Leaderboard

As a Rangers supporter of colour , who has been attending Ibrox since I was 14 , I can honestly say that I have never experienced or felt threatened or been racially abused due to my skin colour . I have though heard plenty of derogatory terms being used at opposing players , mainly in the 80,s and early 90,s , now it is so rare that if it did happen I would remember . In all the times attending games , and I was a season ticket holder from 86 until approx 2003 the only time I can remember seeing anything remotely racist was a 2 game period when the NF had a type of stall set up on the Copland road , but again this was a blip and they were never seen again . The whole BLM debate gets confusing because to every single person it means something different , the aims of the BLM movement are not what players and normal people are protesting about , it really is a sad indictment of society in 2020 when basic human decency has be be protested for .

This is such a deep subject and I feel since our lads took the knee the other day and I've subsequently read some negative comments about them doing it, I'm starting to see it from the other perspective. There's no doubt that the UK BLM organiser has a Marxist ideology (she's said so in an interview). But then I remember the #metoo movement, a movement set up with the best of intentions but became clouded somewhat by some women flat out lying. And I think there's a parallel with BLM or any movement in that certain people or a faction within the moment will push their own agenda using the name of the movement essentially as a cover. My Gf is black and from the States, we've had a lot of discussions on the subject. Funnily enough, she tells me she's barely come across any racism in her life so she in a sense struggles to understand what is happening. The thing that irks me and probably many people is that certain people go on about "unconscious racism" or " All White people are inherently racist" and that's something I can never accept. Growing up in a small Scottish coastal town I had very few experiences with black people but the ones I did have were very positive. I've got quite a few black mates who I'm very close to and have been for years, so I don't see how I can be "inherently racist". The taking the knee at first seemed to be, at least in my interpretation, an acceptance of the wrong doings of past white people. It was something that I'd never accept because I'm responsible for myself and my daughter in how she's raised, not anyone now or especially generations ago. But I see another side that I also now understand and now support. I really admire Goldson for saying what he did. It was a bit of a moment for me personally and I've been thinking a lot about it the past few days. We have had many black players throughout the years and currently we have some. Our captain is black and although he has his moments, he's served us brilliantly. It touched me seeing our club come together in this way and I see the movement for what it should be, through our players. I don't see it in the political sense of the movement I.e the Marxist angle though as I've said, a certain faction are I believe that way inclined. What I'm trying to say is I don't look at Aribo, Goldson, Kamara, Morelos or Tav doing this and believe they're Marxists. I saw through them that they stand for the whole some part of the movement and that's what we shouldn't lose site of regardless of antifa or whoever the fuck. Bit of a mish mash, hope it made sense.

With respect BD neither you nor I are black (you're not, are you? I'm going to look pretty stupid if you are) so we're not affected in anyway by this. Let's be honest, there's no chance at all of Marxism making any kind of political inroads here, (and it's laughable to suggest it could happen in America) and by supporting the club and the players I don't think anyone is going to mistake either of us for Leninist agitators. This whole Marxism thing is bewildering, we're not living in a 1960s Le Carre novel, our way of life is not threatened by Conor Goldson protesting. The Israel/Palestine thing is nonsense too. Over 70 years of superpower intervention, terrorism, war, mediation and global attention hasn't been able to resolve that part of the world, you and me accepting James Tavernier kneeling before kick-off in a friendly isn't going to bring down the Likud Party or harden the resolve of Hezbollah. But Conor Goldson is a young black man. I don't know what he's experienced in his life due to the colour of his skin, perhaps nothing, only he knows. But as a white man I feel really uncomfortable telling him his choice of protest; one that's peaceful and largely symbolic, isn't appropriate. He's not looting or rioting, he's not closing down streets or marching. He's simply using his profile and platform to maybe make people like you and I, white men who've not had to give this much thought before (well I've not, apologies if you have been involved in this in the past or present) pause to consider whether our society provides the same opportunities to everyone regardless of their ethnicity. I'm not unable to accept it means something else to others, I'm simply challenging why that is. I don't understand why it's provoking so much debate, it's largely symbolic, and I know symbolism is important, but it's unlikely to lead to wholesale change (and it's not going to lead to Marxism, I'm positive about that). I wear a poppy every year. Both my grandfathers and my father served in the forces, I was brought up with it. I learned about the horrors of WW1 at school, attended the Armistice Day service at our local war memorial with the BB every year. It's something I grew up with, culturally it's important to me. I suspect a number of people on here had a similar upbringing. When I moved to Belfast I continued to wear a poppy around that time of year. For me it was a way of honouring ordinary and extraordinary people who'd made a sacrifice I'm not sure I'd be willing to make. But for the first time I met people who'd a very different view of the poppy. Who saw it as a symbol of the British military and they'd a very dim view of the British military. So I considered it but decided to keep wearing it. I'm happy to explain to anyone concerned that I don't wear it because I supported the invasion of Iraq (I didn't), or Afghanistan, or to make some kind of political point or prove how patriotic I am (I'm not patriotic in the slightest). I wear it to remember the millions of people who died either through government misadventure, idiotic orders or trying to achieve something truly noble and necessary that has made the world a safer and better place. I'm not honouring governments or politicians, far from it. That's what it means to me, thats why I wear it. I'm confident Conor Goldson doesn't want to bring down the government in this country or in the middle east, he bends his knee and raises his arm so you and me will see him and think. That's all.

Missing it badly, any football, professional, Academy, boys club. A look at the game I was at 10 years ago today and what happened to those players. https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2020/07/21/i-need-football-back/

I don't do social media,Facetime,Twitter etc. have no idea what left or right politics are and have no time for racial stuff,sectarian stuff(except against the mhanks) etc. What I am fed up with is this BLM kneel as it has now gone on too long in football and is now a turn-off to me,if it is done at Ibrox let it be a once only because no doubt we have all got the message by now.

