When I was sent this last night I had to consider if it might be an artfully constructed spoof.
Of course in the digital age, it is always a possibility.
The person who sent to me is an ex-colleague here in Ireland.
He was once my editor in a rather rebellious blatt.
I replied to his DM with the following:
“White Protestants in Scotland just can’t seem to catch a break!
“They are horribly oppressed by the Tim Crow laws imposed by Fenians in the corridors of power.”
His reply was:
“I sense a column coming on…”
And here it is.
Actually, I kinda took it as an order.
In a sense, he’s still my editor and the last in a long series of them that occupied the same chair in Dublin.
Today when I looked at the DM exchange I considered that some of the doughty demonstrators on Saturday in Glasgow would actually agree with my tongue in cheek analysis of their benighted situation.
For the avoidance of doubt, when people of the reformed faith are at worship in the city of Glasgow there are no anti-Protestant parades passing by Protestant churches.
Ministers of the Church of Scotland have not been spat on and assaulted outside of their Kirk.
That is because such things do not happen.
The motivation, it would appear, for this demonstration is that two Irish unity marches were recently allowed to take place in the city.
These were legally approved processions.
However, the counter-demonstrations were anything but legal and required a substantial police response.
You did not have to approve of the message of the Irish unity marches to see a wider problem here.
The “discrimination” that is being cited by SPAD is that the old days on Herrenvolk hubris as advertised in the Peaky Blinders is coming to an end.
In 2014 a majority of voters in Glasgow voted to leave the United Kingdom.
The ethnoreligious discrimination that DOES take place on Clydeside is finally being called out.
As usual when the tectonic plates of a society finally moves it is women who are in the vanguard.
I suspect that the event on Saturday will be an overwhelmingly male affair.
Dear reader, I think that I know the real reason for the upcoming demonstration in Glasgow.
I view it as part of a grieving process for a lost sense of supremacism.
That is also evident in the North East of this country.
You can file the fleg protestors into the same category.
The old certainties are gone and the good ol boys in Norn Iron and Glasgow do not like it one bit.
Moreover, those who had once been at the back of the bus are now demanding a say in the societal direction of travel.
The equality genie is out of the bottle and Billy doesn’t like it.
Now, the reality for both the Six Counties and Fair Caledonia is that for all of the 20th century Catholics in those parts of the United Kingdom had the sociological profile of a socially excluded group.
The work of various academics in Scotland would indicate that the multi-generational Irish community has still some catching up to do.
It is hard to dispute the contention that there is still attitudinal discrimination extant in Fair Caledonia apropos the Irish and Irishness.
One day there actually might be a Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Glasgow.
One day…
To be clear the fine folk from SOAD are entirely entitled to demonstrate on Saturday if they so wish.
It is their democratic right and no one should impede them in exercising it.
However, sniggering is allowed.
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As I have said many times It would be so much easier to ban all marches on both sides
Pat, I believe that a prayer will indeed be said before the rally. It will be a prayer to St. Jude on behalf of the Glorious Glasgow Rangers. HH
I think that it would be a right laugh, if the Greater Manchester Police stewarded tomorrow’s illegal rally in George Square. I’m certain that they would remain fair-minded and impartial at once again facing down the Hunnish hordes. HH
We are told that the Yellowhammer notes are out of date and a possible worst case scenario and that people are working around the clock to mitigate future events.
Mitigate is the key word. If Parliament was open those pushing the mitigation message would be getting grilled by the opposition. Lucky for Boris shutting down the House has taken care of that and avoided his ministers feet being put to the fire.
Whilst all this is going on the shambles that is HS2 barely gets a mention despite being billions over budget and significantly more to come yet the PM wants to commit more billions to a bridge linking NI to Scotland.
Is he taking the piss?
Do we have to wait for fuel and food rationing to kick in before the bulk of Brexiteers realise they have been led up the garden path?
By that time it will be to late and the damage may be irreparable.
Are there plans afoot to reroute the oil tankers from Grangemouth to the South East of London rather than keeping the Scottish public and economy on the road?
Would anyone be surprised if he threw the Ulster Unionists under a bus and thought nothing of it?
Where’s that big red bus disappeared to ?
We have our own Junior Trump as PM, with a history of telling porkies, a history that continues every time he opens his mouth.
Who can forget Johnson proving his manhood by tackling that child to send him flying through the air.
Pick on someone your own size ya numpty!
