Humour is culture bound and what people will find funny often depends on their cultural background.
There is a corollary to that.
What they find very unfunny is also often culture dependent.
Therefore sometimes people are genuinely offended by a joke when offence was never intended by the other party.
If genuine offence is unintentionally made then the only reasonable response is a full apology and an explanation.
That will usually suffice for a reasonable person.
Such misunderstandings are the stuff of human interactions.
However, not all such “misunderstandings” are genuine.
The most recent faux outrage by a racist subculture attached to the new Ibrox club shouldn’t fool anyone.
Raith Rovers recently felt the ire of these humourless bigots.
Zombies don’t exist, it is satire, it is humour.
It is at times like this that the Fourth Estate are meant to provide some guidance to the rest of society.
If anyone undergoing a word association test on hearing the word “zombie” replied to their therapist with “IRA gunman” then I think they have made the correct choice to be in therapy!
Some of the mainstream media gleefully saw “a terrorist connection” in the Green Brigade’s hilarious zombie banner.
They saw what they wanted to see.
I could not discern what army, if any, the silhouetted figure firing the rifle belonged to.
Like the rest of the banner it was clearly meant to be a joke.
Any reasonable and decent person instinctively knows that there are some subjects that are off limits for humour.
An Gorta Mór really happened and the Shankill Butchers were not fictional characters.
So people who think that the “Famine Song” is banter or that chanting about being up to their knees in Fenian blood is harmless really then need to take a long look at themselves.
They won’t of course because if they did that they could not remain one of “The People”.
For the first time in my lifetime this sub-culture is being called out and their reaction is straight out of the far right’s playbook.
In recently years the Front national in France has accused anyone opposing their fascist policies as being guilty of anti-French racism.
The FN’s position is risible, but screamed loudly enough it is effective within a news cycle.
The French fascists taught this technique to their British colleagues in the BNP.
Of course, the presence of far right politics among some followers of Rangers has been well established over many years.
Indeed, it is hard to imagine anyone committed to the principles of tolerance or multi-culturalism coming up with the “Famine song”.
The Ibrox klan luxuriate in their visceral hatred of the Irish and Irishness, indeed it is what defines them.
When a clearly satirical jibe is aimed at the ignominious downfall of their club they react with howls of fake outrage.
Perhaps that is what separates fascists from everyone else.
What they find funny appals the rest of us.
Moreover their inflated sense of self-importance means that laughing at them is verboten.
For the first time since the Ibrox lynch mob was formed they are being called out for what they believe and how they behave.
Their belief system has no place in a modern multi-cultural society based on the tenets of respect and tolerance.
Until the Ibrox klan is finally faced down by people in leadership positions in Scotland then that sub-culture will continue to do what it does and that includes affirming and authorising the next Jason Campbell.
Not funny, is it?
Jerh Mac
@WilliamDavidson
Are you actually for real?! No proud Irish man i know,and beleive me being one myself i know quite a few,regardless of race religion or mental state of mind would ever agree with one sentence of your comment. So please come down off your high horse and keep blind opinions on Irishness and the tri-colour for places they are more likely to be supported i.e sevco forums! Cheers
September 26, 2012 at 1:31 am
Bob Crawford
Why are shootings funny? It would have been amusing had the banner depicted the zombie and left it at that.
Why depict a shooting?
September 26, 2012 at 12:19 am
Neil
So, you never watch DVD’s, never gone to the cinema to watch a flick, never laughed at some of the strong language coming from your favourite comedian!
Bob, you have seen far worse and laughed!!
September 26, 2012 at 11:10 am
Ben mcginlay
This is painful, honestly.
September 26, 2012 at 6:12 pm
jomac
William Davidson.
you obviosly don’t frequent ibrox.
I’ve been in the hospitality on a few occasions and the bile that spews from the stands is repugnant to say the least.
hopefully newco might cleanse therselves of the anti catholic attitude now they are reborn.hail hail.
September 25, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Ben mcginlay
I have probably been to the Oldco football ground more than the posters on this site. I also have mates who are oldco/Newco fans and they have showed their true colours on a few occasions, mostly when drinks involved. I think the attitude to anyone but their own is across the board. I have a theory that they are scared and jealous of our acceptance and popularity outside the best wee country in the world. Which is due to our attitude of fun and mixing well. Generally having a good time and respecting other people, especially in their own countries. ps great turnout from our friends at Raith Rovers, good game, good result, and as ever the GB were first class.
