tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post9125684793986851741..comments2024-01-30T19:29:34.430+01:00Comments on Brits in Bosnia - toddlers, dog and all: Football IdentityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post-36584296970740486692009-09-11T17:56:21.217+02:002009-09-11T17:56:21.217+02:00Well, Em, as a mommy for 40+ years, with grandchil...Well, Em, as a mommy for 40+ years, with grandchildren now, I can identify with how fast you mind was working before your mouth did. Adam's decision is a tribute to how you and daddy are raising the boys.-Best, ToniAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post-73824223570531995592009-09-11T09:32:27.043+02:002009-09-11T09:32:27.043+02:00Alice - He can support whoever he wants, obviously...Alice - He can support whoever he wants, obviously. But it has got me thinking about this whole mixing cultures thing. Tricky...<br /><br />ZA - It was 5-1. I didn't want to crow about it, there are some people here who are pretty upset about that. I do find it amazing how much can go through your head before a word gets out. <br /><br />TM - See, this is what I mean. But in our family where football is huge, then having a traitor in our midst is a problem (only joking, he can support whoever he wants, he just might not be able to watch any matches with the rest of us)<br /><br />VBH - I think being an English supporter is sometimes a curse that is bestowed upon us at birth. But, being a Chelsea supporter, I can't condone the encouraging of Barca in anyway! Thanks for the award too!<br /><br />Nicola - Your ex has many negative aspects, but his choice of football team is not one of them. We have Chelsea scarves (currently doubling as a belt for pirates) all over the place. <br /><br />Iota - He is a principled lad, big time respect for him! I find that whole I'll support anyone but x concept weird. But then I'm not Scottish.<br /><br />Mwa - Imagine, you could be in despair over their inability to beat the Netherlands. Instead, in Belgium, you are still smarting from the Bosnian defeats in March. I think they'll work out who they identify with according to their experiences. It doesn't really matter all that much.<br /><br />Anon - Thanks for your comment. I had always thought that the use of Turk was offensive, but was told by a Bosnian Muslim the other day that he doesn't understand it to be an insult or offensive. I put it into the post as I wanted to give some concept to those who don't know the history of Bosnia as to why the Bosnia Turkey game was of such interest and resonance to those supporting Bosnia. And you are right, noone should pay any attention to nationalists and their extraordinary agenda. We all came from Africa originally after all!Dorset Dispatcheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10457466586411004146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post-67334832228528593542009-09-11T09:13:47.556+02:002009-09-11T09:13:47.556+02:00When you say Bosnian Muslims are often called Turk...When you say Bosnian Muslims are often called Turks by Serbs, it is an offensive word they use to describe us. Thier nationalists try to teach fake history about our people, just because we are Muslims doesn't mean we cannot be European - In fact: Bosnian Muslims have more white (aryan) genes than Serbs. <br /><br />Anyway, nobody really cares about Serb nationalists and thier feelings, all Abrahamic religions started out in the middle-east didn't they? So on that basis i guess were all Arabs then aswell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post-39751251259892546022009-09-10T18:58:21.377+02:002009-09-10T18:58:21.377+02:00Very funny post, but very close to the truth. If y...Very funny post, but very close to the truth. If you stay over there for a long time, you will have to be prepared for having (at least partly) Bosnian children.<br /><br />My parents took us to Scotland for only two years. I stayed behind for another four more, and ended up with a Scot. We very nearly moved to Scotland to settle forever.<br /><br />Of course, this can happen even if you never leave the country at all. Still, it's something you're obviously considering.Mwahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00954216492730746581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post-41035119244923748152009-09-10T18:54:22.028+02:002009-09-10T18:54:22.028+02:00There is an award with your name on it over at min...There is an award with your name on it over at mine.Very Bored in Catalunyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07695203425270299420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post-57347675823856884112009-09-10T18:47:21.249+02:002009-09-10T18:47:21.249+02:00My son bravely supported England in the World Cup ...My son bravely supported England in the World Cup when we lived in Scotland. Scotland hadn't qualified, and the word in the playground was that you supported whoever England was playing against. So all his friends cheered for Brazil, Croatia, Netherlands - it didn't matter who. But he stuck to his guns, which made me realise he is probably made of sterner stuff than I am (either that, or I just haven't understood the whole football thing).Iota https://www.blogger.com/profile/08507184283437057648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post-32129725905908935962009-09-10T16:01:15.524+02:002009-09-10T16:01:15.524+02:00Very funny. My boys also pick their teams depende...Very funny. My boys also pick their teams dependent on the colour of the strip/flag/player with a nice hair cut. They also have very split alliances between America and England. Luckily 'soccer' is not such a big deal over here so this type of dilemna doesn't really occur. Ex has pretty much insisted since they were hours old that they support Chelsea and any team they watch wearing blue gets the 'Chelsea Chelsea' chant, so I guess he is doing a good job on that front at least.Nicolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07017352687163694581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post-33606620779329764882009-09-10T15:46:57.888+02:002009-09-10T15:46:57.888+02:00Ha ha, love it! T'husband and I have had a si...Ha ha, love it! T'husband and I have had a similar conversation before J was born about whether he should be a Leeds United fan like his Papa, or a Forest fan like myself. Thankfully we both came to our senses and decided that he had a birth right being born in Catalunya to be a Barcelona fan, and why would we want to inflict years of misery on him when he can watch a great team win every week.<br /><br />Thankfully the Catalans don't support the Spanish national side so we have no such debate when it comes international football, the poor lad will just have to suck it up like the rest of us and support England.Very Bored in Catalunyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07695203425270299420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post-91946599150629254402009-09-10T14:04:56.299+02:002009-09-10T14:04:56.299+02:00Heehee. Having grown up in Ivory Coast, football (...Heehee. Having grown up in Ivory Coast, football (of the "soccer" kind) earns greater respect from me and my siblings than the huddle-and-then-bash-each-other kind over here. My sister is HUGELY into it. She and her husband are apparently going to start non-profit level soccer leagues everywhere they go--they did so in Philidelphia, and now are starting on Boston. They are indefatigible.<br /><br />And she cheers for the Ivorien team over the American, FYI. Every time.Teacher Mommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11215145025563985398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post-38666137803068193792009-09-10T13:50:17.398+02:002009-09-10T13:50:17.398+02:00Loved your thoughts. Didn't watch the match bu...Loved your thoughts. Didn't watch the match but hubby was saying something like 5-1. Like all little boys they will probably defect to the winning side anyhow. Its great they feel part of Bosnia and can identify with it...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08577641788742285017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3519883976018465014.post-33856617794015687562009-09-10T13:43:21.586+02:002009-09-10T13:43:21.586+02:00great post! Gosh, it is difficult. There is some...great post! Gosh, it is difficult. There is something so wonderful about embracing life in a new country and in the fact that maybe Adam is feeling Bosnian, but in some ways you still want him to retain his Englishness ... tricky. Yes, I think the only option is to spend a few months living in England each year and then spend the rest of each year wherever takes your fancy. This way England is always the permanent 'root' and there will be no more thinking-quick-about-football-conversations to deal with ... In fact, I think that would be my perfect lifestyle - if only we could afford it!Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14617109153936000235noreply@blogger.com