Martin Hayes wrote:Augie,
I've always had time for your views, whether in agreement or not, but this staggers me.
Why do you assume that anyone needs the media to decide whether they approve of fascism or not? This statement is patronising at best, and deeply offensive at worst.
I know nothing about you - which part of London you live in, where your parents come from, what your background is, but I have always considered you to be thoughtful. Why ignore the thousands around you who would be deeply offended by fascism? Jews, Blacks, in fact anyone not from 15 generations of Anglo-Saxon ingratitude....which is no one I've ever met.
This has fuck all to do with the media and everything to do with all of us who constitute The Arsenal - and if you don't get that, I have misjudged you completely...and I'd rather that wasn't the case...
Martin you are misreading what I am saying - what I am saying is that there wasnt any outcry, media or otherwise, about di canio's politics prior to his sunderland appointment. Are we saying that politics is only relevent at premier league level ? Where was the uproar when he was swindon manager or when he was a shammers player ? That is not me condoning his opinions but merely suggesting that there is a level of hypocrisy here by some people and it is being driven by those O'neill loving media c.unts.
Re the guy's political opinions I cannot say whether they are genuine beliefs or not - that is not me condoning those views but I am merely pointing out that in all his time in british football he has never had one incident of racism and I dont think that fact can be disputed. What I do see is a guy who has tried to be contraversal throughout his career in an effort to please the fans of the clubs he has played for - look at his history in clubs like celtic, the shammers and at swindon and you will see a guy that is idolised by his clubs support whilst disliked/hated by almost everyone else. Is it possible that a guy can be loved by fans of every club considering the historical viewpoints of those clubs fans have been in complete contrast to each other ?
Re the racism I should point out that I am Irish and live in Ireland but was born and spent the first 7 years of my life in London so maybe you feel that prevents me having as clear a viewpoint as those living in england. I do find it slightly selective for you to as an englishman to express such outrage at racism considering how many incidents of racism that there still is every single year in england. Ask any Irishman living in england in the 70's whether they experienced racial abuse based on where they came from - I remember attending a game v dirty leeds in highbury a few years back when TA6 clearly shouted anti Irish abuse at robbie keane. That isnt me having a pop at the english or anything like that cos I see the Irish behaving like that towards the "foreigners" over here all the time but you clearly state that racism offends 15 generations of anglo saxons which is slightly stretching the truth somewhat imo. Every country has somewhere along the line had a strong percentage of racist people and as sad as that is, it doesnt disguise it's accuracy
Anyway I digress...can I just say in summation, that I oppose racism and facism in every guise and if this guy actually shows behaviour along those lines (as opposed to getting some stupid tatoo then I will be the first to call for his sacking and arrest for said offences however until this happens I am willing to go by his previous conduct in the british game as a more accurate indicator of his feelings