September 25, 2012 at 10:37 pm
John Surgeon
It was a huge mistake to allow such a bigoted and deceitful little company join the league when there are other clubs through honest endeavours declined. As well as leaving scope for the virus to make a resurgence, it is apologised for and supported by the Scottish establishment, press and football authorities.
As for the banner, I would uphold free thought and speech. One may not like what is said but censorship is a far more dangerous beast and totally intolerant of the right to hold personal views.
September 25, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Beeegajay
That thought has been rattling around in my head for a good while. As soon as ‘they’ got their feet under the table it was business as usual. There were plenty more deserving sporting institutions come have progressed into the SFL. Did conditional membership not involve any actual conditions? I dunno.
The banner thing (imho) demonstrates why the board at CFC have remained so tight lipped throughout. Any chance to find fault. Hardly surprising is it?
How can you have a fair and integrated society when there are so many who truly believe that they are the peepil and above reproach.
One last thing, on my wanderings I found an old punchline looking for a new home
“One shouts spite ..and.. the other spouts a while load of nonsense in the press”
Anyone any ideas???
September 25, 2012 at 11:54 pm
Althetim
Bought my copy of Downfall today and look forward to a good read.
Incidentally, if you’re buying your copy in East Kilbride, like I did, Waterstones have the book out on the shelf for all to see. W.H. Smith don’t.
Kudos to Waterstones, they deserved my tenner.
September 25, 2012 at 6:34 pm
Frankier
So the masonic moon walker doesn’t find the Famine Song offensive. Well, I suppose that’s understandable coming from an obviously bigoted member of the choir. Could he/she (or zombie) tell me why it is sung then? Is it meant to cheer us up? Would he/she (or whatever) be among the majority who like to raise their hands in Nazi salutes and who obviously agreed with the Holocaust. Mind you, they are not a bit backward in raising the Israeli flag when that suits either. Talk about being mixed up.
September 25, 2012 at 5:39 pm
wastrel
I`m hith JP here, I was uncomfortable with the banner from first sight, it should`ve ended with the zombie! the last thing we need to do is deflect attention from the bad guys, this layed us bare for critisism fom word go, and critised we have been!
September 25, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Ben mcginlay
I disagree mate. It was total satire, plain and simple. Were you all uneasy at the four horsemen banner. I don’t care what anyone from outside our people say. They will twist anything. You only have to read the papers and look at Masonwalkers posts. Some Celtic fans have changed over the years, could be the same ones who leave games early and boo the team(which is shameful ) when they don’t play well or get the wrong result( Hibs at home where young lads were playing). Could it be the same ones who are vocal in agreeing with the MSM and the Klan.Personally I think we could do without that.
September 25, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Stu
Ben,
He’s right, it should have ended with the Zombie. Whether you like it or not, the sniper graphic is one that is instantly associated with the ‘Sniper at Work’ signs and murals in the North, and to claim otherwise is to be utterly blind. It’s a very strong image with instantly recognisable associations. Phil claimed that the depiction of Neil Lennon in a caricature in a Scottish press article was unbelievably crass, given its similarity to the sort of thing that Punch magazine would regulary publish in the 19th century as the stereotypical Irishman – red haired, low forehead, big lips etc. Now to me, the caricature did look a bit like Neil Lennon (genuinely!), but being aware of the strong associations with such a style, I could understand why people could be upset by it. By the same token, there is no denying the strong associations with the sniper graphic, and those that wish to try and move Celtic away from such overtly political statements must despair when they see such things.
And to claim ‘satire’ is very shaky ground – as we’ve already seen on here several times, many of other other lot claim that the ‘Famine Song’ is merely satire.
The whole banner, whilst funny, made me very uneasy, although not as uneasy as your of notion of what makes a Celtic fan – disagree with your view of Celtic, and apparently you’re guilty of all sorts of football related crimes!
September 26, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Ben mcginlay
I beg to differ Stu, my opinion is that I don’t think we should be pandering to what the other mob may think in everything we do. As I said I will support my team win, lose or draw. If that is a crime then I am public enemy No 1. I don’t live my life by anybody’s leave and I know the difference between right or wrong. But sorry, I am sticking to my guns(pardon the pun) on this one.
