GLOLasgow Rangers

[AndyRFC]

Interesting article in light of last weekend

Celtic FC's pandering to extreme republicanism is coming home to roost.

It's bizarre that while Northern Ireland has had ceasefire on and off since 1994 that Celtic have been left behind in a mad little world promoting and celebrating attitudes and actions the people of Ireland - however you define them - have left behind.

The smirking behind the hands over designating songs and chants as political as opposed to sectarian hides the reality that they have given the green light to the crackpots who live in haze of hate where the confusion of sectarianism, history, politics and religion produces a cult of the idolisation of violence. It's not much of an identity but for some of them hating Protestants is enough to satisfy their confusion and inadequacy.

The current manifestation of this warped world view is the news that a gang of these inadequates intend to protest against the players of all SPL clubs having red poppies on their shirts this weekend.

Amongst this weedy collection are Cairde na hÉireann - the official Sinn Fein representatives in Scotland - and indeed the leaflets for this protest will be distributed from their shop in the Barras on Saturday.

The degeneracy of this mob is beyond the ken of human beings. Worked up into a frenzy of hate you wonder what has suddenly made these Scottish born, bred and buttered Celtic fans suddenly hate the poppy? It's hardly been a tradition in Scotland has it?

Whilst we can take the mickey and exaggerate in the name of footballing rivalry the facts are that the Catholic community on Scotland is Scottish and that in the two World Wars there was no measurable opposition to conscription and that in British Legion branches up and down the land they have partaken in commemorations and collections for generations.

This opposition to the poppy is ill - it can be be dressed up as sudden concern for Iraqi and Afghan civilians but it has nothing to do with that. It's simply another excuse to demonstrate their hatred of anything - even this most sacred symbol of sacrifice - which they believe to be associated with Britishness and Protestantism.

It is the duty of all in positions of authority - the media, in politics, in football - to condemn this display of hate. If it was a group of Rangers fans doing this there would be no hesitation in the condemnation. Now is the time to crush the remnants of hate in our society.




If anyone is bewildered by this bizarre behaviour just cast your mind back to where they get their motivation for their hate.

Back in 1987 11 civilians were murdered in the Enniskillen Massacre when a Remembrance Sunday service was attacked. What is often forgotten is that two more no-warning attacks were foiled that day - at the Tullyhommon memorial in Fermanagh and on the headquarters of the British Legion.

This is what excites these monsters - the murder of Protestants, the reality of ordinary decent people having to face the rest of their lives blind or in wheelchairs.

It should not be tolerated - the media, the police, the politicians and most importantly Celtic FC themselves should not surround this evil in the Silence of Shame.

[weybridgewanderer]

One of the most moving experiences of my life was in spending a week a few years ago visiting the theatres of battle of the First World War in France. These humble little villages where the fighting unfolded – such as Beaumont Hamel, Thiepval, Bapaume and Beaucourt – remain scarred and pockmarked to this day by the terrible events of 90 years ago. Farmers in the region still talk about their “Iron Harvest”, when various bits of bullet, shell or other implements of battle are dug up every day as they go about their work.

And all around this beautiful region wild poppies sway in the breeze.

I grew up wearing a poppy around the week of Armistice but, ever since that visit to France, I have worn one with an even greater sense of gratitude. The poppy, surely, is nothing if not a simple, sombre, dignified symbol of remembrance for all men and women who died in battle. The poppy is not meant to be imbued with either political or religious significance. It says simply and uncomplicatedly: “We remember them.”

This debate has spilt into the football arena this Armistice weekend, with Celtic attracting criticism for holding a minute’s applause rather than a minute’s silence before their match against Motherwell on Saturday. And, while Celtic Park resounded with appreciative applause, I believe Celtic were wrong to reject the traditional time of silence as a means of honouring Europe’s war dead.

The Celtic Park club have tried to claim that a minute’s applause is now the done thing in British football, citing the recent deaths of Tommy Burns and Jimmy Johnstone as moments when just such acts were held at Celtic Park. But the annual Armistice commemoration is different. All across Britain this weekend, almost without exception, periods of silence – for one minute or two – are being held. And there is a liturgical difference between staging a rousing applause for one man’s life, and the same act for millions who sacrificed their lives in circumstances which many would argue warrant no applause whatsoever.

This is a sensitive subject, but let’s be blunt about it. Celtic did not hold a minute’s applause on Saturday because they thought it was the new fashion. On the contrary, Celtic organised an applause because the club was worried that a minute’s silence would be marred by protesters within their ranks.

