Not one of you will be surprised at reports this morning that Celtic escaped punishment for “sectarian chanting” when the club and its fans were not, and never have been, accused of sectarian behaviour. Last month one Irish title suggested Celtic fans stood accused of racism before amending their online content to read sectarianism and eventually paying enough attention to zone in on “offensive chanting”. If they’re going to make things up, I really would prefer they accused us of something a bit more original in Scottish football, like genocide. Ironically it would be less offensive.
Celtic have been open to all since its inception and are supported by groups right across Scottish society in increasing numbers. It’s the other lot, you know, them, who brought sectarian practices into the game. From Neil McCallum, our first goal scorer, to Gary Hooper, our last, Celtic have never had this peculiar social deficiency. Never.
The SPL decision not to act against Celtic, after a Strathclyde Police match commander complained, was assured, as Celtic could demonstrate they had previously taken action “all reasonably practicable steps” to prevent what the league called “chanting in support of the IRA”. Both Neil Lennon and Peter Lawwell have spoken in unequivocal terms on this subject in recent weeks.
The league goes on to say, “Such behaviour is unacceptable and unwelcome at SPL matches.” All the league have done here is pitched the ball back into Celtic’s court to prevent a reoccurrence. I don’t fancy that job.
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Zalouska Zalouska Zalouska-ya -ya..[kate bush]
“The McGrain” FW Mac
Or even
Different Stokes to move the world oh yeahhh
Different Stokes to move the world.
25 years I’ve been singing the wrong lyrics.
Aitken Breaky Heart
“She Banguras the Drums” – Stone Roses
“Sexual Healy” M Gaye
Daniels leavin tonight on a plane…[maybe no right enough]
Andy Carroll has scored six headed goals in the EPL with a pony tail ;-) optajoe
Mo Bangura has scored no goals in the SPL without a pony tail?
football fact
Jungle Jim says:
6 December, 2011 at 15:29
Could this be the first appeal they put in on time?
How.are you Tontine Tim?
Bourne at 3.20 –
Your call woke me from my slumber
Jobo
…….ahm gonny need somebody to Lennon
The Boyds are back in town – Thin Lizzy
21Nov2006 says:
6 December, 2011 at 15:25
Whooaa Black Betty ……… Biram, Biram (Ram Jam)
—————
excellent
what about the cha cha slide ( my daughter dances to it, honest !)
Gimme hope, Wanyama
Hope, Wanyama
Gimme hope, Wanyama
‘Fore the morning come
Good afternoon,
The headline in today’s Herald is worthy of some deeper discussion. In particular, stop and think how such a headline ever made its way on to the page? After all the Herald had full access to the SPL statement upon which the article and presumably the headline is based.
To be clear, there never was any sectarian singing, no sectarian chanting, no allegation of sectarian singing or chanting, no investigation or considertaion of sectarian singing or chanting, no defence against sectarian singing or chanting nor any decision that mentions sectarian singing or chanting!
So why the headline?
Anyone familiar with the RTC blog will be familiar of posts from a chap called John. His posts on the state of print journalism in Scotalnd in part inspired a wholly new thread on Paul McConville’s blog which I link here:
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/can-blogs-like-rangers-tax-case-take-over-from-mainstream-media/#comments
From his comment on this blog, you will see that John highlights the fact the today the Herald is in fact controlled from a boardroom in Virginia USA, and that it will be from there that the money men determine the level of redundancies and cost cutting that will be carried out at the Herald in the very near future. John bemoans the fact that newspapers are controlled by very few owners and that more and more the level of journalism is sacrificed in favour of profit.
However, no matter the profit or cost cutting, no matter the level of competancy of those at the Herald, nothing can excuse the inaccuracy of the headline today– especially when they had the full report of the SFA as a script.
Many headlines ask a question of the reader. Others promote an interpretation of events where more than one interpretation is possible and permissable. This headline, however, simply serves to misinform the reader. It is just wholly inaccurate and so it would seem that the first casualty of any cost cutting and lack of quality staff is the truth?
This headline literally “shouts” that Celtic were investigated for sectarian matters. If the herald were charged on the same basis as Celtic, could they afford themselves of the defence that they had taken “all reasonable and practical steps” to prevent such a headline? I think not.
