Celtic, Rangers and Sectarianism.

I’ve been a Celtic season ticket holder since 1988. This season is the first season I’ve not renewed, but I’ve still made it to a fair few home games.

In all my years going to Celtic Park, I can honestly understand why some of our songs can offend. There are songs that glorify terrorist actions and there is hatred of the monarchy.

Hatred of the monarchy comes a lot from the fact the Queen is the head of an army a lot of our Irish fans suffered at the hands of. There is also the Act of Settlement, which is a bigoted law still adhered to by the royals.

Having mixed heritage myself, I understand the struggle of my Irish brothers. Although, I don’t condone some of the methods used to oust the British army from Ireland.

As I’ve said above, I can understand why some people in the UK find some of our songs offensive. But, let’s make one thing clear here…..They are not sectarian or bigoted.

Singing **** the Queen is political. Singing songs about the Irish struggle is part and parcel of a countries history. These songs are as offensive as Flower of Scotland. Singing any of the above will not get us banned from European games or arrested. However, if you were to sing these songs with protestant hating add on’s, then you deserve to be arrested.

We do have the word ’Hun’ to contend with. In a court case recently, the word Hun was proven to be arrest worthy.

I do think that with proper representation this case would have been thrown out as a religious one though. For me and many other Celtic fans, the word Hun is a slight about Rangers fans who are barbaric in nature. I’ve never used this to describe them as protestant.

I truly believe that all people have a right to freedom of religion. A freedom not to be persecuted for whatever faith you choose to follow.

I was raised a Catholic, but as I got older I found the notion of a deity absurd. But, I have no problem with people who worship. Religion in all its forms has done more good for the world than bad.

Although, your haters of any organized religions would be quick to point out the wars and pain it has caused throughout human history. Again, I remind them that if all were free to follow whatever religion they wanted, then a lot of these wars could have been avoided. Is it religion that caused these wars or mans own pious nature?

Take for example the Muslim community. A lot of people don’t understand the Koran. Some use it as a blue print to piously kill others, while others simply use it as a guide to live their lives as best they can without harming others.

The true nature of religion is not hatred of other cultures.

There’s pages worth of discussion to be had on the nature of religion and our own thoughts on the matter. But, one thing is 100% true, no one has the right to show bias towards another person on the basis of race, colour or religion.

There is a reason Celtic have not been pulled up by UEFA in the way Rangers have. The problem is by far more prevalent at Ibrox than at Celtic Park.

We might be a club with politically opinionated fans who are proud of their religion, but we don’t as a rule discriminate against other religions.

Rangers have a cancer and to be perfectly honest, I can’t see them changing any time soon. So many of their songs are based on hatred of Catholics and people of Irish heritage.

Most of their fans know it’s stupid, so it’s time for these so called fans to step up and be the knives that cut the sectarian cancer from their club before it’s too late.

Love Celtic, hate racism

Love Rangers, ………..?

 

I can't agree enough.

If Rangers are to step in the right direction they need to actually be pushed forward.

They've been stuck too long in the mire of sectarian hatred it's became a way of supporting their club for some of their fans.

To move forward they must forget about the old ****e and focus on the positives of their club.

 

Great article BZ.