Big D
Well-Known Member
Sectarianism - Definition
- Excessive attachment to a particular sect or party, especially in religion.
Bigot - Definition
- a person who has strong, unreasonable beliefs and an intolerance of people who have different beliefs or a different way of life
Given the way our club and our supporters are treated and reported by leading SNP politicians and members of the media, are we entitled to label them as bigots and sectarian? They do so with us at every opportunity, while widely turning a blind eye to the actions of the club from the other side of the city and its supporters. We know the attachment some of those writers, broadcasters and politicians have with Celtic. Is it an attachment excessive enough to class them sectarian? We certainly know many of them have an intolerance of all things Rangers. Is it enough to class them as bigots?
I've tried to consider reasonably and rationally, if some things would have been reported differently, or attracted the attention of politicians, if the shoe had been on the other foot. The reason it came to mind, was the mind boggling double standards and rank hypocrisy after the Killie v Celtic game on Sunday, as opposed to the Rangers v Killie game on Wednesday. On Sunday, the majority of Celtic fans present, as they often do, sang the 'cheer up' song to Kris Boyd. They also threw missiles, wrecked seats and apparently confronted Killie players when they invaded the park. Barely a peep. Fast forward 72 hours and a small number of Rangers fans sing essentially the same song to Steve Clarke and the reaction has been nuclear.
So, let's consider Alfredo Morelos as example 1. Imagine if, instead of being a young, black Columbian playing for Rangers, he was instead a young, catholic Irishman playing for Celtic. Same behaviour, same 27 goals, same assists. Would he be treated as Morelos has been? Name calling, slurs, insults? Regular calls for bans? Regular calls for retrospective action? Under an incessant and negative spotlight?
Then let's consider the hanging effigies and banners at Celtic Park last season. Again, there was barely a murmur about this. Yet this was probably an unprecedented level of bitterness, hatred and bile, given the sinister nature of the mock hanging and the wording on the giant banners which were allowed in and allowed to be displayed. Would the media and politicians have reacted differently if this was Rangers fans acting this way at Ibrox?
Finally, the elephant in the room. The multiple cases of child sex abuse at Celtic Boys Club, which has seen several former employees jailed and dozens of accusers taking legal action. While it hasn't been completely ignored by the media (though it has been largely by politicians who have plenty to say on much more trivial matters not involving their beloved club) it has certainly been played down. It is a scandal so huge, it is difficult to fully comprehend the scale of it, yet such has been the success of keeping a lid on it, I would suggest the short burst of 'Cheer up Stevie Clarke' on Wednesday has seen more tweets, more column inches, more outrage and more national coverage.
There are many more examples. The usual suspects would call it 'whataboutery' I suppose - an exclusively Scottish term used when there is a blatant imbalance in the narrative and someone dares question it.
Anyway, sorry for the long winded rant. It just occurred to me as somewhat ironic, that many of those who jump to accuse us of sectarianism and bigotry at every real, perceived and contrived opportunity, actually display classic symptoms of being sectarian bigots themselves.
- Excessive attachment to a particular sect or party, especially in religion.
Bigot - Definition
- a person who has strong, unreasonable beliefs and an intolerance of people who have different beliefs or a different way of life
Given the way our club and our supporters are treated and reported by leading SNP politicians and members of the media, are we entitled to label them as bigots and sectarian? They do so with us at every opportunity, while widely turning a blind eye to the actions of the club from the other side of the city and its supporters. We know the attachment some of those writers, broadcasters and politicians have with Celtic. Is it an attachment excessive enough to class them sectarian? We certainly know many of them have an intolerance of all things Rangers. Is it enough to class them as bigots?
I've tried to consider reasonably and rationally, if some things would have been reported differently, or attracted the attention of politicians, if the shoe had been on the other foot. The reason it came to mind, was the mind boggling double standards and rank hypocrisy after the Killie v Celtic game on Sunday, as opposed to the Rangers v Killie game on Wednesday. On Sunday, the majority of Celtic fans present, as they often do, sang the 'cheer up' song to Kris Boyd. They also threw missiles, wrecked seats and apparently confronted Killie players when they invaded the park. Barely a peep. Fast forward 72 hours and a small number of Rangers fans sing essentially the same song to Steve Clarke and the reaction has been nuclear.
So, let's consider Alfredo Morelos as example 1. Imagine if, instead of being a young, black Columbian playing for Rangers, he was instead a young, catholic Irishman playing for Celtic. Same behaviour, same 27 goals, same assists. Would he be treated as Morelos has been? Name calling, slurs, insults? Regular calls for bans? Regular calls for retrospective action? Under an incessant and negative spotlight?
Then let's consider the hanging effigies and banners at Celtic Park last season. Again, there was barely a murmur about this. Yet this was probably an unprecedented level of bitterness, hatred and bile, given the sinister nature of the mock hanging and the wording on the giant banners which were allowed in and allowed to be displayed. Would the media and politicians have reacted differently if this was Rangers fans acting this way at Ibrox?
Finally, the elephant in the room. The multiple cases of child sex abuse at Celtic Boys Club, which has seen several former employees jailed and dozens of accusers taking legal action. While it hasn't been completely ignored by the media (though it has been largely by politicians who have plenty to say on much more trivial matters not involving their beloved club) it has certainly been played down. It is a scandal so huge, it is difficult to fully comprehend the scale of it, yet such has been the success of keeping a lid on it, I would suggest the short burst of 'Cheer up Stevie Clarke' on Wednesday has seen more tweets, more column inches, more outrage and more national coverage.
There are many more examples. The usual suspects would call it 'whataboutery' I suppose - an exclusively Scottish term used when there is a blatant imbalance in the narrative and someone dares question it.
Anyway, sorry for the long winded rant. It just occurred to me as somewhat ironic, that many of those who jump to accuse us of sectarianism and bigotry at every real, perceived and contrived opportunity, actually display classic symptoms of being sectarian bigots themselves.
