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John Terry "not a racist" - report
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It is accepted by everyone involved in the criminal and disciplinary proceedings that Mr. Terry is not a racist.
http://www.thefa.com/News/governance/2012/oct/~/media/22A83175745E44468105B57232F085B7.ashx (PDF file)
It's interesting that it's accepted he said what he said, but that he has been deemed by the authorities and by others who know him as not being a racist. Would someone who isn't racist in some way use a racist insult? Does using one automatically make you a racist? My own view is that sometimes people might say anything in the heat of the moment that they know will hurt that person or wind them up to a high degree - even if they don't mean what they say - which is what I suspect Terry did in this instance.
I wonder if he will now sue the Independent for calling him a racist on their front page.
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lol
I find it hard to defend JT over anything (amazing how one person can a bit of a bully and a crybaby at the same time) but maybe that's how he feels and sometimes his 'filter' fails him.
I would have thought possessing a hatred of other people purely because of their ethnicity would be one. But your post does address the question I was asking, which is does using racist insults make a person a racist? The Independent seems to have thought so.
That's what I was going to elaborate on. The guy makes a racist comment perhaps, but it's a ridiculous thing to simply label somebody "a racist" because there are so many variables. What if a person is prejudiced towards black people but likes the Chinese, sometimes hates the Pakistanis but likes Indians for example? Does that make him "a racist" or "a half racist" or something? It's stupid. How is it determined and what are the consequences of being "a racist" as per such criteria?
Maybe he took the racist test? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecx6SGVZ0tg
The problem is JT refuses to accept he said i, even in the heat of the moment, to try and wind AF up. He denies that entire accusation and claims he was correcting AF.
The FA report is basically calling him a liar by saying his defence is implausible and contrived and they are also in effect suggesting he lied under oath in court.
I remember seeing the incident (and, from my viewpoint, he did call Anton Ferdinand a racist name) but I haven't read anything further - I see John Terry's face and I just feel every hackle on my back (if I had any that is) instantly rise, so I have avoided anything more. It wouldn't surprise me to hear that he knew exactly what he was saying. The only thing that does surprise me is why Rio didn't react at any matches when they met up - Rio isn't exactly backwards in coming forwards is he.
I reckon the idea that there are degrees of racism might be offensive to some people. "Racism is racism, pure and simple" is something I've heard before.
The problem is the term racism is rather overused, and so people who might be guilty of occasional casual racist behaviour (calling someone a black <insert insult here> in the heat of the moment) are lumped in the same category as hardcore racial supremicists, which somewhat detracts from the seriousness of that kind of racism.
I very much agree. The problem for me is that we live in a media-heavy / soundbite age, and it's easy to throw out to the kids "he's a racist", and watch the fallout from the inevitable vitriol and permanent character assassination that will then follow, but as you say, it's far more layered than that.
Well that's the question. Does using a racist insult in the heat of the moment make a person a racist?
well only the people real close to himm will know if he is a true racist. He certainly used racist language but I don't feel that should be the only criteria to lable him a racist.
Just taking this one situation on its own, its pretty clear he is a nasty person making a nasty comment in a heated environent. Reasonable that people can react like that and its part n parcel of football.
I don't think anyone can conclude from all the hearings and trial that he is an actual racist bigot. I think everything went as expected. Criminal trial. FA punishment and this report. All spot on.
I think, going back further, that one must define what exactly "a racist" is? People might exhibit racist behaviour, from John Terry's outburst to more extreme examples like the Ku Klux Klan, but what makes somebody "a racist" ? Is it the amount of racist comments a person makes, the amount of races a person is prejudiced against, is it the amount of time a person has exhibited racist behaviour, or is it an algorithm comprising of all these elements and more? Who knows? For the FA to think they have the authority to sign off on such a simplified conclusion is farcical.
I agree. I wouldn't mind it if it all happened in the background, but the fact it's been in and out of the news for the past year is laughable.
Not as laughable as it going to court though, hopefully after his ban things can go back to normal.
But if you use a racist insult in the heat of the moment, those sort of phrases must have a place in your head iykwim. Like muscle memory, only brain memory. When I am angry, there are a few choice phrases that slip out of my mouth without thought.
He should have apologised in public and face to face. He has not done so, and prefers to appear as a whinging whining snivelling lying coward.
You don't think someone that uses racist language and admits using it should go to court?
Perhaps it would be better for somebody to have these grown men simply apologise and shake hands. And tell them all to grow the fk up.
Yeah, what's a racial insult between friends?
I agree with this.
I don;t think JT is a racist. I do think he's a nasty little thug who would use any insult he could to get a reaction out of someone and I think that is what happened this time. I believe that AF was giving him some about sleeping with his mates ex and JT just used the worst insult he could think of back.
Is he someone who is dislikes people because of the colour of their skin? I would say not.
Is he a horrible little thug with a nasty streak? I would say yes.