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Free Ezine Edition

No.3

August 2011

CSC

And Theyre Off!

Lets hope that this season we remember the football rather than the racist threats and letter bombs. The Hearts fan The new SPL season is up and running and so far so who attacked Neil Lennon at Tynecastle appeared in good. A 100% record after only 3 matches is nothing to court this week. He will reappear for trial later this month. judge the rest of the season on, but the signs are good. Those that sent the improvised devices to Lennon and a Keeping hold of key players like Beram Kayal was important,but the unsettled position of goalkeeper is a wor- number of prominent Celtic supporters are still awaiting trial. These people are being charged and tried under curry with the end of the transfer deadline looming. The collection of ankle injuries that we now have may require us rent legislation,which is adequate to cover charges of sectarianism and racial violence. The new law being proto purchase cover at left-back where we are currently posed by the Scottish Parliament is largely unnecessary bare, especially because of the long-term injury to Emilio and seeks not to end sectarianism or racism, but to eradiIzzaguerre, which is a bitter blow after his tremendous cate the last vestiges of militant republicanism from Celtic first season. A striker, a goalkeeper and a left-sided dePark. fender are immediate necessities. Will we get them in on time? Lets hope so. The new bhoys Matthews, Wanyama Dublin Super Cup Weekend and Wilson look good in the small amount of time weve A good squad of TALsters made their way along the rocky had to see them in pre-season. Another couple of new road (and by air and sea) to Dubin for the pre-season Sufaces for key areas and well be there. per Cup Tournament, which saw Celtic take on Inter Milan (lost 0-2) and an Aitricity League Select (won 5-1). The eventual winners of the Tournament were Man City, alNeil Lennon is rightly idolised by the Celtic support as a though we didnt play them. Celtic were runners-up due to player and as a manager. His resolution and determinaour high goal scoring efforts against the Irish League tion to face down the bigots and not be forced out of the managers job at Celtic Park endeared him even further to team and the whacky points system. Off the pitch, TAL Fanzine in association with the Naomh the Celtic Family. His stand, however, was not one of a bullheaded, unthinking person. Neil had to weigh up what Padraig CSC organised gigs in The Vaults Nightclub, with Gary Og playing outstanding sets over the two days of the was right for his family and whether or not they would be tournaments duration. Hundreds of Celts passed through able to withstand further pressure without the full weight the venue over the course of the weekend. Elsewhere, of the club and the law behind them. In his position it the Dublin St Pauli CSC had Shebeen and Glasnevin at would have been entirely understandable if he had Murrays where the craic was mighty and the rebel voices packed up and walked away from the club and the conwere raised in chorus. Cant wait until next year! stant threats and intimidation of the bigots and fascists.

Down With This Sort Of Thing!

Devils Advocate?
Later in the interview McBride goes on to give his interpretation of the new anti-sectarian legislation and the term causing offence to a reasonable person. God help us all if the brave new world of football that he envisages ever comes to pass. Football LEGENDS RAISE CASH FOR stadia would become sterile zones of clubOXFAM IN EAST AFRICA Paul McBride QC (listen from 20:45 on podcast) choreographed displays and cheerleading, Well done to all the Celtic and Manwith just about any hostile chant from one When asked if he had apologised to the set of fans to the other deemed to be unchester United legends who took part SFA for remarks he made about the organreasonable and offensive. in the recent charity match to raise isation, Paul McBride QC gave this reply: cash for the victims of famine in East The real offensive here is the offensive Africa. A fantastic, near sell-out No, the press release issued was that I being waged by the middle-class prawn crowd saw Henrik score a hat-trick regretted that anybody in the SFA had sandwich brigade against the whole histoand showed their appreciation of taken offence at the remarks that Id ry and culture of football as a working John Kennedys tremendous gesture made. What I didnt do was withdraw class sport. The undesirable elements to donate his share of the gate to the remarks that I made or regret the the riff-raff who cling on to their working fact that I made those remarks. That Oxfams famine relief fund. class traditions, songs, ideals and ethnowas a very important, subtle, but imporpolitical culture - are to be driven out of the tant, legal distinction to make. I didnt game. At Celtic Park, this translates as a want to offend individuals. I wanted to curious type of historical revisionism which make it clear that the corporate behavattempts to turn the clock of Irish history iour of the SFA as an institution was off at a certain point in time; a point precompletely unacceptable and dysfuncsumably acceptable to the PLC, the spontional sors and the target middle-class customer Does McBride listen to himself? Sounds base. Not forgetting that old fantasy of a like the perfect defence for the new legisla- place in the English Premiership. tion!
http://www.celticunderground.n et/index.php?option=com_conte nt&view=article&id=715:podca st-145-paul-mcbride-qc-talksrefereeing-sfa-reformation-andanti-sectarianlegislation&catid=34:audio&Ite mid=58

