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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blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
19:49 on
9 September, 2014
Thanks, knew there was a more competitive game on, just didn’t know where……
Celtic Great News
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 8m
42 GOAL!!!! Tierney puts the young Hoops ahead at Cappielow!!!
Andora 1 – Wales 0
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
19:50 on
9 September, 2014
That’s 2 nights in a row, that Snyde have put in callers that have switched support mid call, guys get ready for full on making a case for a 16team league…..
WedontmisssevcoCSC
Why the hell have you been listening to it two nights in a row?
Andorra 1 Wales 0
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 5m
HT CELTIC 1-0 DUNDEE
Kieran Tierney’s goal three minutes before the break put the Bhoys in charge at half-time
Gerrybhoy,
Swot ye get for drapping super joe;)
tictaewin:
It has. Not that you’d know it from me. I still have those delightful middle English, middle class dulcet tones I was born with.
Let m know if you’re ever heading back. Promise I’m not as noisy as I might seem..
:-)
So philvis ends his exile just as Celtic buckle and let the Green Brigade back in to 111.
Congrats on the self sacrifice and the cover story.
A ginger-heided wean? Whoever heard of such a thing?
Is philvis back. Man I am almost moved to tears. Welcome back you right wing cad. Oh and by the way. Ronny out
Will all the Yes voters be watching the Norway game tonight?
That could be us in 65 years…….
The big announcement from U2 is that they have found what they are looking for.
U2 new album songs of innocence …..going out free seemingly…
Sftb @1956
You are on form tonight my man :)
Farmer Lynch has been moaning about “nats” all day and now he quotes a multimillionaire ex cabinet minister nat to prop up his latest bout of assertions.
H L Mencken followed by Jim Mather. Who next? The mind truly boggles.
IGC
Would imagine wee Midge annoyed the Viennese. I preferred Joe Dolce anyway. :)
Sorry but on the same day that someone posts under Ernie’s moniker, Philvis returns?!
I ain’t buyin’ it.
Norway 0-1 Italy.
17 mins
GM
A Harvest Moon nicht. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL4AtRVhhuQ&app=desktop
New U2 album free, if you open iTunes ac
delaneys dunky
19:38 on 9 September, 2014
MickTT
What are you like? Organise a dayoot then pull oot? ;))
———————————————————————-
Yes I know, I’m sorry, can’t even make the game either, I’m under the thumb, Dad 70. Although there is another reason that I kinda need to be unselfish with…
HH
Tallybhoy
Zaza? Who he?
1 0 Czech
Whit a strike!!!
Weeminger
The YES banner is over towards the Crow RD….above the Campsie Golf Club.
I can see it fae ma windae!
Micktt
No worries bud.
Family always first. Have a great day. :)
Billy Bhoy
20:08 on
9 September, 2014
Weeminger
The YES banner is over towards the Crow RD….above the Campsie Golf Club.
I can see it fae ma windae
hope you cleaned your boots when you got in
BT
Booooooo
dd
Simone Zaza – plays for Sassuolo(who?!). Série A minnows.
He’s 23.
Conte likes him!
macanbheatha Oscar Abú
19:31 on 9 September, 2014
‘Ernie
You just made a statement of fact without backing it up with evidence’
###
You’ll have to be more specific if you want me to respond.
SP
just bet the dutch at 9/2..
Knew that wouldn’t please you.
macanbheatha Oscar Abú 19:39 on 9 September, 2014
Rwe
There’s fair a bit of fomenting as well as fermenting when making hooch
…………………….
Ok I’ll admit it…I had to look it up to appreciate that.
:o)
delaneys dunky
20:08 on 9 September, 2014
Micktt
No worries bud.
Family always first. Have a great day. :)
Octoberfest…….
Ayrshire is Green and White
Just watched the lame stunt of hoisting a Saltire over Downing Street and the flag to its credit would not fly.
It’s an omen.
We are not buying into this pish any more.
Celtic Quick News
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 1m
64 GOAL!!!!! McMullan converts confidently from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way!!! 2-0.
Tallybhoy
After 35 mins I agree wi Conte. Looks the part.
Back in again, I find it strange there was a terrible hullabaloo about Salmon flying the Scottish flag after Andy Murray’s win at Wimbledon, but WM are proudly displaying it today. Oil and Whisky tax revenue kicking in methinks. KTF.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.