Arrogance and self satisfaction, no, can't agree. Paranoia and victim mentality, perhaps so. However, facts are Celtic for most of its existence was the largest cultural outlet for a community of people on the receiving end of institutional fundamentalist hatred, so there is the context. The fact that there was never traditionally any friendly media outlet meant that the grassroots themselves banging on about the true state of things was the only way that argument was ever expounded. Also most are politically very Left. Some obviously found/find that insufferable and repetitive, that's ok.
The fact that what was and is being said seems to have been mostly true all along, should not be lost. In a footballing and cultural sense Scottish society is now asking pertinent and welcome questions about its "secret shame" as secularism and reason gain traction, and medieval notions of religious or racial supremacism seem ever more ridiculous.
Jim, always found you to be quite analytical on here and, previously, on SSC, so am somewhat surprised at the outputting of the party line on this, not quite "ones as bad as the other" but pretty close. If you feel anything I have "evidenced on this thread" is a total falsehood, I am happy to be corrected...(though I admit I have laid it on heavy!)
I will end with this thought this morning. Rather than give substance to to what HMRC are clearly now pushing for in the grand scheme of things (ie: football cheats are going to be hammered) there still remains a clique that are refusing to lay bare the machinations of this case, so as to save face, peddling a line of pity and bewilderment as they are.
This is a poorly judged reaction inasmuchas it undermines the thrust of what HMRC, and indeed FFP, are embarking upon.It will give succour to any new Ken Bates, Peter Risdales, Irving Scholars(!), David Murrays and Craig Whytes when HMRC come calling soon in England. A slash and burn policy will not work if you come and douse the flames as soon as the fire is lit.
This clique papering over the cracks today are usually the self same people who you will find pillorying single mothers, "benefit scroungers" and "johnny foreigner" etc etc and calling loudest and proudest about army equipment, help for heroes and similar. The fact that up to ?ú84m has been stolen from the public should now be drawing their full ire, you would think.
How horribly ironic that a club and subculture that aligned itself so closely with the military, and from whom you could often hear the term "white power" have been taking from the pockets of soldiers all along and whose "powers" are being given away by a man named "Whyte".
I'll repeat it again. Look past the PR and talking heads trotted out in the media and towards the fan forums of clubs across the spectrum in Scotland and there is a surprisingly strong appetite to do the seemingly unthinkable and go ahead and force open the window of opportunity that would exist without Rangers, or at least a powerful Rangers.
I realise many here would not have an appetite for the goldfish bowl nature of this debate (I hope Jermaine Jenas isn't on GG!) so apologies to any who this might annoy.. However I would dearly like to see slithering room on these issues removed, for past, current and future cheats and cronies. :-#
