Comments on: We’re Nmber 2!! We’re Number 2!!

By: Francois

Francois — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:01:46 +0000

I’ve enjoyed reading the dialogue above. It’s an interesting topic with many points of view. Well I actually enjoyed reading the debate until sandrahn starting calling everyone a racist. I like Team France but I feel alot of the fans have something to be desired for. Being a French fan I am faced with these same statements regarding Les Bleus and I just ignore them. I really don’t think people should get so emotional over harmless words, it’s just a game after all and people are entitled to their opinion (even if they are misinformed) and we should respect other people’s opinions. Well enough said I bid you all a fond farewell.

By: skillz

skillz — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:29:14 +0000

I tell you exactly why Thierry…. A while back, when Le Pen was still a threat to human rights in France, I was watching a program on TV5 about him. (We get that channel here with basic cable because of the whole bilingualism thing.) It was a documentary about the growing resentment towards immigrants, specifically from Africa, amongst the French population. Le Pen had made reference to the the national team having too many immigrants playing for them and it became a stepping stone in his election bid for his followers. This was followed by a satirical cartoon which depicts little Barthez, with his short shorts on and a confused smile, completely alone, and under a banner that says Team France under Le Pen’s rule.
It was this documentary about the rise in extremism and French Nationalism on France’s national television station that led me to ask that question in which it seems you’ve twisted around and are attempting to find something that isnt there. Plus, Someone posted a list that clearly shows over one third of players were born outside of France to clear it for all of us. There is no need for cheap shots and sneaky tactics Thierry. I execpt your apology and I’m glad you came away with this a little bit more informed.

Always glad to help,

Skillz

By: Thierry

Thierry — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:21:58 +0000

Well, tell me skillz what made you said”I was just wondering, does anyone know which players on team france were actually born in france?”? Because Lillian Thuram, William Gallas, Thierry Henry,…are french names, so what made you answered that, Skillz? What made you thought there were players who necessary weren’t born in France?

By: skillz

skillz — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:21:44 +0000

Excuse me, but do you realize how big Europe and Africa are. ‘white faces’ and ‘black faces’ This is insane. Do you know how diiferent a Lithuanian is from a Spaniard. Or how diiferent an Irish person is from a Russian. Or how different a Greek person is from a Norwegian. Or how diiferent the culture in Ethiopia is from Cote D’IVoire(Named after the slaughter of thousands of Elephants for their Ivory tusks by capitalist colonialists) Thank god they’ve achieved independence from their tyranical occupiers. Or how different a Kenyan is from a South African. Or how diiferent a Jamaican is from a Tanzanaen. But I guess you just see people as either a ‘black face’ or a ‘white face’. SANDRAHN, this is the essence of RACISM. Especially when you say no one would notice if the ‘white faces’, as you say, came from another country in Europe. What you’re saying is that everyone from Europe is the same just because they have ‘white face’ regardless of the fact that even within one country in Europe you can find so many different regions and cultures. For example in France. I think even Laurrie would agree with me that a Corsican or an Alsacian or someone from Brittany feel very proud of their unique heritage and have a close connection to their region. But to you they’re just another ‘white face’ and no one can tell the difference between them. If all the players on France had Russian or Serbian last names, I think people would notice that, regardless of their opinions. So stop trying to make this an issue of race and try to wave this flag of tolerance by calling everyone racist. Because you’ve cleary demonstrated to everyone how RACIST you are Sandrahn. If it was up to Sandrahn it wouldnt be World Cup it would be Race Cup. This is the kind of one dimensional ‘George Bush’ or ’sarkozy’ attitude that breeds so much ignorance today. And I think, Sandrahn, that you should work on your issues with racism and look at people for WHO they are, not What they are.

By: sandrahn

sandrahn — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:46:58 +0000

Laurie: ” I might have also dismissed you as racist if it had not been for your previous comment, “Well I’ve lived in the south of France and if French society could be more like French Football then everybody in France would be treated better and not just treated well because they help them win at sports.”

Interesting. I too am confused by skillz’ comments – he says things which are passionately anti-racist, good for him. But then he comes out with stuff that immediately sounds like the stuff coming out of Le Pen’s mouth. So I don’t know.

