Xlex
19/08/2003, 12:58 PM
Your site is either a very sophisticated prank, or a very dangerous development in football. You claim to support Glasgow Celtic, a club with an admirable Social Charter that promotes “ways to bring people together and create understanding (by) sharing positive values associated with the best in football”.
The Celtic Charter specifically supports “schemes that seek to create bridges between different cultures and sectors of society within Ireland and Scotland”. It “involves all associated with the club upholding a shared set of values that include success, fair play, tolerance, respect and appreciation of skills.”
The Charter says that Celtic fans should: “Appreciate good skills in football”; “Offer respect to all opponents”; and “Avoid abusive actions and language”. As it states: “When the fans carry with honour the image and colours of the Club, they act in a way that brings credit to Celtic and reflects well on the good name of the fans and the Club."
Contrast the Celtic Charter with yours: “We believe that it is the basic right of any Ireland or Celtic supporter to boo a Rangers player on the basis that he plays for Celtic’s nearest and deadliest rivals.” Furthermore, it is “perfectly reasonable” for Celtic fans “to whistle at, jeer or boo” Rangers players “at any football match anywhere in the world."
In fairness, (unless the whole venture is a sophisticated prank), you (the people behind Ok2boo) seem to be free-speech libertarians rather than bigots. Indeed, you consider yourselves to be anti-sectarian and, without apparent irony, you promote your message using the slogan: “Protect the good name of Ireland and Celtic supporters!”
If this is your motivation, you ignore the inescapable sectarian symbolism of jeering footballers in this specific context, particularly in international games in which neither Celtic nor Rangers are playing. Sectarianism is about context, not dictionary definitions. You also see yourselves as having no responsibility for the foreseeable consequences of your actions. It is like the apocryphal claim to a ‘free-speech’ right to shout ‘fire!’ in a crowded theatre.
Whatever your motivation, the outcome is that you are publicly damaging the reputations of football, Ireland and Celtic, and in particular the ethos of understanding and respect promoted by Celtic’s Social Charter. You are aware enough of appropriate limits to free speech that you have chosen to moderate the messages to your own messageboard: please grant the same courtesy to the FAI.
Micheal Nugent....
The Celtic Charter specifically supports “schemes that seek to create bridges between different cultures and sectors of society within Ireland and Scotland”. It “involves all associated with the club upholding a shared set of values that include success, fair play, tolerance, respect and appreciation of skills.”
The Charter says that Celtic fans should: “Appreciate good skills in football”; “Offer respect to all opponents”; and “Avoid abusive actions and language”. As it states: “When the fans carry with honour the image and colours of the Club, they act in a way that brings credit to Celtic and reflects well on the good name of the fans and the Club."
Contrast the Celtic Charter with yours: “We believe that it is the basic right of any Ireland or Celtic supporter to boo a Rangers player on the basis that he plays for Celtic’s nearest and deadliest rivals.” Furthermore, it is “perfectly reasonable” for Celtic fans “to whistle at, jeer or boo” Rangers players “at any football match anywhere in the world."
In fairness, (unless the whole venture is a sophisticated prank), you (the people behind Ok2boo) seem to be free-speech libertarians rather than bigots. Indeed, you consider yourselves to be anti-sectarian and, without apparent irony, you promote your message using the slogan: “Protect the good name of Ireland and Celtic supporters!”
If this is your motivation, you ignore the inescapable sectarian symbolism of jeering footballers in this specific context, particularly in international games in which neither Celtic nor Rangers are playing. Sectarianism is about context, not dictionary definitions. You also see yourselves as having no responsibility for the foreseeable consequences of your actions. It is like the apocryphal claim to a ‘free-speech’ right to shout ‘fire!’ in a crowded theatre.
Whatever your motivation, the outcome is that you are publicly damaging the reputations of football, Ireland and Celtic, and in particular the ethos of understanding and respect promoted by Celtic’s Social Charter. You are aware enough of appropriate limits to free speech that you have chosen to moderate the messages to your own messageboard: please grant the same courtesy to the FAI.
Micheal Nugent....