Amid all the debate about oil, currency, pensions and a million other items, I’m surprised higher questions have not been asked about our cultural identity. I’ve never said I’m British in my life, I’m Scottish, but the full story is more subtle than that.
Despite being a football fan, a Scot and a Gordon Strachan fan, I watched another channel when Germany-Scotland was on. My sense of personal identity, the anthems I cherish, the emblems I’ve always worn, my ‘national’ community, is the one I share with you.
I know we have a large number of England-supporting, English-Celtic fans here, just as there are Ireland-supporting, Irish, and Scotland-supporting Scots, but some of us feel our strongest affinity among our urban, west of Scotland-based, Celtic community. This community will only ever march behind a green flag. There is nothing wrong or unpatriotic about this, finding your own identity is what multiculturalism is all about.
There are a thousand more national identities than actual nations, but why do many of us feel more like sons of Jock Stein, than Jock Tamson, or (cough) John Bull?
I don’t think there is a single British, or Scottish, cultural institution I feel an attachment to. I was really caught up with the whole Mo Farah/Jessica Ennis-inspired Super Saturday at the Olympics – delighted at the success of British athletes, but later that day, when Ki stepped forward to take the decisive kick for South Korea against GB, I punched the air with joy. The whole Burns Night thing feels like someone else’s party.
In fact, it’s worse than not having an affinity with a British cultural institution, our Celtic community is marginalised by competitors in the south. If Scotland, which is perhaps more bound-up in tribal football culture than anywhere on the planet, had EQUAL access to the UK’s cultural markets, would we feel so excluded?
I know there are many who are happy with the way sentiment is going right now, but if those intent on saving the union want to get busy on some urgent nation-building, they should set about removing the two-tier cultural divide which keeps our club, our community, from the top table. We pay an obligatory BBC tax to subsidise an England and Wales league, our non-tax-based pay TV money goes the same way. This is a distorted market, with Scotland obscured by an England-Wales cartel. As a result we’ve been drained of talent and financial muscle for a century.
Football is not controlled by politicians, but it can be, and is, influenced by them. Westminster is speaking with a more unified voice than I’ve ever known right now. Its voice should be clear: Scotland needs equal access to the UK’s cultural markets, including football.
Our exclusion is intolerable, unfair, has fermented disaffection and must end, irrespective of what happens next week. Why would Westminster politicians be unable to say this?
Let’s hear you.
The fantastic new edition of CQN Magazine is out today. You can read it, for free, here, at it’s dedicated site (don’t try to read on the graphic below).
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Regardless of what Blair’s religion is, his status – lower that whale shit – remain unchanged.
Jungle Jim
17:46 on
9 September, 2014
I have just thought of a way to get a reply:
Is Scott Brown fit yet? Yes or No?
=======================
Not yet, I think he’s been targetted for the first Euro game for a comeback, on the day he’ll be voting No. ;-)
Timabhouy
17:44 on 9 September, 2014
auld bertie
‘Didn’t Tony Blair leave office and then become a Catholic as i am led to believe no Prime Minster is allowed to hold that position if you are a Catholic ? If I am wrong im sure Ernie will correct me !’
###
You’re wrong.
Consider yourself corrected.
Well P67 certainly has put the cat amongst the pigeons with this post!
I see that the full moon is up bright and early as well
The usual suspects are howling about the rise of a glorious socialist republic led by the Man of Heather which is surprising since the Nats power base is in the former Tory countryside
Someone posted the other night about the disparity in investment in Edinburgh and Glasgow and I don’t think anyone was able or willing to counter it – so why do so many in the west think that somehow things will be any different if Scotland becomes independen?
Since the first televised debate which Salmoond appeared to lose the Yes campaign have issued a plethora of uncosted promises which are designed to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. If you know your history then you will recognise the tactics that served the NSDAP so well in the Germany of the early 1930s
On the idea – while I don’t think anyone should or would base their vote entirely on such a promise – I do think that if there were to be a No vote – it would be a powerful device for bringing the UK together
I for one would not regret the passing of the SFA
HH
Auldheid – that reality about Scottish football is a mirror image of what has happened to states across the world including the UK.
Dissent and you are a dinosaur, a fanatic, anew apologist for terror….
