Well done to Blarney the brave - someone who stands against fascism yet tells a fellow football supporter to:

"shut up then and go talk only about football on other threads and let those of us who have got the bottle to do something about the problem get on with it. "

Exercising your own little bit of fascism there, eh Blarney?

I was merely putting the record straight about Birmingham not having a strong anti-Irish feeling. There may be a small minority but I accept that there are idiots everywhere and you've proved my point quite nicely. Get the fuck over it and GTF yourself if you want to wildly exaggerate things and stir up more trouble.

I've got agree with St Pauli Villain - there's cnuts in every city but the proudest thing I have about being a Brummie is that we are a city of immigrants. Always have been, always will be. Tolerance may take too long time to come, but can anyone tell me that Brum is worse than anywhere else?

Of course there are fascists in Birmingham and the Black Country. Just as there are in every community in the world. You can see and hear them at Blues and the Villa - and they need to be hounded out and confronted at each turn. But there are Blues and Villa fans who put themselves on the line when the scum come out the woodwork. I've seen people confront and kick off with people who tried to start anti-semitic songs on the Tilton against Spurs and on a trip to Celtic a few years ago there were lamposts full of Villains Against Fascism stickers.

Two other things also spring to mind. There was a rally against Le Pen a couple of years back that coincided with a Blues Wolves game. I went straight after half expecting trouble from combined BNP fans but instead was heartened to see that there were plenty of other like minded fans stand up and be counted. There was also the successful campaign that stopped Blues signing Lee Bowyer last year. For sure, we got a lot of stick for that - but it worked.

There are a lot of wankers out there - I was at the Blues Celtic "friendly" a few years back and it was appalling. It attracted all the dregs of the West Midlands far-right scene and if the main stand had fallen down, half of the local NF, BNP and "New Democrats" in the West Midlands would have gone with it. And good riddance too.

But have despite putting resources into "white, working class" suburbs like Ward End, Sheldon, Lea Bank etc, the BNP have got nowhere. Again, that's something I'm proud of.

For me, the real problem is the subliminal, lazy racism of everyday life. But to say that Birmingham is any worse than any other city is rubbish.

And it's wrong to insult other fans on this board for jumping on some kind of fashionable bandwagon. For me it's quite simple - you follow St Pauli because you're already anti-racist, anti-fascist and on the left. For far too long the left has been divided, so come y'all, UNITY IS STRENGTH.

In response to BrummieCelts comments about bigotry/racism in Birmingham, as someone who works there (Aston/Nechells) area and up until last year was living within shouting distance of the Bham City FC I have to say I dont recognise the picture painted of Bham. However, I appreciate that he who feels it, knows it; and Bham had some widely reported incidents of community/racial tension in the Nechells area.

Born in Nottingham and as a supporter of Nottingham Forest I know first and second hand that racism amongst other 'schisms' exist. Religous tensions too are very prevelant and it is a struggle/challenge for those who want an end to discrimination and bigotry to take steps to diffuse/negate these tensions whilst celebrating difference.

"Harambee" is a Swahilli phrase that means "lets work together", a phrase that followers of St. Pauli (on the whole) manifest.

...and I forgot to say that the Hearts initiative is fantastic. Keep up the good work!

Quote:

And it's wrong to insult other fans on this board for jumping on some kind of fashionable bandwagon. For me it's quite simple - you follow St Pauli because you're already anti-racist, anti-fascist and on the left. For far too long the left has been divided, so come y'all, UNITY IS STRENGTH.

Well said Chris. Spot on. I didn't realise that I had to actively prove my leftist credentials to support St Pauli.

To get back to Brido's original post I can only say top man for attempting to do something constructive. I wish you the very best.

Wankers of the World Unite... and they all seem to live in Brum!

Brummie Celt is the guy who made those 'Villains Against Fascism' stickers you saw at celtic Mr Bluenose? It certainly wouldn't have been you or any of the 'Villains' from the Brummie Boys in Brown.

People who do nothing talking to folk who've been doing it for years... give us a break will ya!

Fcuking 'Swahili' - you've gotta laugh!

'Oh Jeremy darling I know a quaint little restaraunt in Edgbaston where the natives are so friendly... phwaw phwaw phwaw!'

Hey! Hardly 2 months in existence and we've got our first troll!

It's still a good sign, by any standard.

EDIT: John, does this package come with an Ignore List feature?

[Blarney the Brave wrote]People who do nothing talking to folk who've been doing it for years... give us a break will ya![/quote]

Sorry, I didn't realise we had Che Guevara's ghost in our midst. Keep fighting the good fight and I'm sure, one day, your distinguished mug will adorn many a right-on student's bedsit wall. Besides, quite what you're doing posting idiotic claptrap on the internet when you could be polishing your bullet-belt and single-handedly crushing fascism is anyone's guess. Power to the people!