Due to Neoliberalism and the resulting Financial Crash we have had a decade of Foodbanks the length and width of the UK
Had Austerity cut our essential Public Services
Seen the Advent of Zero Hour Contracts
The arrival of Cheap Labour from all over Europe
Over the past 4 Decades we have seen the requirement of a Nuclear Deterrent at massive costs to our Economy
The sell off of all of our Nationalised Industries to Foreign Ownership
Fuel Prices raised substantially
Our Infrastructure and essential Services get stretched to breaking point
Manufacturing moved abroad by the Multi Nationals to cheaper Labour Costs
These same Multi Nationals trading in the UK whilst avoiding paying Tax Duties whilst making massive profits.
Will I be happy to see food shortages or prices go up as a result of rejecting Neoliberalism and EU control?
No but at least I know we will have an opportunity to try something different that does not cause any of the above.
The EU won’t change you can put your life savings on that.
If you have any left that is.
What a load of nonsense.
If you actually read into the left wing arguments for leaving the EU , which was supported by People like Corbyn. Then if you read what these same people are now saying , to try and block the democratic process, is shocking. Especially when one of the main left wing arguments is that the EU is undemocratic. The irony lol
Now whether you voted Yes or No in the referendum, do you not think it’s shocking that parties like the LIBERAL DEMOCRATS trying to subvert democracy.
Now to say that people who voted for Brexit have been lead up a garden paths to me suggests that you voted to remain and because people voted to leave they must be stupid and didn’t realize what they were voting for.
I voted to leave for a few reasons
(1) the EU is undemocratic
(2) fed up with MP’s washing their hands of things by saying that’s not us , it comes from the EU. Sort of like MSP’s always blaming Westminster.
(3) I think it will bring around a united Ireland
(4) it might speed up Scottish independence.
Now why did you vote to remain?
To me the EU was the better of 2 evils in that they at least defended us against the worst of the Tories’ excesses. Left to their own devices they’d’ve stripped us of all and any workers or human rights whatsoever. I’m no a fan of the EU but I’ve got to live in the austerity real world these bastards have created and if it hadn’t been curtailed it could’ve been – and could still get – a whole lot worse.
I just read that Grandmaster Flash and his Furious Fruits intend to assemble at Glasgow’s George Square this Saturday, to “resist attempts to suppress our community, culture, religion, and voice”. Pardon me for pointing out the obvious, but isn’t that precisely what Scottish protestants are trying to do to the Catholic community, and have done for eons?!!
Their hypocrisy is truly breathtaking – and I’m a protestant myself! For as long as these numpties are allowed carte-blanche to march, there will always be this air of hubris and faux-supremacy. I cannot see what is wrong with a March in the name of Irish unity, however the “ooh,aah – up the ‘RA” brigade are bano out of order in trying to hijack a peaceful march for their own ends.
It’s a very predictable response, after all they think they have free reign to ‘ walk the Queen’s highway.’
Let’s see what Police Scotland’s response will be to an illegal gathering in George Square, once more poisoning the City Centre atmosphere.
God knows what the tourists are thinking.
I wonder if the police will be so outnumbered that they can’t operate snatch squads to lift the agitators?
Joseph, with the Huns playing at home tomorrow, I would expect a larger than normal crowd for this event. It could run into a few thousand. I predict that the polis will do the square root of f**k-all, to deal with this mini Nuremberg Rally. I do hope that I am wrong, and that the police will do their sworn duty, and crack a few heads tomorrow. I won’t be holding my breath however…there’s more chance of the Colombian Galactico scoring against our very own Hooped Heroes. HH
Enjoy folks. You are witnessing the death throes of the orange order/sevco/supremacists etc. The gradual chipping away of these odious institutions started many years ago but events have speeded the process at an alarming rate.
The peace process in the north of Ireland, brexit, the death of rangers fc, the rise in prominence of Catholic or fair minded people. I include Nicola Sturgeon in this group. A better leader for independence you could not wish.
Peace in the six counties (relatively) has opened serious discussions of a United ireland. In what form, is part of the discussions. The fleg carry on showed the once majority, they cannot dictate their terms without the other side having an input.
Singular moments have impacted history but they don’t change history alone. Much work is taking place to elicit this change in the best possible manner. Instances such as brexit have shown differing communities in the north that they aren’t that different after all. Economic pain is felt by all sides regardless of religion.
The only remaining stain is freemasonry but like the OO, old guys are losing the will to hate others or restrict other because of petty religious issues. Roll on a United ireland, an independent Scotland and Wales, then we can all see the fruits of our labour.
