Saturday 19 November 2011

Children in Need


It's not the Lady Gaga-clad newsreaders that irk me. It's the millionaire celebrities hounding us, the recession-ridden masses, to donate to their cause, all while they and their TV executives rake in massive salaries on our dime. I'm a compassionate person. I care about children in need, but there's something here that reeks of hypocrisy and injustice.

I watched Children in Need last night, from beginning to end. The music and dance was, for the most part, tolerably entertaining. But the brief clips of children in need were truly heart-wrenching. I can't deny that shining a light on the struggles some children in this country face brings awareness and a much-needed dose of perspective to our own problems. That aspect of the show is crucial. But the relentless appeals for donations are at best, disconcerting. The fact that they come from an organization marred by allegations of institutional child abuse is all the more disturbing.

If we, as a nation, truly want to help our Children in Need, we could raise far more by implementing a progressive charity tax. One that would see contributions made proportionally to earnings, say, 0.5% of annual salary. I'd pay about twenty-five pounds. Wogan and Cotton would each pay a couple of thousand. That seems fairer, and I'm confident the amount raised would be much higher.

The Children in Need program could still continue, dedicating even more time to awareness and, if desired, fancy dress cabaret acts. And we could all watch, free from the guilt trip of relentless pleas for donations.

Even better, why not have all Premier League footballers donate a week's salary? Then, we'd surpass the billion-pound mark.

Thursday 17 November 2011

Sepp Blatter And Twitter Chatter




Blatter's remarks about racism in football have caused a commotion globally. But what did he actually say? He declared that racism wasn't a major issue in the sport and that post-game handshakes could fix on-field racism. This sparked outrage from players, the media, and the public, leading to calls for his resignation.


However, I view the situation differently. Is racism a problem in football and society? Absolutely. But I believe that racism in daily life is far more significant than what happens on the football field. I've heard various insults on the pitch and terraces, but why is it acceptable for those to be brushed off with a handshake while racist slurs are not? By being overly sensitive to racism, are we not perpetuating the problem?


Insulting someone due to their race is not worse than doing so because of their weight, religion, or sexuality. Calling someone a "black c*nt" on the pitch doesn't automatically make someone racist. In football, insults are used to unsettle opponents, and the specific insult used may not reflect the player's views on race.


For instance, I don't think John Terry is a racist, but I do think he called Anton Ferdinand a "black c*nt". The real racists would never be so open with their declarations.


Blatter should step down for other reasons, not because of these comments. His hesitation on goal-line technology, FIFA corruption, and his re-election without opposition are more significant issues. The X-Factor generation is quick to jump on a witch hunt, and Blatter is the perfect target.