September 27, 2012 at 7:18 am
jomac
Masonwalker.
you say that you don’t find the famine song to be offensive!
You do realise 1 in 4 of the Irish immigrants that settled in Scotland were protestants.
maybe a little education would curtail the bigotry that pours from the ibrokes stands.
September 25, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Big Brute
Just finished book
“Phil you’re immortal now” !
September 25, 2012 at 1:08 pm
andy murray
Mr Masonic Walker, are you really that thick to think that a chant of “brits out“ is racist? Simply means british troops out! Go home! Stop causing more blood shed than there already is in the north of Ireland! Stop joining forces with the loyalist!
September 25, 2012 at 11:23 am
John Paul
I have to say the banner in question makes me uneasy. There is plenty of scope for satire but I do not find anything remotely satirical in that banner.
It just provides an opportunity for others to claim a connection between some Celtic supporters and the IRA.
September 25, 2012 at 11:18 am
Ben mcginlay
There is absolutely no mention or inkling in the banner that suggests that the gunman is IRA. This is getting ridiculous. I can’t believe there are Celtic minded people agreeing with these morons who claim that is what it is. Think of the people the satire is aimed at. They are trying to muddy the waters in everything that Celtic and their fans do or say to deflect away from their own inadequacies and problems. We all must stand together on this. It was satire at its best. They can’t handle it, we all know that. Celtic should stand by the banner too. The whole thing has been taken out of context by the MSM, but we surely all know what they are about.
September 25, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Stein67
Who cares about all this tit fur tat pettiness anyways , its getting beyond boring .
Im enjoying Archie McPhersons biography on Sir Jock Stein at the moment and the guy was light years above and beyond all this crap .
As a Rangers fan i admire the way he dealt with sectarianism , but most of all the way he dealt with defensive opposition ….i fear we will never see his likes again !
September 25, 2012 at 11:08 am
Stein67
I cant believe they think its a provo sniper shooting the zombie huns on the banner .
Where would they make the connection between Celtic fans and a provo sniper ? Heaven knows …
September 25, 2012 at 10:36 am
Pat Morrissey
If you want humour, follow the comments of Charlie Green “These trophies belong to the fans, the history books and the players who broke legs winning them. That is why I believe they should not and cannot be stripped.” Is he referring to that well-known leg breaker, Souness?
September 25, 2012 at 9:02 am
pep
Phil. Dont be niave. The provos werent fictional either (get balance in your piece please). I did think the poster was funny but the kneeling gunman immediately reminded of the IRA, and was taken this way by most in the ground beside me who thought that bit unnecessary. The poster would have been as funny with a less provocative final figure.
September 25, 2012 at 7:07 am
Martin
Please let us draw them in a cup……Pretty Please!
I keep hearing “the titles were won oan the park” whilst they fail to acknowledge that may be true but they did it with players they shouldn’t have been able to afford.
It’s also been dismissed as a “technicality” by our lamb loving sports editor of the DR who enjoys only the finest red when he dines with minty.
But Ho Hum let’s just move on and forget about potentially the biggest scandal in the history of our game.
If they get found guilty and don’t get stripped the the baw is burst. It’s not about medals being redirected or winners being replaced as we tend to read constantly in the rags – it’s about cheats not being credited with victory.
Sure, we can’t take back the memories but their history should be stained to show what they did.
Finally, I had a good chuckle to myself last week after all we’ve heard from Charlie Green about buying titles and history. I read a quote last week from Jose Mourinho when he was trying to get under Mancini’s skin by stating that no matter how much money City have they – “COULD NEVER BUY HISTORY OF TROPHIES”
Over to you Charlie
September 24, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Althetim
I emailed the SFA regarding the zombie banner. My questions and the reply are posted below.
“”Regarding the charges brought against Celtic for fans displaying an
“offensive banner” at the match against Norwich in July.
Please answer the following questions.
1) who, or what group, is offended?
2) was a complaint received by the SFA?
3) if a complaint was received, when was it received and who (or what
group) complained?
4) what is the nature of the perceived offence taken?
5) why is the charge only being brought now when the banner was
displayed on 24th July, two months ago?”"
Reply (names removed):
“”Dear Mr *****
A number of complaints were received regarding a banner depicting a
gunman firing a rifle.
