: Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:09 am
Bartholemew Smythe wrote:
I once had a pint of guiness and have a liking for potato`s , this no doubt would have pleased my forefathers. However seeing as I was born in England I`ll support the country of my birth and not the one in which some of my relatives were born.
Some folk on the other hand choose to attach themselves to the lands of there forefathers. These would be deemed as being patriotic and so be it but I would be labelled as what Wembley71 ??? A racist perhaps in your mind ?. Or maybe someone who was making an observation on the make up of a crowd at a 20/20 cricket match.
I didn't apply labels to anyone. I too am making observations about the subtext to a discourse.
I saw a crowd of people at that 20/20 game, passionately supporting the country to which they held a sporting allegiance (for both teams), in a richly colourful, diverse, excitably friendly atmosphere, in which supporters of both sides sat in the same stands and applauded the best achievements of both teams. It was great to see (all the more so because England won!).
I'll always be a Leyther, wherever I live. My kids already know that, and are proud to follow their dad's team and adopt his allegiances. There's neither anything wrong or surprising in that, nor does it diminish my involvement in the community where I now live.
Who knows how my putative grandkids might one day feel? For all I know my infant daughter's future partner might be Japanese. But, whatever they feel, I hope they feel it with passion, and respect those who feel the same passion for a different emblem.
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