Does the headline fall within what the Scottish Government seek to legislate against with the Sectarian and Offensive Behaviour bill? Probably, as such a headline is undoubtedly offensive for being so inaccurate and inexcusable. Is it likely to have caused offence? Could you believe that it appeared there simply as an act of negligence? If so– then someone should get the bag!!!
Yet should we be surprised at an American owned publication being so inaccurate? Perhaps not.
After all many an American child is raised in the belief that Mr Paul Revere made the midnight ride on the evening of 18th April 1775 to warn the republican rebels that the “British are coming”. Alas mush of what is taught or believed of that night is sheer fiction taken from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem. Longfellow deliberately distotred the facts and continued to do so in the Song of Hiawatha and the Courting of Miles Standish. He regularly jettisoned the truth. Perhaps the herald simply continues in that tradition?
Such inaccuracy may be ok in a work of fiction or semi fiction, but it reduces a once proud national newspaper to nothing more than a comic, with the result that sales will dip and the money flowing to Virginia will be less and less.
Of course in Revere’s day wealth was measured at the top end in Gold and Silver, with Revere himself being a renowned Silversmith. Indeed he later expanded the family business into Copper and other precious metals and today the Revere Copper Company is a worldwide business with offices in places like New York and Rome.
Presumably Revere took the view that Copper was the closest thing to Silver.
Alas, in these days it is likely to be the case that the Herald would report that the nearest thing to Silver is the Lone Rangers Arse!
However, given that this whole sorry mess started with a Copper report of an altogether different kind, it may be best not to mention Coppers, pieces of Silver and any “Loan” Rangers in the one sentence for fear of misinterpretation and inaccuracy!
“You’re twistin ma Lennon man” – Happy Mondays
bj
(⊙_⊙) – Have you shaved off your beard yet?
If Aluko does get suspended for cheating you can guarantee one of our players will be cited very soon.
It wouldn’t be fair otherwise, would it?
“I am sailing
I am sailing
home again ‘cross Zheng Zhi”
Or is that song ineligible?
Loovens on that midnight train to Georgia….!
We wish!
T4
Interesting from STV, following the discussionthis afternoon.
Unacceptable Conduct Commission
“Poppy Love” – sorry!!!!
Jobo
Was thinking the new Amy Winehouse version?
*snow free G73*
hey there people i’m scotty brown!! FZ
PC67
Editorial meeting in the Herald Boardroom
Hold the front page!
31003
bournesouprecipe says:
6 December, 2011 at 15:39
nope ;-)
“Its gotta be a Joos Fit” – Happy Mondays
Aladdin Slane
I complained to the Herald’s US parent company’s Ethics Director (or similar title) about the BEAD RATTLERS article by some twit and in fairness to the Herald they did apologise and put up a two page spread of reader’s letters of complaint.
They also said they would not allow the offending jouro (Kenny Hodgart?) to write articles again but he did.
Write to the USA head office about them I say.
31003 – Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Ki of life
“TV pictures showed minimal contact.”
Well that’s a lie. TV pictures showed there was no contact whatsoever.
I’m assuming Matthew Lindsay is responsible for this particular tall tale.
“You can do Majic”
“O’ Dea Camptown Ladies sing this song – doo dah doo dah” (Doo Dah Darren O’Dea chorus)
*delete if deemed illicit*
Hearts manager Paulo Sergio tells his players that they will not be paid until after Christmas. (Daily Mail)
It’ll be lonely this Christmas.
Hello Mary Lou goodbye Hearts?
Just wanted to get in on the songs and give everyone a wee boost for Saturday. Would you risk getting injured for nothing? Go at them from the start!
LB
BRTH…wonderful post especially the last two paragraphs…:)) once again well done says it all about this sorry mess of a non story.
bournesouprecipe says:
6 December, 2011 at 15:47
“O’ Dea Camptown Ladies sing this song – doo dah doo dah” (Doo Dah Darren O’Dea chorus)
*delete if deemed illicit*
As sung by Foghorn Leghorn
“Auld Man River”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/sturgeon-we-wont-back-down-on-sectarian-bill.2011125525
Thought we already had legislation for sectarianism, I must be mistaken!!