FLY THE FLAG

Cast your mind back to Celtic’s recent victory over Hearts at Tynecastle.  What do you remember? In my opinion the Celtic team that day produced a fantastic display of football that would have seen them match any team in Britain. Probably our best display of the season so far.  Given the quality of football produced how did the Monday morning headlines greet us? 

Was there any attempt to praise us for the style of football that will bring fans back to the game? The answer was of course NO. Yet again our friends in the Scottish media ignored the football and instead launched yet another attack on the Celtic support. Celtic fans displayed provocative “symbols of hate” and continue to chant “sectarian bile” said the reports in the hostile media. 

So what exactly are the provocative symbols referred to, what do they believe to be sectarian chants and why do they cause so much discomfort not only to the press but to members of the population up and down the country? 

Well, a prominent newspaper described one of  the provocative symbols as the Irish tri-colour and was sadly supported in that assertion by Jack McConnell, the First Minister of Scotland. What chance do we have when the First Minister makes such an ill-thought contribution to such a sensitive issue? I wonder how his partners in the Euro 2008 bid reacted to his comments.  

The sectarian bile was described as the singing of Irish Rebel songs.  I wonder what ‘his’ friends in Ireland would have thought?  These might include Irish Premier Bertie Aherne?  Last June both of them sat under the Irish tri-colour and listened to a piper play an Irish rebel song, The West’s Awake, as they witnessed the unveiling of the Carfin monument to the victims of the Great Irish Famine.   

It is surely, a sad reflection on Scottish Society that the flying of the flag of a neighbouring friendly country should cause so much concern. This is the flag of our community. The community who were responsible for Celtic’s formation, the community who have contributed to the Celtic success story for 114 years, the community who continue to back one of the finest sporting institutions in the world. Our flag, a symbol of our history, our identity and our culture. Why should people be offended or threatened by it? I do not feel threatened or offended when fans of other clubs fly their flags be it the Union flag, the Lion Rampant, St. George’s cross etc. Why the consternation caused by the Tricolour?  Why attack our cultural symbols – constantly? 

Also the singing of “Irish Rebel Songs” has been an established act of the Celtic support since its inception.  You would realise this if you ‘only knew the history’.  The songs are sung in recognition of great heroes and proud moments in the history of Ireland, the land of our birth or of our forefather’s birthplace, the land that can mean so much to the Irish community in Scotland and beyond.  The community from which Celtic has always derived the majority of its support. The songs celebrate this fact, nothing more.  They should not be seen as a threat, or indeed corrupted and used as an attempt to wind anyone up. Why can’t people accept that?  

Getting back to the game at Tyncastle and the trouble surrounding it I think it is worthwhile examining the facts. Firstly, over the last few seasons there seems to be an increasing hostility towards the Celtic support from a minority of the Hearts fans. This has created an atmosphere that is intimidatory and unwelcoming. The hostility seems to come from the section of the home support that is seated nearest the Celtic fans. It manifests itself in various forms from Nazi salutes and anti-Catholic and anti-Irish vocal abuse to the more sinister attempts to confront the Celtic support in a physical challenge. 

I understand that the Hearts security personnel have been aware for some time of an attempt by the BNP to infiltrate their support. This being the case why does it always seem to be the same people who cause the trouble whenever we visit their stadium and why have the authorities failed to address this issue. I no longer feel that Tynecastle offers a safe, friendly environment for my family and as such, I will not be returning with my children. 

In all of the circumstances I believe the Celtic support that day showed great restraint in the face of extreme provocation. I think we should always show this restraint.  Is it too much to ask that the media examine these facts and report it as it was? Alas it would appear yes, as it is to easy for them to pander to the popular view that we are just sectarian hooligans and contributed to the crowd trouble. The truth is that day that, as is so often the case, the Celtic support were again the victims of sectarianism not the perpetrators.  However, let’s not let the facts get in the way of a good story eh!  