Totally agree with the last paragraph, Frathetim-nice handle BTW. But Sturgeon? Hell no. This ego-maniac loves the sound of her own voice, and is never off telly or the wireless. When being interviewed she is wont to adopt a bullying and self-rightous manner and is never called out on this.
Personally I would love to see wee Arlene Foster lead us to freedom. What a belter she is, and no mistake. HH
I like the idea of marches having to come up with the monies to pay for a police prescence and other associated costs. That in itself would immediately slash the number of events.
That would also include compensation for the business community who suffer when potential customers give the areas affected a body swerve.
Presently we have a plethora of anti Catholic marches barely hiding under the umbrella of the Orange Order which bring areas to a complete standstill.
In the main there are no counter demos against these odious events.
However if a Republican or Irish linked march is mooted you can be sure the hordes will be out in numbers to attack and disrupt the event.
I shiver when I hear Boris lending his support to the building of a bridge to connect Scotland with Northern Ireland.
Is he not aware that within the next 10 years there will be a nationalist majority in the north and a united Ireland will no longer be a pipe dream.
How is the Union going to work when Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all voted to remain in the EU yet will be outvoted by little Englanders many of whom have an inbred hatred of the French, Germans, Soanish et al.
40 plus years of EU membership and most of the Brexiteers will be hard pushed to explain what negative impact it’s had on their lives.
On the other hand, bit by bit, the potential impact of leaving on everyone in the UK, is starting to filter through.
I wouldn”t be fooled by these so called worst case scenarious that are being put forward as the real impact on people and industry is too hard to bear and would see people on the streets protesting…..too late!
Bring back control to the UK say the Brexiteers…… Boris, Reece Mogg, etc.
I wouldn’t trust any of them to be sent to a shop to pick up a free newspaper and carry out the task without tripping over their own feet.
At the time of the original vote we were told that leaving the EU would lead the UK into a land of milk and honey. No mention of food, fuel and medicine shortages, nor price increases.
A wonderful opportunity to make trade deals with countries on the other side of the world!
Really? The EU market is on our doorstep yet better deals with countries thousands of miles away will be available. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out the economics of that particular claim.
This is all going on with Parliament shut for business for another 5 weeks with Boris and his acolytes having lied, and still lying, through their teeth about the reason for closing.
If they can lie about this then they can lie about anything.
Meanwhile Corbyn doesn’t know whether to stick or twist. No wonder he doesn’t want an election as the Lib Dems will push Labour into a very poor 3rd place.
Ironic that Corbyn is the only Leader advocating a different ideological approach than the Neoliberal Politics the rest not only advocate but are committed to?
So in essence what you are saying is it is Neoliberal Capitalism or nothing?
JUST LIKE THE EU.
Those Scots,Welsh,Irish AND English who voted to remain within the EU Neoliberal bubble did so by way of being Citizens within the UK and not as Nationalists within Scotland,Wales,Northern Ireland or England?
So that point is actually irrelevant.
A Democratic decision was taken by us COLLECTIVELY to leave the Neoliberal Construct of the EU and make our own way in the future.
Ie we now have a chance to express our own will in which direction we choose to go by means of Localised General Election.
It is our method of deciding that which is flawed.
First past the post was never a fair way of deciding who runs our affairs.
The majority of Voters seldom get what they want or ask for.
The new Commissioner of the EU on the other was Elected and hand picked from within.
They plumped for yet another Neoliberal stooge from the Centre Right of the Political spectrum.
For all Corbyns faults he is definitely not that.
He is stuck between a rock and a hard place as Leader of a Democratic Socialist Labour Party.
The previous incumbents were Neoliberals in red ties or as Blair declared them “New Labour”.
As a result Labour became infested with these charlatans.
He is fully aware he has lost the Socialist vote in Scotland and Wales as many have been lured towards Nationalist Ideals and thinking rather than Socialist values where Nationalist thinking is it is better to be separated from the UK and part of the EU than it is to simply be a Socialist fighting for equality,fairness and proper representation within a UK setup.
You like so many others have been duped into thinking this is the better of the two evils.
The reality is however it is more of the same (Neoliberalism) only with even less Control over what happens next within the European Superstate.
Cameron’s move to give Scotland a vote on Independence was a calculated move designed to finally kill off any chance of Labour control in the UK again.
He knew the Tory days were numbered and pushed the Neoliberal agenda ahead of stability within his own shores.
Divide Scotland and conquer the UK.
Job done mission accomplished.