Rebel No More
We make no apologies for devoting much tacts at the News of the World and more of this issue of the Ezine, at the start of recently of tip-offs to The Sun. the 2011/2012 season, to the ever recurHe has also written for Matt McGlones ring songs and chants debate. The inAlternative View and, more recently, he creased tensions in Scottish football last has made it into the pages of the clubs season caused by the violent threats and official weekly magazine The Celtic View. bomb attack on Celtic manager Neil LenFor a long period Phil has purported to non has been the talking point of the represent the best interests of Celtic supyear, with calls for the Scottish governporters and The Celtic Football Club. He ment to resolve the problem of has publicly championed the Irish heritsectarianism (the real problem of antiage of the club and indeed he has celeIrish racism is once again sidestepped). brated the republican political culture of the fans for as long as anyone who The SFA as an organisation emerged knows him can remember. He had the from the season with the stench of corruption and bigotry around it. Played un- support and confidence of the more politically aware supporters, as well as his der unprecedented pressure, the SPL fellow rangers obsessives, Father Phils title race ended with a rangers victory congregation on the Timterweb. and a gold watch for Sir Walter. Despite success on the pitch, unrest behind the scenes continued at Ibrox, amid rumoured rival takeover bids, massive debts and an as yet undisclosed tax bill and the possibility of large penalty costs incurred for alleged tax avoidance. Much of the investigative work in uncovering the true nature of the finances at rangers was down to the dogged determination of internet journalist Phil Mc Giolla Bhain, utilising both his own contacts and those recommended to him by the supportive Celtic online community. Phils star was on the rise, with a steady following building up on facebook, as well as a growing readership of his blog pages. He impressed further when he broke the Dallasgate drama online ahead of the Scottish press and largely in spite of their silence on the matter. His audacity in publishing, relying on gut instinct and the strength of his sources, he was mentioned in dispatches by none other than eminent media expert, Professor Roy Greenslade. Previous to these scoops Phil had relentlessly pursued the Ibrox clubs fans over their fascist anthem The Billy Boys and the anti-Irish Famine Song, both of which were deemed to be racist and offensive by UEFA and the Scottish courts. With a growing reputation, he self-published his second book, A Rebel Journalist, a collection of his online writings and published work, which was warmly welcomed by the Celtic fans and enthusiastically purchased online and at events such as the one Phil attended in Dublin courtesy of the Naomh Padraig CSC. More vain than bhain. As the reputation has grown, so too has the ego. T-shirts with Phils face on and advertising his website appeared for sale. Along with this journey up his own arsehole, came an even more outspoken internet persona. Bemoaning an absence of leadership from the club, Phil has apparently unilaterally decided that he should provide the necessary leadership. Seeking no counsel and taking advice from no-one, a nascent Fuhrer Complex appears to be developing. Phil is no longer content to serve the Celtic support as a campaigning journalist, to champion the rights of Celtic fans. Mac Giolla Bhain has climbed the greasy pole all the way to the moral high ground of a free seat in the press box. From his ivory tower in the free seats and with all the bluff and bluster of an archetypal keyboard warrior, Phil has turned his attention from the inadequacies of the rangers support to the flaws that he perceives in the Celtic fan base, in particular those among us who continue to sing songs or chant in support of the IRA, specifically the Provisional IRA. In cynical attempts to bully, emotionally blackmail and control the parameters of the debate, he has resorted to citing his republican heritage and current republican connections. These have ranged from anecdotes about his grandfathers participation in the Mayo Flying Columns, watching Celtic matches with a former comrade of Bobby Sands and, most recently and most curiously, claiming the imprimatur of an unnamed senior antiGFA republican (a man who laughs like a drain apparently).

By Talman

Phil even attempted to justify his political about-turn with a schizophrenic fantasy argument with his 25 year old self in a hilarious blog article. Hilarious to those who knew the 25 year old, the 35 year old, the 45 year old and indeed the 53 year old man who now turns his back on the same things that he defended and championed even until recently. This from the person who was one of the two co-founders of the TAL Fanzine (I was the other) and who was responsible for writing many articles in support of republican militarism, alongside contributions on the experience of the Irish in Scotland, lancing the boil of sectarianism and advancing the arguments around the issue of anti-Irish racism. From TAL, Phil went on to write for the Irish Post and the weekly newspaper of the republican movement, on the back of which he earned his beloved NUJ card. If Phil has republican political demons that he needs to confront and exorcise, and if those demons are provisional ones, he should do so openly and honestly in the appropriate political arena, rather than hiding behind the new anti-sectarian legislation in Scotland as a means to practice his own peculiar brand of republican political sectarianism. If he means what he says then he really must question his own credentials as the self-styled rebel journalist. This is a rebel who no longer has a cause other than to serve the club and the state as the self-appointed policeman and moral arbiter of the Celtic support. Phil recently celebrated the working class nature of the Celtic support in an article on his website. He did so from his perch in the Aviva press box, about as far removed from that working class experience as he could be in that stadium. All the rebel journalist seems to have had to rebel against was rangers and its fans. Do we really want to be reduced to a bunch of hun haters by him? Is that all our history amounts to? With the Ibrox club beginning to clean its act up, Phil is running out of targets, and his is a type of journalism that relies on targets. It appears that it is the Celtic support and particularly the away supporters that are now in his sights...

