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. I have it on good authority that Stevie Clarke has been approached regarding the management of Celtic. He has politely refused mainly due to family reason’s, ie he has family in Scotland and would not want them subjected to the type of treatment recieved by Neil Lennon. Bearing in mind he’s a Saltcoats lad, it doesn’t surprise me, disappointing though..

     

     

    Ironic though considering Paul67s post.

     

     

    Ayrshire is Green and White

  2. Sinn Fein had the most first preference votes in the north. They won 105 out of 462 in the North and have 119 out of 585 declared so far in the South.

     

    They are the largest party in Derry City, Belfast and Dublin as well as counties Tyrone, Fermanagh, Derry, Dublin, Louth and Monaghan They look set to top the poll in the north and Dublin in the EU election and gain a seat in each of the other two constituencies.

  3. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Canamalar

     

     

    can you shed light why this process is taking months rather than days ?

     

     

    is it wrapped up in committee like SFA machinations or is it three monkey syndrome ?

     

     

    Thanks

     

     

    HH

  4. leftclicktic We are all Neil Lennon on

    Aiden Bhoy

     

    He is beyond hopeless would never have guessed him:))))

  5. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Delaney’s, I was a refugee from the uni bus when Stevie O’Neill left and started the Lions bus from the then Devil’s Elbow before the bus started leaving across the square (or should that be skwerr without starting a sausage debate) from Chambers.

     

     

    I last seen you in Dumfries about fourteen years ago when you were out having a smoke break. I was on holiday that week and your job had you there.

     

     

    If Sydney Tim is who I think he is, he used to go on the Uni bus but wasn’t a student there. He went to the same school as Big Whitey, who was a convener and Davie Moyes.

     

     

    You, Big Lou and Cokey were the ‘Doobie brothers’ on the Lions bus. .

  6. Finally in my seat in the Estadio and waiting for the game to begin. Those cops out there on the road into the stadium with the guns made me very nervous. I hope all of our fans will be safe.

     

     

    What a display of green and white it is like being back at CP. That banner over there under the press box is the one that was hanging on the balcony of our hotel. Told the Italians it would be down very quickly this evening.

     

     

    God it is agony waiting for the teams to come out. Wait a minute could this just be a dream…Celtic in a European Final. Oh ,please, do not let me waken up.and find out it did not happen…..

  7. Richie

     

     

    Thanks fur the Pinkety, Pinkety. Pal…

     

     

    Sure.. Ma reasons ur Never … Reasonably…. “Reasable”.. but..

     

     

    They .. Nevertheless.. Usually, ” Hit the Target.

     

     

    Kojo

     

     

    Noo. Ah am Gone…

  8. Delaneys Dunky on

    AB

     

     

    All schoolteachers have eyes in the back of their head. The ones that tried to teach me did! :)

  9. leftclicktic We are all Neil Lennon on

    Till later

     

    Next time your in Edinburgh it will be easy to spot a Hibeeeee

     

    They will be the ones with their fingernails chewed down to the 2nd knuckle with nerves.

  10. Kojo,

     

     

    Thank you for your kind remarks.

     

     

    Your knowledge & information on our youth players is second to none on here and it is much appreciated.

     

    With that in mind and disregarding his acrimonious leaving, can you explain Jackie McNamara’s credentials for the job.? I cannot see it.

     

     

    HH.

  11. Aiden Bhoy

     

     

    Yes , Paul is A real Diamond… in the Celtic Shop Windae..

     

     

    He Shines Abune Them Awe!

     

     

    Gotta Really go. Pal…

     

     

    But.. Ah am gled that You n I Agree.. aboot He.

     

     

    Nice Chattin.Pal

     

     

    Kojo..

     

    Runnin’ Late!

  12. Tricoloured Ribbon on

    Houl yer wheest,

     

    It’s been a fantastic show mate, plenty more good news to come today and tomorrow.

  13. Delaneys Dunky on

    Dallas

     

     

    Good to chat again bro.

     

    Hope you are keeping well.

     

    Doobie bros, hahaha. Old habits die hard. Off for a smoke ;)

  14. Richie #TeamOscarForever on

    I wanted hibs to go down to increase the pressure on newco.

     

     

    GET IN

  15. Billy Bhoy 05 on

    neganon2

     

     

    Please prove your lying statement by showing where I said what you claimed.

  16. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Awe_Naw…,

     

    The time taken up till now was used constructing arguments then ripping them apart legally and philosophically, what we are left with was facts that will be very difficult to dispute.

     

    I have, at least I think I made clear, I am in this for the long haul, if we get a result quickly then all the better but I dont think its a good idea to be screaming and bawling while progress is positive.

     

    We have worked hard getting to where we are, jumped through every hoop :o)

     

    And if I had to run along argyle street bare asred to get a result I’d do it.

     

    We follow this through in a cold calculated manner and if it gets scuppered we point the finger and consider our options, this is not a game.

  17. Richie #TeamOscarForever on

    In some way I don’t mind hibs surviving…HA are a way better team!

  18. Hamilton deserve that, they have been brave and tried to play football.

     

     

    Roon yi butcher.

  19. embramike remembering wee Oscar on

    Wow – Hamliton equalise 3 mins into added time ! 2 – 2 Extra Time !

     

     

    Loving this armageddon in front of over 18,000 crowd !!

  20. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Canamalar

     

     

    Well done to all of four of you.

     

     

    HH

  21. Billy Bhoy 05 on

    Neganon

     

     

    How do you cope living in such a bigoted country, according to your thinking?

     

    Conspiracies everywhere!

  22. Connaire12

     

     

    What’s the temperature like in the stadium ?

     

     

    Don’t know how the players done it either in Seville, it was roasting :-)

     

     

    Hail Hail, and hope all went well earlier in week

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