It takes a particularly skewed sense of outrage to want to desecrate a time of silence for innocent men and women who died in battle, yet that is what a few indignant hotheads wanted to do at Celtic Park. Leaflets were handed out before the Motherwell game and, of all things, those twin imposters of evil – the humble poppy and a time of silence – were deemed to be things of outrage.

It is embarrassing for Celtic that such people should cause the club a problem.

[LUX]

anyone who thinks that the bigotry is one-sided is either thick or bigoted.

[PlasticRoyale]

anyone who thinks that the bigotry is one-sided is either thick or bigoted.

'greed.

[Tredder]

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/scottishpremier/table/

Celtic topping the table

Not Rangers?

[AndyRFC]

Rangers have played more away games than home games so far, with Celtic the other way round. Cant see many points being dropped by either before 27th December old firm match at Ibrox. Worth noting Rangers v Celtic will be at Ibrox after the split of the season, and not twice at Torbett Towers as it was last season

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Worth noting Rangers v Celtic will be at Ibrox after the split of the season, and not twice at Torbett Towers as it was last season

In Scotland, I'm sure every team plays each other 3 times before the split - so you end up playing the team in your half of the split four times (twice at home and twice away) by the time the season finishes.

Not quite sure what your moan is based on, Mr Rage.

Either way - spliting the league during the season encapsulates how much of a farce the SPL is.

[AndyRFC]

Worth noting Rangers v Celtic will be at Ibrox after the split of the season, and not twice at Torbett Towers as it was last season

In Scotland, I'm sure every team plays each other 3 times before the split - so you end up playing the team in your half of the split four times (twice at home and twice away) by the time the season finishes.

Not quite sure what your moan is based on, Mr Rage.

Either way - spliting the league during the season encapsulates how much of a farce the SPL is.

Well. What I meant TROLLERS was that the way it worked out, when Phil O'Donnell died, the OF game got called off from Parkhead and was played during what the split period was, so in effect we played twice, but this season we've would've been to there twice so they'll come to us in April time

[AndyRFC]

Gap 4 points now, ohwell.

[Tredder]

Gap 4 points now, ohwell.

I can't see Celtic pulling that gap back

[chilipepper91]

HamiLOLton 1-0 CeLOLtic

[T.R.O.L.I.]

HamiLOLton 1-0 CeLOLtic

Finished 2-1 to CeLOLtic - 88th minute winner.

Cue the "lucky / spawny / jammy / flukey * Celtic" posts

*delete as applicable.

[bobbybottler]

Hearts 3rd with a negative goal difference

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Hearts 3rd with a negative goal difference

Reminds me a bit of Bristol CIty in the Championship - IIRC, at one stage they were second with a goal difference of 0 (they finished the season 4th with a GD of +1)

[FiNeRaIn]

HamiLOLton 1-0 CeLOLtic

Finished 2-1 to CeLOLtic - 88th minute winner.

Cue the "lucky / spawny / jammy / flukey * Celtic" posts

*delete as applicable.

thats what they are though, same old flukey last minute goals. I remember last year they get a dodgy free kick after a nakamura dive in the last min, surprise suprise in it goes for a late winner. * yawn*

[T.R.O.L.I.]

[Silver Fox]

thats what they are though, same old flukey last minute goals. I remember last year they get a dodgy free kick after a nakamura dive in the last min, surprise suprise in it goes for a late winner. * yawn*

Don't forget how they took advantage of the death of Phil O'Donnell too

[handbags_harris]

HamiLOLton 1-0 CeLOLtic

Finished 2-1 to CeLOLtic - 88th minute winner.

Cue the "lucky / spawny / jammy / flukey * Celtic" posts

*delete as applicable.

You're clearly playing a bit of devil's advecocy, however Celtic were extremely lucky that they got a penalty in the first half when tv replays show that the offence was committed well outside the area. Sending off - yes, penalty - no.

Plenty of time for Rangers to get back into it.

[LUX]

thats what they are though, same old flukey last minute goals. I remember last year they get a dodgy free kick after a nakamura dive in the last min, surprise suprise in it goes for a late winner. * yawn*

Don't forget how they took advantage of the death of Phil O'Donnell too

POTD

[T.R.O.L.I.]

You're clearly playing a bit of devil's advecocy

Correct - to me, and a lot of other onlookers on HNA?, this thread is rather entertaining