24 Feb 2017 00:50:33
I wasn't brought up to be a Celtic fan, I was forced to be a Dundee fan by my Grandfather when at the age of 8 i got fed up being called a 'bad luck charm' cos Dundee were rotten. Paul Mcstay was the best player I had seen, I liked Pat Bonner and i liked the tops and from then on it was a case of demanding the green and yellow CR Smith goalie top from my mother and no looking back. Although I did start supporting just as 9 in a row was at title number 1. so maybe I was a bad luck charm at the time.
Because I chose Celtic and it chose me (Then one of the Old Firm. peace be upon it) it became almost inevitable that I had to learn a bit more about British and Irish history and struggles, Regality and religious intolerances especially between the now 3 football sides and form my own views on what right and wrong and who i think was right or wrong and when ( to put it all exceptionally lightly and gloss over a hell of a lot of the background, I'm sure everyone knows to what i refer) .
This decision is not something I have ever felt the need to associate with my choice of football club even though some of what i learned and accepted correct for my life view came through being part of this support. I know circumstances are vastly different and how deep rooted emotions are when you have been directly affected by the historical struggles. Does this mean we should keep this deep seated bond or hatred running through into a sport?
This leads me to a question that has always troubled me. How and why is a football club a focal point for so many peoples religious views and political struggles?
I know people of similar backgrounds and mindsets, religions or political affiliations will migrate together and this forms a strong part of the bonds that both created our club and is its lifeblood today and it is the same for those that supported both Rangerses.
Do some of us attach too much totemistic dependency on a football Club? For me sport is an escape, always has been. Its always been a small glimmer of hope in a world going more mind numbingly tonto every minute. The SFA/ FIFA/ UEFA have been doing a fine job at disillusionment there though.
Do i need sport to help me validate my opinions about other things in life? Do i need to use it to carry on the battles being had out with? or to simply get it up the other lot (in a non sporting sense) ? Should i need to use it as another way to get back at Protestants or Catholics for mocking me, threatening me, beating me, killing my family and keep the age old feuds running into another aspect of life? Should we not see sport as a way to escape the awful awful things we as a race can do to each other for simply having opposing viewpoints? . Yes some of these wounds will never be healed and loved ones and innocent bystanders not brought back but why carry it on to a football game?
So how does this relate to sport? and why do some feel it is the best place to show their political and religious colours as well as their sporting ones? i know, i know, i'm bringing it up on a sports forum, but it seems as good a place as any to get a views to something that has always bugged me.
Am i just being some sort of new age hippy 'Cant we all just get along'? or trying to oversimplify hundreds of years of pent up hatred and mistrust? that's for you to decide. Will we ever be able to get to a purely sporting rivalry and relationship where one guy just happens to support a team in a different colour and that's the end of it apart from banter about how rubbish said team is etc? Although things are generally better than they ever have been in terms of the troubles that have plagued our club and the Rangerses maybe its time for a lot of folk to take the grievances and hatred out of the stands. but maybe because we have it in the stands its actually helping off them in many areas? .
aye ok maybe i should just get my coat.
24 Feb 2017 12:22:40
Evinguu you are going back to your long winded posts again, I can see Wee Pat getting in touch lol.
24 Feb 2017 14:01:56
Well i did put up an offer a wee while ago for folk to pay me to shut up, so I assumed absolutely everone just really really loves a lengthy rambling post which often contradicts and repeats itself.
You won't be surprised but plenty more where that came from.
Im no feart o Wee Pat. he is a pussycat really 😀😀.
24 Feb 2017 14:49:20
jeezo take a wee lie doon mate you must be knackered lol.
24 Feb 2017 19:23:34
Evinguu in the old days of carrier pigeons to send messages, I think u would need a Pterodactyl lol.