Frankie 8,130 Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Itââ?¬â?¢s with great interest this morning that I view the following video of Saturdayââ?¬â?¢s match at Celtic Park. Despite Celtic FC and their fans constantly telling us the problem of sectarianism has been eradicated from their support ââ?¬â?? especially at home ââ?¬â?? here a large cross-section of their fans are clearly heard singing ââ?¬Ë?Go Home Ya Hunsââ?¬â?¢ to the Hearts away support. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft_NLT_kUCM After another weekend of certain journalists telling us how allegedly a small number of Rangers fans were booed by their fans as they tried to imbibe ââ?¬Ë?Follow Followââ?¬â?¢ with an offensive add-on, itââ?¬â?¢s equally interesting that the biggest and most obvious circumstance of such discriminatory singing occurs at Celtic Park and is largely ignored by the very same people. Once again the Scottish media show they will not report Celtic in a negative light despite the most overwhelming of evidence. Graham Spiers, Gerry McNee and Jim Traynor have all been keen to stick the boot into Rangers and their support in recent years but theyââ?¬â?¢ve been strangely quiet over the last few days ââ?¬â?? one even suggesting Rangers fans should ââ?¬Ë?get a lifeââ?¬â?¢ for complaining. I canââ?¬â?¢t remember him telling his peers in the Fourth Estate that or taking that advice personally in the past. Why now? Or is Traynor right? Are supporters of clubs being all too easily offended? Perhaps they are but its bizarre how these intense bigotry crusaders are now backtracking on the nomenclature after the rules are put in place to aid their concerns and stop the kind of thing being sung on Saturday. So, is the term ââ?¬Ë?hunââ?¬â?¢ sectarian? Well, despite doubts about that when one considers its literal meanings(1), when one looks at the background of its usage, there can only be one conclusion. Firstly, several media platforms [including the Observer(2), CBS News(3) and the Irish Political Review(4)] have all showed that the term is used in Northern Ireland with sectarian connotations. Secondly, most (if not all media platforms in this country) have banned its use ââ?¬â?? the BBC, Real Radio(5), Talksport(6), and the Scotland on Sunday(7) are just four examples of this. Finally, and arguably, most importantly, the anti-sectarianism campaign ââ?¬Ë?Nil by Mouthââ?¬â?¢ also describe this abusive term as sectarian(8). Of course, if the story did make the news, weââ?¬â?¢ll get dozens of replies from concerned Celtic fans suggesting the opposite is true. Much in the same way a small number of Rangers fans try to defend the word ââ?¬Ë?fen!anââ?¬â?¢ (which has very similar literal meanings but has been banned by the footballing authorities and deemed criminal by the police) they may actually have a strong argument. After all, how can anyone know what someone means when they use an insult? And thereââ?¬â?¢s the rub. Hun is insulting. Fen!an is insulting. Neither term has a place in footballing stadia nor should football fans want to include them in their songs. Surely, we can have a bit of banter without this kind of crude nonsense? If we canââ?¬â?¢t, then going by previous action against Rangers supporters by UEFA and the SPL/SFA, further problems will arise. All along, itââ?¬â?¢s been obvious that Rangers are not the only club with offensive songs. It will be interesting to note if other clubs will now face the same censure by both the authorities and the media. No excuses. References 1 - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hun 2 - http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2078535,00.html 3 - http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_byrne/20060529.html 4 - http://www.atholbooks.org/archives/pastipr/feb05.php 5 - http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=48'>http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=48 6 - http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=48 7 - http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1855222005 8 - http://www.nilbymouth.org/history.htm 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calscot 0 Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 I think the damning aspect for Celtic fans is that they used it against Hearts fans and therefore cannot say that, "Hun," is not sectarian due to being only a sobriquet for Rangers fans. They have been heard to use it against both Rangers and Hearts, whose only connection, perpetually and vociferously pointed out by Celtic fans, is that they have a history of being the "Protestant teams". Therefore, the insult is obviously constucted to dispargage Protestants. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,130 Posted August 28, 2007 Author Share Posted August 28, 2007 cal: I'd like to see that erudite response on the main site article... http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=485&Itemid=2 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ascender 352 Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Is this not something the Trust could raise Frankie? If its done intelligently, which is obviously will be, it won't be seen as us trying to score points, more us looking for clarification? I've actually been surprised recently to see Traynor and Spiers sticking up for us by saying its a minority of our support which is the problem now, but then they go silent on this issue, so I've no idea what's going on to be honest. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,130 Posted August 28, 2007 Author Share Posted August 28, 2007 Mate, must admit, from a personal POV, I'd prefer the Trust concentrated on RFC matters only. However, it may be necessary to raise the point of inequality at some point... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ascender 352 Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Mate, must admit, from a personal POV, I'd prefer the Trust concentrated on RFC matters only. However, it may be necessary to raise the point of inequality at some point... I've said that myself in the past Frankie as I think its important for the RST not to lose any credibility at all by raising things going on at other clubs (petty point scoring), but I think there comes to a point where something like this really needs clarifiying? Its almost like the only offensive words under this new ruling are going to be those which could be used to describe Celtic supporters and anything else is fair game. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,130 Posted August 28, 2007 Author Share Posted August 28, 2007 Agreed. Which is why this site in trying hard to raise the issues via NewsNow. That way they reach a broad spectrum of Scottish fans who would not usually read such articles in the supposedly impartial press. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gisabeer 409 Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 the media have no interest in the eradication of sectarianism. they contribute nothing to the campaign to wipe it out. they choose to sit on the wings like vultures and pick at the bones and scraps of any incident that may come to light and cause a furrore at the slightest step out of line. It is the last place we should look for sympathy. We should though give the SFA some credit for not jumping on the band wagon and taking the bait that the media have left out. We have the Bill Leckies and the Gordon Waddels ( to name a few) who have very recently demanded to know why the SFA havent acted on their own rules and punished Rangers (and celtic for that matter) for trivial incedents on matches. The SFA chose to acknowledge the intense work going on behind the scenes at both Ibrox and parkhead and backed both clubs in each case. This in my eyes is the way to deal with the problem. The vast majority of fans at both clubs have fell in to line and it is a very small minority that continue to cause offence. Why should i or every other decent supporter be punished for the actions of the idiots who mar our club? Target those who cause offence and punish them instead. Celtic got it right by identifying an idividual and removed him from the premises but they should have gone a step further by having him prosocuted and named and shamed. We too should be doing the same. The current set up for dealing with sectarianism is a non starter. It came home to roost with Rangers threatening to refuse away tickets for matches and the panic from all the other clubs was plain to see. We have been left a legacy from a man who contributed nothing to Scottish football in his time in the hotseat at the SFA (that man being David Taylor) and the sooner those at the SFA realise that the better. The current guidlines for punishing clubs have to be ditched. too many innocents are being held responsible for the idiotic few. We really should be punishing them instead. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,130 Posted August 28, 2007 Author Share Posted August 28, 2007 Well said gisabeer... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calscot 0 Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 cal: I'd like to see that erudite response on the main site article... http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=485&Itemid=2 I put it on but can't see it... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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