The Capitalist doesn’t care about Scotland,Wales or Northern Ireland all they care about is emptying as much profit out of the Market Place as quickly as possible without minimal fuss or Taxation and that is the point of the EU Trade Union.
The Common Market which we joined has now been replaced by an all dictating Superstate.
This is also why so many (Over half the voting Electorate) including myself chose to reject it and what it represents.
If you really want Political change on the Political Horizon then a few forced changes (which won’t be easy as change never is) have to happen.
First step was rejection of Neoliberal Economics.
BREXIT
Second step a rejection of it in the UK
VOTE LABOUR
Last step a new direction via a Democratic and Socialistic based approach to Politics and Finances.
FORCE CHANGES TO OUR ANTIQUATED AND FLAWED ELECTION PROCESS
First Past The Post Politics have to be binned in the UK.
Decentralisation of Government and handing more Control over to the Regions has to be a priority and lastly make those who are Elected accountable for their actions.
Failure to do so will see further erosion of Socialist values as we head full speed towards Globalisation and ultimately handing full control of our futures over to the 1%.
The Financial Crash need not have happened
Zero Hour Contracts should not Exist
Grand scale Tax Avoidance should be classed as a crime against Society
Multi Nationals and Conglomerates should like the rest of us be made to pay their way.
Cheap Labour should not be able to move around the Globe unchecked or unchallenged
We should be able to trade with who we want,when we want without being penalised for doing so.
All Sections of Society should be represented by those in Power.
There should be no pneed for Foodbanks in a modern,Fair and Democratic Society.
Wealth and Prosperity should be shared equally amongst us all.
A vote in Barra should count the same as a vote in Bath,Bognor or Beleek.
If we sort these fundamental issues then there is no need for splitting the UK up and going back Centuries to an us and them existence.
Going back a few years now but i would have been 9/10 years old and my best pal was a protestant and rangers supporter. He asked if i would like to go and join the Lifeboys with him, i asked my parents if it was ok and they said they didn’t have a problem as long as it was ok with them. i went with my pal to the lifers that night and before i even got into the hall where the rest of the kids were when the “head” lifer asked me a few questions and the inevitable one was what school did i go to and i answered St Francis, he then asked if i was a catholic and i told him yes, he then told me that i couldn’t join in with my friend and said i would be better off joining the cub scouts. that was my first introduction to the bias against Catholics. I went home and told my Mum what had happened and she said she was not surprised by it, she didn’t want to be the one to say i could not join the lifers. I didn’t join the cubs by the way. GGTTH.
Sometime the near future….
Post Brexit voters in Northern Ireland are given a choice.
Stay within the UK and Exit Europe with a return of Border Issues and Military Posts across it.
Or Alternatively Leave the UK ,become a United Ireland and remain in Europe with no Border.
Ulster Loyalists now caught between a rock and a hard place choose the latter in surprising numbers which in turn ends 800 years of Struggle,Oppression and Violence for the Republican Community who have in their large numbers Voted for a rejection of Brexit and of course a United Ireland.
As a result of this the staunchest of the Staunch relocate back to Scotland from where most of them now declare they came.
Scotland Independent from the UK after a Post Brexit Referendum now inherit the issues that have blighted Northern Ireland for Centuries.
As a result of this Catholic’s in Scotland who had voted Leave second time round now find themselves in a similar position of those in Northern Ireland as their neighbourhoods see an influx of very.very bitter Loyalist from the old Country.
As a result some of them relocate back to Ireland and the Land that they call home.
Resulting in a peaceful United Ireland and a very bigoted inward looking Scotland where being a Catholic is no longer a safe option.
Far fetched?
Not far fetched at all,
How any Catholic can subscribe to, and vote for, an SNP that allows more marches than ever before as they seek to curry favour with the 3 million majority demographic who have anti Irish anti Catholic feelings riven in their DNA is totally beyond me.
It’s akin to turkeys not only voting for Christmas, but plucking themselves, showering in butter and shoving sausage meat up their bottoms before turning the bloody oven on!
Where do the guys sponsoring these twisted cretins think the unionists will go? Do they think that they will instantly change their beliefs overnight? Perhaps the unionists will “go home”?
For some inexplicable reason The Cult of The SNP have the republican/catholic vote more or less guaranteed when the eradication of that faith will be at the core of their administration when left alone. Just type in SNP and Catholic Schools and see what these clowns are really all about.
When independence comes, the loyalists may not like it, but they and the population who have similar but latent prejudices will demand a voice and by golly they’ll get it.
