BBC.
No, it's not racist, though only the Celts would do such a thing, there really isn't the interest in anything they get up too in England unless they're playing us, only mild interest when they do occasionally qualify for anything important, then treat as England B and move on. Still I do wonder what the reaction would be if anyone produced an "Anyone but Scotland" tee shirt, howls of anguish perhaps or as the most of the English do, take it in good part?A company selling "Anyone but England" T-shirts for this year's World Cup has rejected suggestions it is racist after police in Aberdeen visited its store.Police warned Slanj, which also has stores in Glasgow and Edinburgh, that a window display featuring the shirt could cause offence.
Grampian officers advised a store worker to consider whether the display was appropriate and should be removed.
A spokesman for Slanj said staff were "flabbergasted" by the warning.
Ross Lyle, from the company, said: "To be honest we're absolutely flabbergasted.
"We have been selling this T-shirt for the past three months and we've had a great response.
"Even the English people who come into the store think it's a laugh and just a bit of tongue-in-cheek football banter.
"We're certainly not being racist. We are the same race as the English. It's just daft to say it's offensive."
A spokesman for Grampian Police said the force's visit to the Slanj store was not in response to any public complaint about the shirt slogan and was prompted by an officer acting on his own initiative.
In a statement, the force said it was purely an "advisory visit" and there was no criminal investigation as a result.
Pc Kirk Hemmings added: "The primary role of any police force is to preserve the peace and we would be failing in our duty if we did not make people aware of the potential for disturbance such a window display could cause.
"The Grampian area, in common with the rest of the country, has recorded incidents relating to nationality and we have a responsibility to do our best to ensure that incidents of this nature are kept to a minimum.
"The public expect no less of us."
Heaven forfend though if anyone were to produce an "Anyone but Pakistan/India/Jamaica" tee shirt. That I could imagine setting the alarm bells off in "Righteous" central. Yet it's the same difference isn't it?
I doubt many on the left (with certain honourable exceptions) would get offended by a "Death to Israel" tee shirt, or perhaps a "Destroy the USA" after all to them the USA is the one nation they feel obliged to slag off.
Yet the same principle applies surely?
Or is it never racist when it's England, the USA or Israel? After all hypocrisy is second nature when it comes to defending your own behaviour, just ask any politician.
8 annotations:
A Magistrate's blog (Bystander) reports that a guy has just been charged with Racially Aggravated Harrassment after calling someone a "******* Scottish ****" (don't know your expletives policy. You can find out easily enough).
It's not as if Scottish is in itself derogatory. This is becoming insane.
Whoever the copper was who acted on his own 'initiative', I hope he is getting the best of Scottish sarcasm from his colleagues (the Police, apparently, do not have 'workmates', they have 'colleagues'). This Englishman says that that particular Scotsman (presumably) is a total wanker with no sense of humour and should do very well for himself in the nightmare that is modern Britain.
@ Dave H,
I don't have an expletives policy for comments, just a relevance one.
Fell free to express yourself if necessary.
I'm offended. I'm offended that a patronzing sexist Grampian copper thinks he can take it upon himself to tell me whether I'm offended or not. I'm a grown English woman and I'll decided for myself if I'm offended.
As you were, officer. I'll call you if I need you. Meanwhile, any news on your sex-offenders or are you still letting them off so long as they wear horsehair wigs?
@ Woar,
You're right I guess I'm becoming a little complacent at what plod do as a matter of course these days being offended in my name seems to be a clarion call for the forces of the "Righteous"
The only people who have their hatred of the southern enemy in their national anthem, which is admittedly a nice tune.
And who are the only people to have their need to crush the rebellious Scots in their anthem?
And impose it on the Scots?
And it isn't even a nice tune.
@ Conan,
That would be the British national anthem, the English don't have one (Yet) and it will probably be "Jerusalem" which will no doubt rub those of a Jewish or Islamic extract up the wrong way ;-)
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