British Discrepancies

There seems to be lately a rather heated fuss in Britain about Blatter’s blunder on racism. 

It seems that, according to the Brit tabloids, in particular my favorite one, The Sun, the least humanity could do to this man was to cover him in barbeque sauce and throw him to the lions under jubilant roars of a “justful” crowd:

 

According to these papers, it seems, that racism should be treated in the harshest, most vehement manner possible. No holding back. For the foulest of crimes, the most violent of sentences.

But, if memory doesn’t fail me, I do remember one particular episode, from a Tony Parsons, in The Mirror, where various flattering adjectives were used to qualify individuals from another Country.

This article, unfortunately, cannot be read any longer in its original site (wonder why?) but, thanks to Joana’s blog, we can still read this piece of literary masterpiece:

 
"OH, UP YOURS, SENOR Tony Parsons 29/10/2007

Portugal's ambassador to Britain, Senor Antonio Santana Carlos, says that the Madeleine McCann case has seriously damaged relations between the two countries. Well, whose fault is that?

It is the fault of the spectacularly stupid, cruel Portuguese police. I have never much cared for the convention of calling cops "pigs" or "filth", but I am happy to make an exception. They have tried to cover their humiliation at coming nowhere close to finding that stolen child by fitting up her parents.

The decline in relations is also the fault of the appalling Portuguese media, happy to print any piece of poisonous trash spoon-fed to them by "police sources" treating the abduction of a small child as light entertainment.

And the Portuguese public must also take their share of the blame. The sight of locals jeering at Kate McCann as she went in for questioning made me feel as though these leering bumpkins were not from another country, but another planet.

And the good ambassador can also be blamed for the decline in relations.

When he should be exercising a little diplomacy, he huffs and he puffs about the McCanns' tragic decision to leave their children sleeping alone on the night Madeleine was stolen.

"In Portugal we have the concept of a nuclear family," sniffs Senor Carlos. "That the families all live together."

They made a mistake, ambassador. Their lives have been wrecked. That is punishment enough, without your asinine, unwanted comments.

And I would respectfully suggest that in future, if you can't say something constructive about the disappearance of little Madeleine, then you just keep your stupid, sardine-munching mouth shut."

For these words, we haven't heard any apologies, nor heard any demand FROM THE BRITISH MEDIA, tabloid or other, for one.

But for Blatter’s words we got an outright public outraged condemnation, including one from the Brit PM himself.
 
Oh, it must be that suggesting (stupidly I must add Mr Blatter) that racism could be resolved simply by a handshake is much, much more serious than using the following words towards a diplomat, an institution and an entire country: the spectacularly stupid, cruel Portuguese police I have never much cared for the convention of calling cops "pigs" or "filth", but I am happy to make an exception appalling Portuguese media the Portuguese public (…) leering bumpkins were not from another country, but another planet. without your asinine, unwanted comments just keep your stupid, sardine-munching mouth shut and other interesting wording...

To condemn Blatter's words and just be silent about Parson's opinion is just another one of those “acceptable” British discrepancies?
   
PS: To write Senor, instead of Senhor, when referring to a Portuguese male individual, just goes to show the author's high cultural level. For example, like not knowing how much sardines are appreciated by fellow Brit tourists.