Given the dearth of talent at a Holyrood, I think I can name about five of the useless box ticking self preservation artists, and it rapidly goes belly up, whom do you think they will turn their ire on?
The police force is bigoted to its core, the financial industry is the same and the judiciary. I mean right at the top, 30th-33rd degree right at the top.
Scotland has no chance because of the demographic split. 14% identify as Catholic. That is a tiny minority. When push comes to shove, the other percentage will group together.
Civil war awaits an independent Scotland, or the tub thumping Turkeys who are campaigning for Christmas will find themselves firmly at the back of the bus and will go there with a meek whimper.
This site highlights the problems at the core of the football authorities and their decision making in favour of the establishment club and now club/company (sic). The footballing aspect is the lower class public manifestation of their superiority. They cheated, lied, defrauded and corrupted sport in this land. What has truly been done about it? Truly?
The answer is nothing.
They’ve cloned the previous lot and it’s now much worse. That’s just the football. The government stand by as public racist crimes take place in huge numbers every week. They do nothing. They want their votes. To think the idiot Sevconians think everyone is against them?
An independent Scotland with a better demographic split would be a dream, but the imbalance is too large and the minorities will be crushed and done so with great gusto.
Scotland is a bigoted toilet.
The SNP are a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
You are correct in what you say it is a bigoted toilet but if Independence is ever attained it will become an open sewer once again for Scotland’s minority.
My faither used to warn us if the SNP ever took control we and families like us would be in serious trouble.
Unless of course you partake in the consumption of the homemade Soup…
Cyan, I believe the SNP to be SHEEP in sheeps’ clothing. Wee Nicola need to grow a pair, FFS. Cynics would say that she already has. But not I, of course. HH
As a Catholic , an SNP supporter( until Independence ) and a Scot I do not recognise your poisoned view of my country !
I am a Catholic, and a Scot and a proud member of the SNP. And I will be with the SNP until Independence is gained and then I will see. Neither of these rancid posts reflect my view and belief in Scotland! You sound as bigoted as the OO!
Which bit of minority do you not understand?
The vast majority of the population in Scotland are not Catholic. When push comes to shove they will go with their core beliefs.
That’s not a bigoted viewpoint to have, that’s undeniable fact.
The ongoing “I’ll vote SNP till independence then I’ll see” will be too late, they will have their wish and they will have to pander to the majority to remain in power.
The unionists aren’t going to disappear or say “oh well then, that’s the end of that”. They will demand their voices be heard and they’ll get it.
14% (of people who identify as Catholic) is a minority. A tiny minority.
I returned to a Scotland that is more divided and bigoted than it was many years ago when I left. I’m stunned at the levels of naked sectarianism I witness in the workplace, from boardroom to shop floor to social gatherings.
My final point was that if the demographic split was more even then Scotland would have a fighting chance to be what I would love it to be, but the core majority population will not allow that to happen.
It’s sad, but the numbers are against the minorities.
Not withstanding the utter low level no mark box tickers who are running the place, but that’s a whole other debate.
Can I ask you the following;
Do you think unionists will change their beliefs when independence comes?
Do you think maybe they’ll leave Scotland?
Do you think that Scotland currently is a country that has an anti Irish anti catholic racism problem?
Allowing for another 5-10% of the population being of other minority groups, let’s say that makes it 25% in total (it’s lower than that but hey ho) and from last polls around 20% who really don’t care, how do you make up the still overwhelming odds against the minorities?
How do you get these people who have anti catholic beliefs, when it really comes down to it, to change? I’d love to know?
Phil has written a book on it, we hear about it on here at its base public sporting level frequently.
If you think that makes me sound like the OO then I’m living in a different country, hearing different editorial news slants, hearing different politicians and witnessing a different declining low educated society than you.
You are very lucky to not encounter these issues.
Spot on.
Once the Chestnut Gelding has bolted and Law and Order are left entirely to those who frequent the Corridors of Power in Scotland (a large number of whom we suspect are members of a Secretive Society) what then for the already previously persecuted Catholic persuasion?
Forget Nationalism and get back to your core values of Socialism.
Democratic Socialism is the only true alternative to the dung we have been forced to digest these past 4 decades or so.
Project fear has been used as a weapon on both sides.
A bit like the £150bn Trident Replacement that lays up the Shi t pipe.
The Russians are fed the same stuff at the other end and all the while the Weapons Dealers and Banks make an absolute killing at both ends.
Wake up and smell the Lavazza Bhoys you are being sold Mellow Birds instead.