This type of case does not fall under the Fast Track timescale as the
Compliance Officer is required to gather further information and conduct
an investigation before deciding whether the case merits a Notice of
Complaint.
For information, here are details of how the disciplinary process works
in terms of offensive banners at football stadiums:
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2566&newsCategoryID=1&newsID=10629
Kind regards
***** *****
Senior Media Manager
Scottish FA”"
So there we have it. Had it been a giraffe firing the rifle, there wouldn’t have been any problem. (anyone see what I did there?)
September 24, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Ben mcginlay
A number of complaints eh. That’s like saying a source said, then making up a story out of nothing(see any red top). I wonder who made the complaints. A group from the bouncy bouncy persuasion no doubt. Sensitive wee souls that they are. Shrinking violets every one. At this moment in time I do NOT feel a part of the Glasgow/Scottish people/community. The best wee f####d up bigoted country in the world.
September 25, 2012 at 12:12 am
Anne Duff
The kneeling figure reminded me of a British Soldier silhouette as depicted on this website that I found via Google images.
http://www.imsc.co.uk/archives/391
September 25, 2012 at 10:45 am
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
The clip art the Green Brigade used, I am told, came from the poster of a Zombie movie.
The “IRA connection” is very clear if you want to see that.
To the reasonable person it is not there.
September 25, 2012 at 10:56 am
Joe
Some years ago, while I was at uni (mature student), I used to work part-time for Rock Steady – stewarding fitba and music gigs – Ibrox was my usual beat.
My first job with them was the Scottish Cup final at Hampden 2000, Rangers v Aberdeen. I had to sit behind the goal watching the Rangers support – for what, no-one told me. I spent, probably, the strangest 45 minutes or so of my life watching the ”bouncy” and listening to some very disturbing songs.
At half time, as I was trying to wring the Fenian blood out of my trouser bottoms, the whole crowd in front of me suddenly erupted in fury. I had no idea what was going on as my back was to the pitch. Some guys, almost purple in the face, called me over in a “haw you!” sort of way (which does not sit well with my usually good natured demeanour), and told me a guy had blessed himself in the opposite goal and that I should get the polis and have him arrested (no kidding). I seems there was a half-time kids’ penalty shoot out at the other end of the pitch. I looked around and there stood a wee snottery-nosed kid of about 12 who had seemingly made the sign of the cross before facing his penalty. Looking back at them, hoping to see some visual evidence of the operation for the irony bypass they’d obviously all had, I asked them if they were having a laugh and walked away – the whole crowd still baying for blood (Fenian, obviously). These guys then called over my supervisor and demanded I be sacked for swearing at them – which I should have, but didn’t.
Humourless – naw, really? Ye juist couldnae make this stuff up.
September 24, 2012 at 7:54 pm
droid
Joe I am amazed at this account, one would have expected the sevconians to have invaded the pitch and rioted with bottles and bricks for such cross actions.
We are very lucky that they demonstrated such admirable restraint.
September 24, 2012 at 9:31 pm
macaroni
Pretty good again Phil. Only criticism I have is that you say, more than once, that these people are being “called out” for the first time ever over their attitudes and behaviour.
Now, I assume that you mean that this is being done by the superb “internet bampots” with your good self leading the way. And while I, and many others, are greatful for the work done by these guys the fact is we can not claim that these cretins are being “called out” for their attitudes until the print media,broadcast media,police,politicians,football authorities and society in general are condemning them on a regular basis.
I am not attempting to do down the work of bloggers but, in the main, they only reach like minded people.
It will take widespread and consistent condemnation before we can say that they are being “called out” and only then will things truly change.
Basically what I am saying is that for it to carry real gravitas, it must come from The Establishment.
September 24, 2012 at 5:14 pm
Ben mcginlay
I won’t hold my breath, because they are all collectively the establishment. The power behind the brotherhood and the level of intolerance from all things Irish and Celtic are oh so obvious, more than it has ever been. Cloak and dagger at its best.
September 24, 2012 at 5:42 pm
jakeyrollin
Sterling work again Phil. I would to see the MSN taken to task publicly but maybe after all the Christmas’s and birthdays I’ve had this year especially maybe I’m asking too much. Book arrives tomorrow Phil. So pleased it’s out there. More power to your pen (keyboard).
