Today we saw the ridiculous turn to crazy as Quinton De Kock was forced to withdraw from the World Cup for not taking the BLM knee. I find this totally unacceptable that someone can be forced to do something they don't agree with and kudo's to him for standing up to his beliefs. Just because you disagree to kneel does not make you a racist and is racist thinking if you believe that to be true. Also just because you kneel doesn't make you a non racist either so what is it actually proving?
The ICC (Governing body of cricket) has a clear mandate or guide line and why I do believe the SA Cricket Board are now in serious trouble having overstepped their authority. The ICC Constitution clause 12 states non discrimination and no member of the ICC or members (South Africa) shall not discriminate on any person regarding race,religion,culture,descent,gender,colour and or ethnic origin. Now after reading that Quinton De Kock is in his rights for what he has done and lawyers can now get involved. The SA Cricket Board is in breach of their own code of conduct and is laughable the road they are now going down.
Quinton has his personal reasons and he doesn't need to come out and say why when the fellow team mates and the South African Cricket Board already know that reason. He has religious beliefs and the Hugenot's who he follows believe they only kneel down before God as in a prayer. This is that simple and nothing about his character should be questioned.
If he was racist he would not be in the South African team as he would have left to ply his trade elsewhere. The SA Cricket Board is seen as racist by many and what they have done today is not only shameful, but disrespectful. Why must you kneel for something if it goes against your beliefs or you would prefer to stand. Everyone can acknowledge this in their own ways as no one is against racism in sport.
Living in South Africa I have witnessed both sides of the coin with Apartheid and now which is Apartheid in reverse with blacks being racist to whites. Not everyone is a racist though and skin colour should not make any difference. I am no racist as even my own daughter has a black partner and we have a mixed race grand child. I hate what I am seeing around the world with the craziness as I believe it is going to make matters worse. This is dividing the race groups and this will create more hatred on both sides.
I recall doing my National Service under the Apartheid Government and many whites were imprisoned for refusing to serve on religious grounds. Some were Jehova Witnesses and didn't make them less patriotic but those were the rules back then. Everyone should have a choice and to not be dictated to and why I think Quinton needs to be applauded for what he has done.
In sport there is no place for politics or religion and should be about the game being played and nothing else. We have seen at the Formula One races this season that only half the drivers kneel and are the teams going to stop their drivers racing? That would be stupid which is the same as not allowing players to play. People have the right to choose and I respect whatever people decide as it is their choice. The BLM movement doesn't sit well with me as I see it purely as a political movement and nothing else. They have their own agenda and it is not racism in sport but much bigger things and I see the movement as being racist personally.
We have seen players stand up in certain sports who refuse to kneel and they are not all white sportsmen either. Everyone has a right to choose and this being forced to do something leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I know the SA Cricket Board is racist as they have a quota system in place which dictates how many players of color have to be selected. Same as in the rugby teams being played even if the players are not that good. We have all come to accept that part and why many players have left the country and playing for other nations around the world. It wasn't as though they weren't good enough, but the fact they were being left out because of their skin color which is also not right.
Politics has no place in sport and it saddens me to see this creeping in more and more. This needs to be resolved and an apology given which we know will never happen.