Absolutely. Couldn't agree more. People engage in thuggery because at a
basic level they enjoy being thugs; the geographical location for the
expression of that varies, as does the nationalistic (or even local
allegiance) "excuse" for such behavior. That was really my point. Thanks for
clarifying it for me.
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 9:26 PM
To: Kennison, Becky
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Footballers and the Empire
Becky,
I think your on the right lines but as your probably well aware the
matter of football hooliganism is much more complex. One aspect is
the
claims of representation that these idiots have when abroad and when
at
home. Quite often these people have and will fight each other in
some
kind of alligence to a football club (i.e Chelsea, Millwall, Hull)
but
once abraod they form some kind of sick alliance in fighting other
nation's hooligans and fans.
These people use the nationalist card as a way of legitimising their
actions, usually with reference to historical military events.
Football
is just a front for these activities and obviously would happen if
football never existed. It just so happens that the geographical
fixing
of football clubs is seen as symbolic to those who wish to persue
these
activities.
On Tue, 20 Jun 2000, Kennison, Becky wrote:
> In conversations with my friends, I have often suggested (not
entirely
> tongue-in-cheek) that perhaps football hooliganism now serves the
same
> purpose in British society as did colonial imperialism in the
past. For
> several hundred years, if you wanted to trash people and places,
you could
> do so under the auspices of the Empire; now if you're that type of
person,
> your choices in people and places to trash are increasingly
limited to those
> around football stadiums and for the ostensible reason for success
(or
> failure) in a football match. That nationalism and, yes,
racism/xenophobia
> arise as reasons for this sort of violence is, I think, telling.
Was the
> British Empire nationalistic, racist, and xenophobic? Of course.
Were those
> the only reason for the Empire? Of course not. But that also
doesn't mean
> they weren't part and parcel.
>
> Cheers,
> Becky
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul.A.Kent [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 7:39 AM
> To: Tony Jarvis; Hillary Shaw;
[log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: "Human sewage" - time to punish
journalists.
>
>
> Finally, football violence is always argued to be inherently
> racist/xenophbic in intent. Has anyone actually stopped to
consider
> that
> these people actually enjoy fighting because of the 'buzz'
they get
> off it,
> and that national/regional/local conflicts are just
backgrounds to a
> more
> primal urge for violence, perhaps.
>
> What does evryone think?
>
> I'd love to hear.
>
> Cheers, Paul.
>
>
>
>
> ******************************************************
> Paul Kent
> Work: 020 7775 3363
> Mobile: 07941 119053
>
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