So you felt similarly disposed toward andy goram wearing a black armband to acknowledge the death of someone whom he felt this was appropriate for ?
Exactly. Whatever politics Stokes has, that is his business. A week after Ian Livingston accepts a peerage and is now to be called "Lord" of Parkhead and cites the club as his reason, a perceived political point made by a forward at the club 8 months ago gets more of a critique. Livingstone's position is overtly political, he has deliberately hitched the club to that. This decision gets plaudits through the official site and beyond......but hey. Lets keep politics away from football. I can't square that circle. I don't agree with what I think Stokes' politics are, but they are his own. He isn't saddling the club with them. Yet here is a Director of the club doing just that.
Did Anthony Stokes wear a black armband during a game - surely this would have been inappropriate as 'paying respects' should have been a private matter, away from the club?
No. I didn't feel similarly disposed. I wouldn't accept any insinuations of hypocrisy either. Stokes didn't perform this act on the pitch. I didn't and don't believe believe Goram was telling the truth in who that act of remembrance was for.
Thing is Rebs, to those of us on the outside of this - who I would venture view it more dispassionately - it just looks and feels like the other side of the same coin. Anyway, we`ve been here before and neither of us is going to change our point of view Espania - only an utter imbecile would have thought their own attendance - as a high profile individual at a high profile club - at such an event would have been viewed as a "private matter " if he wanted to pay respects privately he could have managed this... so stokes either chose the actions of an imbecile or knew the ramifications and made that choice anyway - either is unacceptable.
The terminology used there would indicate that you think my defence of Stokes is based on the assumption that I agree with his perceived politics. I don't. I don't support any of the non aligned Republican groups. My defence of him is based on this being a personal issue to him. The politics he may hold are his own. For that reason I hadn't even commented on the "Lord" of Parkhead until this thread. His politics are equally personal to him. He went out of his way to have the club saddled with it. Stokes never. "Lord" Of Parkhead happened last week. The Stokes thing happened last year. One is lauded, the other is criticised. That isn't seeking to get anyone to change their view. I don't support the politics of either. And from that point of view, I am an outsider looking in as well. It seems to me that it is entirely hypocritical for the club to endorse one and not the other.
I thought this was going to mong up as soon as we starting discussing Irish politics, but it's been surprisingly civil so far. I agree with Rebel, I don't support militant Republicanism but I think it's Stokes own business who's funeral or memorial he attends. I don't think it should be taboo to display politics that you actually hold, otherwise how do we tell who the arseholes are?
Folk go mental at a player because a player makes a comment about another club ... Folk go mental at a player because he goes to a funeral of a crimional/gangster ... Which is worse?
The problem with Stokes is that his dad is obviously a first-class moron and it's clearly rubbed off somewhat on his son. I personally don't think Stokes was deliberately trying to be provocative, I just think he's a bit stupid as footballers are want to be.
Generally they are overpaid, undereducated and babied through adult life yet people expect them to be some kind of beacon for moral activity? Seems too much of a stretch for me.
It harmed the club he is employed by ...no brainer. I'm far more worried about the part of our support who wont give up singing about such stuff at matches. It is harming the club and has no place a CP.
You'd be better screaming it repeatedly into an empty bucket than try to change the minds of those who continue to drag that pish into Parkhead. These morons will not change and only one option to get rid of it; No tolerance policy, caught singing banned songs once and you're banned from Celtic Park and applying for away game tickets.
How can you consider yourself a Celtic supporter if you are bringing shame on the club constantly? It will only get used as a stick to beat the club. ****in moronic!
I mind an away game at Inverness and Tommy Gravesen was warming-up next to a baldy copper. Some wit pipes up with "Last time I saw two diddies like that was oan yer burd Tam"
