Its not big and its not clever!

If you haven't got anything nice to say...

It is sadly a sign of the times that i feel i must start with a caveat. So there can be no confusion or misinterpretation, so there is no ambiguity- Racism is cowardly, ignorant, abhorrent and poison. There is no place for it in society, in the work place, in school play grounds or in football.
 I love football. As an 11 year old boy I had the privilege to be chosen as a ball boy for my favourite team Sheffield United. At pitch side, i was close enough to the action to actually hear what the players were saying to each other. I distinctly recall being shocked at hearing winger Colin Morris telling a team mate he was "playing like a fanny".
   Professional footballers are these days, very wealthy, very fortunate men. With the fame and fortune comes a responsibility to their employers- the fans. They are role models, emulated and imitated in the school yard , on local parks and in streets.
 During the Terry versus Ferdinand race trial it was apparent that it has become acceptable for the super stars of the game, the recipients of the great wealth and of our admiration, to treat other each other with utter contempt. Described as banter by both parties the vile language used was a disgrace. The outrage at one player calling another a fu@#ing black c#@t was brought to court in the name of racism.
 Take the word black out of that sentence and  it should lose none of its nastiness or offensiveness. If my 11 year old child was given the honour of being a ball boy at a game now, that is the acceptable language of a former England captain. Thanks, but no thanks.
 The hype and hysteria that surrounded the court case and the numerous enquiries that will follow, will do nothing to help the reputation of the national sport. You may have noticed that the world will be watching this country for the summer as we host the Olympic games. Having just had ex footballer Sol Campbell urge fans not to visit Euro 2012 because the hosts were racist, how many people will decide not to visit London for the same reason.
I am in favour of the right to freedom of speech. I am in favour of the right to express an opinion, but there has to be an acceptable manor in which to enjoy those rights.
I read on twitter that racist comments are worse than fat comments, because fat people have a choice.I heard someone say racism was worse because "of the whole slavery thing". The debate then moved to ugly people, short people, stupid people or ginger people.
 As a short man,  measuring in at a towering 5ft bang on, i have all my life been the butt of size jokes. Friends, colleagues, managers and even strangers have thought it perfectly reasonable for them mention my height. As far as i know, I have never been over looked for a job or a promotion because i am smaller than the majority.
If for decades my ancestors had been raped, murdered, tortured forced from their land, made to use different public amenities or catch different buses, because they were short, would I be more or less outraged at the name calling. I suspect that if my ancestors had endured those horrors then I would have one of two choices. Maybe I would think it a disgrace. Maybe i would want justice. maybe i would try to look at it differently. Maybe if i was paid millions of pounds to play a game I love , I would accept that being called names is part of the gamesmanship.
Racist discrimination is disgusting, unacceptable and wrong. I suspect that racist comments do not necessarily make a person racist.
At a very early age we are all taught that sticks and stones...
I was also taught if you haven't got anything nice to say... So, i suggest the problem is not just a race issue. It is a fundamental breakdown in society and its respect for one another.
It should not be acceptable to call some one a nigger or a paki or a jock. it should not be acceptable to call someone fat or bald or ugly or ginger or short.
 It is the behaviour and attitude of human beings towards other human beings that is the problem.
When i am at work i am representing my employer. Bin men represent their employers while at work. School teachers, Doctors, nurses, post men and bus drivers represent their employers at work and footballers represent their employers the club and the fans. It is time clubs took the toughest action against this intolerable behaviour. Not just racism-  any employer whose employee called someone a fu#@ing c#@t while at work would Football clubs must stamp out this behaviour and regardless of the guilty party being an investment or asset they must be tackled.
The message should not be its OK to call a fellow human being an effing c or fat or ugly as long as you don't mention the colour of their skin. The message has to be that we do not have the right to single out any one for unfounded abuse for any reason.

 Bullying and harassment is in the eye of the victim. By definition, if someone feels they are upset by by actions that single them out from the treatment of others then they are victims of bullying. Racism is bullying. It is the action of ignorant cowardly people.
 The danger is that by highlighting the racist element of bullying in courtrooms while claiming the vile language that goes with it is OK, we lessen the seriousness of all the other discrimination.
Vicarious offence taken by people who are quite comfortable discriminating against disabled people or fat people or ginger people does not help any one.
Band wagons and witch hunts do not help. Positive discrimination and hyper sensitivity and over blown political correctness will fuel the hatred and feed the ignorance.
As a comprehensive school educated man who is shorter than the average, i am more than qualified to say stop racism, stop being disrespectful to fellow mankind -
 Its not big and its not clever.