“Nothing to stop a Catholic being PM”
Not winning a seat might prove a setback.
JJ
Jungle Jim @ 17:46…
“NO” :)
During his press conference on 22 August – just before the Inverness away match – Ronny Deila was asked about Scott’s fitness and he said that “we may have him back after the international break”.
That view would coincide with the original estimation.
In my opinion he is our most influential player and we have sorely missed him.
Incidentally, I think someone on the previous thread (sorry I cannot recall who it was) did respond to your question and I think gave a similar response to Ronny’s. That poster also said the information “came from the horse’s mouth”.
Timabhoy that’s correct. I pointed this out to the sainted Ernie. Blair had been attending Mass with his wife for over a year. When he resigned he became a Roman Catholic, it makes you think does it. And the Holy Father wrote to him telling him not too invade Iraq.
Croppybhoy – no one has mentioned the SNP leading any kind of move left. You’re either deliberately misrepresenting or not reading.
The ‘reforms’ promised yesterday will not go ahead unless they are approved by a largely neo liberal Westminster.
So vote no, vote right. Simples
Bawsman and Gordon Thank you both . See . The Yes / No style got results……which is more than can be said for the campaigning on here !
Cheerio for now.
JJ
A big thank you to marspapa who popped in to see me on his way home from work, he feels more sorry for mrs bt than he does for me…. cheers big man.,,
Timabhouy
17:44 on 9 September, 2014
‘E.
The ability of a Roman Catholic to serve as Prime Minister of the UK
It is often suggested that the Prime Minister cannot be a Roman Catholic by law. This is not correct.41 Historically, non Anglicans were prevented from holding public office (including that of Member of Parliament) by the Test Act 1672, which provided that all office-holders should take oaths of allegiance and supremacy, declare against transubstantiation, and receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (duly certified by Minister and Churchwarden) according to the usage of the Church of England. Within this framework, Roman Catholics were specifically prevented from sitting in either House of Parliament by the terms of the second Test Act 1678. While this Act did not specifically prevent the candidature of Catholics, nor actually prevent their sitting in Parliament, their exclusion was its clearly declared purpose, as stated in its preamble. It achieved its purpose by requiring that all Peers and Members of the House of Commons should, as often as the House required, not only take the oaths of supremacy and allegiance, but also make a declaration abjuring transubstantiation, worship of the Virgin Mary and the celebration of mass. Obviously, no Catholic would take such an oath. Members who refused to take it would automatically lose their seats.
The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 provided, among other things, that Catholics could sit and vote in either House of Parliament provided that they took, instead of the oaths of supremacy, allegiance and abjuration, a new inoffensively phrased oath of allegiance. While there is no longer any statutory bar on Roman Catholics becoming Prime Minister, there are issues arising from advice on ecclesiastical preferment that is given by the Prime Minister to the Crown. Special arrangements would have to be made to ensure that he or she did not advise the Crown directly or indirectly on Church of England appointments, doing so under the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 remains a “high misdemeanour”. This particular aspect of Prime Ministerial duties could be delegated to another minister not similarly barred.
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/briefing-papers/SN04403/prime-ministerial-involvement-in-senior-ecclesiastical-appointments‘
I wouldn’t want anyone to keep £1,500 billion worth of oil revenue for themselves either.
Green Brigade back in section 111 on Saturday
Paul67
Totally get what you are saying and kinda fits in with my feelings.
I’ve certainly never felt British and although born in Scotland I’ve never felt truly Scottish.
My Dad told me of a story once.
Apparently aged about 4/5 I asked for a Scotland strip.
He took me into a shop in Dunferline run by a former SFA official whose name escapes me .
Anyway, got the strip and this shop owner was really keen to talk to me , spent a lot of time over me, asking about football in general.
My Dad says his mood change was very noticeable when he enquired as to what my club side was!
Always knew my tribe was the Celtic support , my crowd, my family.
Don’t need anything else
croppybhoy
“..the Nats power base is in the former Tory countryside” Yes, Shettelson and Falkirk in 2011 certainly fit that bill. Liked also, the analogy with Nazi Germany in the 1930’s, always a good point scorer that one!
midfield maestro
18:19 on
9 September, 2014
Green Brigade back in section 111 on Saturday
====
Great news.