Cannot agree with your assertion that Scotland, in itself, is a bigoted toilet. Your point re Catholic Schools and the SNP is well made though. For the record, the SNP have never been a Nationalist party, far less Republican. These Saltire-Lite Crown lovers hijacked the 2014 Ref. for their own ends. Their version of independence, would be for Scotland to be still ruled by the British Crown. Well nae offence, but bugger that for a game of soldiers. The only variety of independence that matters, must be of a Republican hue.
As for Catholic Schools-or should that be Roman Catholic for SNPers-these schools will continue to exist and indeed thrive in an independent Scotland, in my view, as long as the Catholic community stand tall against the bigots, and by that, I do not only mean loyalists and their fellow travellers, SOME of whom indeed reside within the SNP. Lets look at the other parties.
Ah, dear old Labour or New Labour or whatever the f**k they call themselves these days. They are a party OF the middle class, By the middle class FOR the middle class with all the inherent prejudices of that group. The closest these people have been to a working-class area, is if they were sent there for a couple of days, as part of a focus group. These red-Tories cannot even spell the word Socialist, far less admit to being one. Anything goes with these pagans. For these eejits, anyone who supports the right to life of THE most vulnerable members of the human race-unborn children-is automatically labelled a fascist or worse. I say that it is these intolerant red-fascists who are in the wrong. As for Catholic Schools, if it was up to them, these places of education would have been closed down long ago, to be replaced with a more suitable curriculum, where anything goes. We have all seen in recent years the type of undisciplined, monosyllabic rabble that they churn out, in their so-called ‘non-denominational’ schools…now whoever made THAT label up was surely having a laugh. Of course these Labourites being the two-faced hypocrites that they are, all send their OWN kids to the best Private schools.
As for The Tories, The Liberals and The Green party see above.
For those pro-Brits who argue against an independent Scotland, consider the following. Scotland has a land mass of approx. three-quarters the size of England, is full of natural resources and has a population one TENTH the size of England…most crammed into the Central Belt…independence is a f*****g no-brainer.
Just to rub certain pro-Brits up the wrong way, in an Independent Scotland I would bulldoze that f*****g gravy-train known as HOLLY-rood, by illiterate morons. It’s called HOLY-rood FFS. What’s the craic here? Is the real word too Catholic for certain bigots within that den of iniquity? Just to clarify here…I would move the Scottish Parliament to somewhere more deserving than that dark Loyalist hole that is Edinburgh. Stirling, Perth Or Dunfermline spring immediately to mind, and would all be HISTORICALLY more appropriate as the seat of govt. for an independent Alba. The only good things to come out of Edinburgh are: The pubs, Celtic supporters’ clubs resident there and of course…the train to Glasgow.
Until a genuine Republican Movement is organised in Scotland we are going nowhere but into Dante’s Inferno, led as usual, by dear old England, and her Scottish and Welsh supplicants. The phrase ‘Crumbs from Longshank’s Table’, seems entirely appropriate in the circumstances. Hail Hail.
There wouldn’t be followers if there were no bands , and most of those are simply hired by the march organisers and have no connection to the marching group .
That mob just don’t do irony.
It’s their democratic right to March unmolested but nobody else can do the same.
The IRA is a banned organisation but so are the UDA and UVF whose banners are flown at these Orange parades.
We can’t even celebrate our national patron saint’s day for fear of violence and disruption by so-called fellow Christians!
To listen to them spout on about discrimination by the most discriminated against ethnic group in Scotland is just mind-boggling.
The ironies just pile up.
As someone that is involved in organising a St.Patrick’s day parade in the USA in my mind the answer is very simple.Here we the organisers have to raise funds for policing,insurance and all other associated costs for the parade,why are much needed public funds used to cover such marches make the organisers pay the costs of these
That’s exactly what needs to be done but they have a football club to save. There’s the nub right there so no charge is issued .
Phil, you argue that ‘the old certainties are gone’. I personally do not see it. If anything Loyalists are MORE certain of their place in society. Look at the facts: since 2012 Orange marches have increased. There may well be less people attending them, but the amount of these processions allowed by GCC has reached an alarming level. Discriminated against?…like f**k they are.
Then of course they had the great victory of 2014 where the celebrated ‘remaining Brits’ by smashing up the town, as you do, of Friday evening. Then of course, we now have Brexit to look ‘forward’ to. When did you ever think that you would see the DUP in govt. at Westminster. The DUP FFS.
These Loyalist/Huns, are more certain than ever, of their superiority over our community in Scotland. As you rightly say, the counter-demonstrations at the weekend were illegal and the cops should have been wading right into them. That ain’t gonna happen though is it?
