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).
[calameo code=0003901718cdc4362fa2e? lang=en page=122 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,040 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- »
Celbridge Celt
08:22 on 10 September, 2014
Oh, any word on the injury to Guidetti?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good news ~ he played 87 minutes for Sweden U-21 side on Tuesday, but did not score in their 4-3 win over Turkey.
Apparently he was dancing in front of media after game, so seems injury was not serious.
HH
Ernie unionist look it up mate. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Just one last quickie –
Unionism:
The belief that two similar countries might fare better together. Unless they are both part of Ireland.
Frankie Boyle.
Minx 07:17 (soz cant c&p)
Thank you for the reminder of the wee mans birthday.candle lit for strength for his mam and dad and for the wee guy who will
always be in our hearts and smiled bout when remembered
HH
Snake nice one Hail Hail Hebcelt
Auldheid
One day I hope I think like you.
‘The man o’ independent mind
He looks an’ laughs at a’ that.’
Happy birthday murdochbhoy.
happy birthday in heaven to big Jock and my wee hero Oscar.
hebcelt
08:54 on 10 September, 2014
‘Ernie unionist look it up mate. Hail Hail Hebcelt’
###
Does it refer to those who advocate entering a currency union with another state, thereby ceding control on monetary policy to that foreign state?
Does it refer to those who advocate joining the European Union?
Currency UNION. European UNION.
What else could you call someone who wants to enter a UNION, other than a Unionist?
It seems we are all Unionists now.
Looks like one side of this campaign toss every warning aside.
No point in pointing out the folly of their decision if they refuse to listen,or even to investigate.
Heyho,let the car-crash commence. Just such a shame that it could all have been avoided.
Ernie you are starting early with your faux ignorance today – perhaps not faux – ask the person who made the remark in what context they are using the word. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Jock Stein
remember him
Each one of us reading this will have a memory of him or through reading bout him in our clubs ongoing history.will look on in awe at the heights he took our club to.
Rememberes always
HH
HAPPY HOOPY BIRTHDAY
to
MURDOCHBHOY
and to two of our great heroes,Big Jock and bloody huge Wee Oscar!!!!
Blantyretim & BMCUW Thanks for the good wishes.
As an Irishman I offer this slightly different perspective on the Scottish Independence debate.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/david-mcwilliams/independent-scotland-will-play-the-irish-card-and-steal-our-investment-strategy-30574588.html
Off to play golf at Woburn – May God bless all Tims.
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
Do you actually believe that none of us have researched all the big decisions? I’d offer the opinion mate that if you are being honest you’d admit it’s You who hasn’t actually read an alternative source to come to a balanced view. Your comment about us heading for a car crash practically confirms this.
EDDIEINKIRKMICHAEL
To be honest,I’ve read a helluva lot of stuff from various sources.
The conclusion I have drawn is different from the one you arrived at.
You have a vote,I don’t.
Once that vote,and all the rest,are counted,we have a country to get on with.
Nothing else matters.
Good Morning.
Regrettably the event scheduled for Friday night at the Dumbarton Harp Club has had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
I will send an e-mail to any CQN’ers who have contacted me regarding tickets.
We will liaise with the club about rescheduling this event at some point in the future.
Apologies if anyone has been inconvenienced as a consequence of the situation.
BRTH
I’m agnostic on this issue but if I were Scottish, I would be concerned that there is a strong possibility of a wafer thin ‘Yes’ vote.
If it was a narrow ‘ No’, there is the chance of have another referendum in 5 or 10 years time which I would assume would then be a ‘Yes’ choice.
A ‘Yes’ right now would not easily be undone and perhaps decisions of this magnitude should ask for a larger majority than 50.1 % or whatever. The potential for serious disharmony afterwards is huge.
I’m not throwing my hat into either ring – just concerned at how tight the decision will be.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
09:20 on
10 September, 2014
Looks like one side of this campaign toss every warning aside.
No point in pointing out the folly of their decision if they refuse to listen,or even to investigate.
Heyho,let the car-crash commence. Just such a shame that it could all have been avoided.
