As regular readers will be aware, back when this site started in 2008, I used the term “klan” to characterise the Ibrox subculture.
It seemed apposite, given that they sang lovingly about Billy Fullerton’s street gang.
Their eponymous leader was a self-identifying fascist who had contacted the Ku Klux Klan in the USA, asking their permission to establish a branch of that venomous organisation in Glasgow.
Consequently, calling the Ibrox choir “klan” with a lowercase “k” seemed entirely fair.
To the tune of “marching through Georgia”, the anthem of hatred told Scotland’s multi-generational Irish community of their second-class status.
Once more, we Irish had gallant allies in Europe and in 2006, UEFA banned the song at their matches.
Then the poor dears in the Ibrox klanbase had to come up with some other musical rendition to give voice to their anti-Irish racism.,
Being at a Rainjurzz match was never really about supporting a football team.
It was just a Klan rally with goalposts.
On the northeast of this island, the midsummer madness around the historical illiteracy of the Orange subculture has largely passed for another year.
It is heartening that progressive voices in the Six Counties will no longer be silent about this fascist hate fest.
Joe Brolly is a barrister and will need no introduction to GAA folk here.
This from him on Newstalk is worth your time.
Unionist Reich?
Hard to disagree with that analysis from the Dungiven man.
Moreover, outsiders find these bonfires troubling.
Here Barry Whyte of Newstalk shared his experience attending one of these events.
“I went along to this alone and probably stood out as I wasn’t wearing a Rangers jersey”.
Barry spoke to Rob, a South Carolina tourist who was at the Sandy Row bonfire in Belfast.
The American called it spot on:
“It reminds me of the Ku Klux Klan burning crosses in the United States in the 50s and 60s”.
Barry Whyte finished with this observation:
“These bonfires are not culture; they’re a hate fest.”
Although Orangeism migrated across the North Channel in the 19th century, the bonfire culture did not.
Dear reader, many things are tolerated because they hide behind the tradition defence.
Consider this; if instead of Kill All Taigs it was, say, Kill All Jews, then I suspect all those arguments would fall quickly.
Whether they are at a Loyalist bonfire or a Sevco match, the klan must be called out.
It is a subculture that coheres around anti-Irish racism and hatred of Catholics.
Anyone who defends this fascist performance art needs to look in the mirror.
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If your kulture is to HATE everyone who’s not part of your kulture.. I think its time to change your kulture.
The zombie haters in Scotland have become just as nasty and vile as their kultured friends in Norn Iron. I wouldn’t call the zombie haters in Scotland oranges(I like a wee orange,one of my 5 a day) they’re the tartan taliban
I find it quite sad that the only way to show of their Kulture is to big massive bonfires. This tradition only seems to date back to the signing of tge good friday agreement
There’s one big difference. If a bonfire did say Death to all Jews the every Jewish leader from here to Jerusalem, via London, Paris, Berlin,Washington would be shouting from the heavens demanding condemnation and action.
Absolutely spot on
We often hear of “decent” Rangers supporters. I take the view that there can be no such thing. If you’re an otherwise “decent” person who continues to turn up to support an entity which tacitly endorses this sort of thing for financial gain (see orange shirts), then you lose your “decent” card. I would appeal to those ‘peepul’ to do the decent thing and vote with their wallets.
The Argument is it is the Culture.
Back in the 60s it was the culture to be racist and sexist, but in the year 2022 it is not.
Therefore this culture has to stop.
Phil well said, I like the Benidorm comment sums those (PEOPLE) up SAD
The ironic thing about Ulstermen is that the more bitter of them will be the “foreigner” whose distant relatives were shipped in by the English in the Plantation of Ulster and steeped in a lethal and traditional combination of fear and entitlement. As well as Scotland many of the poor from the North of England were used and that might explain the “warm bond” between them and today’s poor souls economically press ganged into joining the armed forces.
Speaking of “plantations”, I recently watched the brilliant “Mississippi Burning” and there is definitely a mindset…or “lack of mind” set. Fear, anger, hatred, stupidity and ignorance if not a redundancy are all handed down and on by successive generations like some toxic relay baton.
And seeing those photos of an orange walk in Benidorm just makes the heart sink!
It would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad.
Admirably expressed and highly accurate summation of this phenomenon. More power to your elbow sir!
Spot on Phil,
My fellow Derry man defines them perfectly… The “Unionist Reich” indeed.