I say again, we are in a worse position than we have been for generations. If-when rather-the Huns do indeed die again, it does not take a genius to work out how these Fascists are going to be spending their weekends. HH
I was referring to the certainties contained within the PUL world view.
Phil, so was I. The fear and uncertainty that beguiled them ie Loyalists, in the period 2012-2014 has long since passed. They STILL have their precious British State. I assume that you have read some of the works of Pat Anderson, who argues that anti-Catholicism did not exist to any great extent, in Scotland, until the 1707 Treaty of Union. Pat argues that up until then Catholics were allowed to practice their faith, as long as it was done in a private fashion. It’s certainly one to consider. With the advent of the British State, all changed utterly. The Penal Laws, for example.
As long as this state remains in existence, they will continue to feel culturally superior to…EVERYONE. HH
After the tragic events earlier this year when the young lady journalist was murdererd by republican filth do you feel that you are stuck between a rock and a hard place Phil?
Like most of us you are a dedicated republican but I simply cannot abide a republican march in my city after these tragic events.
Phil have you seen this.
https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/four-polls-needed-to-unify-ireland-claims-constitutional-expert-38486553.html.
Very interesting
Many thanks
”We are in a worse position than we have been for generations ” – I don’t know your age but as a 70 year old raised in Glasgow and having experienced at first hand the Orange Culture ( sic ) over many years I would disagree with your statement .
With this violent reaction to the audacity of having a Republican march in Glasgow I think that we are seeing the death throes of a moribund and anachronistic ‘culture ‘ . Numbers of marches are , I believe , much reduced ( though still far , far too many ) since Government legislation introduced some years back tightened up conditions for allowing marches .
Their days are numbered – and they know it- hence the last desperate show of violence , and appeals that THEY are being discriminated against is comedy gold !
Millsy, being not a million miles behind you age-wise, I must stand by my previous statement. Until we see the demise of the British State itself, these Loyalist muppets will always have something to fall back on. Until then, they will always remain loyal and true. LOYAL TO WHAT THOUGH? F**k knows. That is part of the reason why I was so gutted in Sept. 2014. If Scotland would have left the union, the whole rotten imperialist-racist structure would have come tumbling down, leaving the pro-Brits in this country with hee-haw. They might even have turned into reasonable sensible chappies, like ourselves. As for Republican marches being attacked…recent events were every bit as bad as those during the 1980-81 Hunger Strikes in Long Kesh…in relation to Glasgow, I mean. Anyhoo, we can all get back to normal this weekend. C’MON THE HOOPS. HH
That’s interesting point. Only problem is that the SNP took over Glasgow Council in 2017 after decades of being in Labour hands. So between 2012 and 2017 it was a Labour problem.
The real issue is that under the law, enshrined in ECHR I believe, is the right to protest and march. Traditionally in Scotland the view has always been to allow any kind of march/protest. Unfortunately, that freedom has been misused by OO to essentially have their parades almost every weekend. And I believed it is being fueled/used by certain people to forment trouble in Scotland to potentially disrupt Independence. Banning all parades/protests because you don’t like certain ones is a dangerous road to go down as inevitably it is used to ban things that people do agree with.
Glasgow CC will need to start making groups pay for the policing, limiting the marches to certain areas (parks) and maybe also to certain days/times of year. Maybe even make them post a sizable Bond in advance of a march? Eventually, that will see things sorted but until then there will be trouble. However, ANY march (Indy, Trident, etc.) can end up with trouble when counter-groups come looking for a fight, as the loyalists did the past few weekends!
Excellent post Peter. I will not and cannot agree with a ban on certain political parades, simply because I do not agree with them. A very dangerous road indeed.
Perhaps a solution in our case would be to allow both the Orange Order and Republicans to have one march each per year, as a freebie, at public expense. For the OO that would obviously be the ‘Glasgow Twelth’ as I believe it’s known, and for Republicans an H/S commemoration mid-summer perhaps. All other marches, by both groups, should have the associated costs paid for by members/supporters of said groupings. More importantly, in relation to the Orange Order and their follow-followers, any damage caused or compensation ordered by the courts, should be met by member of the OO.