Yes it could all have been avoided.
As I pointed out a couple of days ago this popssibly would not havee come about if some thirty years ago Westminster had adopted some form of PR and in Scotland Labour had not taken its supporters for granted.
However, what is done is done.
I’m seeing a lot of stories about money being pulled out of Scotland in the event of a “YES” vote.
Sounds like Financial Armageddon.
. . . hmmm . . . Armageddon . . . where have I heard that word before?
“Be brave, Piglet”
PeteTheBeat
09:44 on
10 September, 2014
I’m agnostic on this issue but if I were Scottish, I would be concerned that there is a strong possibility of a wafer thin ‘Yes’ vote.
By their very nature any straight yes/no votes will be divisive, like you say a very close vote is not what we want to see, this is bound to harbour resentment. lets hope for a clear decision, the bigger the majority the better for all.
PeteTheBeat
09:44 on
10 September, 2014
I’m agnostic on this issue but if I were Scottish, I would be concerned that there is a strong possibility of a wafer thin ‘Yes’ vote.
If it was a narrow ‘ No’, there is the chance of have another referendum in 5 or 10 years time which I would assume would then be a ‘Yes’ choice.
A ‘Yes’ right now would not easily be undone and perhaps decisions of this magnitude should ask for a larger majority than 50.1 % or whatever. The potential for serious disharmony afterwards is huge.
I’m not throwing my hat into either ring – just concerned at how tight the decision will be.
Sorry we cannot live in a first past the post system and then change it to suit circumstances.
It was the forty five percent rule in 1979 that evetually proved to be Jim Callagan’s downfall.
How many MPs or local councillors would we have if they had required a majority of those on electoral register to get elected. Not too many.
PETETHEBEAT
If it’s a tight Yes,it’s Yes. Forever.
If it’s a tight No,it will only be till the next time. And to be honest,I have no problem with that.
The problem I foresee,sadly,is the losing side taking it badly.
The referendum has divided us.
But for the sake of Scotland we MUST be united in driving it forward after the vote.
And I know that looks like a sanctimonious pile of ordure,but recriminations afterwards will do none of us any favours.
PeteTheBeat
09:44 on
10 September, 2014
I get your point but the same uncertainties are true even if there’s a massive Yes majority. People will end up unhappy.
People need to cast the vote, see the result and deal with it in the most reasonable way possible. That doesn’t mean everybody just needs to shut up, they need to keep the energy they’ve harnessed and fight on the issues that are important to them. Perhaps on a more local level.
the exiled tim – Thanks :), podium chasing is a young man’s game though. I’m not sure my creaky old thumbs can keep up! (thumbsup)
macjay1 – I’m far too terrified of spiders to ever go to Australia. I hear the local arachnid life is so big they smoke cigars. (thumbsup)
gerrybhoy – Thank you. November is fast approaching so I wonder when we can segue from this referendum debate into a good old fashioned poppy debate. :) (thumbsup)
jimmyquinnsbits – Thank you kind sir. (thumbsup)
sipsini – I am training my boy to be a champion podium chaser, but so far he just wants to eat my phone or bash it with his fists while shouting “Dadadadadada!” (thumbsup)
angelgabriel – Thanks! (thumbsup)
fred c. dobbs – I remember the days when I had free Friday evenings… :) (thumbsup)
quonno – “How many MPs or local councillors would we have if they had required a majority of those on electoral register to get elected. Not too many.”
Sounds like a plan. (thumbsup)
Anyone have a link to news on our current injured list? So I can have a go at a wishlist for the team for the weekend.
Whilst I’m on, thanks for your help in pointing me in the right directions for the weekend LennyBhoy. Me and daughter No. 1 looking forward to the day :)
Hail Hail,
KevinBhoy.
Mag7 & Petethebeat,
If the vote is super close I hear they will remove the campaign with the lowest votes and go again :)
Robertsrule csc
I know hee-haw about politics but
I know a bunch of chancers when
I see them.
For Cameron and Milliband read the
Kelly’s & White’s – Cambuslang will
happen.
Utter desperation – CSC
Away off oot, bye.