September 24, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Baresi
Disgraceful banner. Everyine knows you don’t point guns at Zombie chests, it’s a head shot that is neededo
September 24, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Frankier
redversbodkin – I agree, I gave up my season ticket this year not only because of the favouritism shown to the dodos (or DOBos) by everyone involved in this fiasco but also because of the silence of Peter Lawwell when he was, and probably still is, owed the £40,000.
September 24, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Buffythecat
There was also a group of strange folk entering the rangers grave on that banner. Who were these people? I demand to know their names and what they were up to. Honestly!, talk about childishness . . .they would skelp their bairns ar$e for taking such a light hearted thing seriously. Seems to me to be a way of trying to appease the sevco’s before the big stripper comes to town. I can hear the music now . . .
daa, da,da,da. . .daa, da,da,da. . .daa,da,da,da…da,da,da. . .da..da…da…da . .
Let’s hear it for the STRIPPER!!!
September 24, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Steph Robertson
The banner was reported by Strathclyde police not Rangers fans. The raith rovers zombie advert was not offensive to me but some people were offended by the wording.It was looked upon as mocking David Murrays disability.
As for the famine song I totally agree it was wrong of the Rangers fans to sing it.I think though at times Phil you are way off the Mark when you call Rangers fans Anti-Irish.
I myself have a very Irish name my family come from Ireland,I’m a member of a Rangers supporters club for more than twenty years.Not once has it been an issue for me but that is my experience I know I can’t speak for everyone.
I do believe elements of the support are like you say but not on the levels you think they are.Anyway that’s my thoughts on things.
September 24, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Kevin the Rotting-LimbDangler
Dear Phil,
I am a proud member of the Zombie family. Imagine my shock when I saw a Green Brigade banner which implied that zombies are to be associated with the former Rangers club.
Zombies come from all walks of death and are tolerant of all. I know full well that all brains taste the same and would never reject a cadaver on the grounds of ethnicity, religion, etc.
Moreover, I have been worried by the recent trend in the use of sci-fi and horror themes in the ongoing wind up of your formal “old-firm” rivals. This undermines the entire genre and tars it with a sickening sectarian brush.
On a final note, whilst zombies may not, in all cases, be the “sharpest tools in the box”, do you really think it’s fair that the green brigade would go so far as to depict us as supporters of The Rangers? If our creator, George A Romero, had intended this, do you think that he would have given us green skin? Well,.. do you?
September 24, 2012 at 3:40 pm
droid
Kevin,
that is one of the most balanced and reflective responses I have read on here.
I had never pondered the irony of zombies really being green men before.
We really need more of this left field thinking approach to the sevconian issue.
September 24, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Roy young
has anybody even given a thought for zombies,i here they are disgusted at being tarred with the same brush
September 24, 2012 at 3:12 pm
redversbodkin
Once again very enlightening brother Phil, I am concerned with the Lord Nimmo Smith’s statement, surely Sevco/ Rangers if found guilty by HMRCs findings in October will accept the judgement of the government ,take their punishment, accept the findings & judgement of the independent commission, again accept the punishment,& GET ON WITH FOOTBALL IN THE 3RD DIVISION, scottish football & its credibility have suffered enough, as a Celtic fan & shareholder for 17 years I don’t think that i could ever pay to watch a game at Celtic park OR ANY other stadium in bonniebagpipeland, whilst the stench of corruption that emanates from the S.F.A.,S.P.L.& the S.F.L. is there for all to see and taste, apparently there are about 12 to 15 thousand Celtic fans who feel the same
September 24, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Kenny McCaffrey
Brilliantly put, Phil. Just got your book today – a right riveting read right enough! Keep it up HH
(PS A tip for others: Amazon doing a next day offer – hmv still awaiting stock)
September 24, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Ben mcginlay
Once again Phil you hit the nail right on the head. I read all the comments before I wrote this and it is clear to every level headed person this was poking fun at our old DEAD rivals. The reason the Zombie gag is so funny is that they don’t know or don’t want to believe that Huns 1872 is no more. The Newco wear the same strips,play at the same ground and their Klan sing the same hate songs. On the face of it, it all seems nothing has changed. But if you look at the facts. Anyway I really am getting tired of the whole thing. I agree with a comment made earlier that Newco will be a more vicious and vindictive animal, aided and abetted by the Newco owners, management, players and supported by our old friends of The MSM. I would love Celtic to fight this charge all the way. I would also like to see a Zombie Day at Celtic Park for our game at the end of the month against Kilmarnock to collectively celebrate Halloween. My mask and t-shirt is on its way from eBay.
