In life there are occasional moments, fleeting passages of opportunity,
for an expression of ourselves, which tells the world all they need to
know about us. About who we are, what we stand for, those things we
cherish and defend with all we have. Such moments however rare, offer
the complete stranger the opportunity to see into the very core of our
being, and to make an assessment, a judgement of who we are. This video
encapsulates one of those rare moments, and it is reproduced here with
the kind permission of it's creator, Graeme.
Tribute Day - Ibrox
I
have had many proud moments in my life. The birth of my children,
standing in Port Stanley being hugged by the people I had just
liberated, this video however ranks up there with all the foregoing.
It reminds me of a day when both my family of Rangers supporters and my
club, who have been an ever present constant in my life, reminded me of
all that I am and all that I stand for. Without compromise.
It
is fitting it opens with Abide With Me. In the journey and adventure
which is life itself, family, friends, loved ones will come and go. You
will always return to Rangers, they will remain and offer themselves
without demand, as a constant to us all in the journey of life. They
will be the anchor which forever holds. Without compromise.
It is
a video which represents the best life has to offer, fellowship,
celebration, truth and honour. There is no stage management, nor is
there anything cosmetic about it. No spin, no masks, no smoke, no
mirrors. Just a genuine show of appreciation from the Rangers support
for the men and women who never hide behind spin doctors, whose courage
is defined by actions not by stage managed soundbites. It is a courage
not motivated by self seeking or self glory but which is exercised time
after time after time, that we might experience and enjoy that ,which so
many throughout our world can only wish for, freedom itself. Without
compromise.
One only has to the look at the faces of our brave
men and women to grab a sense of the appreciation of their reception. If
ever a picture paints a thousand words then this is the moment. Perhaps
it was the military precision of the flawless card displays, which
would have done any drill parade proud, perhaps it's the symbolism,
banners or flags which so many could identify with. For culture does not
live in books or soundbites, but in the hearts of people expressing it
through flags, song, banner and symbolism. Without compromise. Without
fear. Without intimidation.
In a year which has seen so many try
to take away all which we stand for, all we represent, all we defend,
we need only look to our guests at Ibrox this tribute day for
inspiration, for resolution and for example.
On a day which HM
Forces were guests of Rangers Football Club, and were asked to take a
bow, it should perhaps serve as a reminder to everyone, that this
football club and its support will never bow down to anyone, neither man
born of woman, nor for that matter lie born of woman.
Monday 31 December 2012
Sunday 30 December 2012
Proportionate and Appropriate
A certain journalist, who shall remain nameless, is the latest to have a pop at Rangers fans who dare to subscribe to conspiracy and agenda theories. For those amongst us however, of such a disposition, that unanswered identities leave you in a state of flux allow me to furnish you a clue – its the same journalist who claimed on national TV he had never used the word “cheats” with regard to Rangers use of EBT's, whilst at the same time social network sites were buzzing with screen shots of him saying exactly that. I believe the term is hung by your own petard.
According to some, its utter poppycock and the domain of the “internet bampot” to suggest that BBC Scotland have something of an anti-Rangers bias operating within. But whilst they are very quick to dismiss such claims from Rangers supporters, they are far less efficient in explaining what some refer to as “Operation Blackout” at BBC Scotland, when it comes to reporting anything remotely negative regarding Celtic FC.
BBC Scotland were the only major news outlet in Scotland which did not report on Celtic players John Hartson and Stephen Pearson apparently engaging in a sectarian sing-along at a supporters function. Nor did they feel moved to report on Anthony Stokes attending the funeral of Alan Ryan, the leader of the Dublin brigade of the Real IRA. If nothing else however, BBC Scotland are at least consistent – the ugly crowd scenes at Dens Park last week which Dundee official Jim Thomson described as the “worst in 20 years and a throwback to the 70's” were deemed not to be newsworthy by someone within BBC Scotland.
Of course the BBC prides itself on neutrality and accuracy. Perhaps then those at BBC Scotland would care to explain this......
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18169502
But it would seem that asking questions concerning the neutrality of BBC Scotland is no longer the monopoly of the “internet bampot” with Archie MacPherson and James Traynor, long standing employees of BBC Scotland, being particularly critical of their conduct with regard to Rangers FC. Many will point to the fact the latter is now employed by Rangers FC, conveniently ignoring the fact that much of his criticism was levelled long before he took up his current role at Rangers.