But the Emperor has no clothes. Phil Mac Giolla Bhain has what hes always had, a battalion on paper (or more accurately on a computer screen). He is a general The Rebel Journalist turns conformist The rangers tax case also saw him develwithout an army. Only our own stupidity op a relationship with News International and attempts to lead a section of the will allow him to further indulge his megCeltic support with him into the comfy and he has publicly boasted of his conseats, using all the means at his disposal, alomania and self-serving careerism. by hook or by crook

. N O P.

sectarianism, yet has been drafted to include offensive behaviour. The net result of this, in this writers opinion, is to ensure that this legislation will be affected with equal I suppose the first thing this writer should do is to offer vigour across both sides of the Glasgow divide, be it the sincere thanks to Phil Mac Giolla Bhain. Without his blog (24th July 2011 - see link 1 at end of article) I would have offensive behaviour of calling a Rangers supporter a Hun, been caught sleepwalking into falling foul of the proposed or the sectarian behaviour of chanting No Pope of Rome. anti-sectarian legislation set to become law in early 2012 Hey presto, under the Anti-Sectarian legislation, you (Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Commu- have your proof; One side is as bad as the other. nications (Scotland) Bill). Echoing the tones of the proposed legislation, Phil tells us that any reasonable person Further to this, we have this reasonable person clause (Section 1(2)e). The concept of a reasonable person is an would deem the singing of songs in praise of those who interesting one. Section 38 of the recently enacted Crimifought for Irish freedom as offensive. Of course Phil, in nal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 references humble fashion, has already claimed the credit for opena reasonable person, it also cites behaviour of a threating our collective eyes in his follow up piece (28th July 2011 see link 2). Well that has certainly lifted the malaise ening and abusive manner. As far as I am aware, football stadia are not exempt from this piece of legislation, so with this Tim. why the need for further law making? For me, the answer Fundamentally, I have a problem with the impending legis- lies in the need to tie offensive behaviour, which football supporters across the world indulge in, to sectarianism. lation. That being that its purported purpose is to combat