Written by a member of ‘The Celtic Writer’s Group’

Sectarianism: 'Scotland's Shame' or Scotland's Blame Game?

The Celtic Writers Group are a committed group of Celtic supporters who come from a broad background of our support. The Group are not afraid to challenge those who attack our club and should be seen as a breath of fresh air enabling the Celtic support to discuss and debate the issues that effect us and what we hold dear as Celtic fans.

Recently, a committee of the Scottish Executive heard representations from various people, including the Assistant Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police, on the issue of whether sectarianism should be considered as an additional motivation or aggravation for assault charges.  It was proposed that such offences should be separately considered and penalised.  I also heard last week that Sandra White MSP now wants pubs which are ‘sectarian’ to be refused licences.   As I listened to the various worthies discussing this very topical issue, two unanswered questions began to bother me greatly.  First, what do they actually mean by sectarianism?  Indeed Roseanna Cunningham the SNP MSP (who has a legal background) raised this very question in terms of how any proposed legislation should be framed.  The second question was, if we don’t actually record these figures now (since there is currently no separate offence), on what do groups like Nil by Mouth base their assertions that this is an important and growing problem.  What are they referring to?  

If the thing they’re talking about is the level of violent crimes which are reported after football matches, then do we not need to look at the figures a bit more closely?  What are the average levels of assaults/disturbances on a Saturday night throughout the towns and cities of Scotland?    How do these vary in relation to whether there has been a football match or are they relevant to which teams are playing?  Are they a weekday phenomenon or is it just at weekends that ‘sectarians’ come out to play?  Who are the main perpetrators and victims of these crimes?  Is an incident between rival fans only sectarian if it involves Celtic and/or Rangers?  Is any incident involving Celtic or Rangers fans sectarian by definition?  I don’t know the answers to all of these questions but if I was running a credible campaign like Nil by Mouth aspire to I would expect to be able to answer them.  Instead, all we hear from Nil by Mouth and their cheerleaders is how we should start throwing people out of football grounds because we don’t like what they sing.  

There appears to be now a consensus in public debate that sectarianism is a major problem; that we all know what it means, that is it inextricably linked to football in general and the Old Firm in particular, and that it is even-handed in its effects.  However, before we start trying to lock people up, refuse them the liquor licenses which provide their livelihood, or deprive them of their right to watch the football team of their choice, should we not have some intelligent discussion, and resolution, of these questions?  The unquestioned and, it almost appears, unquestionable campaign against ‘sectarianism’ which is being conducted by everyone from Jack McConnell (‘Old Firm Bigots should be Banned for Life says Jack’) to Donald Gorrie to Sandra White to Glasgow City Council to Nil by Mouth is, ironically, being conducted in such an atmosphere of intolerance that most people are frightened to do anything other than agree with it on the grounds that to question it in any way leaves them open to being branded a bigot themselves.  Such conformity does Scottish society no good whatsoever.  So much for the new Scotland.  

So let’s get back to definitions.  To start the debate here are some observations.  Singing about being ‘up to your knees in Fenian blood’ is sectarian; singing ‘God Save the Queen’ and ‘Rule Britannia’ is not.  These songs express political views of unionism and conservatism with which I don’t agree and which I find repulsive, but they cannot be said to be sectarian.  I do not agree with Sandra White MSP that pubs which display pictures of known members of loyalist organisations are, by definition, encouraging ‘sectarianism’.  They may well be, but not because they support the politics of loyalism.  Any songs which are anti-Protestant are sectarian – I cannot offer an example here because I have not heard any songs which could be interpreted that way sung at Celtic Park in many a long year.  Any songs which express support for Irish Republicanism are not sectarian.  I understand that they express political views which some or many people do not agree: but they are not sectarian. 