Zim wrote:

EDIT: John, does this package come with an Ignore List feature?

I've been reading with great interest, Zim, and our guest appears to have attempted to "ruffle a few feathers", so to speak.

I liked the "trendy football tourist" jibe, it made me laugh!

In all honesty anyone who sports extremely challenging rhetoric whilst hiding under the cloak of anonymity is, frankly, a nob and should be treated with the contempt they deserve. On the other hand I was probably like that when I was a callow youth too!!

Bugger me! It wasn't so long ago that the SWP urged me to go home and prepare for revolution - I think they were all still in work the next day.

I hope it's not just a load of blarney!!

John x

Jeez this assasination of blarneys character is a disgrace. I have known him for over fifteen years. He has been at the forefront of physically and idealogicaly fighting fascists/fascism for as long as that and beyond. These were the days when the fascists were a lot stronger here than they are now. He was also one of the people who was at the forefront of the link up of Celtic and St Pauli fans, (over 10 years ago) and continues to do so now. Maybe he has hit a raw nerve with some of you. As for anonimity, since when did people use there real names on here?
To get back to some of the original posts I said there was still an anti Irish feeling in Birmingham and I stand by that, it's to the credit of the likes of AFA that they don't raise there ugly heads as much as they once did, but scratch the surface and you will find it. Surely the fact that there are two pubs in an area where many Irish live, where the Irish are unwelcome shows a strong anti Irish feeling? there is a couple of families on my road in Erdington who on St Patricks day will hoist their St Georges flag - anti Irish feelings? The local Evening Mail at this time of year is usually full of anti Irish mutterings about the huge St Patricks parade and tiny St Georges parade, indeed it was only about three yearsd ago that fascists went looking for Irish to slap around in Digbeth on St Georges day, suffice to say they wont do it again in a hurry Onto Sheldon, do the BNP still hold meetings in one of the pubs there?
Finally I repeat if the Hearts fan is genuine in his campagn to rid Hearts of it's fascist/loyalist support I wish him well, It's a shame more Hearts fans were not involved in AFA a few years back as this would of helped nip it in the bud.

Firstly, I don't know Blarney from Adam, but when people start dishing out personal jibes they should expect to take some in return.

Secondly, you make a point about two pubs in an area that has literally hundreds of pubs (remember just how big Erdington is), which is a small percentage. Now, I wonder what percentage of pubs English people are welcome at in Glasgow?

Thirdly, people displaying St George flags on St Patricks day isn't necesarily anti-Irish. Perhaps they're embarrassed that their lot can't be arsed to get up off their complacent behinds and do their bit of flag waving.

Likewise with the Evening Mail - they bemoan the lack of activities on St George's day compared to St Patricks day as an attack upon the council, not upon the Irish. It says more about the English lack of national pride than anything. After all, this is England and not Ireland. The St Patrick's day celebrations should be the model that the council should aspire to when making plans for such a bash. The problem here is that right-wing groups can hi-jack such an event, and we all know it only takes a few idiots to ruin a party.

Generally, I challenged your original point because it paints a distorted picture of the city and might put some Irish people off visiting. The vast majority of people here have no problem at all with the Irish and that's a simple fact. As Chris mentioned, Birmingham is a city of migrants and immigrants, and always has been (I wouldn't be here otherwise) so compared to many other cities where tensions run high, it fares pretty well.

That's not to say it doesn't have its problems. The friction between black and Asian communities in Lozells is one of the biggest worries, as the recent riots illutrated. So, it shows that different communities and cultures often have problems living side by side, even without the intervention of fascists to stir things up.

I concede that there is an idiotic minority, as any major city will experience, be it from fascists, religious extremists and just plain morons. The recent demonstrations in London showed that there is a minority of Islamic fundamentalists who hate Britain and what it stands for. That does not mean that London has a strong anti-British feeling.

Let's have a bit of perspective.

I don't think we are going to agree on this so be it. I can't believe that putting up England flags on St Patricks day isn't percieved as anti Irish! It's only two pubs in Erdington where the Irish are not welcome, that's ok then? (It maybe be more)
In regards to the English in Glasgow, at the last European championships, the England shirt was the best seller in Glasgow sports shops, a top that is sported by many rangers fans, and the wearing of it is usually accompanied by that universal song of peace and tolerence 'The Billy Boys'

Yeah, well, as a Villa fan, I can't really say anything positive about Rangers after what their lot did at Villa Park in the '70s. As I said, every city has its idiots

Up St Pauli and the Villa!