- + Alexis Skitini voted on a point for the debate Legalise drugs worldwide
- + Jdickins joined Debatewise
- + Rahina joined Debatewise
- + Zedspeni Asype joined Debatewise
- + Murphy Becca joined Debatewise
- + Jdickins voted on a point for the debate The death penalty should be reinstated in the UK
- + Jdickins voted on a point for the debate The death penalty should be reinstated in the UK
- + Jdickins edited the debate 1-child policy for every single country in the world!
- + Lisa1985 joined Debatewise
- + Ll Blynch voted on a point for the debate Are ASBOs Effective?
- + Ll Blynch edited the debate Are ASBOs Effective?
- + Dillas2 joined Debatewise
- + Ll Blynch voted on the debate Are ASBOs Effective?
- + Garbypizzaro joined Debatewise
- + Ll Blynch voted on a point for the debate Are ASBOs Effective?
- + Menareangrynow voted on the debate Are women superior to men?
- + Qualaypak joined Debatewise
- + Rhoda Doku joined Debatewise
- + Jdickins voted on a point for the debate The death penalty should be reinstated in the UK
- + Terri Re joined Debatewise
- + Jdickins voted on a point for the debate The death penalty should be reinstated in the UK
- + Elefweiree Law joined Debatewise
- + Moilt Evomot joined Debatewise
- + Jdickins voted on a point for the debate 1-child policy for every single country in the world!
THE ENGLAND TEAM ARE RIGHT TO CONTINUE THEIR TOUR OF INDIA
After the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, many people have questioned whether or not it is safe or, indeed, reasonable for the England team to carry on their tour of India. But should sport come before mourning or is this act of defiance against terrorists the best course of action?
The England team are right to continue their tour of India
Yes, because... It is important not to give in to terrorists.
Defiance is the best weapon we have against terrorism. By sending the message that the cricket will go on, we are saying that we will not give in; no matter how many bombs go off, or how many lives are lost, the terrorists simply will not win. Indeed, so ‘trivial’ is cricket that the defiance is all the greater.
The England team are right to continue their tour of India
Yes, because... The Ashes continued in London despite the bombings of 7/7; we should not make an exception for India
Yes, India’s reputation as a safe place to visit has been damaged. However, sport has rarely given into terrorism and it should certainly not do so now. In 2005 the Ashes continued a mere two weeks after the bombings in London which killed 56 people, while when the England team played Dublin during the Troubles they received a five minute standing ovation as soon as they walked on the pitch, causing the England captain to comment: ‘We may not be much good but at least we turn up.’ Indeed, the England team even returned to India in 1984 after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, Tony Brown the tour manager, told anyone who wanted to go they could ‘piss off’. Abandoning India now, given this precedent, would be a deeply cowardly and unforgivable act.
The England team are right to continue their tour of India
Yes, because... Financially the move is important for the England team
Financially England need this. The ECB is already fearful of playing second fiddle in International Cricket and the good relations which will be created with India by continuing the tour may well help to clear the way for an exchange of players when the cricketing Premier League comes in in 2010.
The England team are right to continue their tour of India
No, because... It is callous not to allow a period of mourning.
Lalit Modil’s insistence that the Test series would continue while the attacks were happening was nothing less than insensitive. Just as the continuation of the Olympic Games in 1972 seemed crass after the murder of athletes in Munich, so it is callous not to pause the cricket to allow the nation to grieve. Cricket is not, after all, more important than the lives of those killed in Mumbai. As Flintoff put it, ‘most people had security concerns but we also wondered if this is the right time to be playing cricket’.
The England team are right to continue their tour of India
No, because... The England team are staying in the sister Hotel to the Taj in Mumbai. We cannot afford to take the risk of prompting another terrorist attack.
Apart from anything else, we must be clear that there remain security concerns. The terrorist attack in Mumbai occurred in a hotel where visiting teams usually stay, and, indeed, in the sister hotel of that used after the attacks for the England team. We should not allow our desire to defy terrorists to actually encourage them to attack again and endanger the England team (and others) in the process.
The England team are right to continue their tour of India
No, because... It would be difficult to concentrate on the cricket given the context
The lack of preparation England have enjoyed against what is widely considered to be the best team in the world cannot do us any favours performance wise. Indeed, given the huge security entourage and the private concerns of the players themselves it may be difficult for them to focus on play.
Vote on this debate: The England team are right to continue their tour of India
Modified:
06 Apr 2010
Point 1. It is important not to give in to terrorists.
Defiance is the best weapon we have against terrorism. By sending the message that the cricket will go on, we are saying that we will not give in; no matter how many bombs go off, or how many lives are lost, the terrorists simply will not win. Indeed, so ‘trivial’ is cricket that the defiance is all the greater.
Point 2. The Ashes continued in London despite the bombings of 7/7; we should not make an exception for India
Yes, India’s reputation as a safe place to visit has been damaged. However, sport has rarely given into terrorism and it should certainly not do so now. In 2005 the Ashes continued a mere two weeks after the bombings in London which killed 56 people, while when the England team played Dublin during the Troubles they received a five minute standing ovation as soon as they walked on the pitch, causing the England captain to comment: ‘We may not be much good but at least we turn up.’ Indeed, the England team even returned to India in 1984 after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, Tony Brown the tour manager, told anyone who wanted to go they could ‘piss off’. Abandoning India now, given this precedent, would be a deeply cowardly and unforgivable act.
Point 3. Financially the move is important for the England team
Financially England need this. The ECB is already fearful of playing second fiddle in International Cricket and the good relations which will be created with India by continuing the tour may well help to clear the way for an exchange of players when the cricketing Premier League comes in in 2010.
Point 1. It is callous not to allow a period of mourning.
Lalit Modil’s insistence that the Test series would continue while the attacks were happening was nothing less than insensitive. Just as the continuation of the Olympic Games in 1972 seemed crass after the murder of athletes in Munich, so it is callous not to pause the cricket to allow the nation to grieve. Cricket is not, after all, more important than the lives of those killed in Mumbai. As Flintoff put it, ‘most people had security concerns but we also wondered if this is the right time to be playing cricket’.
Point 2. The England team are staying in the sister Hotel to the Taj in Mumbai. We cannot afford to take the risk of prompting another terrorist attack.
Apart from anything else, we must be clear that there remain security concerns. The terrorist attack in Mumbai occurred in a hotel where visiting teams usually stay, and, indeed, in the sister hotel of that used after the attacks for the England team. We should not allow our desire to defy terrorists to actually encourage them to attack again and endanger the England team (and others) in the process.
Point 3. It would be difficult to concentrate on the cricket given the context
The lack of preparation England have enjoyed against what is widely considered to be the best team in the world cannot do us any favours performance wise. Indeed, given the huge security entourage and the private concerns of the players themselves it may be difficult for them to focus on play.