I didn't respond to the survey, as I've always maintained the position it is a decision for our Jewish supporters to make, theirs and theirs alone.
That said, my preference is for it to end being used as although the majority of our Jewish fans that I've spoken to personally understand completely why it's used in the context it is, many feel that dealing with offensive words/chants/actions towards them and abhorrent behavior would be easier if this debate was no more.
Our use of the word has done its job, where we stand is crystal clear, let's rest on that. Be proud, but for everyones sake, let's move on.
As for the (for me) bigger issues of the declining atmosphere, that's the clubs responsibility on two levels a) the rigid enforcement against home supporters forcing them to remain in their seats whilst ignoring the fact that away supporters stand throughout, and because of the bigger allocation now make our home support sound ineffectual and timorous.
and b) The clubs inability to come up with a comprehensive 'family' affordable plan to get more youngsters and tiered pricing for kids into it's plans in a way that is more than a token gesture.
Ex , is anyone at the club concerned at the lack of atmosphere in the new Library and if so is anything being done to rectify the situation ?
Or is it just a case of 60,000 bums on seats ( at least the home bums are ), lovely lolly, who cares ?
I don't normally bother with reading much that he puts out and afraid all that article does is reconfirm why; of course, THFC have an agenda and of course, they'd rather be shot of being the target for vocal non-Spurs loving Jews and so as they have done for many years; the club has walked the tightrope of wanting to end the chant of the Y-word without alienating our support.
That's the clubs agenda and that's the blindingly obvious context! You'd have to be deaf dumb and blind not to understand that by now.
We have to accept that there are many Spurs loving Jews who find the whole thing distasteful and upsetting and would rather see it ended once and for all; I have Jewish friends who go to every game they can and they still never join into the chant and still feel uncomfortable with it, which is why I personally think THFC have to get brave and identify those supporters that identify themselves as Jewish (wouldn't be as difficult as you think) and only survey them and them alone and let them speak openly about their preferred use/non-use of the word and the rest of us who aren't Jewish, simply respect their wishes (which would, of course, would have to be by a survey/secret ballot).
It has no bearing how much of a minority group they are of our support, it is they and they alone that are/or are not offended by it, we can claim our history and hold our heads up proud that we did what we did, but we are not the arbiters of good taste and never can be as rarely does it affect us.
The moral high ground can be a difficult and uncomfortable place but it's their to be claimed and damn the small-minded who can't see it.
It doesn't have to be 'banned' a simple well-crafted request made by those it affects as a collective could easily be respected by the rest of us.
I for one would respect such a request and many other Spurs fans I know, would too.
Worth reading the whole article but here are the points highlighted at the top
It feels fairly obvious ENIC/THFC powers that be want to now end the use of the word but it's ingrained into many of the loudest chants.
- 33% of respondents use the Y-word ‘regularly’ in a footballing context
- 18% of respondents that do not use the term in a footballing context consider it ‘offensive’, with the number rising to 35% among Jewish respondents
- Only 12% of respondents would use the term outside of a footballing context
- 94% of respondents acknowledge the Y-word can be considered a racist term against a Jewish person
- Almost half of all respondents would prefer to see supporters choose to chant the Y-word less or stop using it altogether
I'm torn as whilst they seem to be talking about the antisemitism problem existing in the 70s and 80s I've been to games in the last decade where there's been antisemitic chants, hissing and nazi salutes. Furthermore the atmosphere is crap enough already without getting rid of half the chants.
I also think the data is probably slightly skewed as the respondents are likely going to have a higher proportion of people who want to see the usage stopped as they're taking the time out to respond in the first place. That said there are clearly a fair few fans who aren't comfortable with it and their voice deserves to be heard on it. Just hope the atmosphere doesn't dip even lower than it is already in our lovely new stadium.
Do you remember our conversation on a very similar subject probably well over ten years ago when I said the Government approved little pocket book of officially approved insults and put downs would be the future ?
Haha , here we are !
Well said my friend.
Although I agree that some may find it offensive, some may also find swearing words even more offensive, especially if they take family members to the game.
There will always be some % of a survey who find something distasteful, that's life. However the entire world seems to be bowing to the vocal minority, whilst we, the silent majority sit back and take it.
I personally wouldn't mind if the Spurs fans stopped using the Y word altogether if it made "almost half the respondents" happier.
On a different note, but similar, have a look at the lack of Christmas decorations in the towns, cities, shops and businesses compared to the 70's and 80's. The minority have spoken.