OURSELVES ALONE
By Rebel Bhoy

The Rebel Journalist instructs us that it would be a rath- ters not a jot) to consider yourself the sole arbiter of the era of struggle that may or may not cause offence to peoer strange reasonable person who would conclude that songs and chants endorsing proscribed organisations that ple I have no intention of offending. have killed British Nationals wasnt offensive. By the same token, it would be a rather strange reasonable per- This legislation is coming, unless it can be derailed. It is son who would conclude that sporting the symbols of, and dressed up nicely with a big fancy bow labelled "sectarianism". Does anybody have the will to fight a bill collecting money for the benefit of British soldiers who with the purported aim of eliminating sectarianism? Phil interred, maimed and killed members of our community Mac Giolla Bhain has given his interpretation on what the wasnt offensive. I dont expect to see Messrs Lawwell and Reid facing the beak under this Anti-Sectarian Legis- legislation means for Rebel songs. I am not sure things lation. Ether everything gets judged on its respective mer- are necessarily as clear cut as he seems to think. its, or this is nothing but a piece of selective legislation designed to de-politicise our support and silence the sec- I am not interested in playing Republican top trumps with tarian and racist behaviour of the supporters of Scotlands Phil, my grandfather didnt fight the British army, nor do I watch games with those who shared a wing with Bobby Shame. Seeing as the "Rebel Journalist" is so willing to Sands. Perhaps my thoughts on the matter are not lent fall into line to help effect this legislation, we are left with the same gravitas by this criteria, however I do support absolutely no-one to fight our corner but ourselves. Celtic and I am a proud Irish Republican. I can come up I dont doubt that Phil has conducted greater research into with my own theories as to what Bobby Sands, the poet, the implications of the impending legislation than I have. I songwriter and campaigner against the criminalisation of Irish Republicanism may have made of the singing of Irish did however have cause to listen to the recent Celtic unRepublican songs and the legislation that seeks to crimiderground podcast (No.145 see link 3) with Paul Mcnalise it. I willingly accept that disrespectful is not Bride QC. It does not surprise me that McBride is in amongst the adjectives I would have chosen. I also wonfavour of the principles of this legislation. Nor did it surprise me that he skilfully evaded the question as to wheth- der what Bik McFarlane makes of the inference that the songs he sings perhaps show a lack of respect, or does er the singing of IRA songs was designed to cause Bik delivering a ballad instruct me to sing also? offence. He was unequivocal about the use of the word Hun and chanting IRA, but anything but when it came to singing songs about the IRA. Sure, he rejected their asso- The struggle of 1798, 1916, 1981 and all points before or since hold an intrinsic and sustained value for me and ciation with Celtic, as I would expect him to and as he is many other others. The British state tried and failed to entitled to, but he did not tell us that they were designed criminalise these people then, and if Phil is right, they are to offend. So why is Phil so sure that you and I could potrying again to criminalise you and me, right now. Phil just tentially fall foul of this new legislation? makes their job that bit easier. So thanks again to the Rebel Journalist for the heads up, I look forward to seePaul McBride told us that, The Lord advocate said that ing more of his work in the Celtic View and The Celtic Netthis is not about people expressing robust, indeed offenwork (TCN) in the future. sive opinions sometimes adding This is about people trying to cause trouble at games. Over the last number of months TAL have held a number of Green Room interviews with rebel groups and singers. Without exception RELATED LINKS they have expressed the belief that the continued relevance of such songs amongst the Celtic support is to LINK 1 - The Celtic away support. serve as a vehicle to promote learning about the struggle http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/the-celtic-away-supfor Irish independence. Certainly a robust opinion that port/ may be considered politically objectionable or offensive by some, but absolutely not stated with the intention of LINK 2 - Implications of the new legislation. causing offence. http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/the-implications-ofthe-new-legislation/ McBride also told us that It depends on what you are doing, who you are doing it to, and why you are doing it. LINK 3 - Celtic Underground Podcast No.145. The answer to these questions is a simple one for this writ- http://www.celticunderground.net/index.php?option=com_ er. I am singing of those who fought for Irish freedom content&view=article&id=715:podcast-145-paul-mcbrideamongst fellow supporters of a club born of the Irish diqc-talks-refereeing-sfa-reformation-and-anti-sectarianaspora, whose founding fathers actively involved the club legislation&catid=34:audio&Itemid=58 in the national question. A question that remains as valid today as it did then. I am doing it to celebrate their ideals and memory and to act as a conduit for learning about that struggle for both myself and my fellow supporters. That is the only answer I can give, for it happens to be the truth. Accepting Paul McBrides assertion that context is important in the application of this legislation (an assertion that Phil has singularly failed to address in either of his blogs on the subject), this is the context within which I sing these songs. I wont have Phil playing guessing games that it is borne out of boozy self- indulgence. No legislation, no Rebel Journalist will define my motivation for me. It is certainly self indulgence (boozy or sober mat-

TAKING OFFENCE
By The Hurler
have the best barristers on the planet sweating. What would offend me? What would offend you? The business people who run Celtic must be proud of their recent work. They seem to have a knack for dividing the support. Last season was a tough time for Neil Lennon, as well as some of our players who share the same homeland and religion. We all know the treatment that Lennon in particular was subjected to by an extreme loyalist-fascist element in Scotland (and NornIron) and the inadequate nature of the response to it. Rather than confront the issue of anti-Irish racism, meaningless lip service was paid once again to the Old Firm problem of sectarianism. Instead of tackling the long-standing disease that is anti-Irish racism and sectarianism against Scotland's Catholics, the Scottish Parliament has proposed a law that does anything but, contenting itself with mealy-mouthed words and the equal apportioning of blame to both sides. Words like 'reasonable person' and 'offence' in a piece of legislation should have killed it off at first light, as it could mean anyone at anytime depending on who's being offended. How do you legally define a reasonable person? That would be enough to This unnecessary piece of legislation should have been laughed out of Celtic Park, however, it appears that the powers-that-be at the club have decided to enlist the 'Rebel Journalist' Phil MacGiollabhain as the unlikely lion trainer in their quest to tame the Celtic support. Phil's recent blog articles (see http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/ ) seem to have the PLC stamp of approval. Considering that he now appears to be in favour with The Celtic View, this probably points to a degree of collaboration, either direct or indirect. We are being instructed by MacGiollabhain to stop mentioning the word(s) PIRA at away games for fear of being punished under the new law. We are further instructed that we can continue to praise the Good Old IRA of Phils grandfathers time, but not the IRA of Bobby Sands and Francis Hughes!? In other words, the name of the Provisional IRA is verboten on Planet Phil. This would be the same Provisional IRA which no longer exists as a group; the same Provos who embraced the GFA and are credited with bringing peace to Ireland;

the same Provos who now favour the political struggle over armed resistance. A now retired army of resistance that fits exactly with the previous manifestations of the IRA, and which we have every right to commemorate and celebrate as any other era of the republican struggle. I hate to think what would happen if Celtic fans sang about Nelson Mandela and the Good Old ANC!

