- This is a good read from a friend of mine at the European Examiner, it is ironic that it comes on the day FAC attends the Scottish Parliament to continue to oppose the ludicrous and pointless Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill. A full report on the visit to the Parliament will be posted later.
- [URL:eb2628d8]http://europeanexaminer.co.uk/ee/[/URL:eb2628d8] [COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]SNP have hit back at UK Government plans to crack down on “Tackling bigotry and hatred”, in the lead up to the Scottish Independence Referendum clash, set for 18 September 2014. [/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]The political clash between London and Edinburgh kicked off after the Westminster Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition announced they are planning a bill which “sends out an important message about the kind of UK we want to live in”. [/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]Eric Pickles MP, UK Government Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: “Tackling bigotry and hatred isn't just about legislation, but about wider action to help bring communities coming together.[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]"This bill sends out an important message about the kind of UK we want to live in, because the vast majority of people in this country have no time whatsoever for the kind of mindless bigotry that has attached itself to the small minority who only damage and undermine our beautiful Kingdom - or those who peddle hatred by sitting behind a computer screen posting threats of harm on the internet.[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]"This is the 21st century, and this kind of behaviour is simply not acceptable, so action had to be taken. The passing of these important new laws sends out a powerful message to the bigots that this behaviour will not be tolerated in a modern UK."[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]Prime Minister David Cameron announced to the House of Commons that: "All of us have to make a choice. We can either be part of the backlash or part of the solution. I truly hope that most people in this parliament decide to be part of the solution.[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]"The majority of members support the bill as an important way forward in challenging unacceptable behaviour in 21st Century Britain. A minority are not convinced, but we all agree that the party political authorities must shoulder some of the blame.”[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]Chris Grayling, UK Secretary State for Justice, said: "This legislation will have no impact on the banter and passionate support that goes hand in hand with supporting political parties. It is not about discouraging the competition and rivalry that is the lifeblood of football, it is about eradicating sectarianism and other unacceptable expressions of hate from our national politics.”[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]"We need to develop a fresh approach to tackle political sectarianism in different ways across society, from community projects meeting local needs and matching local circumstances, through to education projects and other initiatives which address the root causes of political sectarianism."[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]It’s not about the Bannockburn in 1314 or Culloden in 1745, it’s about dragging a small minority of folk in our country into the 21st century."[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]Prime Minister Cameron added: “Bannockburn or Culloden songs are not acceptable”.[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]However, SNP leader, Alex Salmond, hit back in defence of Scotland’s right to legitimize its historical struggle for independence from England. [/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]First Minister Salmond said: “Now the process of Scottish self-determination is signed in a handshake and determined in a democratic referendum of the people.”[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]But the leader of the Scottish Government gave a historical reminder that “Both the Declaration of Arbroath, with its search for a Scottish legitimacy, and the Declaration of Independence, with its affirmation of popular sovereignty, were sealed in the force of arms and struggle.”[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]__________________________________________________________________[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]AND of course, if it has not already been worked out yet, the above is a spoof.[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]However, the spoof is not that far from reality, as every quote claimed to be from the UK Government is, with a tweak here and there, actually from the SNP Government. [/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]The SNP Government, and its Offensive Behaviour at Football legislation, is being seen as a piece of legislation which seeks to deligitimise Scotland’s 600,000-plus population, which originates from an Irish nationalist background, from expressing its historical struggle for independence from London. [/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]This is a backdrop to today's protest by Fans Against Criminalisation – a coalition of Celtic supporters, a club which originates from that same community – outside of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. [/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]The lesson for the SNP is clear: Irish nationalist songs may be considered insensitive in the public square, as nobody has an ownership on suffering, pain and death. However to deligitimise the singing of the historical struggle against London's domination sets a dangerous precedent for the Scottish Nationalists.[/COLOR:eb2628d8]
[COLOR=#333333:eb2628d8]With the 2014 independence coming up fast, the SNP are close to loosing a natural constituency by committing that most unforgiving of political sins - hypocrisy. [/COLOR:eb2628d8]