The IRA is an organisation (and it has changed in numerous ways over the decades) which many people detest. However, there are many other people who support the right of people to arm themselves when democratic means are denied them and who believe that this is the history of British-Irish relations.  Again, I cannot agree that having a juke box which contains songs about Bobby Sands is sectarian in any way.  Ms White may not like it, or agree with it, but Bobby Sands is regarded by many thousands of people in many countries as an outstandingly brave and honourable man.  He was an elected member of the British Parliament and there are numerous streets and avenues called after him across the globe.  The reasonable and valid argument that people are entitled to peacefully hold political views regardless of how unpopular they might be seems to be getting lost in all of this.  The message appears to be, ‘we are only prepared to tolerate you if you keep your views to yourself’. 

I have some sympathy with the view that football grounds are not the best arena for displaying political solidarity with any cause and am not given to singing about anything other than Celtic at most games.  However, it is undoubtedly fact that football matches and other sporting occasions have been used many times and in many countries to show political solidarity and dissension:  the clenched fist display of the black American athletes at the 1968 Mexico Olympics in support of Black Power, the red cards Celtic fans showed Thatcher on her visit to the Scottish Cup Final in 1988, more recently, during the World Cup it was reported by the BBC that  ‘football (in Iran) has definitely become a vehicle for thinly-disguised social and even political protest against their (the Ayatollahs) rule’. What about our own club custodians displaying recruiting posters for the British Army inside Celtic Park in the early 1990s? 

Also, what about the overtly political acts which are carried out at football grounds on a regular basis?  We have the flying of the Union Jack in a country in which according to respected and comprehensive surveys only a small proportion of the population regard themselves as British first and foremost.  We have the selective and highly controversial basis upon which we hold minutes’ silences.  Is asking Celtic fans to stand in silence to show respect to a member of the British royal family not a political act?  Is showing respect for the innocent American victims of mass murder but not the innocent Iraqi/Iranian/Kosovan/Chilean/Nicaraguan/ (insert country of choice) victims of American or American-sponsored mass murder not a political act?  Don’t even mention  Ireland.

I, and many others, am happy to engage in a debate about what the appropriate behaviour should be at football matches or any other public place, but lets have a some serious debate about what it is that ‘sectarianism’ really is and lets not get worked up into a frenzy about new and bigger penalties for offences which we have yet to define.

Packaging our history - selling our soul?

By a member of the Celtic Writers Group

In its beginning, Celtic provided money to feed the poor in the immediate vacinity of the east end of Glasgow and became a symbol for Irish Catholics in the west of Scotland. The club helped give a community self-respect and encouraged them to hold our heads up amidst much deprivation, degradation and hostility.  The Irish responded by making Celtic part of their very being. Today, songs sung by the Celtic support like ‘The Fields of Athenry’ and ‘Let the People Sing’ are reminders of the roots and the identity of Celtic and its dedicated fans. 

But Celtic has never been closed minded.  We have always been an open club and never discriminated against non-Irish Catholic players or fans just because they weren’t the same as us – whatever that might mean? Celtic has always been the standard bearer for Irish Catholic immigrants in Scotland but those not of that background have always been welcome to support us.  

However, a question has been emerging since the days of Mr McCann. Are some Celts embarrassed about our Irish and Catholic identities?  

These are the primary identities of our club and the vast majority of the support, although it must be recognised that Celtic and its fans aren’t mainly Catholic in the sense that we’re part of the institutional Church nor are we Irish in the sense that we are the same as the Irish who have been born and brought up in Ireland.   

Have such critics no sense of history (unless its written to suit themselves)? The media, politicians, representatives of other football clubs, Scotland’s football authorities, etc: they’ve all had a go at us.  Our songs, our symbols, our flags, our colours, our affinities and allegiances to Ireland.  In fact, even the schools many of us attended.   The list is endless.  Its been going on since our club was born.  The fact that we’re even here seems unacceptable.  

