We lost the match last night which may prove to be a blessing in disguise. I see on Twitter the PM has condemned racist attacks on the players who missed their penalties which is ironic since he was the one who has done most to unleash all the mad nationalism. This whole question of national self esteem and patriotism, as seen through the eyes of a lot of England football supporters, is in my opinion, a corruption of what it means to have pride in your country.
A story. Years ago, in the mid eighties, I found myself with some British customers and a German colleague from our local factory walking through the streets of Cologne late at night after a pleasant meal and a few drinks, some thing I had done quite often. It was summer but the pedestrianised streets around the massive Cathedral (a site well worth a visit by the way) were quiet as we made our way back to the car, just the echo of a few people quietly going about their business.
At one point, a gang of teenagers appeared some way ahead and walking towards us. In this country you might have been a bit worried, there was no obvious escape route, but not in Germany. As they got closer, it was a surprise to see they were picking up litter and putting it into bags. I seem to remember they had municipal tee-shirts on as if from an organised group. They were talking and smiling as they went about their work.
My surprise was not just because they were collecting litter but that as I looked around at the street we were on and which had not yet been 'cleaned,' lined as it was with brightly lit but deserted shops, there was so little litter anyway! Almost none at all as far as I could see, just the odd cigarette butt and that was it. The streets were already immaculate. Anybody who visits Germany will know this is not unusual - Switzerland is even better.
Now compare that with these scenes in London yesterday afternoon:
pic.twitter.com/b02DjfZRzn Disgraceful
— Rhys williams 🏴 (@RhysWil79985460) July 11, 2021
Who are the patriots?