There's a strong case for war crime charges to be laid against Reid, yet hardly a word was heard from MacGiollabhain on behalf of the offended Celtic Fans. Instead his condemnation is reserved for those who have the audacity to sing songs like the Roll of Honour, which commemorates the hunger strike of 1981. The hypocrisy is unnerving.

Meanwhile, we have a board that last year gave the seal of approval to a special singing section, The Anti-Irish Mob Awakes the Green Brigade. This group has a song list that includes the very popular WolfeTones song about Phil's article has also alerted the sleeping antiour club, Celtic Symphony, which mentions Irish mob within our own support. Those proud 'Ooh Aah Up The Ra' in its lyrics. There are other Scots and Brits who privately despise all that Irish nonsense at Celtic, those who feel the club is songs in the groups repertoire which might be purely a Scottish football club, that is Scottish and interpreted as glorifying the PIRA (i.e. Roll of Honour). Neither of these songs is offensive in my British. After all, we don't play in Ireland, so why opinion, nor should they be proscribed as MacGiolshould we have all this rubbish? Maybe these labhain has argued. Nor should pressure be approud people are simply a product of Scotland's plied to the Green Brigade to make them comply effort in putting down the Irish and delegitimising the Irish right to freedom and equality, not only in with either MacGiollabhains or the PLCs diktats. Ireland but in Scotland? They have been clamberConfused and Offended ing for column inches and webspace to voice their disgust at all those IRA chanting supporters who are offending them with their support for political The offence is in the eye of the beholder. We all know exactly the motivations of those that will try violence. to take advantage of this law in order to further The same people appear to have no issue with the chip away at the politics and culture of Celtic supsavage violence that takes place everyday in their porters. The greatest offence is that we now have name; in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan & Libya. a 5th Column among us in the shape of The Rebel Would they happily stand on the terraces of Celtic Journalist who poses behind a faade of rebellion Park and applaud those who are exporting terrorin order to promote the politics of surrender. ism across the world, fighting imperialist wars for the British Empire? Will they say nothing when Celtic fans have been asking the PLC for years for British soldiers are offered free seats at grounds their list of acceptable songs in order that the simply because they are fighting for Britain, yet debate could take place in a formal setting bediehard Celtic fans who are priced out of football, tween club and fans. Instead we are afforded can't get a look in? Will they salute the highly polit- debate by proxy through the web pages of a selfical symbol of the Poppy and allow it to be disstyled careerist Rebel Journalist, who has perplayed on the Celtic shirt? It seems that a certain formed political somersaults to become the latest type of politics is acceptable to the PLC, the SFA mouthpiece for PLC (and government) policy. and the Scottish government, but when it comes to my politics - the politics of Irish republicanism I'm beginning to wonder if these are reasonable that run through the historical veins of this club people. I am told that its best left at the door. I'm beginning to feel offended, you know! Phil, youve managed to divide Celtic fans, as well

One minute they condone, the next they condemn.


It has been stated by MacGiollabhain that the PIRA's killing of Britons is evidence enough for a reasonable person to be offended. Yet, when a politician by the name of Dr. John Reid was appointed as our chairman, there was hardly a peep of protest from MacGiollabhain & Co. The voices of dissent to that appointment were not led by The Rebel Journalist, but were spearheaded outside of the stadium by the Green Brigade and TAL, and in the corridors of power at Celtic Park by The Celtic Supporters Trust and the CSA.

as compromise your own credibility. I hope it was worth it.

Is that the rebel journalist youve got in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me?

be the spokesman for the Celtic support on how we should behave and carry ourselves collectively. Phils recent article entitled The Celtic away support (see LINK 1 on page 5) lambasted Celtic supporters remembering in song I.R.A volunteers of the recent struggles within the occupied six counties and beyond. Phil made specific references to songs sung in support of the P.I.R.A. The patronising term he used to describe the songs was that of The Falls Road Karaoke. The smugness of this term is so underhand and is drenched in a whiff of total arrogance, it really is incredible that this man was championed by so many for a period, albeit brief, as a shining light in a profession so rotten to the core. But credit where its due our Uncle Tim Phil has evidently stated that some of our songs are acceptable as everyones favourite Royal has approved them. He states:

Let the people sing!


By DubKen
I am writing this amidst the backdrop of an outpouring of admiration and goodwill towards the often vilified Celtic support over the money raised for the victims of the horrific famine currently taking place in East Africa. The Legends game which saw over fifty five thousand supporters attend only cemented the view of how special a club we really are for those of us who really grasp what the Spirit of Celtic really is about. Showing a level of goodwill or highlighting the positives of the Celtic support most definitely has not been top of the agenda of those within The Laptop Loyal wing of Scottish media hacks. Looking for ways and means to demonise a support that has had to fight tooth and nail against an establishment and environment that detests everything that the indomitable Celtic support represents has in many ways ran parallel to the battle to provide teams on the field that Can beat the Fenians!! The new legislation on so called Sectarianism has received widespread media attention and has again put the issue of the songs sung by the Celtic support back in the spotlight. The draft legislation seeks to create two new offences relating to behaviour which can "incite religious, racial or other forms of hatred" in and around football grounds and on the internet. The usual suspects have come out and pontificated about the shame the Celtic support bring to Scotland. Their level of hypocrisy as they spout from their moral high ground would be laughable if it was not so poisonous. We all know the same rhetoric about how we as a support should put an end to the singing of That Irish Tosh as Gerry McNee so eloquently put it. Yet I still struggle to see how The Flower of Scotland is deemed any less political than The Boys of the Old Brigade.

