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More Than Just Football
Spectre of Churchill
15, July #BrokenSystem

More Than Just Football

England’s victory over Mexico in the World Cup round of 16 has sparked heated debate both in the media and across social media, though the discussion has had very little to do with football itself.

The result has once again exposed the starkly contrasting views surrounding the national team. Whilst right-leaning media have spoken of a cultural elite ashamed of its English identity, left-wing commentators have denounced what they describe as ‘toxic nationalism’.

Patriotism Is Frowned Upon

According to The Telegraph, officials in a number of Liberal-controlled local authorities have objected to patriotic residents displaying St George’s flags on lampposts. In some cases, it has even been claimed that the English flag has the potential to ‘stir up’ division. The newspaper’s columnist Simon Heffer argues that ‘in England, excessive enthusiasm for all things English is regarded as something to be ashamed of. It all fits neatly with the Left’s view that England is an oppressive country which will need several more millennia before it can be forgiven.’

Such reactions from parts of the political establishment have not gone unnoticed on social media.

‘The Celtic dominated establishment which dedicates much of its time to destroying England and the English, detests events such as the World Cup where just briefly the English dare display any patriotism. Read the put downs and slurs of anything English following any England win,’ notes the author of the patriotic account Bulford Kiwi.

The New Normal

The same tone can be found in parts of the left-wing press. The Irish Times columnist Finn McRedmond titled her article bluntly: ‘Why it’s OK to hate England during the World Cup’. She argues that, in reality, supporters have little to celebrate, that the team itself has been unconvincing, and that the World Cup is ‘the only acceptable outlet for petty nationalism — an opportunity to indulge in irrational resentment that would otherwise be frowned upon’.

A number of social media users argue that articles of this kind reflect more than just one columnist’s personal opinion. They believe this attitude has become increasingly widespread.

‘I'm talking about the self-hating English wally. The one who spent the group stage certain we would go out, was (whether they knew it or not) positively willing their team to fail, who has combed every England performance for the flaw… He talks his own country down and enjoys himself while he's doing it, and he cheers whoever stands against it, and he has been doing it, in one form or another, for a very long time,’ shares his observations, conservative commentator Maxi.

Some users argue that a football victory is now one of the few things English people are still allowed to celebrate without apology.

‘The world cup does inject patriotism in our country. Pride that degrades with every systemic failure and act of weak governance,’ concludes student Lila Tomasi.

As The Guardian notes, however, beating Mexico will not resolve the country’s deeper problems. Britain needs something to be proud of that lasts rather longer than 90 minutes.

#BrokenSystem
A Somali-Born Driver Struck Five Pedestrians in London
Spectre of Churchill
08, July #MigrantCrisis, #BrokenSystem

A Somali-Born Driver Struck Five Pedestrians in London

The incident took place on Ealing Broadway, where a car mounted the pavement and struck five pedestrians before the driver fled the scene. He was later arrested by police. Social media users have focused on the authorities’ response, arguing that they portrayed the incident involving a Muslim driver as nothing more than a routine road traffic collision. The driver has been identified as 34-year-old Timir Ahmed Mohamed. Born in Somalia, he now holds British citizenship. Following his arrest, investigators stated that they were treating the incident as a road traffic incident rather than an act of terrorism.
#MigrantCrisis, #BrokenSystem
Hundreds of Thousands of Girls Were Victims of Grooming Gangs
Spectre of Churchill
01, July #MigrantCrisis, #BrokenSystem

Hundreds of Thousands of Girls Were Victims of Grooming Gangs

At least 250,000 cases of abuse involving girls across 149 areas of the UK are alleged to have taken place, according to the findings of an independent inquiry published in June in a report entitled Rape Gang Inquiry. The report’s conclusions, together with the response of the mainstream media, have generated widespread discussion on social media.
#MigrantCrisis, #BrokenSystem
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