My attention was drawn to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) blog yesterday, also covered by Joe O’Rourke on the Association site. SCVO Director of Pubic Affairs, John Downie, writes about the “proposed bill on sectarianism” but seems to get muddled in his role as a director of SCVO and using SCVO resources to speak as a Rangers fan; in this instance blaming Catholic schools for sectarianism. How ironic.
Downie writes:
“We’ve previously seen Rangers fans outraged by Celtic goalie Artur Boric crossing himself during games but less bothered – obviously – by about our own players (like Vladimir Weiss last season) doing the same thing.”
“Our own players”! Is SCVO some closed shop where they talk about Artur Boruc as a “Celtic goalie” and Vladimi Weiss as one of our “own”?
So far, so disturbing, but Downie then uses the article to ride to the rescue with:
“The solution:
Personally, as someone who grew up in the East End of Glasgow and lives in the west of Scotland, I agree with some of what Conservative MSP John Lamont says. In my opinion one key causes of sectarianism is Scotland continuing to have separate denominational and non-denominational schools.”
So, if only we didn’t have Catholic schools, players like Artur Boruc and “our” Vladimir Weiss would be able to cross themselves free of harassment. Bizarrely, Downie’s article is subtitled “treating the symptoms not the causes”. I don’t think he was trying to suggest it’s best to treat the symptoms.
The cause of intolerance is not differences in ethnic, religious or sexuality, it is ignorant bigots. It is ludicrous to suggest tackling intolerance by assimilating people into some mono-culture. It’s downright dangerous to blame a minority for intolerance of, and by, them, a sentiment that will only fan the flames of hatred.
The European Examiner reports that various politicians have called for Mr Downie’s removal but SCVO chief exec, Martin Sime, apparently sees nothing wrong in SCVO running a blog discussing one of “our” Rangers players and the “Celtic goalie”, while simultaneously blaming educationally successful faith schools for sectarianism. SCVO has offered a metaphorical No Surrender to resignation calls.
A brief comment for those who don’t live in Scotland…. Attitudes like this once prevailed but are harder to find these days. We are a modern, progressive, society, for the most part.
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Gordon j
Is that the Mayor who looks like he might have been a member of the Party that Governed Germany in the 30s and 40s if he was around then?
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon – So basically the Labour Party (and the guy from “Hear My Song”) trying to score cheap points against Boris via ethnic politicking?
Shocking.
I’d be more inclined to take their whingeing seriously if they weren’t backing Mental Ken. (thumbsup)
Catholic schools are the result of the hate in Scotland
not the cause….
Hamiltontim
Schools should be teaching children to make their decisions based on reason and according to known facts.
I think that is a great basis for life.
If parents want to raise their children in any religion, let them do it at home.
REAL 0 Celtic 1 K Wilson
Here comes the cavalry!!!!!!!!
blantyretim says:
10 February, 2012 at 16:55
Catholic schools are the result of the hate in Scotland
not the cause….
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Well said that man!!
greenjedi,
If you mean Boris, yes!
blantyretim says:
10 February, 2012 at 16:55
Catholic schools are the result of the hate in Scotland
not the cause….
Excellent point.
RWE
Well it is Friday ;)
Gordon J – I did
Hamilton Tim – I wish you said that hours ago and saved an afternoon!
Philvis
If you followed your book with the same fervour, you would be commiting some of the crimes that a minority of Muslims do in the name of their book.
I suspect you believe yours less.
It is the ignorance of faith(s) and beliefs that cause problems not the teaching of them
good afternoon cqn
for googybhoy you are not missing anything in Balloch miserable
Going out Saturday for meal wifes friend,Two Huns in company,warned not to mention Jelly and ice cream,or in her words she will leave me,guess what im going to do.
Chairbhoy says:
10 February, 2012 at 16:47
if you find the article I’d be interested in reading it.
HH
celticinthesun – If you followed your book with the same fervour, you would be commiting some of the crimes that a minority of Muslims do in the name of their book.
Please explain which parts of the Gospels tell people to commit crimes. (thumbsup)
as Cofusius said ‘the man who wears a bullet proof vest cannot complain if he’s shot in the arse’
All this tallk of religion and god reminded me of a comment on here two days ago from Falkirkbhoy (I think) when he complained that it was becoming like a Monty Python sketch (MBB et al.,)
“He’s not the Messiah. he’s just a very naught bhoy!”
HH
celticinthesun
Could you please enlighten us as to what decisions in schools children would be making without reason and known facts?