A historically literate Celtic fan could easily advocate that if the political chanting was kept to the organisations and actions venerated in the garden of remembrance in Dublin then the reasonable British person could not deem them offensive He continued that this is due to the fact that the British Queen acknowledged the boys of the old brigade. Ive news for you Phil. We are Celtic. We have always been the club of the rebel and we dont wait for the green light of the British monarchy to commemorate our past and our culture. We are not selective of our history. We embrace all aspects and have a right to celebrate it in turn. The Celtic support as a whole will be the spokespeople on what songs we sing in support of our beloved club. It a form of football democracy. A Celtic support I may add that has been at the forefront of stamping out racism, homophobia and sectarianism as well as other forms of fascism and social elitism that are prevalent in many grounds throughout Britain. There is no more socially aware support arguably in the world than the hardcore that congregate at Paradise. How dare you try to take the moral high ground on a support with which you have clearly disenfranchised and whom you have tried to screw for the last penny.

This new legislation is going to try and increase the pressure for us to forget our past, ALL aspects of our past. We unfortunately play in a footballing environment that is so hostile a siege mentality is inevitable. With that mentality comes responsibility and I have every faith that we can rise to this challenge. Celtic as a club has never just been about ninety minutes on a Saturday (Or Sunday morning I may add!!!). From the outset it has been filled with figures that refused to conform. Look at one of the first patrons of the club Michael Davitt who stated, I shall join the revolutionary movement, of course" in reply to Parnell when asked what he intended to do after his release from prison in 1877. Davitt served seven years in prison for his Fenian activities, and was so well thought of he was asked to lay down the first sod in the newly opened Paradise in 1892. If men like Davitt were good enough for those who founded our wonBut maybe we shouldnt go there. Assimilate, keep the derful club then they are most definitely good enough for head down and keep to the back of the bus. Yet when I me. stated that the usual suspects were out in force to throw daggers into the Celtic support I forgot to mention one very This is our history and let us sing it loud and sing it proud. noticeable new addition. That of Rebel journalist Phil Mac Without this we are nothing, but we will never be nothing. Giolla Bhain. The man who regales us with stories of how proud he is of his ancestral Republican heritage has clearly WE ARE CELTIC AND WE SHALL OVERCOME! sold enough of his T Shirts, he now feels he can justifiably

as the mural appeared in a number of locations including Beechmount and Ardoyne in Belfast and the Bogside in Derry. The artist was Robert Ballagh who had been commissioned by the Republican Movement for this particular venture. Apart from his collaboration with Irish Republicans he is probably best known for working on projects as diverse as creating sets for Riverdance, and the design for the final issue of the now defunct Irish Punt banknotes prior to the introduction of the Euro. Not only was 'Time To Go' striking in an artistic sense it was also powerful politically as it reminded the British that after 25 years of occupation and Starting with this issue TAL fanzine oppression they had not been able to aims to showcase some of that artdefeat the Provisional IRA or to weakwork with a view to explaining the en our desire for a united Ireland. relevance of each mural to that partic- However that wasn't the only message ular phase of the war. it conveyed because it also served as a timely reminder for Republicans In 1994 the 'Time To Go' campaign that lasting peace and Irish freedom was launched. It highlighted the fact could only be achieved when the last that British troops had now been on British soldier had been driven out of the streets of the six counties for 25 our country. years and called for their immediate Even today some might consider it to The ideology was fully embraced and withdrawal. The mural for this initiabe one of the most inspiring murals to down through the decades some evoc- tive featured an image of weary Britemerge from the fight to unite Ireative and poignant displays have been ish troops walking along a country land and it certainly deserves to be road signposted for London, their produced as a means of telling the story of Irish resistance to British rule backpacks and rifles slung over their remembered as such. shoulders. The accompanying slogan If you have a story to tell about a political or culturin Ireland, both past and present. al mural and would like to contribute to this feature Even in this era of relative peace and read 'Slan Abhaile - 25 years - Time (750 words max.) please send it and pictures of your co-existence new murals are painted To Go'. Or a variation of those words chosen mural to: talfanzine@gmail.com to reflect the current status of the struggle. The recent fight for Irish freedom has been fought on a number of fronts, mainly of course through the armed struggle and, following the events of 1981, the ballot box to coin a phrase. But the early 80's also saw the introduction of a new tactic in our armoury; political art, most notably utilised in the shape of the wall mural. This allowed the Republican movement to add a welcome cultural dimension to the political and military offensive already in place. communities throughout occupied Ireland. Prior to this development the nearest we had come to such a concept was anti-British and pro-IRA slogans daubed on walls or kerb stones painted in the colours of the Irish tricolour. But the emergence of the wall mural showed Republicans that their political aspirations, beliefs and sacrifices could be expressed, celebrated and acknowledged through art and in particular, painting. As a result some of the most significant events of the past forty plus years have been commemorated on gable end walls in nationalist

