chunky Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Has anyone thought to ask Somerset Speedway what they're rebelling against? The closure of White City? Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conkers in Gravy Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 If you're curious as to why many people in the USA find the Confederate flag offensive, then watch this footage of the Ku Klux Klan confronting black activisits. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2015/jul/19/ku-klux-klan-black-activist-group-south-carolina-video Whether the flag is offensive in Britain is arguable, given that it played little part in our history, so there's no real reason why Somerset shouldn't use the symbol other than it has absolutely nothing to do with Somerset. It's not like the speedway team is using it to suppress black people in Bridgwater. Having said that, there's a difference between giving offence and promoting the supremacy of one group over another because of skin colour. A bit of self-awareness never hurt anyone and the original question is one that's worth asking, given that the flag has become a symbol of some seriously bad people and their racist views. There's no reason why they shouldn't use the flag, but there may be a reason why they wouldn't want to. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Robin Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 If you're curious as to why many people in the USA find the Confederate flag offensive, then watch this footage of the Ku Klux Klan confronting black activisits. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2015/jul/19/ku-klux-klan-black-activist-group-south-carolina-video Whether the flag is offensive in Britain is arguable, given that it played little part in our history, so there's no real reason why Somerset shouldn't use the symbol other than it has absolutely nothing to do with Somerset. It's not like the speedway team is using it to suppress black people in Bridgwater. Having said that, there's a difference between giving offence and promoting the supremacy of one group over another because of skin colour. A bit of self-awareness never hurt anyone and the original question is one that's worth asking, given that the flag has become a symbol of some seriously bad people and their racist views. There's no reason why they shouldn't use the flag, but there may be a reason why they wouldn't want to. I think that sums it up perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Crumbs!!!!. The PC Brigade will find offense at everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 If you're curious as to why many people in the USA find the Confederate flag offensive, Again, it wasn't a problem - until a month ago... Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Again, it wasn't a problem - until a month ago... Steve It still isn't as far as I am concerned....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogero Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 This is all very sad!! PC people ... just grow up and get real. Where will this end? Plymouth Devils to rename to the Pacifists and have a saintly logo because Devils is too close to evil?! Poole Pirates to replace the cross bones and skull with an Isle of Wight Ferry Logo. Dear me .. Somerset hang your head in shame!! Gutless, untraditional and pure PC surrender. NOT speedway!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barncooseboy Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 (edited) The Devils were originally named by Jimmy Baxter iin 1947 to counter his other promotion at Southampton THE Saints pre war Plymouth were amongst others the tigers and the panthers. Ironically the SBA is owned by the catholic church. Edited January 24, 2016 by barncooseboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 I'm using, as I type, my White City 'Rebels' coaster to place my early morning cup of coffee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 (edited) I'm using, as I type, my White City 'Rebels' coaster to place my early morning cup of coffee! The PC brigade will be hammering down your door, Steve All the best Rob Edited January 24, 2016 by lucifer sam 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 It's not about a 'pc brigade', it's about using a brain to realise that the confederate flag is a universally-recognised sign of racism and it was stupid and irrelevant tom use it on a British speedway race-jacket - in Oxford in 1972, White City in 1976 and Somerset now. It's a matter of sensitivity and intelligence. Thankfully the Somerset promotion have it but it's no surprise that members of the BSF can only see fit to ridicule and crawl behind the 'pc' defence. Pathetic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 (edited) It's not about a 'pc brigade', it's about using a brain to realise that the confederate flag is a universally-recognised sign of racism and it was stupid and irrelevant tom use it on a British speedway race-jacket - in Oxford in 1972, White City in 1976 and Somerset now. It's a matter of sensitivity and intelligence. Thankfully the Somerset promotion have it but it's no surprise that members of the BSF can only see fit to ridicule and crawl behind the 'pc' defence. Pathetic. rmc, nice for you to brand me 'stupid' and 'pathetic'. However, maybe I've done something you haven't and checked the facts and the history. BOTH sides, the North and the South, had slaves. The Confederate Flag was not about slavery or racism. Yes, slavery may have taken place in the southern states, but it also did so in the north. Racism in the US was still widespread, until and beyond Martin Luther King. So are you suggesting the US flag should also be banned? I can understand Somerset's decision, given last year's tragic events. The flag isn't racist, however last year's murders were, and no-one wants to be associated with those. But if there was such an issue with Oxford (1972), White City (1976) or Somerset (2000) using it, how come no-one ever mentioned a thing about it until last June? That's where the PC brigade have gone daft, with comments such as The Dukes Of Hazzard was racist. Don't be so bloody daft. All the best Rob Edited January 24, 2016 by lucifer sam 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 It's not about a 'pc brigade', it's about using a brain to realise