Re: The Interpretation of Sports (2 of 2)

[Adam Rose <adam@xxxxxxxx>]

The riots were quite interesting - I saw the TV footage last night.

Basically, these were like your average saturday night riot, only on
a larger scale. There was a big battle between the rioters and the police.
A police car was completely destroyed in 90 seconds ! The interview with the
policeman describing how he had to get out of the car and run for his life
was brilliant ! Also, there were some very expensive looking cars torched,
at least two of which ( according to the Guardian ) were German ( Audis,
BMW's ).

In Bradford, there was looting - nothing in any way anti German about this.

But, of course, we also have the stabbing of the Russian - on the basis
that he was probably German, if he spoke English with a funny accent.

The rioting shows the tensions in society which are completely submerged by
the official political discourse. It also shows that the discontent CAN
go in either reactionary or progressive directions.

There were two elements in the rioting - anti police, anti property on the
one hand, and anti German on the other. Overall, the former dominated the
later - this tallies with what I was saying about the reaction to the tabloid
press, the BSE crisis, and Ireland. But it clearly shows the potential for
the discontent being harnessed by the extreme right, parliamentary or not,
as well.


Adam.


Adam Rose
SWP
Manchester
UK


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