In that podcast mentioned above it was suggested that some of the worst comments came from recent accounts so the forums may well have been trolled. In any event we should NOT beat ourselves up too much; it is a societal problem and every club will have its nutters. Every club.

It’s an even sadder indictment when the genuine promotion of human decency is knowingly used by an anarchic organisation to win popular support that its own activities could never justify. Create a message that’s beyond dispute and hang it round your neck as an unassailable shield against all criticism. It’s clever but corrupt and every time a knee is taken to support the message it also lends profile and credibility to the monkey on its back.

Received and redeemed mine this morning. Looking forward to a seamless process tomorrow night!

The aggregate score in the six games Neymar's played against Celtic in competitive matches stands at 28-2. ?

There's such extreme polarization around this issue it's becoming nearly impossible to discuss it. (Is it this particular subject, or is it just the world we live in these days?). It seems that you can only see how symmetrical it all is if you're looking at it from the middle ground. If you criticize a single aspect of the BLM campaign someone from the left will call you a far-right fascist. If you show support for a single aspect of the BLM campaign someone from the right will call you a far-left Marxist.

Recent accounts, most without any other comment contained. The hollow man, the straw man, the Trojan Horse, flying a kite, ............ etc. Many names and the tactic is as old as dirt. Individual and collective discipline is required across both club and fans. The last day has seen Chris McLaughlin, Catriona Stewart(Gregor Cox), and Angela Haggerty have enjoyed a target rich environment.

Robertson's statement makes it easy for the press to single us out though (and let's face it, the Scottish hacks don't need much of an excuse).

That's an oxymoron I would have thought.

Absolutely flabbergasted at how many folk have a problem with this statement. Genuinely don’t get the mindset whereby you can cheer for someone one minute then reserve the right to racially abuse them the next! Madness

And there in lies the problem , and one though I agree with your point, I simply have no answer for .

Great pod again, as always the guests and host shows the best of the Rangers support, very well done guys, enjoy the pods every week

https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/castore-supporter-update-1/4SQyA4LlFY7gk6AmCmd6JU

One thing these threads prove is that Black Lives Matters as an organisation and an idea divides. I don’t remember any such furore over Kick It Out. The thing is conceived with the purpose of fomenting division and discord under the banner of anti-racism. It is a kind of genius. We are being played.

I’ve heard it was five figures, from a pretty reliable source. Ive no issue really with the lad looking for it because, undoubtedly, some club in the EPL will pay him what he wants and it won’t make a dent in their bank account. We, on the other hand, at those numbers, need someone ready to step into the starting XI.

It is a massive relief to discover that nobody voted for The Bears Den.

Same. Wouldn’t let me login after redeeming ??‍♂️

Apparently I'm a facist and a racist for not supporting BLM. I cannot support the looting rioting and murder which accompanies this organisation. Seems there are 2 types of blm. I find it difficult to distinguish between them.

Probably a good rule, but clearly, it's a broader problem than the simple examples I gave. Some people are desperate to project meanings onto other people's comments or gestures, when it's obvious (or ought to be) that it wasn't their intention. Goldson takes a knee as a show of support for a campaign against racism. He clearly states what his intentions are. And yet he's still given a hard time for supporting anti-white racism or anti-capitalist revolutionaries. The meaning of his gesture is the meaning he attached to it.

I don't have to. I'll be back at Ibrox soon enough. I know that. Bill told me to opt for a petrol lawnmower and that went tits up.

No one really made it apart from McGeough.

So why wait until George Floyd's death to start taking the knee?

Looks to me like you’re leaping to conclusions without a shred of evidence. You seem to know a lot about what was said and nothing at all about who said it. That’s usually the way with social media. Things are almost never what they seem but there’s never any shortage of people willing to believe it anyway. Mind you, if it’s any consolation, I don’t doubt there are Rangers fans who do the same to them.

One would hope social media would allow everyone to air their views and make society a fairer place but as with anything involving a lot of people, a minority ruin it for everyone else. I very much doubt other clubs in Europe haven't had players being criticised by their own fans for similar reasons. Some people seem unable to differentiate opposing views regarding BLM with actual racism, which doesn't help.

I wasn't thinking of the US to be honest - in the UK we shouldn't need the addition to distinguish us from Berwick, Stafford or even QPR.

Oh furfuxake

Still a bit of a loss as to why people seemingly get annoyed by the city's name. Just help yourself to a quick google search checking out Glasgow Rangers match day programme and you will get stuff from the before the 60s and even 40s saying Rangers, Rangers FC, The Rangers, Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Rangers FC, UK based material or not. I think I saw a match day info from the 1890s that also said Glasgow Rangers ... and you porbably have to take the Rangers historian over the coals to tell him what the earliest documents say. But honestly, it is a subjective matter and you'd essentially waste your lifetime. Unless, of course, someone is of that ilk that needs to tell everyone the very very-est rightest name of "our" club ...

I've said before that the add-ons in songs are useful but our name is a matter of fact. We are (The) Rangers.

The message has grown so many tenticles that not one person has an answer or a means to end it all....all in all this whole sorry saga is depressing.

Take a bow Sir. Brilliant post

This isn't racist? "Notice that it’s the mixed race who are the most vociferous in this? Strange as they are neither black nor white..." If these aren't racist enough for you, then go have a look on Twitter (I refuse as it's a cesspit but have been made aware of some comments).

You know I'd already written that game off, based on our home defeat and the fact that Bayer are well into their season. But I'm now starting to hope. Would be the greatest result ever in Europe should we turn this round.

Then they'd be wrong and it's irrelevant how you were brought up; the name of the club is a matter of fact.