September 24, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Neil
Hi Ben,
You got it! and the idea which I think Phil might have generated last week, re the Zombie/Halloween day at Celtic Park would be a right hoot.
Can you imagine the Rage from MSN Zombies and NewcoSevco Zombies…..lol
KTF
September 24, 2012 at 3:05 pm
miki67
In keeping with your article: I went to the ‘reviews’ section of your book, ‘Downfall…’ on Amazon and saw the comments of truly bilious fans of their red,white and blue ‘club’. I noticed, with amazement, that these in-depth ‘reviews’ were made before the book’s publication and that Amazon had allowed them to stand.
Their preferential influence would seem to stretch wider and further than I imagined.
September 24, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Antonious F
In response to nobody knows’ post.
i find it encouraging that ‘Ra Peepil’ are demanding to be tretaed fairly. i thought they would have been delighted with the preferential treatment received to date.
Hope springs eternal.
September 24, 2012 at 1:51 pm
robertg
To paraphrase the 1910 book “Physics” by Charles Riborg Mann and George Ransom Twiss (from whence apparently the current wording of the philosophical query originates):
“If a banner is unfurled in a stadium and there’s no hun there to see it, does it cause offence?”
Apparently the answer is yes.
Maybe they are just standing up for the Goth sub culture in that – I am reliably informed – a zombie needs to be shot in the head to kill it and the alleged gunman is aiming at the body.
Maybe they’re smarter than we give them credit for.
Or perhaps not.
September 24, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Nobody Knows
Phil, I wonder when the humourous tv show “Fool Britannia” hosted by Dom Jolly comes under scrutiny.
I am sure ITV and the host will be flooded with threats and boycotts!!
September 24, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Slugger O'Toole
Sevco bad , Zombie banner good .
September 24, 2012 at 1:30 pm
for every fiver
when this story appeared on the daily record website on friday it said that the gunman on the banner was “shamrock emblazoned”
September 24, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Nobody Knows
Phil, have you seen the e-petition that is in circulation?
“We, the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist people of the UK demand that we be treated fairly and evenly as a homogeneous people group along with other communities here in Britain and that our interests and concerns be addressed and represented by political parties of the UK.
We also demand that a full government enquiry be launched into the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Premier League in relation to the Rangers FC crisis.
We resolve to withdraw our vote and support of any political party that fails to satisfy these demands.”
More threats… when will this stop.
I agree what you say “The Ibrox Klan luxuriate in their visceral hatred of Irish and Irishness, indeed it is what defines them”. I have always held this viewpoint too, its there raison d’etre. Imagine wasting such a precious thing as human life based on the hatred of others. When will this ever sink in?
September 24, 2012 at 1:00 pm
tallybhoy
I have shown photographs of the banner to friends over here in Italy, and tried to explain the current situation in Scottish fitba’.
Without exception they found it amusing, inventive and original. When I explained that it had caused offence in certain quarters, including the msm, and that a complaint had been ‘ludged’ with the SFA they were both incredulous and highly amused!
Could only happen in ‘the best little bigoted country in the world’.
PS Hard luck Mayo – better luck next year!
HH!!
September 24, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Castaway
Phil,
I take your point about “The Famine Song”. But it’s a huge step forward from the billy boys’ stuff, lyrically and musically, even though a parody. Maybe after another wee look at history somebody will write a song about the Plantations being over, and it’s time to come back.
September 24, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Castaway
I missed out the bit about the banner, which I and everybody I know, supporters of Man U, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal etc. found wickedly funny. The hypersensitivity is amazing. I’m told the zombie scene is lifted straight from a film. Will the film makers be charged? Why 2 months to get offended? What does the match commander say?
September 24, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Martin Edgar
Interesting blog post and hits the nail squarley on the head for much of their strange support. They take offence at every little thing and seek to tar everyone else with the same brush they are being tarred with.
