Silence is not golden
Posted by Jamie Hibbard at 5:00PM on Thursday 07 February, 2008 10 Comments
Two days ago we ran a story about the racist taunts aimed at Lewis Hamilton last weekend when testing at Barcelona.
We put forward the idea that the best way to nip this appalling behaviour in the bud would be for Hamilton's ex-teammate, Fernando Alonso, to speak out against it.
For many fans it has been a short trip from a few racist idiots at a practice session to tarring all of Spain with the same brush, yet after similar behaviour by Spanish football fans directed towards the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ashley Cole a few years back, it's easy to see how that jump was made.
Alonso needs to make his voice heard, not just in support of an ex-teammate, but also to a larger extent in defence of his entire country.
Staying silent now seems like a deliberate want to avoid conflict, a hope that by not bringing attention to it, that it will all go away.
I called Renault F1's press office regarding this and they refused to comment, either for themselves or on behalf of Alonso.
Refusing to comment is a lot easier than having to put your side across in a considered manner, I guess.
Yet I still believe Alonso should speak up, and if you believe as I do, then you should email us and we'll add your name to a list that we'll then submit to Renault F1 in a week from today.
Last Thursday at the launch of this season's Renault F1 challenger, the R28, Alonso said of his relationship with Lewis: "At the end of the day, I am really convinced it is better not to say anything, because we cannot make a big thing of something that is not really a big thing."
Their relationship might not have been a big thing, but this is different. This is a big thing.
And the silence is deafening.
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10 Comments for "Silence is not golden"
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Add my name to 'the list'. Not that it'll work, even IF both Alonso and Renault speak out. Think about it - if Alonso is 'encouraged' to speak out about the disgusting nature of some Spaniards, would you consider it to be a heartfelt, earnest plea from Alonso himself to the Spanish to desist in their foul behaviour, or would his words be easily translated into, 'I'm only saying this because you Brits are hounding me about it'?
The organisations that matter in this case, the FIA, McLaren, the Spanish motorsport federation and the racetrack owners themselves, have all publicly spoken out against the incident and whether or not Alonso adds his voice to the outcry, really won't persuade anyone looking to make a fool of themselves, not to.
The very notion that Alonso must speak up to defend his country implies that the entire population of Spain, including Alonso, should be held accountable for the actions of a minority.
Surely the TVR Sagaris should get a mention?
For Alonso to not comment is stupid, and people will draw the obvious conclusion. Surely after his spoilt behaviour of last year he would want to make some effort to make himself look good.
If a comment has to be made, it should be from the team. Alonso is a driver, not the moral compass for his entire nation. His ego really doesn't need to be inflated more, no?
What the hell has Alonso or the whole of Spain got to do with a handful of numpties? This is endemic of the Alonso bashing that went on all of last season.
'Forcing' Renault and Alonso to say something doesn't mean that it will change anything. Idiots will remain idiots, and racism will live on in an environment that sustains it, as seen by all the relevant cases (football).
Bernie always complains that Alonso never does anything for the sport. Now he can. With a little action he can do a great deal of good.
What the Spanish fans did was wrong and things will continue (sadly) to be this way. It's they who should say sorry, not Spain's ambassador to F1, i.e. Alonso.