As an aside I find it depressing that FIFTY years after the North erupted in ’69, Republicans are STILL being battered off the streets by Loyalist elements, while the Loyal Orders are allowed to march ‘Everywhere, Anywhere’. HH
have you seent he Hope not Hate page on this stuff?
https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/2019/09/05/london-terror-boss-issues-glasgow-warning/
I’m reminded of a particular sketch in BBC Scotland’s Naked Video, from the 80’s. That sketch is the one where Paul Simon chooses to use local “ethnic” music of Scotland via an Orange band. When the assembled “orangemen” are informed that Mr Simon is Jewish, they enquire whether he’s a Protestant Jew, or a Catholic Jew. The point being – so long as they have something, anything, to hate then all is well in their bigoted little world. They will be dragged, kicking and screaming for sure, into the 21st century. Brexit is already doing its bit in that sense.
Steven, I remember that particular programme well. I believe that the excellent Robbie Coltraine did a stint on the show, playing a bigoted Orangeman called Mason Boyne. Real comedy gold. At least I think it was that show…it could have been that other classic ‘Laugh?…I nearly paid my license fee’. Thunderbird wine-my tipple of choice then-has a lot to answer for…I think. HH
I’m not at at all interested in any of these parades, except if I’m caught up in traffic caused by them.
Personally, I’d like to just ban them all – and/or provide access to a big field well away from any residential areas where ‘everybody can parade about anything’ to their hearts content.
But, it seems that these relatively new/few republican marches could cleverly achieve what the vast majority of the public want: a serious review of the parades and their frequency.
The logical conclusion to minimise violence or disruption – and the significant Policing costs – is to severely limit the number of parades.
Maybe in this ‘PC gone mad’ world, banning them is not legally an option?
But, with severe restrictions, more liability etc. the general public in the West of Scotland might grudge just a few parades – but certainly not the hundreds we have currently.
It would be progress, of a sort.
Why do people parade in the first place? I don’t see the point and it really doesn’t make any difference!
The simple answer we always see to this is banning all of them, but I believe the simple answer is actually ban protestors. Any protestors near any parade should be arrested on the spot. The UVF/Orange parade that happens every year all over the country never EVER has any trouble from the outside. So much so that they are so fed up doing it that they stop outside Catholic palaces of worship or catholic schools looking for a reaction. And when they dont get it the simply attack folk going about their business. But the minute they see a Irish republican paraid they are getting together to cause as much harm and bringing chaos to the streets in protest. So the simple answer is arrest counter protesters on the spot.
In all honesty I’m all for equality and diversity, no problem with GCC schedule of marches or counter protests but the fact remains there’s an element of vitriol on the loyal side that doesn’t match.
Not one of the republican parades were anything to do with the IRA, same breath argument can come from loyal parades “those who follow our parades are not under our jurisdiction”
It’s time both sides came together, had an open and honest discussion……
I know fantasy but we live in hope
Good post.
The problem for supremacists is that if they enter into an “open and honest discussion” with folk they consider to be their inferior then that kills their world view.
Indeed Phil but it shouldn’t stop the question being asked -Are you up for an open,honest and more importantly friendly debate?
As has been proven in the North of Ireland it is far more productive to discuss these things than simply go about using violence as an answer to your issues.
I pray for the day that Ireland is United ( Norn Irony)and believe with the advent of Brexit that day will be coming a lot sooner than some in fair Caledonia care to think.
Through Democratic choice.
What will these people who continue to march and Parade on both sides do when this age old issue is finally resolved?
The disguised Racism will have no place to hide.
We should all pray for that day to come soon.
Together.
🙏
I totally agree with your sentiments C.O’B,however,I believe that something so long running and deep seated into Scottish society’s fabric will take a good while longer to see change than you suggested.
Of course,I sincerely hope I’m wrong on that one.
One rule for All should be their goal,that’s not been the case until recently.
Democracy and discussion are undoubtedly the way forward,but let’s be real,the Heerenvolk peepel don’t really do discussions,they’d much rather march with their entitled views and banging on their big Lambeg drum,disturbing faithful parishioners in the process.
Cheers Phil🍀
Watched a cracking documentary (can’t remember the name) but it was interviews with the 7 previous heads of Mossad or Israeli security services (not sure which)
Everyone of these guys bar none said “while in office we were at war, a war we knew was futile but at the direction of our heads of state it was a war we had to be having. Now on reflection after I leave office, the only way forward is dialogue” (words to that effect)
In my view we need a politically driven initiative that brings all sides together, not the usual pish where politics blames one side or the other.
I wonder if they will say a prayer before and after the meeting or invite any Tory or Labour politicians (preferably Protestants) to speak, after all, there was some very keen to point out how wrong the GCC.were to allow such a crime of equality against the protestant faith.