DREAMING OF ENGLAND
...some thoughts on the English riots
The deliberate destruction of manufacturing industry begun under Thatcher, Colin Clarke is a former member of the the cutting of workers rights and the London branch of the Independent Work- subsequent fall in union membership ing Class Association (IWCA). He now has led to a growth in low paid, tempolives and works in New Zealand. In this rary work. The idea of a job for life article he gives an independent analysis which was common even in the 1970s of the recent riots, which we thought has long gone. The state sector which would be of interest to TAL readers. The grew in terms of employment througharticle first appeared on the NZ Blogsite out the Blair/Brown years is now underRedline going severe cuts under Cameron and Clegg. This article attempts to make a short and rough analysis of the riots. Writing At the same time, the privatisation of the article from a distance of 11,000 state assets and the opening-up of what miles makes it hard to get a real grip on is left to private companies has not only the meaning of events. In the fullness of led to a long-term fall in wages but has time, we will produce other accounts of also resulted in major cuts in the quality the events. and quantity of social provision. Both of

by Colin Clarke

verse pride in subverting a core socialist tenet: you only take out exactly what youve put in. It follows that outside of what affects them directly as individuals or maybe immediate family there is a malign indifference. After all what is society to them, or they to society? All told, the corrupting consequences of the no-work ethic appear to be numerous and hardwired. At the same time that all this has happened, the ruling class and its hangers on are openly corrupt in a way that harks back to the Nineteenth Century. Look at, for example, the links between Rupert Murdoch, politicians and the police that have been revealed in the last month or so. Then there were the revelations about MPs fiddling their expenses a few years back. Less publicised but happening frequently over the last 30 years or so, has been the exposure of collusion between the police and criminal gangs, and especially those who are drug dealers. The background to the riots is that Britain is an economically, politically and socially unstable country where there is a glaring class divide between the lives of the majority and those at the top. The student demonstrations at the end of last year showed the level of anger around and it was clear that a spark would set it alight.

these latter points can be seen in particular in the housing sector. The selling of council (state) houses to individuals has led at various times to bubbles in the housing market as well as a decline in council houses available to rent. However, the neglect of the remaining council stock has led to whole estates being dumping grounds for those who have nowhere else to go, thus breaking down community spirit and social ties that had been built up over generations. The social and economic background This has, in turn, given rise to huge soto the riots cial problems in these areas as well as a Riots almost only occur in societies that growth in the quantity, though not the are in crisis. While there are always par- quality of rental properties elsewhere ticular incidents that might set them off, All of the above, and many other factors, it is the bigger picture of what is happen- including the pushing of Multiculturaling in society that gives us a clue to ism as a state-sponsored ideology have what is going on. created a fractured society that has no Britain, since the riots of 1981, has been obvious shared or coherent values. From on a downward curve, economically, po- the same roots, an underclass has grown litically and socially. Successive govern- that has embraced a culture that idolises violence and crime for the sake of it. ments, Labour, Conservative and the current coalition, have made it a point of As the Independent Working Class Assoprinciple to attack the living standards ciation (IWCA) put it in an article in of the working class, both directly and 2009, http://www.iwca.info/?p=10134: indirectly. The economic policies of the once a lumpen mentality is allowed to governments during the same period take root over a generation or more, a have seen a total embracing of the doctrines of neo-liberalism. Despite its rela- pattern is set seemingly for other socio/ tively small role in GDP, the finance and political relationships too. In place of civic pride, community spirit, or basic banking sector has been held up as the empathy and solidarity (none of which key to Britains future success. Of course, it is only the people in these sec- have any place in their world) there is instead an over-developed sense of inditors who gain from this. vidual entitlement combined with a per-

Mark Duggan - shot by police

The riots As has been the case so often in the past in Britain, the riots were sparked off by the killing of a black man. Mark Duggan was shot dead by police in the back of a cab in Tottenham Hale. Initial claims by the police that shots had been fire at them turned out to be untrue. While he was carrying a loaded gun in a sock, he made no attempt to reach it and was killed by a shot to the chest. In short, it was a police execution. And as usual, they lied about the incident.

