When it comes to marketing fluff and advertising slogans, I tend to side with Bill Hicks.
However, sometimes, despite their best efforts, the Mad Men actually tell the truth about a place.
Yesterday in Kenmure Street there was a special moment.
Now, I’m sure that the staunch fellows in the UK Border Agency did not expect to be hemmed in by the good folk of Glasgow as they went about their entirely shameful business.
In the end, the British State was stopped from doing what it wanted to do by an engaged citizenry.
The two men, both Indian nationals, were detained on the day of Eid in a heavily Muslim community.
The timing was either entirely incidental or highly calculated.
The very fact that I have a genuine doubt over that says so much about Ms Patel.
Given the heritage and family history of the current British Home Secretary, the irony is crushing.
Yesterday, my social media was full of proud Glaswegians who believed that the scenes in Kenmure Street showed the big-hearted nature of the city.
However, not all agreed with this view.
Oh dear…
The sad reality is that Post-Brexit Britain is becoming an increasingly ugly and unwelcoming place for foreigners.
Yesterday was also the day that the members of the regional assembly in Edinburgh were pledging their allegiance to the Saxe Coburg family.
For the avoidance of doubt, if they do not, then they don’t get paid.
Some folks are easily bought off…
The little bit of performance art before the degradation ceremony didn’t make it any less, well, degrading.
For the avoidance of doubt, the regional assembly in Edinburgh has no power over a reserved matter like immigration. Calling yourself a parliament does not a sovereign legislature make.
Immigration is handled by Westminster.
At the moment, the SNP still send MPs there, where they also have to degrade themselves to the Saxe-Coburg family in order to receive their lavish paycheque.
Thankfully the folk in Kenmure Street yesterday did not rely on any meaningless gestures in Holyrood.
Instead, they took peaceful direct action.
So yesterday was a day of pride for the multi-cultural city of Glasgow.
At the weekend, I fear that the vista will vastly different.
It is no secret that the Ibrox klanbase are planning, once more, to congregate in George Square to celebrate Sevco’s inaugural title win.
The nine-year-old club put out this statement.
Here is the key section:
In particular, please be mindful of the government guidelines regarding gathering in large numbers. If possible, please celebrate within your own community.
The use of the words “If possible” is less than subtle.
Perhaps I should not be too harsh in Sevco’s under-pressure PR chap.
I’m sure that he is urgently trying to find out who abused Celtic Captain Scott Brown in the tunnel at Ibrox in the last Glasgow Derby game of the season.
It was the type of slur that Catholics of Irish heritage have heard in Glasgow all of their lives.
Not a good look…
I wish him well in his investigations.
The scenes in Kenmure Street yesterday is the best of Glasgow.
What will almost certainly unfold in George Square within sight of that banner is the worst of the place.
This is the subculture that came up with the Famine Song and, in 2021, celebrate the memory of an actual member of the Ku Klux Klan.
In the wake of the Glen Kamara incident, the Ibrox illiterate appeared to briefly discover that racism was a bad thing.
Of course, it was never going to hold.
Nativist hostility towards the targeted outsider is what defines the Ibrox klanbase.
Excise hatred of Irish Catholics, and there is little distinctive left from the Ibrox matchday experience.
It would appear that the authorities in the city have priced this in for the weekend klanfest.
Not a good look at all…
Last night on BBC Question Time, the journalist Paul Mason predicted that, down the line, “the Republic of Scotland” was an inevitability.
Now, if that sovereign state becomes a reality one day, then no one in THAT Scottish Parliament will have to degrade themselves by bowing and scraping to Nonce Andrew’s family.
More importantly, no one in London will get to decide who can and cannot make Alba their home.
Until then, it must be people rather than The People who will need to be the dominant force on the Clyde.
Yesterday was a good day.
Take a bow, Glasgow.
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The Hospitality sector and fruit growing areas of Scotland are desperately short of workers resulting from Brexit. I don’t know what the circumstances of these men were but I do know that the harsh anti immigrant stance taken by the UK Home Office is discouraging any person from looking for legal jobs in the UK and this is going to impact badly on Scotland.
Once the rule of law is over turned by mob rule then all is lost. Should the two be found to be illegal immigrants then they rightly should be arrested and deported. There is no conflict in India as far as I am aware so they can’t be classed as running from a war zone.
Immigration is important for this country but doing so illegally should not be allowed under any circumstances.
Now these two are free, what is to stop them going underground? Stopping a legal immigrant from getting work or worse still, the two could become victims of slavery as they try to avoid legal routes of employment.
Admittedly timing could be better but the law should not be averted by any religious event.
On the posts advising on deportation – key word; “if”. So, it’s “suspected” immigration offences, not proven, and it’s ok to huckle them into a van in a morning raid, at the start of a religious festival ? Seriously ? Immensely proud of the peaceful community action taken to resist this. Glasgow can indeed take a bow
Was Britain invited to the countries of the defunct empire,just asking for a friend?
Most of them no but…
The Anglo Normans WERE INVITED into Ireland by the unseated Leinster King Diarmait Mac Murchada.
The only English Pope Adrian IV gave them the nod and 850 plus years of occupation begun on May 1st 1169 at Bannow Bay County Wexford.
Have to agree with Paul that if illegal immigrants then they should be deported, of course those who say otherwise should stand by their words and take them in and put them up at their homes and be a example for us all. Show us how it is done, and if not shut up.
Am sorry, but these 2 Indian guys if they are illegal immigrants they should be deported. Can’t see how they can be seeking asylum or are refugees from India.
I would rather genuine asylum seekers and refugees come to to Scotland. Not illegal immigrants coming for financial reasons.
If there is one certainly in life it’s Rangers fans ability to turn even a celebration into a riot.
Their fans are already banned from Barcelona, full scale riot after winning the European Cup Winners Cup.
After their European loss in Manchester the Mayor declared that Rangers fans had caused more damage to the city than the Luftwaffe during the 2nd world war, another ban in place.
Newcastle in the late 60’s, Fairs Cup semi defeat, cue major riot again.
Celtic win the League Cup in 1965, first trophy since 1957, and the lap of honour is disrupted by a Rangers fans invasion causing the Celtic players to run for their lives.
Yesterday’s disgraceful scenes are no one of, that’s who they are and how Police Scotland have only arrested 20 of the mob tells its own story.
Give it a couple of weeks and Glasgow’s Covid numbers will be climbing as a direct result of yesterdays ‘celebrations’.
Win, lose or draw, you can always count on Rangers FC and their fans to follow in the path of those who have gone before them to show the world exactly who and what they are.
It’s not a pretty sight to behold.