that the confederate flag is a universally-recognised sign of racism and it was stupid and irrelevant tom use it on a British speedway race-jacket - in Oxford in 1972, White City in 1976 and Somerset now. It's a matter of sensitivity and intelligence. Thankfully the Somerset promotion have it but it's no surprise that members of the BSF can only see fit to ridicule and crawl behind the 'pc' defence. Pathetic. It's universally recognised as a symbol of many things . in your case a symbol of something to be offended about , in mine it's a symbol of a speedway team in Somerset , 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 It's not about a 'pc brigade', it's about using a brain to realise that the confederate flag is a universally-recognised sign of racism and it was stupid and irrelevant tom use it on a British speedway race-jacket - in Oxford in 1972, White City in 1976 and Somerset now. It's a matter of sensitivity and intelligence. Thankfully the Somerset promotion have it but it's no surprise that members of the BSF can only see fit to ridicule and crawl behind the 'pc' defence. Pathetic Really? I asked quite a few friends and family when this debate first arose and none of them made that association. Maybe in America but not suburban Britain. As for stupid and irrelevant nicknames, where would you draw the line? Witches ( occult)? Pirates (criminals)? Worst case scenario is we'd end up with all nicknames having to be selected from a PC-approved list of cuddly happy-clappy ones. Speedway is an extreme sport and nicknames are a good way of reflecting that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 rmc, nice for you to brand me 'stupid' and 'pathetic'. However, maybe I've done something you haven't and checked the facts and the history. BOTH sides, the North and the South, had slaves. The Confederate Flag was not about slavery or racism. Yes, slavery may have taken place in the southern states, but it also did so in the north. Racism in the US was still widespread, until and beyond Martin Luther King. So are you suggesting the US flag should also be banned? I can understand Somerset's decision, given last year's tragic events. The flag isn't racist, however last year's murders were, and no-one wants to be associated with those. But if there was such an issue with Oxford (1972), White City (1976) or Somerset (2000) using it, how come no-one ever mentioned a thing about it until last June? That's where the PC brigade have gone daft, with comments such as The Dukes Of Hazzard was racist. Don't be so bloody daft. All the best Rob I think the issue is more with what the flag stands for today, or more importantly what people who have adopted it stand for. My local paper yesterday had a picture of the Confederate flag flying next to that of a Swastika on a loyalist estate in Carrickfergus. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 Really? I asked quite a few friends and family when this debate first arose and none of them made that association. Maybe in America but not suburban Britain. As for stupid and irrelevant nicknames, where would you draw the line? Witches ( occult)? Pirates (criminals)? Worst case scenario is we'd end up with all nicknames having to be selected from a PC-approved list of cuddly happy-clappy ones. Speedway is an extreme sport and nicknames are a good way of reflecting that. ...or Swedish club side Indianerna 'Indians!' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 I think the issue is more with what the flag stands for today, or more importantly what people who have adopted it stand for. My local paper yesterday had a picture of the Confederate flag flying next to that of a Swastika on a loyalist estate in Carrickfergus. In that case, I think we pretty much agree. Sadly, people with extremist views have perverted the flag. However, my argument was with rmc's assertion that: "it was stupid and irrelevant to use it on a British speedway race-jacket - in Oxford in 1972, White City in 1976 and Somerset now." How can you retroactively lay out blame for using a flag four decades ago for what stands for today? It's bizarre logic. Oxford Speedway was not racist, nor was White City Speedway or Somerset Speedway, nor was the Dukes Of Hazzard. It was just a flag, which had no connotations at the time. All the best Rob 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Worst case scenario is we'd end up with all nicknames having to be selected from a PC-approved list of cuddly happy-clappy ones. Happy Faces? However, my argument was with rmc's assertion that: "it was stupid and irrelevant to use it on a British speedway race-jacket - in Oxford in 1972, White City in 1976 and Somerset now." There seemed to be a strange fascination with American South in 1970s Britain - souped-up motors, horns playing Dixie, the Confederate flag and people shouting 'yee haw'. I'm sure this even pre-dated the Dukes of Hazzard being on television. I'm sure most people would have been totally unaware of the connotations with slavery and Jim Crow, but equally I never quite saw what the Confederacy had to do with British culture and speedway teams - then or now. Teams should be named after nice British birds - like robins... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 I never quite saw what the Confederacy had to do with British culture and speedway teams - then or now. Teams should be named after nice British birds - like robins... Oxford Owls sounds awful to me Most speedway teams are nicknamed with something appropriate to the fast and/or extreme nature of the sport. Many nicknames have nothing to do with British culture e.g. Vikings (Scandinavian), Tigers (mostly Asian based), Cheetahs (mostly in Africa), etc. Oxford were after updating their image in 1972 (a new start after poor seasons from 1966 to 1971), and as you say, there was a bit of a craze on for the American South, so Rebels was adopted. All the best Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 I quite like the American Idea of naming teams with historic events or traditions specific to their area , Pittsburg steelers, colorado avalanche . Coventry Blitz anyone ? could be a good one that , suits all round , historic connection and something to be offended about aswell , win win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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