Interestingly, local rumour suggests that there was something more going on than just a spontaneous response to the death of Mark Duggan, who, incidentally, was a well known player in gang circles. A few days previous to Duggans murder, the police raided around 30 houses on the Pembury estate in nearby Islington and arrested a whole swathe of leading gang members. These arrests were part of the same operation that ended up killing Duggan.

The local view is that the riot was started by gang members as a warning to British police have a long history of killpolice about what would happen if the ing people, both in the street and in cuscrackdown was continued. As someone tody in police stations. 333 in custody said to me via email, the police wont be The aftermath since 1998 and not a single police officdoing this the week before the Olympics er convicted. In short, the police continuIt is no surprise, but no less sickening, start. This, of course, doesnt mean that ally get away with murder. Its no to see the hypocrisy of the ruling class the majority involved in the initial riot in wonder that things kicked off in such a in condemning the riots and demanding Tottenham werent genuine in their acspectacular way. the highest possible of sentences for tions; just that we should be conscious, those involved. Already, a family has if it is true, that the power of the gangs been threatened with eviction because a is something we should be worried son was arrested in the riots. The reacabout. tion will only get worse as the politicians The nature of riots and liberal commentators whip themselves up into a frenzy of indignation. At Whilst, as I have argued, there are politithe end of the day, they are the ones cal, economic and social reasons behind who are culpable for the situation the why riots happen, riots themselves excountry is in. As a friend said in a perplode out of nowhere, triggered by a ceptive text, Theyve created a sub straparticular incident. Riots are by their ta of society for whom The Wire is an very nature contradictory and incoherinspiration rather than a nightmare. ent. They are both political in one sense Two days later, a demonstration outside and apolitical in another. The anger that The working class, as a conscious class the local police station in Tottenham ask- they encapsulate is against all authority barely exists, though, in a faint way, the ing for answers as to why he was died but at the same time, because of their riots provide the beginnings of what can became the start of the riots when a 16 nature they are not able to articulate be done when we move together. As in year old girl was hit by police with anything better. That is why they are so New Zealand, the left has failed, is irrelshields. The riot immediately got out of unpredictable. Riots produce a negative evant and has no real connection with the control of police. Shops and other rage, which is capable of destroying eve- the working class. Working class organibuildings were burnt down. The nearby rything in their path. sation is essential for the class to move Tottenham Hale retail centre was atforward. Not perhaps the idea of a LeninWe have to be very careful about praistacked and looted and it spread around ist style vanguard party but instead a ing riots just because they are seen as the whole area. party that comes from the working class fighting against the state. They happen and is a part of it. Only then, will there The initial period of the rioting showed at a juncture where society is sharply be a possibility of a progressive future. the way that riots spread; incoherently divided between classes but they can and out of control. Crowds of people also foreshadow a future where things If this doesnt happen, the future will fired up by a chance to just show their just get worse. Riots express the anger make the present seem like the good anger and defiance of authority. The of individuals; revolutions express the days. While many on the left have writcrowds grew in size and seemed to be anger of the whole working class. In the ten off the BNP, due to recent poor elecfrom all parts of the community. There current situation, it is hard to envisage tion results, they havent gone away and was even footage on the BBC of Hasidic the class as a whole moving in a progres- they still have a sizeable constituency. Jews joining in the riots. Over the next sive way as a result of it. Their problems are essentially internal few days, the riots began to spread, first rather than external. In addition, the In Tottenham, after Mark Duggan, the to nearby areas and then to other parts growth of gang culture throughout the first victims of the riot were the people of London. Then, other areas of the councountry presents a direct threat to the who lived above shops in the area that try took over. working class. were burned out, as well as those who What became clear early on was that had their cars destroyed. While these while the initial riots took the pattern of people were just unlucky in living were riot first and then looting, very soon it they did, as the riots developed, more was reversed to be looting first and only. and more such incidents were reported. Anecdotal reports from London suggest In the 1981 Toxteth riots, massive damthat by the second day, there were orage was done to the local area but by ganised gangs travelling from one area and large, incidents like the above didnt to another, not to confront the police but happen. I remember walking through to loot. This puts a different gloss on the there on the second night of the riots events than the one pushed by some sec- and being seen just as part of the crowd. tions of the left that the riots are an up- There was no menace in the air and peorising of the oppressed. ple were in an almost celebratory mood.

Aside from the beginning in Tottenham, this doesnt seem to be the case this time round. While I am not going to condemn people for looting goods that they couldnt ordinarily afford, its difficult to see that there was anything more to much of the rioting than this. It is also clear that much of the working class has seen this as an outbreak of criminality, rather than something they should be involved in. The worrying aspect of this is that it seems to fit in with the analysis referred to above from the IWCA that the working class is split between those who work and a growing underclass that dont and pursue a life of criminality.

Families in Birmingham mourn the loss of their loved ones during the disturbances

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No.3

August 2011

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