FT Real O Celtic 1 Next up Manure v B Munich pass the paracetamol
Philvis
Gospels is being selective isn’t it?
Why did you say Gospels? You know why.
It seems that the you don’t believe in the Old Testament anymore. Thankfully it appears you believe your book less than the more devout Islamists you so despise.
Has Sally,s cousin sighed yet
Father Dougal: God Ted, I’ve heard about those cults. Everyone dressing in black and saying our Lord’s going to come back and judge us all.
Father Ted: No…no Dougal, that’s us. That’s Catholicism you’re talking about there.
Father Dougal: Whole of this Catholic thing is a bit of a puzzler, isn’t it Ted?
Indeed!
HH
Paul67, anew article for Christ’s sake!!
I may be affording more credit to Mr Downie than he deserves, and I haven’t read his blog…
Did he suggest that sectariansim is taught in Catholic schools?
OR
Did he suggest that their mere existence encourages a “them and us/us and them” view of society?
OR
Did he do neither, but just bemoan their existence entirely?
HH
RWE CSC
The Quiz or something!!
Anything but this…
celticinthesun says:
10 February, 2012 at 16:56
Hamiltontim
Schools should be teaching children to make their decisions based on reason and according to known facts.
I think that is a great basis for life.
If parents want to raise their children in any religion, let them do it at home.
==========================================================
Are you an educational psychologist? Do you write programmes of study for educational establishments?
I’m sorry but what gave you the right to decide what is best for other people’s children?
Extreme arrogance.
davythelotion says:
10 February, 2012 at 17:07
Tried to change the subject Will try again,Has Sa;;y,s cousin arrived at Ipox yet
BBCchrismclaugChris McLaughlin
Daniel Cousin’s agent tells me the striker has signed for #Rangers until the end of the season. Will arrive in Scotland tomorrow.
celticinthesun –It seems that the you don’t believe in the Old Testament anymore. Thankfully it appears you believe your book less than the more devout Islamists you so despise.
Christianity is based on the teachings of Christ, explained in the New Testament. Anybody with a modicum of education knows that.
It’s becoming increasingly obvious that you’re a troll.
But I will let you continue to attempt to troll me, because you’re failing so badly.
If you like, please point out the parts of the Old Testament that exhort people to commit crimes.
Don’t come back till you have chapter and verse. (thumbsup)
Philvus
Here are a few tax benefits from being a charity just so you know.From HMRC
•Exemption from capital gains tax and from income tax and corporation tax on income other than from trading arising outside the primary purpose of the institution. (All institutions are normally exempt from VAT on the supply of education and research, but may be liable for VAT on trading activities.)
•The ability to recover income tax deducted from deeds of covenant and receipts under gift aid.
•Exemption from inheritance tax for donors to institutions.
•Substantial relief on business rates.
davythelotion says:
10 February, 2012 at 17:07
Paul67, anew article for Christ’s sake!!
————————-
Oh for Ghod’s sake….
Celticinthesun
You are a hun.lesson endeth.
philvisreturns: 10 February, 2012 at 16:48
“Again, interesting, but irrelevant whataboutery, unless we really have entered some sort of time warp and gone back to the Middle Ages, in which case, here is my frowny face again:
The Middle Ages – that’s fairly recent in greater scheme of things given you are following the message of Jesus … remind me when was he knockin’ about?
“For you see, I’m not all that concerned about what people did hundreds of years ago, I’m a bit more concerned about now.”
It’s not whataboutery, the Crusades are a major part of history which enforced the power of the Catholic religion – hardly a sidenote is it?
Thousands were slaughtered in the name of the faith you are happy to follow, so it’s a tad hypocritical in attempting to take the moral high ground when similar misguided souls do likewise in the name of their religion.
What do you do for an encore? Claim that Hitler gets bad press because the Holocaust was over 50 years ago.
Is Downie suggesting that Catholic school teach bigotry and sectarianism?
We can have parallel discussions ye ken, like…
On the return of Exterminator…Stephen McManus still nurses the wounds from being blootered by this specimen.
Who would be our best bet to handle him, since Barry Robson has gone dan sarf…
Victor or big Dan, but even then they would still try to play it fair…
Mmmmmmmmmm?
HH
RWE CSC
Have they not gone yet?
saccinfrassinrassinmassin
Lisb\o/nbhoy who thinks Neil Lenn(‘0’)n is a legend says:
10 February, 2012 at 17:11
Cheers for that