Blah, your outrage doesn’t convince me. You come out with stuff that delegitimizes the authenticity of the French squad as being “truly French” — and then hide behind some moral outrage.

I’ll say it again: this would not be a topic of discussion if the entire French squad were white, period. If Vieira, Thuram, et al. were all white (and emigrants from caucasian countries), people would just blithely assume they’re French, no questions.

Thierry, you made me giggle!

I know I come on strong on this topic and it comes up again and again and again and again. No national squad on the entire planet gets the type (and quantity) of abuse that the French squad does. They are constantly accused of being not true Frenchmen, they are constantly forced to defend their identity as Frenchmen–both inside and outside France.

People the world over repeat the same despicable lie: the French football squad is a fake French team, they’re all foreigners; France “plunders” Africa for their national squad; there are no authentic French football players.

This is more than just flat out inaccurate. It is disgusting. It is morally reprehensible. And the ONLY reason the accusation exists is because of the skin color of some of the French players, that’s it. It’s an accusation that should be resisted for the loathsome little piece of ignorance that it is every time that some idiot parrots it.

I’m sorry, folks, for being so vehement about this. And my sincere thanks to Laurie and the rest for their tolerance of my passion on this.

By: blah

blah — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:29:02 +0000

Thierry,

Gaudaloupe was actually quite impressive. They are now in the semi-finals. I believe they are playing Mexico. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of these players getting called up to the FNT.

By: blah

blah — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:20:44 +0000

“I have concentrated on the black players only because the ONLY reason people like Blah make an issue out of all this is precisely because he sees black faces on the French squad. To him, a black face automatically means “foreigner.” To him, it is impossible for a black man to be French. It doesn’t matter that the person was born in France. By this logic, I am not an American because I emigrated from Brazil at the age of 4.”

HOW DARE YOU..Where do you come off saying something like that..It’s amazing how people like you twist words around to make people out to be biggots…I work everyday with people of differant ethnic origins, colour, race and creed and I don’t care about the differences because I consider them my friends and I would do anything for them. You have crossed the line with your comments..Maybe you should think before you respond.

By: blah

blah — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:03:53 +0000

Sorry for asking a legitimate question..I received my answer from Laurie thank you very much…I really don’t care for your views on racism and when it comes to the French National Team I admit I am ignorant..I don’t get it and that’s why I wanted clarification. LIGHTEN UP..You guys should find hobbies real fast…YOU’RE PATHETIC!!!!

By: Thierry

Thierry — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:28:18 +0000

Sandrahn,
I wish i will marry you.

Blah,
Guadeloupe and Martinique teams are a recent stuff (end of 1970’s). I ignored the existence of the gold cup (created in 1991)before your intervention, sorry. After researchs, these teams were born by the wish of caribbeans teams like Trinité and Tobago and nations like Canada and USA in order to have adversaries to play football… oups soccer. I presume these two magnifical continental states that are Usa and Canada were boring themselves by beeing the two only nations playing the soccer cup of Nothern America. Beyond the famous English principle all which can annoy France we will enjoy it, they push all the carribean island to create teams. Against France who didn’t seen with a good eye the creation of a “national team” of two of his departements but finally surrendered. So if i unterstood, you thought it is totally unfair that french paid a guadeloupe and martinique team in order to allow americans and canadians to have opponents in their great competiton, and to be insulted by canadians fans who don’t see that the more they play against different teams the more they will progress. Well, we don’t see the match in France, could you tell me what happened, i just know the old french glory angloma 45 years old play. Thanks.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:47:19 +0000

Skillz, Sandra is passionate and protective about “our” French guys, as am I. Mentioning anything race-related on this blog always brings out genuine racists — people who think the team should be white — which raises both her hackles and mine. When people ask things like, “Are there French people on the France team?” it is almost always a question of race. In your case I believe the question is more nuanced.

I might have also dismissed you as racist if it had not been for your previous comment, “Well I’ve lived in the south of France and if French society could be more like French Football then everybody in France would be treated better and not just treated well because they help them win at sports.”

That shows a more complex reason for your questions and comments. Why don’t you explain where you’re coming from so we can all understand?