tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post115618836054220133..comments2023-06-22T02:27:01.854-07:00Comments on Shiraz Socialist: So-called "Ball Tampering": No more than Islamophobiavoltaires_priesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00346308174248473666noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156339891106007912006-08-23T06:31:00.000-07:002006-08-23T06:31:00.000-07:00Does the SWP believe that old-fashioned anti-Asian...Does the SWP believe that old-fashioned anti-Asian racism does not exist any more? Is *every* piece of prejudice aimed at people from a part of the world where there are a lot of Muslims now "Islamophobia"?!<BR/><BR/>I could believe that an umpire might act in a racist or otherwise prejudiced way. But why does the SWP assume that is because of the Pakistan cricket players' (perceived) religion, rather than because they are Pakistani?<BR/><BR/>It seems to me that ignoring the possibility of straightforward anti-Asian racism is highly negligent. Will the SWP leave the ground clear for Paki-bashers because it doesn't fit in with its current insistence that everything bad is Islamophobic?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156329594078470982006-08-23T03:39:00.000-07:002006-08-23T03:39:00.000-07:00Anon;"Well argued"? Have you been reading the same...Anon;<BR/><BR/>"Well argued"? Have you been reading the same article as the rest of the world?voltaires_priesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00346308174248473666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156323653541430762006-08-23T02:00:00.000-07:002006-08-23T02:00:00.000-07:00Anonymous #1; I wrote the "Stupid Wanker" piece *b...Anonymous #1; I wrote the "Stupid Wanker" piece *before* I saw the beyond-satire SWP article (before it was ven put on the web, I think). I honestly didn't believe they'd really take that line. But I must admit, it is a little gobsmacking to be outdone in ridiculousness by the target of your own satirical efforts.Jim Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364272346989690845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156284530141444382006-08-22T15:08:00.000-07:002006-08-22T15:08:00.000-07:00fuunily enough the swp don't usually provide me wi...fuunily enough the swp don't usually provide me with reading material although its always good for a laugh.Manchester University Labour Clubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13381773349911326993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156281032044536062006-08-22T14:10:00.000-07:002006-08-22T14:10:00.000-07:00Long Live Jim Denham! Cut up his opponents and lea...Long Live Jim Denham! Cut up his opponents and leave them in buckets!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156280971323179032006-08-22T14:09:00.000-07:002006-08-22T14:09:00.000-07:00Jim,All you've done here is rewrite a fairly well ...Jim,<BR/><BR/>All you've done here is rewrite a fairly well argued article in so called "your" own trademark sparty style.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156272489862524622006-08-22T11:48:00.000-07:002006-08-22T11:48:00.000-07:00The thing is though Jim, Hair has a history of cla...The thing is though Jim, Hair has a history of clashes with the Pakistani team, and he also famously falsely warned the Sri Lankan spin genius Muralitharan for throwing the ball instead of bowling. I think there are serious issues about whether or not he is an anti-asian racist, rather than an Islamophobe.<BR/>There doesn't seem to be any evidence of anyone tampering with the ball, Sky have said they have no suspicious footage. The ball wasn't much different to any ball of that age.<BR/>Of course if the SWP are claiming that Hair is carrying out some kind of anti-Muslim conspiracy on behalf of greater powers, then this should be challenged and mocked, but I certainly think there is an issue with Hair, and why he keeps being chosen to umpire Pakistan matches, I have no idea.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, this has really pissed me off, as I heard the farce unfolding on the radio while I was travelling to London on Sunday, in order to go to the last day yesterday.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16014486237834859098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156261881106950702006-08-22T08:51:00.000-07:002006-08-22T08:51:00.000-07:00I don't endorse the "war on terror" bollocks, whic...I don't endorse the "war on terror" bollocks, which is obviously rhetorical crap from whoever wrote the SW article (the real one) - but on the substantive issue, is it really <B>so</B> unbelievable that there was an element of Islamophobia involved in the way the whole thing was conducted?voltaires_priesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00346308174248473666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156259957242044762006-08-22T08:19:00.000-07:002006-08-22T08:19:00.000-07:00Yes, I've just seen the SW piece. I must stop taki...Yes, I've just seen the SW piece. I must stop taking the piss out of the SWP's grovelling before Islamism and their willingness to ascribe something as trivial and debateable as an umpire's decision in a cricket match to "islamophobia" and the "so-called war on terror". They really are beyond satire.Jim Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364272346989690845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156258824190035772006-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:002006-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:00And, on the Socialist Worker website:'But we shoul...And, on the Socialist Worker website:<BR/><BR/>'But we should be concerned about the Islamophobic undercurrent to this debacle. The willingness of many to ascribe base motives to an overwhelmingly Muslim team is not coincidental. It’s one reflection of a broader racism fuelled by Blair’s so-called ‘war on terror’. '<BR/><BR/>http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=9510Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156257185888715662006-08-22T07:33:00.000-07:002006-08-22T07:33:00.000-07:00Well Jim, would you believe Rob Hoveman has a lett...Well Jim, would you believe Rob Hoveman has a letter in the Grauniad today on this very subject...quite reasonable too! Interesting that the former England stars in the Sky commentary box were backing the Pakistanis up...Umpire Darrell Hair has quite a bit of form regarding run-ins with both the Pakistan and Sri Lankan teams.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156256937223758222006-08-22T07:28:00.000-07:002006-08-22T07:28:00.000-07:00renegade: that's the trouble with you Yanks - you ...renegade: that's the trouble with you Yanks - you don't appreciate the almost philosophical profundity of the thwack of leather on willow. BTW if you think my piece is satirical, take a look at today's (UK) Guardian, where one Mike Marqusee has a piece entitled "The Pakistanis were right to protest at rank injustice" (also viewable at the Gurdian's 'Comment is Free' site, plus comments from readers): Comrade Marqusee is not a member of the Stupid Wankers' Party for reasons best known to himself: but on most issues he shares their politics all down the line. it's beyond satire.Jim Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364272346989690845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156224894410555742006-08-21T22:34:00.000-07:002006-08-21T22:34:00.000-07:00I understand the larger issue, but know nothing ab...I understand the larger issue, but know nothing about cricket.Frank Partisanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536211653082893030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156194657634446022006-08-21T14:10:00.000-07:002006-08-21T14:10:00.000-07:00Adele, so you don't read the Socialist Workers web...Adele, so you don't read the Socialist Workers website then :-)stroppybirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17084299441558297740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924640.post-1156194442635356492006-08-21T14:07:00.000-07:002006-08-21T14:07:00.000-07:00The most ridiculous thing I've heard for a long ti...The most ridiculous thing I've heard for a long time!Manchester University Labour Clubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13381773349911326993noreply@blogger.com