SCVO’s messy rant about Boruc, “our” Weiss and Catholic schools

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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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1,752 Comments

  1. HamiltonTim,

     

     

    apols mate for not putting up the Predictor fixtures earlier.

     

    here they are now:

     

     

    Celtic v ICT

     

    Hibs v Aberdeen

     

    Kilmarnock v Hertz

     

    St Johnstone v Dundee Utd

     

    St Mirren v Murderwell

     

     

    Man U v Liverpool

     

    Blackburn v QPR

     

    Bolton v Wigan

     

    Fulham v Stoke

     

    Spurs v Newcastle

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

  2. maccargo –

     

     

    When we read and listen to the comments of the likes of Nicholas, Provan, Walker, Burley and McLeod, it truly is a joy to be occasionally fed the words of John Hartson and Chris Sutton.

     

     

    These guys know what it is all about. I know for a fact that Big Bad John was invited to sit on the Radio Clyde panel, and having been refused certain guarantees, told them to take a hike.

  3. morning! interested to see how the LL work SDM back into a good light, you can’t polish a jobby!!

  4. Has anyone seen any confirmation from RFC that the Gabon pin headed striker has actually signed for them or have we only got Willie McKay’s word for it ?

     

     

    I was wondering if they might be hedging their bets on todays game….6 or 7 points gap might render it not worthwhile and he might be on the plane back home tonight …..and the plug pulled sooner rather than later ?

  5. AWE NAW ——-

     

     

    Pouring down , catching up ——- saw your reply to my response to your question..

     

     

    I know of the relevant Directive but believe that it is something that the Uk Govt [ in the form of The Border Agency ] simply chooses to ignore.

     

     

    2 related stories —–

     

     

    UK citizen / UK passport man – Lebanese passport / Permission to stay in Italy / Italian Identity card wife. Flew from Catania to Gatwick with Al Italia. On arrival they present their documents. In his case his passport,in hers her Italian Identity card——-They are told -“sorry —–no entry -she needs the relevant visa.”

     

     

    UK citizen/ UK passport woman.—–Turkish passport / Permission to stay in Italy /Italian Identity Card husband . Book flights with BA from Catania to Gatwick . Turn up at at Catania Airport — do the check in thing with BA—– Check in person [ having checked the passport and the Identity Card ] says [ to him ] ” Where is the Visa ?” – he says —–” No visa “- check in person says —–” Sorry – I can’t let you board the flight without the relevant Visa .The UK Govt will fine us if we let you board the plane without all the necessary documents”

     

     

    Both couples have travelled from Italy to other EU countries without needing a visa. Both couples complained to the Foreign Office and The Home Office -both were told —— ?’ Sorry ——- if you hold a passport from a Visa list country you need the relevant visa..”

     

     

    Both were referred to the Border Agency’s website -Visa requirements blurb

     

     

    Hope you get it sorted.

  6. Tom,

     

     

    Firstly it’s great to see you back posting and I hope Neil and the bhoys give you (and us all) a stress free run in!!

     

     

    Hadn’t heard that about John Hartson but not surprised, as you say the likes of Chris and him ‘get it’ and the more we hear from them the better.

     

     

    Cheers

     

     

    Mac

  7. TimsinOhio ( formerly TimsinYYZ ) says:

     

    11 February, 2012 at 09:47

     

    ‘Morning gents. Still trying to find a Celtic friendly pub between Hammersmith and Kensington that will show the match today. Any help would be appreciated. Not much luck with Celtic Bars.com. Hail hail.’

     

     

     

     

    I was going to suggest the Princess Victoria in Uxbridge Rd, Shepherds Bush but having checked it on t’internet I see it’s now a ‘gorgeous gastropub’.

     

     

    How can something so peripheral and tangential to my life make me so pissed off?

  8. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    Tom

     

     

    Indeed and I hope your back to full fettle.

     

     

    celticinthesun

     

     

    Nah,it was one post before I engaged you that I feel a bit embarrassed about but its ‘by noo’.

     

     

     

    BRTH

     

     

    Enjoyed your post as usual particularly the alternate question that can be posed in what positives can we look for in a hunless spl,I feel that is being ignored by the media and they also have a duty to analyse just how much money the game would actually miss out on considering nobody from any sponsor or tv company has categorically stated they were investing less,the media are also not prepared to discuss ways in which any shortfall could be made up as its not impossible to still have x amount of Glasgow derbies.

     

     

    It’s shocking small mindedness that I feel will only harm the game and the huns more in the long term.

  9. Lisb\o/nbhoy who thinks Neil Lenn('0')n is a legend on

    buChris McLaughlin@BBCchrismclaugReply

     

     

     

    Daniel Cousin tells me he is delighted to be back in Scotland. Says 35 is young and cant wait to get started

     

    rnley 78

     

    from twitter

  10. Not quite a double header with the midweek match in between but it`s bound to be another hard game today. Hopefully the Bhoys will give us a good afternoon. Come on the Celts!

  11. Lisb\o/nbhoy who thinks Neil Lenn('0')n is a legend on

    Chris McLaughlin@BBCchrismclaugReply

     

    Retwee

     

     

    Lee McCulloch starts up front for #Rangers today.

     

     

    Dersparados

  12. Hold on a minute then,…I’ve missed alot of this Cousin nonsense.

     

     

    Has he signed or hasn’t he signed for heavens sake? Are Rangers a rag-tag outfit or what!!!