HH
Celtic Mac
18:21 on 9 September, 2014
‘croppybhoy
“..the Nats power base is in the former Tory countryside” Yes, Shettelson and Falkirk in 2011’
###
I think the point is that the seats they’ve held on to for a long time, where their consistent support lies, are former Tory ones.
Banff & Buchan, Perth & Kinross, places like that.
ernie lynch
17:00 on 9 September, 2014
RobertTressell
16:56 on 9 September, 2014
I think it’s more likely that we’d be like the Republic with two parties, divided over the national question, neither socialist.
Irish Labour party in Coalition with FG Do they not count as Socialist?
BTW could you point me in the directionall of the Socialist alternative at WM ?
Jungle Jim
17:46 on
9 September, 2014
Scott Brown is 2 to 3 weeks away from fitness according to a couple of posters on here yesterday.
Ian Duncan Smith – catholic – led the Tory party in one election against Tony Blair and would have been PM if result had gone his way.
Bawsman
You may be old enough to remember the last time the Tories won a majority of seats in Scotland, 36-34 in 1955, but those that voted then are now at least 80 years old. Damn few, in old money.
got this from twitter
magic
19 Words That Have A Completely Different Meaning In Glasgow
This post is an absolute belter. posted on Sept. 9, 2014, at 10:52 a.m.
Hilary Wardle BuzzFeed Contributor
1. “Cargo”
What it usually means: Goods carried by a ship or an aircraft.
What it means in Glasgow: A carry-out of alcoholic drinks from an off-licence. As in, “Ye should a seen the size a the cargo Tam turnt up wi’ last night.”
2. “Dancing”
19 Words That Have A Completely Different Meaning In Glasgow
NBC / Via nbcparksandrec.tumblr.com
What it usually means: Moving around rhythmically in time with music.
What it means in Glasgow: A nightclub. As in, “Ah’m aff tae the dancin’ tonight.”
3. “Beamer”
“Beamer”
en.wikipedia.org / Via CC
What it usually means: A slang term for a BMW.
What it means in Glasgow: Having a red face due to embarrassment. As in, “Tam had a right beamer when he remembered whit he did down the pub last Friday.”
4. “Bam”
19 Words That Have A Completely Different Meaning In Glasgow
youtube.com
What it usually means: A loud noise.
What it means in Glasgow: A stupid, idiotic, or silly person. As in, “Why d’ye walk into the door, ya bam?”
5. “Gallus”
youtube.com
What it usually means: A Roman poet, orator, and politician.
What it means in Glasgow: When in reference to a person: unmanageable, overconfident, or cheeky, as in, “Ye gallus wee besom!” Can also mean stylish or impressive, as in, “That kilt’s pure gallus, wee man.”
6. “Ragdoll”
19 Words That Have A Completely Different Meaning In Glasgow
youtube.com
What it usually means: A doll that is traditionally made from scraps of spare material.
What it means in Glasgow: To shake someone roughly. As in, “Ah’ll ragdoll ye if ah catch ye!”
7. “Roaster”
“Roaster”
en.wikipedia.org / Via CC
What it usually means: A tin used for cooking meat in the oven.
What it means in Glasgow: Someone deeply annoying who is making a total idiot of themselves. As in, “Shut yer hole, ya roaster.”
8. “Dale”
19 Words That Have A Completely Different Meaning In Glasgow
youtube.com
What it usually means: A permatanned TV presenter from the mid ’90s whose last name is Winton.
What it means in Glasgow: The diving board at a swimming pool. As in, “Come quick! Ailsa’s divin’ aff the top dale!”
9. “Coupon”
What it usually means: A voucher entitling its holder to a discount.
What it means in Glasgow: A face. As in, “Whit’s up with yer coupon, Senga?”
10. “Tan”
19 Words That Have A Completely Different Meaning In Glasgow
Warner Bros. / Via youtube.com
What it usually means: To develop a golden-brown shade of skin by spending time in the sun.
What it means in Glasgow: To down your drink. As in, “Jordan just tanned a pint of Buckie!”
11. “Ginger”
What it usually means: A hot spice made from a plant.
What it means in Glasgow: A fizzy drink, often Irn-Bru. As in, “Pass me that can of ginger, ma heid’s loupin.”
