The Times, They Are a-Changin'

Instead of editing my previous blog to mention that Andy Gray has been sacked for more sexist behaviour that has been uncovered, I thought I would develop on it a little, and look at a few issues around discrimination. Certainly the major factor in the two cases I mentioned yesterday was that these people are employed in the media - both fell foul of microphones which they thought were switched off. However, just because we don't often hear this type of comment, doesn't mean it isn't rife. Being caught is not what makes it wrong.

The main point I wish to make, though, is that times move faster than people. Have you ever wondered why you can't work your new electronics? People slow down as they grow older - and we are growing ever older in this age of 'modern' medicine. Our attitudes and personalities are shaped by our upbringing and our surroundings, and the ideas and words of people around us. The older we get, the less we are able to change this shape and integrate new ideas; we become stuck in our ways. I would also suggest that the more we are brought up to respect traditional values, the more we are left behind by changing attitudes to morality.

I talked yesterday about Ron Atkinson, and I think he provides an interesting example of this.When Atkinson was born, there had been three UK General Elections in which women had voted on equal terms to men. He had been playing football at senior level for five years by the time the US Senate passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which essentially marked the first time black people had equal voting rights in the largest economy on the planet.

His behaviour towards black people was perfectly normal, even for our time - with the exception of the language he used. He recalls buying 'nigger-brown' trousers and shoes - which to him was just a colour. Conversely, as a football manager he bought and managed three players (Brendan Batson, Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham) who are now seen as trailblazers for black players in the game. He treated them as the equals of all of his other players, and (though I don't know him) I sincerely doubt he has ever called a black person a 'nigger'. Is he racist then?

Looking at what I have written, I do wonder whether, should I reach 70, it will no longer be acceptable to refer to people as 'black people'. Would using the word make me racist, in 2050 or would I just be a product of another time? I don't think anyone could reasonably refer to me as a racist in our current times - because I treat people as people, and not as black or asian or white. Ron Atkinson did the same, but fell foul of his upbringing, I would suggest.

If you are interested in learning more about Ron Atkinson, in terms of racism, I recommend this excellent and insightful piece from the Guardian.