Not pretty poetry - but I need to write this.
Encountering hundreds of locals each day in my job - I'm shocked at the numbers adorned with sectarian tattoos, usually accompanied by RFC jewellery and Glasgow Rangers FC football shirts.
I hear children spouting sectarian slogans (fenian b*****ds, smelly tattie-munchers) - unchecked by their parents. Clearly, a new generation of troglodytes is being nurtured.
I live in a cesspit of bigotry and small mindedness, in the middle of a desert of lies and deceit. When will Scotland REALLY address this issue? Not as long as the TINY MINORITY of fascist hoodlums continue to raise the roof at Ibrox each week, and the authorities allow people (of any persuasion) to march in the name hatred, superiority, and subjugation of other groups within our society.
For the blessedly uninitiated, "We arra peepul!" (we are the people) is a regular chant of supporters of Glasgow Rangers FC, the (largely) adopted team of the protestant majority in Scotland.
Oli
The sash your father wore
The lies your father swore
The flute your father played
The hatred he displayed
The tattoos on his skin
The rotten stuff within
If you are the people?
Who are we?
Oli 07/08/07
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Written by hutmaster (134 comments posted) 7th August 2007 | Strong stuff, Oli. I live in NI and have heard (and experienced) some of the bigotry of which you write.
The question on which you finish gives this short piece extra oomph, querying the humanity of both the bigots and their targets and gets right to the heart of their shallowness and triumphalism.
A poem written with passion and spirit.
Admirable.
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Written by Fledermaus (3286 comments posted) 7th August 2007 |  Loonies. But then, aren't all hooligans? I've never been in Glasgow, but I heard Celtic and Rangers fans like to refer to the Troubles in their neighbouring country.
Yet I supose that when it comes down to it, they're glad they live in Scotland, and not in Belfast, Beirut or Baghdad. Or perhaps they are the same sort of people who blow up civilians in Iraq...
| Thanks HM and Batty
Written by Talisker (1326 comments posted) 7th August 2007 | I honestly wish I did not feel the need to comment on this side of Scotland. It makes me ashamed to be Scottish... 
I've made no secret of the fact that I was brought up a Catholic, and that I support Glasgow Celtic, so I'm wide open to accusations of bias. However, my partner of 20 years, Weasel is from the opposite tradition, I went to a "protestant" school, most of my friends were from the other side of the community.
Segregation from school onwards is partly to blame - also the indoctrination of youngsters at home, before they have time to mature - the instilling of a superiority complex (protestants) and a paranoia (catholics).
People are paying lip service to solving these issues - but actions will speak to me, not words. At Inverness on Saturday, practically the entire traveling support of Glasgow Rangers were singing "up to our knees in fenian blood" and other unsavoury lyrics. The Scottish Football League is investigating & Ali McCoist (Asst Manager) has come out against the singing in the media (brave).
Perhaps the tide is turning - too slow for me though.
There is another side - the bigots who follow Celtic - with their skewed, misty eyed, romantic bullshit about Irish History. I just don't see it as overtly in my work day-to-day. I am acutely aware of it though, having attended Celtic Park for many years as a supporter.
It doesn't tend (in my experience) to be so violent, nasty and bitter - but it must be stopped too - quid pro quo.
Oli
 | On the other hand
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3360 comments posted) 7th August 2007 | Well you paint a pretty grim picure, Oli and I'm sure it's as you say.I spent some time in Maryhill living over the road from the local Orange Hall and those people were depressingly scary but I must say on the other hand I also experienced kindness, genuine interest and a generous welcoming nature which hasn't been matched anywhere else. I guess you guys don't do anything by halves.
I liked the poem, very powerful; said it all in a few well chosen words, Definitely one for the till. Go on I dare you.I mean,what harm can it do?
cheers
Jane | True Jane...
Written by Talisker (1326 comments posted) 7th August 2007 | That is the strange dichotomy - how can these people be so nice, welcoming to strangers, kind, amusing and likeable - and yet manage to reconcile an inner hatred of another section of the community.
I suppose a lot of it is symbolic and ritualistic - a link with tradition and culture - like some ex- head-hunting tribe dancing a traditional head-hunting dance, maybe.
Thanks Jane, balanced thinking as usual.
Oli  |
Written by Phil (6730 comments posted) 7th August 2007 | Besides that I thought this a powerful piece, I don't have that much to add - except - beneath the acceptable facade of most communities/societies, there's a dark underbelly. Perhaps not of the overt nature you describe, but it's there. As Jane says, the paradox is that this is intertwined with genuine friendliness and care - at times.
I reckon any piece that can stimulate this amount of thought has proved its quality and value.
Not a suggestion, just asking out of interest. Editorial considerations of style aside, is this the sort of thing a Glasgow newspaper would print, or do they also market themselves down partisan lines?
Phil | Light note only
Written by patterjack (1194 comments posted) 7th August 2007 | First though-- the piece made a point worth stating -- powerfully
I have not lived in a community greatly affected by sectariansm , though Oz is having some problems now with anti-Muslim sentiment .
But I remember from my youth passing two houses on the way out to Bellbird , near my home town. One owner painted his house a bright green -- his neighbour , of the opposite persuasion, replied in a slightly leass aesthetic manner by painting his house bright orange .
To an old atheist like me, laughable really - bright beacons of bias .
patterjack
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Written by Lizzy (800 comments posted) 8th August 2007 | Awell written piece, expressing an awful lot.
Well done
Lizzy | Hi
Written by maipenrai (783 comments posted) 8th August 2007 | A well written and I think importent write, it is importent that this kind of thing is brought into the daylight.
sadly I have seen a lot of religeous hatred around the world and I have come to the conclusion that it is something that will not go away no matter how much we may want it to.
I don't know if I will express clearly a couple of thoughts on this but here goes!!!
I believe that mankind is basically tribal, if we were to strip away the veneer of civilization in which we cloak ourselves we would I believe quickly revert to our baic tribal nature.
The tribe could be religeous or racial, put under immense pressure people do/would tend to flock to those who are the same as them.
a clear as a dark day
Bernie |
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 8th August 2007 | I loved this poem, Oli.
One of my first memories is of my mother rushing to catch me before I got to school one morning when I was five. She had dressed me in an orange dress, completely forgetting that it was St Patrick's Day. People remember grudges better than anything; even in my 99.9% Protestant family, a fear and loathing of the English and their anti-Irish ways was passed down to my generation. Weird, huh?
What amuses me is that if you asked a handful of the people on either side about their religion, you wouldn't find a single one who had a clue about Catholicism or Presbyterian dogma. These people aren't Catholics or Protestants, they are just loudmouths who want to find reasons to hate each other. Maipenrai is right in saying that people are essentially tribal, but we are also essentiall contentious. Within those groups are quarreling groups, and within those groups are further groups with rifts. Cain and Abel are alive and well. |
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