12. “Winching”
19 Words That Have A Completely Different Meaning In Glasgow
NBC / Via youtube.com
What it usually means: The act of lifting or moving something using a motorised device.
What it means in Glasgow: Snogging. As in, “I saw Wee Gary winchin’ Ashley at the dancin’ last night.”
13. “Scale”
19 Words That Have A Completely Different Meaning In Glasgow
NBC / Via youtube.com
What it usually means: A device used to weigh other objects.
What it means in Glasgow: To spill something. As in, “Watch ye don’t scale that ginger!”
14. “Rocket”
“Rocket”
pixabay.com / Via CC
What it usually means: A device that is launched into the air using explosives.
What it means in Glasgow: A daft person, someone who’s lost their grip on reality. As in, “Stoap goin’ on about UFOs, ya rocket.”
15. “Dinghy”
19 Words That Have A Completely Different Meaning In Glasgow
Orion Pictures / Via youtube.com
What it usually means: An inflatable boat.
What it means in Glasgow: To ignore someone. As in, “Ah saw Paul at the dancin’ and he pure dinghied me!”
16. “Belter”
What it usually means: Someone who sings in a high voice.
What it means in Glasgow: Excellent. As in, “Aye, that wuz a belter of a Commonweath Games.”
17. “Banjo”
19 Words That Have A Completely Different Meaning In Glasgow
heavy.com
What it usually means: A musical instrument.
What it means in Glasgow: To hit someone as hard as you can. As in, “John tanned ma drink and then winched ma missus, so ah banjoed him.”
18. “Knock”
19 Words That Have A Completely Different Meaning In Glasgow
youtube.com
What it usually means: To rap your knuckles against something, usually a door.
What it means in Glasgow: To steal. As in, “Did ye knock that apple?”
19. “Edgy”
What it usually means: Cutting edge, cool.
What it means in Glasgow: Watching out for teachers/the police while your friends do something they shouldn’t. As in, “Ah wiz keepin edgy for Cam while he wiz knockin’ some apples fae next door.”
Great, looking forward to seeing broonie back.
Particularly like to see how our team looks with him and the new guys in.
Philvis……Happy Many Returns…….
Your contributions to this Dear Green Place have been missed.
BTW, are you still a hun?
HH.
http://www.answers.com/Q/Can_you_have_a_Roman_Catholic_Prime_Minister_of_Great_Britain
Hmmm !
Fly the Fleg.
Making policy on the roof has replaceds making poliicy on the hoof.
midfield maestro
18:19 on 9 September, 2014
“Green Brigade back in section 111 on Saturday”
All part of the better together 4 pronged campaign:
– raise saltire in downing street
– cancel PMQ
– get all leaders up to scotchland
– get GB back into 111
So it turns out you can be PM of the UK if you are a Catholic.
Just so long as you stop being a Catholic.
Simples.
I’ve heard of some desperate last minute suggestions for saving the union but, seriously Paul, let Celtic into the EPL and we’ll vote ‘no’ is the best of the lot!!!
:-)
When Jorge Cadete scored on his Celtic debut, he nearly brought the roof down. Who were our opponents on that occasion? Aberdeen.
Can John Guidetti do the same to the Dons on Saturday?
Can’t wait.
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 32m
Celtic Development Side to play Dundee: Fasan; Waters, Fraser, McCart, McIlduff; Thomson, Breslin, Lindsay; Miller, McMullan, Tierney.
Great, the GB (the weans) are back in 111.
Does it matter which section they are in, hardly any of them watch the game. They are so busy banging drums and singing jingles.
Wish they would gie us peace.
ernie lynch
Point being that the SNP appear to have created a new “power base” if you like. The Falkirk area has been electing Labour MPs since the early 1930s, had a well known Labour MSP supported by local Trade Unions, and lost by a majority of over 10,000. Ignore results like this all you want, but they represent a major change in my book.
A wee change of topic, Dennis Lambert, quite a song writer playing South Florida this month…………..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Lambert
http://www.850wftl.com/
Tom Mcl,
Well he started tonight so the ol’ injury is not too bad surely.
One of the loudest cheers I’ve heard when jc scored that night.
hamiltontim – Woohoo Philvis is back!!!!
