Rangers are Disappointing Me - and I want us to be better

[RiverBear7 0]

In my view the poppy should be a symbol of respect for all those killed in wars. Not just our boys but the enemy as well. It means the futility of war to me and the unnecessary loss of lives. Some choose the armed services but many were conscripted in

For me it's just respect to those lost ones

 

I totally agree with that. If I see people selling white poppies, I will wear that with gusto. With the red ones, I just can't quite shake the feeling the symbol is abused by the powers that be who LOVE starting wars

[JFK-1 1,693]

For what purpose? I understand it's been fairly unpopular, but i'm just trying to have a conversation about my football team. It's a forum after all. If you think it's attention begging, don't respond. Simple.

 

That merely invites a similar response. I'm just trying to give an opinion. If you don't like the opinion, don't respond. Simple.

[StuGers 477]

Someone else has said something similar elsewhere, so I want to clarify further.

 

I have been going to Ibrox most of my life too, and to me, it's not any more dangerous than another ground. However, there are two fairly key things to consider.

 

Please correct me if i'm wrong, because I may be, but I would guess that, like me, you're a white Scottish male, and possibly identify as a Protestant (again, absolutely nothing wrong with that). But I think for people who don't fit that description, while of course you won't recognise it from your experience, I think Ibrox is a lot more daunting idea.

 

I can't stress enough, i'm not saying Ibrox or the fans is openly hostile to different kinds of people - what I am saying, is that most people I know who aren't white Scottish males have the idea that they won't be welcome. For example, I have a couple of friends from Europe, and they instantly were more interested in Celtic because they got the feeling that they wouldn't be welcome; similar with people I've talked to from African countries. Of course, that's not conclusive, but I think it's probably representative of some people.

 

Yes, the media plays a part in that, no question, but again, maybe it means we should have a look at the fanbase and see if there's anything we can do to be more welcoming?

 

Let me give you an example. I saw this today: http://www.thewellsociety.co.uk/2017/07/25/society-to-welcome-syrian-guests-to-cup-tie/

 

Not only is it a nice gesture for the refugees who will go to the match, but it shows to the whole community that this club is for everyone who follows the team. That's all I want for Rangers, and we should surely want as many fans as we can get.

 

One of the biggest Rangers fans I know is Asian. The Singhs are very high profile Rangers fans. Where is the image that Ibrox isn't welcoming to foreigners coming from? The press you say? There seems to be a pattern forming here. And here you are on a forum perpetuating this myth.

[the gunslinger 3,366]

Why are people still entertaining this

 

 

[Bluedell 5,599]

Someone else has said something similar elsewhere, so I want to clarify further.

 

I have been going to Ibrox most of my life too, and to me, it's not any more dangerous than another ground. However, there are two fairly key things to consider.

 

Please correct me if i'm wrong, because I may be, but I would guess that, like me, you're a white Scottish male, and possibly identify as a Protestant (again, absolutely nothing wrong with that). But I think for people who don't fit that description, while of course you won't recognise it from your experience, I think Ibrox is a lot more daunting idea.

 

I can't stress enough, i'm not saying Ibrox or the fans is openly hostile to different kinds of people - what I am saying, is that most people I know who aren't white Scottish males have the idea that they won't be welcome. For example, I have a couple of friends from Europe, and they instantly were more interested in Celtic because they got the feeling that they wouldn't be welcome; similar with people I've talked to from African countries. Of course, that's not conclusive, but I think it's probably representative of some people.

 

Yes, the media plays a part in that, no question, but again, maybe it means we should have a look at the fanbase and see if there's anything we can do to be more welcoming?

 

Let me give you an example. I saw this today: http://www.thewellsociety.co.uk/2017/07/25/society-to-welcome-syrian-guests-to-cup-tie/

 

Not only is it a nice gesture for the refugees who will go to the match, but it shows to the whole community that this club is for everyone who follows the team. That's all I want for Rangers, and we should surely want as many fans as we can get.

 

That's all crap. You're making bland statements and not backing them up. My supporters club has 3 Asians and one gay guy. Nobody cared. The RST has had senior office bearers who were male, female, left wing socialists, right wingers, trade unionists, SNP supporters etc. Very much like the make up of this forum.

 

You're wanting to shove your own political views on the support.

 

We are welcoming. We are inclusive. You should stop misrepresenting us and claiming that we're equally as bad as Celtic. We do have our issues but we're nowhere as bad as the terrorist loving, IRA supporting bigots that follow Celtic.

[RiverBear7 0]

One of the biggest Rangers fans I know is Asian. The Singhs are very high profile Rangers fans. Where is the image that Ibrox isn't welcoming to foreigners coming from? The press you say? There seems to be a pattern forming here. And here you are on a forum perpetuating this myth.

 

That's great about your Asian pal. I'm happy to hear anyone is a Rangers fan.

 

Yes I said the media plays a role, but you've missed the point.

 

I don't know exactly where the perception comes from - the crucial point it that it exists.

 

If you think Ibrox is welcoming to all Rangers fans, great, I agree, but of course we think that. There are people out there - potential Rangers fans - who think they aren't welcome to support the team because of some aspect of their background. Even if that's not true, that's a perception I am dying to see go away.

 

It's not enough, for me, to just point the finger at the press, even if they deserve it in most cases - I just think we as fans, and the club, could go above and beyond to make the experience more welcoming

[pete 2,499]

i went to Ibrox with my Dutch son and we spoke Dutch the whole game and interval in the bar and not one person looked at us differently. Sorry but on this point you are completely wrong or you are sitting in the wrong seats.

[Bluedell 5,599]

It's interesting to note that we're 8 pages into the thread and the only person to make abusive comments about a religious organisation is the OP. Who is the intolerant bigot?

[Bluedell 5,599]

I don't know exactly where the perception comes from - the crucial point it that it exists

 

It exists in your mind. That doesn't mean it's a commonly held view.

[RiverBear7 0]

That's all crap. You're making bland statements and not backing them up. My supporters club has 3 Asians and one gay guy. Nobody cared. The RST has had senior office bearers who were male, female, left wing socialists, right wingers, trade unionists, SNP supporters etc. Very much like the make up of this forum.

 

You're wanting to shove your own political views on the support.

 

We are welcoming. We are inclusive. You should stop misrepresenting us and claiming that we're equally as bad as Celtic. We do have our issues but we're nowhere as bad as the terrorist loving, IRA supporting bigots that follow Celtic.

 

I am certainly very passionate about the issues, but i'm not trying to force anything on the club or the support. The whole point is that I don't give a shit what you believe (unless it is of a bigoted nature). In fact, the article is about the idea that it's the bigots who control the image of the club, and the ordinary, diverse fans you speak of, who I know exist (because of course they do) deserve to be better represented.

 

Of course there are some fans for different backgrounds - perhaps many, but that doesn't change what I see from many others, who don't feel able to join in. I don't see what's so bad about saying we could try a little harder to make the welcoming reality more obvious.

 

As i've continually said, I have the opposite of love for Celtic, but saying 'they're bad too' is no defense. We should strive to be better than them in every regard, on and of the pitch