Do we have to CHANGE the nature and identities of Celtic and its fans to be accepted?  Do Celtic fans require to change one hundred years of identity to suit new Celtic people who don’t like some of the ‘old’ ways and prefer some ‘new’ ones instead? Maybe they even think they can give the traditional Celtic fans (the offspring of those the club was founded for)  a bit of a concession?  That concession goes along the line of ‘you don’t have to forget Ireland: you can sing a few (acceptable) songs, even fly your flag now and again (at most grounds), and you will be ‘allowed’ to refer to the ‘proud origins’ of your club, your families and community.   But keep it to ‘heritage’.  ‘Keep it plastic’.   

The ideal scenario might be that Celtic’s Catholic identity disappears along with the rest of Christianity in Scotland and the club and the fan’s Irishness are constructed something similar to an Irish theme bar.  Even Scotland accepts Irish theme bars now. Football club’s these days have to work hard to stand out a little and if there’s an Irish Diaspora out there all the better.  Package the club’s identity and sell it under the banner of ‘heritage’.  Manchester United are fast becoming nothing more than a vehicle for making money.  Why not us too? Leprechauns are loved the world over, ‘surely they are, surely, begorrah’.  Everybody likes a pint of stout.   

Get real.  Irish Catholics founded Celtic, played for Celtic and supported Celtic.  The grand children and great grand children of this community in Scotland represent the very heart and soul of Celtic.  Without this recognition and these identities Celtic isn’t Celtic but a new creation wearing Celtic’s green and white hoops.   

We’ve inherited something unique in Scotland and amongst the Irish worldwide.  The space in my life that is Celtic is where I can be Irish and express this through standing shoulder to shoulder with friends and relations in the face of adversity.  That’s the way it always has been. If Celtic changes then our very being is changed, our heart and soul are sold off and only remembered as green coloured packages to be bought in the many Celtic Shops for Celtic Plc.     

For those who wish to change us, I say, ‘go and support another club’, ‘go and work for another club’.  There’s plenty in Scotland that have a different history and identity to us.  I have no problem with them.  I have no problem with you; English, Brazilian, Chinese, British, Protestant, Atheist, Agnostic, proud to wear a kilt, like to sing Greensleeves, or a supporter of rampant capitalism.  I don’t believe in any kind of pure identity – that’s cultural facism.  If you come to our club your welcome.  But surely those identities are for outside of the Celtic environment?  It seems odd that such people might want to change us?  Why us?  Why not Partick Thistle, Liverpool or Barcelona?  Let’s change ‘Catalan’ Barcelona.  Now wouldn’t that be a good idea?  Have Celtic and its fans an identity you don’t like?   

I know our club isn’t about one identity but it isn’t about a thousand and one identities either. I do know that since day one and in terms of the very rationale of why we exist, Irish and Catholic have had a special meaning to Celtic and its fans that they simply don’t for any other football club.  That makes Celtic unique.   

The ideals and dreams of Celtic’s founders and first supporters should not be thrown-away for some false idea of Celtic being a club for all and sundry.  What club is?  Barcelona (Catalans)?  Real Sociedad (Basques)? Liverpool (Scouse working class)?  St Pauli (leftist, anti-racist and anti-fascists)?  Maybe Man Utd in the interests of a fast buck?  No, even at Man Utd some supporters are fighting against the money mad demons. This is our club.  Our grandfathers and great grandfathers have given us something to be proud of.  Our traditions, heritage and identity are not for sale.  At least not for the real supporters of Celtic.

In 1887/88 our community celebrated its roots, heritage and identity by giving birth to Celtic Football Club.  In 1967 this immigrant community in Scotland gained the respect of the football world by winning the world’s premier club trophy.  In 1988 we celebrated these facts with a wonderful double.  Hopefully this community, and those who wish to share in our team’s glories regardless of background,  have many more celebrations to come.  We don’t need to deny our identity, suit the whims of fashion or dilute our rich traditions because some of our support or employees have decided to sell our soul.  Sell your own soul, not mine.  Celtic belongs to us, and those who for 90 minutes want to share something with us.