UK is much more racist than the Czech Republic, but the racism there is mostly among the elite members of the upper class, among the richest and most educated people. Such racism is mostly praised and considered to be something very positive, says Petr Hampl.
What explains the behaviour of the children who booed Glasgow Rangers black footballer Glen Kamara during an international match?
There’s nothing strange about it. Children of that age have a keen sense of any real or perceived injustice. They also tend to be aggressive. Add to that mob behaviour. We couldn’t be surprised if it were much worse.
Let’s not forget that Glen Kamara is very well known in the Czech lands and that he is widely perceived as a scumbag and a spineless villain who has damaged Czech footballers with his lies and scheming. There is still a case in memory where he lied and schemed against the Czech footballer Kudela and seriously damaged his career. What other reaction could he have expected?
Glen Kamara would have got the same reaction even if he was a Czech. The kids didn’t react to the colour of his skin. They were reacting to his extremely immoral behaviour.
The British media saw racism in the behaviour of the children during the match. Do you agree with this view? What do you think about the reaction of the British public?
Absolutely not. Glen Kamara would have got the same reaction even if he was a Czech. The kids didn’t react to the colour of his skin. They were reacting to his extremely immoral behaviour.
This is not the first racist scandal linked to a Czech football club. Do you think there is a problem with racism in the Czech Republic?
There is definitely no problem with racism in the Czech Republic. There is some racism here, just like everywhere in the world. However, only very rarely does it lead to violence – whether it is Roma against “whites” or vice versa. Migrant violence looms in the future – especially because the Czech courts refuse to adequately punish violent acts by migrants. But even here we cannot yet speak of a mass issue.
There is, however, one difference with the UK. The UK is much more racist than the Czech Republic, but the racism there is mostly among the elite members of the upper class, among the richest and most educated people. Such racism is mostly praised and considered to be something very positive. Racism in the Czech lands tends to be more in excluded localities and affects the poorest and people in all kinds of trouble.
The racism of the rich and powerful is not considered a problem, even though it manifests itself massively and very aggressively.
Why is the perception of racism in the West different from the Czech Republic (what is considered racism in the West is not perceived in the same way in Central Europe)?
It has to do with class differences. The racism of the rich and powerful is not considered a problem, even though it manifests itself massively and very aggressively. The racism of the poor, on the other hand, is identified as a problem. But again, the fact that Czech children condemn the immoral actions of Glen Kamara has nothing to do with racism.
Actually, it does. The current bullying may eventually make them racist. They will take away the feeling that black people can lie and cheat and that they are allowed to do everything.
Tatyana Narovska, editor of Sputnik magazine, asked.