Neil Lennon as a mirror on Scotland

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When I checked my phone this morning it was full of emails and texts about Kevin McKenna’s seminal article in the Observer on the treatment, or lack of it, Neil Lennon experienced during his years in Scotland. It placed a mirror in front of the former Celtic manager, for Scotland to look at its reflection.

The prime targets were not missed: the Scottish Government, the SFA and the conspicuously idle anti-racism bodies, while the “reserved professions”, the Tories and the C of S were marked for historically nurturing anti-Catholic and Irish sentiment in Scotland.

People outside Scotland will read in horror, perhaps tinged with a whiff of moral superiority that their own communities are not similarly afflicted.  This, ironically, would reflect the moral superiority many in Scotland viewed the English with last week, as a sizeable minority of their apparently poorly-educated, old and white voters backed candidates who align with racist, misogynistic and homophobe views.

In CQN comments section Scotland has often been parodied as the worst small country in the world, which is absurd.  In truth, its panorama of human values vary little from those shared by our neighbours or anywhere across the globe.  To think otherwise invests more weight in racial traits than I’m comfortable with.

Order your dedicated copy of Tommy Gemmell’s All the Best at the fancy new CQN Bookstore.

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  1. Delaneys Dunky on

    TCC

     

     

    There are more castles in Reekie than Top league fitba teams! :))

  2. The Comfortable Collective on

    tbj says wee oscar knox is in heaven with the angels

     

     

    18:49 on 25 May, 2014

     

     

    Aye but guess which three teams Celtic will have away trips to come the Christmas period.

  3. Have to say glad Hibs are down .

     

    Will never forget them playing passy with the Huns for the last 15 mins in 2005.

  4. Delaneys Dunky on

    Gordon J

     

     

    It must be a close call between Firhill and New Douglas, which is closest to Paradise.

  5. neganon2

     

     

    15:45 on 25

     

     

    Adi dasier. It doesn’t matter who gets in. The problem is endemic. Our institutions are sectarian. That’s why we all howl at the media. Independence makes it worse because it isolates us as a very small minority without the influence from a wider, less parochial population.

     

     

     

    Neg

     

     

    Yes agree

  6. TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on

    When we play our CL qualifiers at Murrayfield, we’ll be the only top flight team team that Edinburgh has.

     

     

    “…….,…….. And the Embra Celtic will be there!”

  7. No Excuses

     

    18:51 on

     

    25 May, 2014

     

    Good day to be a carpenter in leith with the amount of doors tel butcher will have booted off tonight

     

    ================

     

     

    Karen or Richard?

     

     

    RainyDaysAndAcciesAlwaysGetHibsDownCSC

  8. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Four Green Fields, George’s cousin, the Hibs fan, was a pal of mine and that’s how I got to know George. We also had a few other mutual friends.

     

     

    I remember meeting George the day after a game against the now defunct club. I mentioned how Sally was a quite likeable sticky bun. He put me right about old sleekit and his words way back in the mid-80’s were very prophetic about Sally.

     

     

    Delaney’s I’m sorry to hear that about George senior. I only knew him to say hello to.

     

     

    I haven’t seen George in the last ten years. I normally bumped into him on the bus or train before I moved to the Southside. He’s one of life’s good guys.

  9. Delaneys Dunky on

    FGF

     

     

    We must know each other! :)

     

    I am a friend of the Flynn and MacArthur families.

  10. Delaneys Dunky on

    Dallas

     

     

    George Snr, was a proud Knight and great influence on us young ones. A great man.

  11. A 16 team league but not for another season and no talk until this time next year.

  12. FourGreenFields on

    delaneys dunky

     

     

    Drank in the Smiddy for years mate , Big Tam and Wee Tam ran a great bus . Had many a great night in the Smiddy .

  13. Neustadt-Braw on

    Monaghan1900

     

    18:32 on

     

    25 May, 2014

     

    Sevcomedians think big:…” One idea that I think would be good but probably hasn’t been considered by anyone is having cars around the pitch that people could pay to sit in and watch the game.”

     

    ……………………….

     

    yer going to have to warn folk when your posting Huntertainment Gold….

     

    almost choked to death on a bit of banana……..absolutely braw …HH

  14. Changing the subject for a moment – the National Front have scored big wins in the Euro elections in France causing Le Figaro to say this will now cause a political earthquake – worrying times.

  15. Great quote from Hamilton defender Zygmunt Gordon: “It’s a day I’ll never forget. I’ll run my heart out in every single game and it’s great to get reward for it.

     

     

    “It’s really special for me. I’ve been here for 11 years since I was 10-years-old. All the hard work shows today: you work hard and you get the rewards, end of!”

  16. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    Been busy all day, ….have we got Henrik yet….?

  17. Delaneys Dunky on

    FGF

     

     

    I am now in Clydebank so don’t use the bus anymore. Grew up with Tam jr. If I am in Partick, I always have a pint in the Smiddy. :)

  18. FourGreenFields on

    delaneys dunky

     

     

    I’m not on the bus anymore mate either , haven’t been in the Smiddy for a while now .

     

    Need to rectify that soon .

     

    HH

  19. How does one (like Celtic for instance) go about finding a new manager?

     

     

    Is there like a vacancies board on a EUFA/FIFA web site where you request CV’s or check CV’s?

     

     

    Just curious!

  20. archdeaconsbench on

    Not in the least surprised at that result today….

     

    Actually managed to get a couple of comps for the game last wednesday as the mrs works in the nursery at New Douglas Park… Went with the bro-in-law (from England) and said after the game, the smart money would still be on Accies especially if they got the first goal today…

     

    Wednesday night was the freak result, not today….

     

    Hibs are a bad, bad lot….

  21. Billy bhoy 05. When you can explain why no supporters are the same as members of the OO or the BNP and why you will Remove those who vote for the union then perhaps you will be taken seriously.

     

     

    But until then you look like a facist, bullying cybernat.

     

     

    What will you do when you lose your independence vote? Go in the huff?

  22. Delaneys Dunky on

    FGF

     

     

    Give me a shout, and I will be on the Dalmuir to Partick train for a few in ye olde Smiddy with you. :)

  23. FourGreenFields

     

    Delaneys Dunky

     

     

    A very small world bhoys, big Tam was my uncle, wee Tam is my cousin, I

     

    was born in Partick

     

     

    Hail Hail.

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