Monday, June 11, 2012

Beating the tattoo and other things.


Watching the European Championships I have been struck by the number of footballers sporting tattoos. It almost seems compulsory to have them. When I was young the only people who had tattoos were sailors, Polynesian Islanders and ex members of the SS.
Speaking of the SS, I have been amazed at the reaction to the member of Greece’s neo Nazi Golden Dawn party assaulting two female panellists on a televised debate. People have thrown up their hands in shock as to how someone could behave that way. During the debate he threw water on one woman and then slapped another around the face. His defence was that he had been provoked, I presume he meant verbally, which is the sort of thing that happens in a debate. The idea is when this happens you are supposed to confound your opponent with an incredibly witty response. This is obviously beyond the powers of a right wing Neanderthal.
Having a neo Nazi in a debate with his opponents and expecting him to behave in a civilised manner is the equivalent of dressing a chimpanzee in a suit, calling him a waiter and expecting him to serve you dinner.

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