  13. Lisb\o/nbhoy who thinks Neil Lenn('0')n is a legend on

    MICK11 says:

     

    11 February, 2012 at 11:04

     

    signed by fax yesterday arrived today

  14. 67 European Cup Winners on

    TimsinOhio ( formerly TimsinYYZ ) says:

     

    11 February, 2012 at 09:47

     

     

    I can give you 2 but they are a couple of miles away from Hammersmith/Kensington

     

    1) The Marquis of Granby – Cambridge Circus at the top of Shaftsbury Ave Central London

     

    2) The White Bear in Kennington in between Kennington and the Oval tube stations on the Northern line (its a 5 minute walk from either station)

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

    67ECW

  15. Why do I still think that the cousin thing won’t happen? …

     

     

    Anyone for more jelly and ice cream today?

  16. bournesouprecipe on

    It’ll soon be time to head down to the ole Celtic Gazebo.

     

     

    We’ve another chance to see this Celtic side who achieved the most astonishing SPL swing (only talked about in Celtic social circles) for many a long day. Not great playing the team you’ve just knocked out of the Cup, (remember Hibs) but it’s also the hugely unsporting Terry Butcher and his blue and red line up.

     

     

    A sense of justice permeates the air in every Celtic game now, we have better players and at last the makings of a team, filled with winners, we are beyond questioning the young management staff they’ve grown with the team, and Neil Lennon has proved the doubters wrong from the moment we levelled the scoring at Kilmarnock.

     

     

    What more than the opportunity to see Celtic in Paradise, do you need, to make life so sweet especially when elsewhere things are ‘wholly unreliable’

     

     

    Mon the Hoops

  17. Has Rangers actually said that they have signed this chap….

     

     

    With all the strange stuff going on at ibrox I wont believe it until he is in the shirt.

  18. The MSM in this country are wanting a new Rangers back in as a Newco, so basically what they are saying, it’s ok to cheat in this country.

     

     

    When this day arrives because it will, you have to ask yourself did we do enough to stop this from happening and my answer to that is no.

     

     

    All we seem to do regarding this matter is talk talk talk talk but we don’t have a plan, when this day arrives it could change Scottish Football for years and I’m afraid us as supporters will regret the day they enter back in as a newco because we didn’t have a plan in place to stop this and for most of us this will be our biggest regret ever.

     

     

    I know a lot of guys have already replied previously on this forum regarding this, saying its not for this forum but all i am doing is giving my honest opinion lads because as i said we take the wrong turn we will regret it for years.

     

     

    Can we really expect the SFA to do the right thing in all of this, NO CHANCE.

  19. So the Fat Winker is joined by another Fat Winker……………

     

     

     

    One last hurrah.

     

     

    Hope it ends in tears.

  20. I could only compare this to us chasing JVOH through his agent, our manager talking it up – including mentioning that he likes to play the game rough but the namby pamby referees might curtail his natural ‘strengths’ – then the deal (For free agent Hesselink who’d been offered 20k a week at B’Ham) being protracted and drawn out in the press, yet the press reporting it as if we’re in the process of re-signing Henrik Larsson… at 5k a week because Henrik would like Celtic on his CV…

     

     

    U

  21. Hen1rik

     

     

    Our owners will most likely encourage our CEO to negotiate the best deal to allow a form of Rangers back into competition so I am not sure the issue of sporting integrity will come into it………or any integrity……..it will be about commercial security…

  22. The Battered Bunnet on

    I thought Gordon Dalziel put up a sterling argument last night on why Rangers singing Daniel Cousin was a great bit of business.

     

     

    According to the Motherwell Born Bampot, Cousin is a great signing because….

     

     

    ….he’s not 36. And that’s an important point.

     

     

    Really worthwhile tuning in last night. Top stuff.

  23. What is it with these ‘Great Administrators’?

     

     

    J Farry

     

     

    Campbell Ogilvie

     

     

    Aye.

     

    Great.

  24. TimsinOhio ( formerly TimsinYYZ ) says:

     

    11 February, 2012 at 09:47

     

    got caught up in London last year and

     

    watched the Hoops in

     

     

    O Donnagues (Formally known as The Swakley)

     

    Goldhawk Road

     

    Shepherds Bush

     

     

    They should be in Celtic Bars

  25. I posted on here the other day regarding cousin, i thought jingle jackson was at it when he said he was signing.

     

     

    I said if cousin signs i’ll run up and down Glasgow City centre bollock lol, taxi for meeeeeeeeeeeeee.

  26. Has anyone heard recently of this guy?he used

     

    to support the Celtic,what’s his name………

     

    ………………………..Hamiltontim,that’s it.

  27. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Daniel Cousin resigns for the hun.

     

     

    Karma dictates that this particular player receive a warm welcome from our players.

     

    Warm,but,of course,fair.

     

    Naturally.

     

    Lest we forget.

  28. The Battered Bunnet on

    Burnley,

     

     

    You gotta say, when it comes to Features and Benefits, all I can come up with is that if Cousin features, Rangers must be on Benefits.

  29. Som mes que un club on

    Chris McLaughlin @BBCchrismclaug

     

    Reply RetweetedRetweet

     

    Delete

     

    FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Lee McCulloch starts up front for #Rangers today.

     

     

    LOL !!!!!!