Racist Letters Sent To Irish Football Stars...

**Tired&Emotional** · 20/01/2006, 9:56 AM

I don't know if i would be better off cocooning myself from sites like this or reading them to see what kind of mindless idiots are actually out there.....Thought that site was sick and i didn't even stay too long on it for that reason!

The contributors seem to be so full of there own importance; arrogant ****s.....my blood is boiling now

**Risteard** · 20/01/2006, 11:40 AM

Nothing more than a hunch but I'd guess that it might be more anti-2nd generation than anti-black.

**pete** · 20/01/2006, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Mayo Red

Brian Kerr was on the news saying that some of the talent on show in this tournament should be looked at by EL clubs.

Kerr quotes in the IT today as saying "...sure theres more here tonight than at an eL game here all last season..."

**Peadar** · 20/01/2006, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Kerr quotes in the IT today as saying "...sure theres more here tonight than at an eL game here all last season..."

He meant there was more than you'd see at Richmond.

**OwlsFan** · 20/01/2006, 12:31 PM

Why does everyone say "they". It was probably one neo-Nazi who wrote the letters and yet it appears in most newspapers, including the Daily telegraph in the UK. Amazing.

Like the story SKY and the BBC ran at the top of their programmes a couple of days ago. "PLot to kidnap's Blair's Son". After much agonising and debate it all came down to the fact that there wasn't a plot, there wasn't even a plan. Someone at a "Fathers for Justice" meeting suggested that it would be a great publicity coup but it was discounted by the others. No one was changed, no action was taken" and yet, it was front line news.

Amazing.

**Tired&Emotional** · 20/01/2006, 12:38 PM

Reading back on what kerr said it appears there was more than 1 individual sending these abusive letters.

To dismiss issues such as these out of hand as "sure it's only this or only that...big deal" would be very naive at best. There's no smoke without fire...

**OwlsFan** · 20/01/2006, 3:12 PM

But is it really worth sports headlines in Irish and foreign newspapers that a couple (possibly) of unknown racists penned some letters to some of our players? I am sure they are thrilled with the notoriety they are getting. We are all aware there are plenty of racists about - I remember watching Ireland lose 2-1 in Wembley (or was it 2-0) some years ago (70s or 80s) and the black players for England were booed by a section of the Irish fans.

In the words of one famous politician: "they haven't gone away you know". Unless it is news that they can write, I am unsure what the newsworthy value of this item is.

**Tired&Emotional** · 20/01/2006, 3:20 PM

Ah, ok understand where you are coming from now.

I agree it would be better not to give these people the satisfaction of seeing their exploits in the headlines if for nothing else than that their warped minds will see it as encouragement....but unfortunetly that won't happen in the press.

Had thought you were dismissing them as false or in a "so what.." way...

**Fergie's Son** · 20/01/2006, 4:21 PM

Tough call. Sadly, there are idiots out there and maybe this does give them too much exposure.

As someone who is very opposed to the current asylum/immigration policies of the Irish government (I think they are far too lax) this sort of nonsense does immeasurable harm.

That said, there is something to be said for exposing these people and allowing their ideas to be thoroughly ridiculed. I'm reminded of an excellent article in the Chicago Tribune about a supremist group ran by a "Reverend" Matthew Hale. The writer approached the article by taking their positions seriously and then went through one of them and just destroyed them via economic, social and historical analysis. It was extremely effective.