a Blackpool match and being told by her that I needed another layer of clothing on. I was within earshot of my Dad who blew a gasket, result, I was grounded, didn't get to the match, was told in no uncertain terms what I had said as well as the meaning of it and was in the dog house for a few days.
And his next door neighbour called him a "honky."
It's cringeworthy now, but worth pointing out that it was never done in an offensive manner, there were never any racist undertones. Racism is treating somebody as inferior because of their race or beliefs - or at least is should be. People ARE different. But we are all equal. Society has evolved and changed since the Alf Garnett days, but it's a little unfair to brand it as racist. "Of it's time" and dated, yes. Same goes for Rising Damp. The black characters nearly always ended up "winning" - they were usually portrayed as getting the upper hand, being cleverer, more intelligent. If anything, these programmes were showing the white masses that ethnic minorities were no different to them.
As you say, we do not know the lad’s background and family circumstances. No doubt the social services will become heavily involved.
Those 4 years aren't like yours and my 4 years. There's a lot of growing up being done in that time - do you remember it?
I do remember it and I accept that this lad has made the comments and needs to pay the price. Sick of the namby pamby treatment being issued nowadays. That leads to youths believing they are untouchable.
