Megrahi Release Explained: He's a Rangers Fan

Occasional Ostrich

That well-known native american tribe, much-feared by the Lone Ranger's sidekick, the "Wee arra' Peepul".

Sorry, it's from a 1970 joke; couldn't resist it.

cuffleyburgers

Nice try Alex, but admit it, there was a conspiracy.

Craig Strachan

For some reason whenever hear the name "Megrahi" pronounced in a Glasgow accent I think of late Mick McGahey, Vice President of the NUM during the miners strike.

I doubt he was a Rangers supporter.

nic

what have you been smoking?

Craig Strachan

Although an AL (an) McGahey could be a Rangers man.

So - Big Ally McGahey of the Tripoli True Blues?

Mr Eugenides

Your Rangers-minded friend makes a fair point. However, I must take issue with this:

"you're more likely to see the Saltire flying at Tripoli airport than at Ibrox..."

This is not true. I have attended European matches where the Saltire is much in evidence; indeed, whole stands have been decked out in its colours.

That said, I suspect this is only done to lay down a gauntlet to the denizens of Celtic Park, which is unlikely to be festooned with blue and white any time soon...

Ben

Would you be in favour of Hearts becoming regular Scottish champions through the old firm buggering off to find humility in the English leagues?

tommyt

I note the US open tennis starts today, Andy Murray usually has strong support at Flushing Meadow. There is a fair chance, should he reach the final that the number of Scotland flags in both NY and Tripoli displayed in the last month will beat the total waved at our two biggest football stadia.

Craig Strachan

(Now that I think on it, if Megrahi was obliged to spend 8 years in a cell watching Rangers, maybe he was entitled to a bit of compassion after all.)

bhoy oh bhoy

So yur just a hun with nae bus pass :)

CG

Mick McGahey once said that his members were all either Rangers or Celtic - 'there were nae angnostics'

denverthen

This latest piece merely provides further evidence to me that Massie, who spends half his time branding US Republicans who are trying to defend the US from suicidal terrorists as "torturers" (maybe, but what's it got to do with him??), and the other half defending left wing nationalists (the SNP), regards the Megrahi scandal as a big joke.

Utterly pitiful.

Beefeater

I thought you said cricket is life. Or is life in its soccer season now?
May we expect more playful political analysis?

Richard Scott

This has possibly been the worst article I have ever read that related to Celtic & Rangers. The Scottish Government, the clubs themselves and the vast majority of their supporters are trying to stamp out bigotry, but the writer uses the words Tim & Hun with impunity. Had you to shout either of those words at a Celtic or Rangers supporter you would be liable to arrest, or a good kicking, if the police weren't quick enough.

This just doesn't help. The writer and his editor should hang their heads in shame.

Kevin McKenna

Fascinating to see the once mighty Spectator reduced to hurling sectarian terms.

Anti-Sectarian charity Nil By Mouth - supported by the Scottish Government - are very clear on the use of the term 'Hun' - it is an abusive, sectarian term. As such, it has no place in a serious organ.

http://nilbymouth.org/?s=hun

hullabaloonose

"Hun" is a banned sectarian term. You wouldn't dare to refer to Celtic supporter's by using the "F" word, so why do you think it's acceptable to use the "H" word? Oh, and what prey-tell, is Rangers minded?

John

Disappointing bigotry from Alex Massie here with his hun nonsense.

Ask the ant-sectarian campaigners like kickoutbigotry.org or Nil by Mouth what a hun is if you are not sure.

As for "Of course, you're more likely, as a pal points out, to see the Saltire flying at Tripoli airport than at Ibrox" well that is a plain lie.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2349/2403528683_7e1d5b24cc.jpg?v=0

You seem to have a lot of anger Alex, that gives off the very hatred and stupidity you seem to dislike in others.

Richard Rae

Alex Massie the Bigot YOU FAIL

WATP

You must be really struggling to resort to sectarianism/bigotry.

http://www.mediastorehouse.com/image/rngr109-rangers-v-inter-milan-union-jack-flags-12-x-6-approx-desktop-panoramic-305x145-mm_1205798.jpg

I see 2 large saltires in that picture.

How many do you see at Celtic Park?

Keep posting your bigot crap. We are the champions.

John

Alex,

I noticed your comments about the huns and how you changed it to bluenoses. Well, you must live in exalted company because not one Rangers fan I know takes being called a hun, with anything other than the same disgust as a Celtic fan being called a fenian.

Neither originally meant Catholic or Protestant, but in the context of Glasgow and Belfast that is what they mean here.

Not only do ordinary people take it as such, but Nil By Mouth and the law.

Do you really think graffiti in Glasgow and Belfast about "Kill all Huns" is about Rangers?

"Research for a forthcoming book by the academics Peter Shirlow and Brendan Murtagh shows the strength of the fear of "others" in the two communities. Territorial markings such as painted kerbstones and graffiti screaming "Kill All Taigs" (Catholics) or "Kill All Huns" (Protestants) act as frontiers, at once intimidating outsiders and keeping insiders in line."

http://www.newstatesman.com/200511280006

If you are reading this you might think I am a prick, but do me a favour and look at this Bebo page and tell me huns mean Rangers in the real world which I - unfortunately as an east end Glaswegian - live in:

http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=2678674293

tommyt

I think some of the comments on this thread further reveal the lack of understanding of teh Scottish condition by those further afield.

Alex has tried to use a traditional dry Scottish sense of humour to bring some relief to the supposedly grave situation that the display of a traditional Scottish sense of comapssion has brought us to.

One is reminded of the old joke to which the punchline is "Aye but are you a catholic Muslim or a prodisent Muslim ?"

For the record I think that (most bits of) the Speccy have picked up on the Scottish/UK nuance much better on this issue than most media outlets. And there's something I never thought I'd say.

Richard Scott

Regarding your update.

It doesn't really matter what YOU think of word HUN, it's meaning or connotations.

The law says it is sectarian, and the last I looked the law was way above a second rate journalist.

Fergus Pickering

I'd never heard of these terms in this context. But then I'm English so what do I know. Is it really true that calling someone a hun is an offence north of the border? I am not commenting on this, you understand, just asking.

John Ross

No Saltires at Ibrox?

Is the writer of this piece on the hard stuff?

There are more saltires flown at ibrox than the rest of scottish football grounds put together - we even decked the whole of the stadium out in saltires for a champions league match.

You must try harder to make your agenda fit :D

Old Flashy

Alex Massie's comments on the peculiarities of Scottish football and sectarianism are as mixed up as his hair is ill advised. Being a Jam Tart surely he couldn't possibly confuse the term hun (used by the catholic Celtic fans to denigrate protestants) as referring only to Rangers fans especially since any time Celtic administer the usual gubbing to his team, the Celtic fans sing 'go home ya huns' at the departing early Hearts support. Does Massie really think they can't tell the difference between Rangers and Hearts or does he think that perhaps hun just might mean (in Celtic eyes) dirty orange b*stard?
The Scottish media is already awash with third rate journalists who 'accidentally' confuse the issue, I'm disappointed that another parochial idiot has fetched up on the (cyber) pages of the Spectator.

Stephen Smith

Alex, your attempt at humour was an epic 'fail' - you're about as funny as a puncture on an ambulance's front wheel.

If you think using sectarian terminology is funny, why not go the whole hog with racism, homophobia and jokes about disabled people?

Go on, you know you want to..........

Joe Strummer

It just shows how casually accepted and normalised anti-Protestant bigotry is in Scotland when a columnist can use such a vile, bigoted term as "hun". Next it'll be those damn Pakis and darkies, eh ?

John Lea

Joe Strummer - please get a life!