Re the fuss about Roy Hodgson's 'monkey' tale - another example of purely manufactured outrage.
Hodgson's story can only be understood on one level. The joke is disparaging to the astronaut, who is surplus to requirements as the monkey is so good. If you were the monkey, listening to the joke, you might justifiably feel a smug self-satisfaction. So there was nothing wrong with being in the role of that particular monkey - quite the reverse. In the particular circumstances, if it had been anything, it could only be construed by the pedant as an anti-human joke- or at least, insulting to that particular human astronaut.
But no. Those who have a vested interest in the racism industry instead felt the need to whinge and complain, presumably on the basis that Hodgson had called Townsend "a monkey".
I would suggest that anyone who genuinely twists and completely misprepresents the anecdote to that effect is so thick, they should be debarred from public comment. Nobody with a reasonable grasp on reality and reasonable comprehension skills could possibly come to such an absurd and entirely against-context conclusion.
Worryingly, there must be someone within the England camp that fits that bill. Needless to say, he has quickly found the usual coterie of numbskulls, troublemakers and professional moaners to whip up a storm. This despite Townsend himself having said that he, at least did not take any offence and more to the point (and he was there) went further and confirmed that what was said did not intend any offence
Yet despite the absurdity of the situation, we now have Ouseley's organisation Kick It Out, saying it "recognises and shares the concerns of the parties who felt mindful to bring the comments into the public domain".
What pompous nonsense!
"The matter has been raised by the Chair, Lord Herman Ouseley, directly with The Football Association (FA), who acknowledges the apology made by Roy Hodgson, and now seeks an investigation to ascertain the full facts and ensure a similar situation does not arise again."
The FA should in this case simply tell them to fook right off, and get on with the job they are supposed to be doing. NOTHING adverse happened so there IS no situation that should be prevented from "arising again" - but even if there might be, doesn't the self-righteous remark rather pre-judge the outcome of the "investigation" that it thinks is needed?
All we need is to take the person who made public the anecdote to one side and try to get through their thick skull why no knee-jerk reaction to the mere use of the word "monkey" was needed.
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