KEVINBHOY
I’m working on a list,mate. The list of attendees at a certain post-match venue.
Soon as I’ve finished work in two hours,I’ll trawl the mails and let Lennybhoy know the numbers. He can then forward them to you.
Planned start venue is child-friendly btw.
weeminger
10:00 on 10 September, 2014
PeteTheBeat
09:44 on
10 September, 2014
I get your point but the same uncertainties are true even if there’s a massive Yes majority. People will end up unhappy.
People need to cast the vote, see the result and deal with it in the most reasonable way possible. That doesn’t mean everybody just needs to shut up, they need to keep the energy they’ve harnessed and fight on the issues that are important to them. Perhaps on a more local level.
————————————————————————
Yeah – because people have been so reasonable up until now! :-))))
Whichever way it goes, the vote appears to be so close that you’re gonna have large percentage of the population unhappy no matter what. If the latest polls are to be believed, 23% of people won’t know whether they are happy or not. :-))
I’m not so sure people will simply accept and redirect their – ahem! – “energy” towards solving issues at a local level.
In in the event of a No win, I think that there will be an attempt to keep the Yes momentum up and a request for another vote within 5 years.So a lot of disappointed people but with some hope of a re-match.
In the event of a Yes win, there will still be a lot of unhappy people. But perhaps that will dissapate because they will be (apparently) so much better off. On the other hand, if economic conditions worsen and people start to lose jobs and property and pension values fall, then perhaps we will see more of that “energy”.
Either way, I’m not sure there will be much in the way of forgiveness and reasonable behaviour. More like casting up and moaning for years to come!
I see the financial community are unhappy at the prospect of Scottish self-determination. Vote ‘no’ or you’ll upset the bankers; well that would settle it for me right enough…
See these three Love Bombers who are coming today, why today?
Why not tomorrow?
Why miss PMQ’s?
Wednesday is the day where the PM is held accountable.
David Cameron has cancelled more PMQ’s than any other PM is history.
The most an-accountable PM ever.
What a good one to miss for all 3 leaders – £1.6million arms to Iraq, Rotherham enquiry and oh aye, it avoids the potential of Tory back-benchers not being able to give an insight into what they really think of Scotland.
Let the love bombing commence
x
MONTEBLANCO
PMQs will still take place.
Whenever the PM is absent he is deputised.
William Hague today,I believe.
What we all have to remember is that the referendum is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
What that means is that if it’s less than 50% for yes the matter is off the agenda for a lifetime.
That’s what Mr Salmond said.
Which is only fair really because if it’s more than 50% for yes the matter is also off the agenda for a lifetime.
Thanks Bobby’s :)
We’ll certainly be there. Nice it’s child friendly. As a 22 yr old medical student mine should fit right in ;)
Hail Hail,
KevinBhoy.
BMCUWP
My contribution to the debate has always been on the basis that I don’t believe in separation AT ALL and that it is an illusion.
Separation or living it like it’s true introduces a whole new pile of illusions to keep it going.
If I were to look for an analogy I’d look no further than the south side of Glasgow for what happens when you cling to illusions.
Having said that the Referendum has made some folk north and south of the non existent border to realise, that is make real, the degree of dependency or interconnectedness that exists in reality and probably realised more so at the English end of the dependency street.
Independence is not an end in itself although that is the impression I get from some of the reasons expressed, but a means to an end.
If that end is that we happily prosper separately from the rest of the UK it will keep the illusion that has caused the rift in the first place alive.
It’s not WM that causes wars it’s the idea that we are not connected to whom we war against whether that be by bombs or bedroom tax.
Politics is just a manifestation of that idea and prosperity and the happiness we hope it delivers will not be found in any government anywhere.
Happiness is an inside job that radiates out.
Philvis
glad to have you return.
Kids are what we are here for, we do our best for them.
hail hail
BMCUW
If you’re mailing out a list for Saturday can you mail both my accounts please mate?!
murdochbhoy
Many happy returns have a great day.
Thoughts and a wee prayer with the families of Big Jock and Wee Oscar today. God Bless.