(Best Troy McLure voice) And better than ever, baby! (thumbsup)
davidopoulos – Did I just summon Philvis with my post at 13:27? Is he like Beetlejuice?
No and Yes. (thumbsup)
leftclicktic – Welcome hame:))))
Thank you, my friend in Celtic. (thumbsup)
the battered bunnet – If that’s Philvis, I’ll eat my Bunnet, battered of course, and served as a garnish with roast swan.
Search your feelings, you know it to be true. (thumbsup)
geordie munro – Hiya Philvisreturns. Are you a hun?;)
I prefer to be called “darling” x
Lennon gets the blame for everything :)
:) The resemblance is uncanny. He’s a very determined, very strong little boy. At the moment he’s mostly determined to chew through electrical cables and furniture though, so I’m not sure what to make of that.
When he was born with a shock of red hair, my first thought was he looked a lot like Neil Kinnock. I had to go for a lie down. (thumbsup)
ernie lynch – Welcome back.
Thank you kind sir!
I blame Thatcher and Blair in equal measure for the mess we find ourselves in. The nats are just hyenas round the carcase.
Taking the long view, I think it’s bigger than any individual. The long term decline of heavy industry across Europe, cultural shifts in how people perceive themselves and all that.
But if it’s a Yes next week, there’s no doubt in my mind the proximate cause will have been David Cameron. He should have insisted on a swift conclusion to this after the SNP came into office. By allowing them to set the terms of the referendum, and giving them years to build momentum, he’s made this situation possible.
So I would support your call for secession.
I will graciously assent to being named Dread Overlord, but I would settle for Lord of the Thumbs. (thumbsup)
toscanabhoy – Philvis…where have you been?
Have you ever seen Gandalf the White’s explanation of what happened after he was dragged into the pit by the balrog of Moria?
It was exactly like that, but with fewer wizards and more smelly nappies. (thumbsup)
weefrathetim – Welcome back, you were missed. :-))
Thank you, it’s good to be back. :) (thumbsup)
the singing detective demands the resignation of campbell ogilvie – To Put These Marxist-Leninist Yes-Men To The Sword
I don’t even get a vote!
I KNEW That The ‘Jaws’ Post Could Only Be The Work Of A ‘Rusty’ Philvis…
Was there a Bond-baddie themed Philvispersonator? Remember, if you don’t see the (thumbsup) on the post, it’s not the genuine article. (thumbsup)
hamiltontim – I don’t ever remember him using one of these in a post……;-)
I’ll have you know I have a medical condition! It’s the same one Thom Yorke has. >;-( (thumbsup)
greenwells glory – Welcome back Philvis.
Thank you! (thumbsup)
bournesouprecipe – Well I never… (thumbsup)
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers – Congratulations on your new status as a Dad.
Thanks! :)
Does that mean you’ve chucked the fags,or have you invested in a man-cave/shed at the bottom of the garden?
Yes and yes. Though I’m keeping the E-Lites people in cookers and hocaine. (thumbsup)
theoriginalsadiesbhoy – Can it be true ………. the one and only Philvisreturns ………. has returned?????
:)
If Batman and Superman and Lassie can do it… why not Philvis? (thumbsup)
roberttressell @ 16:48 – I agree with you there. (thumbsup)
syd negakev – Is Buck Two a Tim? (thumbsup)
macanbheatha Oscar Abú
18:26 on 9 September, 2014
ernie lynch
17:00 on 9 September, 2014
RobertTressell
16:56 on 9 September, 2014
‘I think it’s more likely that we’d be like the Republic with two parties, divided over the national question, neither socialist.
#######
Irish Labour party in Coalition with FG Do they not count as Socialist?’
######
The picture being painted by some on here is that a separate Scotland would be dominated by a left wing Labour Party and that Scotland would have a socialist government.
I think that’s nonsense and that politics would probably split along the national question, a bit like Ireland.
The Irish Labour Party have never dominated Irish politics. Ireland is not a socialist country. Ireland has never had a left wing government.
There are socialists in Ireland and there are socialist parties, groups etc, but they are very much in the minority.
I’d remind you of the words of Jim Mather. He’s a millionaire businessman who was an SNP MSP and cabinet minister.
‘Any notion that an independent Scotland would be a left wing country is delusional nonsense.’
His words, not mine.