"Our supporters do not want this any more. We are a non-political organisation"

Do yourself a favour and have a read through this; http://irishgenocide.webs.com

 

Did I actually just read that?!

Singing Irish rebel songs is a criminal offense in Scotland, of course it doesn't influence our lives..............

 

That's an opinion.

 

No, no..... anyone who openly demands our support to do such and such and not do such and such has NO RIGHT at our club.

Open to all refers to sexuality, creed, race and religion... not * who think Celtic fans should and should not do certain things, that's a complete contradictory too, because surely those Celtic fans are entitled to these displays and songs as it's a club open to all.

 

I said TANGIBLE effect! Are you sitting at home right now, or some other place of comfort, typing?

I was mainly referring to the events of late. None of which have impeded on any of our lives, have they?

 

Are we allowed to sing songs about Michael Collins times or is it just the 80s the apologists want us to stop singing about?

And are we allowed to sing songs like 'on the one road' 'highland paddy' 'a nation once again' 'men behind the wire' etc or is it only songs that mention IRA?

 

Well go and support the team, why should you be bothered about what other fans are doing?

 

I put in a simple comment saying that I would prefer it if the displays about the IRA stopped. I have then decided to respond to those who have responded to me instead of just ignoring their opinion.

Let me make it clear for you;

I am not offended by the displays or songs about the IRA

I am Scottish, I am not Irish, I have no reason to support the IRA hence why I would prefer it if I was not constantly linked to it because a group of people decide to put up displays about them at games of the team that I support.

 

Just to inform you, our club has had Irish Republicans who were gun running for the Irish Republican Brotherhood who waged a campaign against the British empire. Just to inform you

We fans have and are Irish Republican inherently and historically.

I don't see where you're coming from.....

 

The apologists in general are hilarious, their debates go off in so many tangents and they contradict themselves so many times it's ridiculous.... it just seems like they're arguing for the sake of arguing. Some can't even get a proper answer they sort of "hmmm" and "haw" in responses without answering the questions you ask them. And most of their arguments comes down to "some of Engurlish won't like it", " I don't like it" and "we'll be punished".... none of which are enough for us to completely disregard our identity and our culture completely, none of which should be enough to stop us singing certain songs and displaying certain banners.

 

You seem to think the whole support should revolve around you. You don't like IRA songs? So what? Many fans do and that is why * willing they will always be sang at games.

 

Exactly, that is largely the argument that I am trying to make.

 

Don't mean to sound like a * but.....if he is really against politics, then why would he want to pay and sit and listen to certain types of songs, read particular types of banners? Then there is the fact our (everyones) club is being fined by Uefa.


Your voice may affect him; his silence will not impede on you.

Just being a devils advocate here.

 

so do these peoples opinions mean more than others?

 

My stance has always been that of indifference, I don't particularly support these banners, chants etc, but nor do I necessarily want them stopped. My only concern is Celtic football club and the football aspect of it, if that begins to suffer by way of sanctions or whatever else UEFA/SPFL throw at us, then I think that's when my opinion begins to change....

 

I don't really want them there or like them there. But I believe in freedom of speech. For everyone. Far left and far right groups alike in the world. And everyone in between.

I don't believe that Celtic was founded for political purposes. It was founded for charitable reasons. Naturally as a club whose fanbase has always been Irish Catholics, there is going to be some Irish Republican leanings. But do we really need Irish Republican banners at games? Sure its your right to bring them but the whole 90 minute Irish Republican phenomenon we have today is cringeworthy in my opinion.

What is also cringeworthy is the non-stop plague of Communist banners and flags and signs etc. When the * did Celtic become a communist club? I personally can't stand that either. But *, its their "right" if you really believe in free speech.

Problem is though as I said in another thread UEFA is cracking down on political banners and displays in stadiums right now. They're fining clubs for it. We will probably be fined for it for the last game. UEFA does NOT believe in free speech. So the way the club is treating the political stuff right now is coming straight from UEFA. Since we compete in THEIR competition there isn't much else Celtic can do about it besides appeal. And we know how far appeals normally go with UEFA.

 

It only applys to us then...... Considering Barcelona put out political messages nearly every month relation to Independence during European nights.

Only illegal for us

 

There's one key word in all this "I", "I", "I".... it seems as though you haven't really taken into account the thousands of Celtic fans who don't want to stop these songs or displays and nor will they stop.

Who cares if you're constantly being linked to them or not.... you're big enough and bold enough to tell other people that just because you support Celtic doesn't been you support the political ideologies of the IRA... and if they're not prepared to listen than that's their problem.

 

I support Celtic as a football club.

I'm disinterested in the political side, but have no issues with those that choose participate in it.

Lawell does a great job for us in a business sense, He's trying broaden our investments from everywhere and I'd imagine this could put some off.

Hopefully we get a resolution that suits all.