It is right that they are now being called out and challenged on their beliefs and behaviours but they will never, ever see it that way. You see, it is their “right” to behave in such morally reprehnsible ways and no one else has the right to tell them otherwise.
September 24, 2012 at 12:31 pm
andy murray
Phil, surely you can see this banner was worse than the riots in Manchester and Barcelona! Well according to the paper I picked up and looked at anyway! We also had a caller on a well known fitbaw phone in saying what a disgrace the banner was especially after the shoottings of the young wpcs! Nobody corrected the zombie lover the banner was from 3 months ago!
September 24, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Stephen Daedalus
If we ever agree to play Dodo FC again we will deserve to be cheated again. When the draw puts Celtic against Sevco the only sensible response will be a boycott.
September 24, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Kenny McCaffrey
Stephen D – I’d say boycott only if it is at Ibrox. Don’t want our own team to lose money. And think of the banners!
September 24, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Neil
Phil,
I was silly enough to rejoice in their down fall, but have recently relised that when the Zombies get back to the SPL, this “new” rivalry will be worse than the “old firm”
Believe me, Charles Green is not a clever man, he is a very dangerous man and the sad thing is, the peepul who sit on the sports desk, ( they don get off their backsides) actually support and promote his newly found “RANGERS MENTALITY”
Scotland will never move on while these people have such a say in our society, private meetings, funny hand shakes and rolled up troozer legs will see to that.
Is it not a great shame that Lord William Nimmo Smith, has had to come out to proclaim his neutrality regarding the Zombies. Surely it goes without saying????
Only in Scotland!
KTF
September 24, 2012 at 12:18 pm
tony d
Any thing to deflect all the bad stuff at Sevco will be headlines no danger there, more so if Celtic are involved, and even more The Green Brigade, the MSM have got this one wrong and I hope CFC do not sit back and take it likely, goes to show that the hun led media machine is still well and running under Jack Irvine, the biggest culprit of them all.
September 24, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Frank Cole
It’s amazing how sensitive the poor Sevco fans have become. Getting up in arms about a joke about their demise. The SFA did not see fit to investigate a real offence banner when Hearts ‘fans’ decided to poke fun at Stan Petrovs plight with their ‘Petrov 17 days to live’ at last seasons cup semi. Or is just us that are the sensitive paranoid souls?
September 24, 2012 at 12:11 pm
BurnsyBhoy
Great article Phil. The sooner these bigots from the South Side are stared down and shown their behaviour and attitudes have no place in decent society the better.
September 24, 2012 at 12:08 pm
DMcG
I’m not clear as to who, if anyone, complained. My understanding is that Vincent Lunny has decided there’s a breach of the rules.
Irrespective of the outcome can he be asked as to why there is no case to answer re the banner with the reference to child abusers?
September 24, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Bobb
They wouldn’t know humour if it kicked them in the “ghoulies”.
September 24, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Stevie
Spot on Phil
September 24, 2012 at 12:07 pm
PaulMc
There are so many things within your statement that are utterly reprehensible. I’ll concentrate on the obvious. The Famine Song is racist, please try to comprehend that. It is NOT BANTER, as a Northern Irishman, would you like thousands of people to mock your heritage? Many of your people identify themselves with Scotland (ie. Ulster Scots) should they be mocked too, in the way many of your “brethren” mock us?
September 25, 2012 at 1:50 am
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
The Famine song (racist and ruled illegal) is not “football juvenilia”.
If you believe it to be then you, as an Irish person, have serious issues.
The tangential point is a classic straw man argument.
Knocking down the proposition that has not been posited on this site.
September 25, 2012 at 7:23 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
You lost the argument on the “Famine song” in June 2009.
It is racist and illegal.
Sing it in Scotland and you break the law.
September 26, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Spuds
@MasonWalker
Would you go to a game in Tel Aviv and sing about the Holocaust?
Would you sing a song about 9/11 at Americans?
Would you sing a song about Resident Evil at zombies?
No? Didn’t think so. The Famine is not something to be laughed at, made fun of or belittled. But then, I would expect you or any of your mob to understand that…
September 26, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Ben mcginlay
Comedic parody eh, what if 60 thousand Celtic fans sung a song about the Ibrox disaster. Would that be acceptable to you as a parody, because the vast majority of Celtic fans would not even contemplate such a thing you fool.
September 26, 2012 at 6:11 pm