But so often in the forming of opinions, subjective experience plays a pivotal role in our decision making process.. Some of you will remember a few weeks ago I pointed out that the details of BBC Scotland's exclusive interview with Craig Whyte, (an interview which just co-incidentally was organised as Rangers were embarking on a shares flotation) was leaked to internet blogger Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, who then usurped the BBC's exclusive by releasing the details in his blog a whole day before BBC Scotland published its “exclusive”.
One could be forgiven for thinking that such a breach of trust, of journalistic integrity, of accountability and responsibility to the BBC licence payer would provoke an appropriate response from those within BBC Scotland. Instead, this is what I received in response to my complaint regarding the foregoing.
No denial. No investigation. No accountability nor responsibility to the licence payer. An interview which BBC Scotland hailed as an “exclusive” was usurped by an employee within their own organisation and BBC Scotland felt “a reminder to staff about security and confidentiality” was the proportionate and appropriate response.
History of course has two particularly annoying characteristics, that of repeating itself and catching up with us. Just ask the BBC managers now under the spotlight with regard to the Savile investigations, who deemed their responses to complaints as “proportionate and appropriate”.
According to some, its utter poppycock and the domain of the “internet bampot” to suggest that BBC Scotland have something of an anti-Rangers bias operating within. But whilst they are very quick to dismiss such claims from Rangers supporters, they are far less efficient in explaining what some refer to as “Operation Blackout” at BBC Scotland, when it comes to reporting anything remotely negative regarding Celtic FC.
BBC Scotland were the only major news outlet in Scotland which did not report on Celtic players John Hartson and Stephen Pearson apparently engaging in a sectarian sing-along at a supporters function. Nor did they feel moved to report on Anthony Stokes attending the funeral of Alan Ryan, the leader of the Dublin brigade of the Real IRA. If nothing else however, BBC Scotland are at least consistent – the ugly crowd scenes at Dens Park last week which Dundee official Jim Thomson described as the “worst in 20 years and a throwback to the 70's” were deemed not to be newsworthy by someone within BBC Scotland.
Of course the BBC prides itself on neutrality and accuracy. Perhaps then those at BBC Scotland would care to explain this......
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18169502
So, could Rangers be stripped of past titles and trophies?So let me get this right...a tax avoidance scheme which a Tax Tribunal deemed lawful is on a par, or equivalent to bribery, corruption and match fixing ? Neutrality and accuracy ?
Precedence exists for this kind of rule-breaking and subsequent punishment in football and other sports.
In 1994, Marseilles were found guilty of financial irregularities and a match fixing scandal involving then president Bernard Tapie.
The French club was forcibly relegated to Ligue 1 and lost its 1992-93 Division One title and the right to play in the Champions League in 1993-94, the 1993 European Super Cup and the 1993 Intercontinental Cup.
But it would seem that asking questions concerning the neutrality of BBC Scotland is no longer the monopoly of the “internet bampot” with Archie MacPherson and James Traynor, long standing employees of BBC Scotland, being particularly critical of their conduct with regard to Rangers FC. Many will point to the fact the latter is now employed by Rangers FC, conveniently ignoring the fact that much of his criticism was levelled long before he took up his current role at Rangers.
But so often in the forming of opinions, subjective experience plays a pivotal role in our decision making process.. Some of you will remember a few weeks ago I pointed out that the details of BBC Scotland's exclusive interview with Craig Whyte, (an interview which just co-incidentally was organised as Rangers were embarking on a shares flotation) was leaked to internet blogger Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, who then usurped the BBC's exclusive by releasing the details in his blog a whole day before BBC Scotland published its “exclusive”.
One could be forgiven for thinking that such a breach of trust, of journalistic integrity, of accountability and responsibility to the BBC licence payer would provoke an appropriate response from those within BBC Scotland. Instead, this is what I received in response to my complaint regarding the foregoing.
Thank you for your e-mail addressed to the BBC Trust, who have forwarded it to BBC Scotland for response.
Your comments were passed to the Head of Sport, who has asked that I forward his response as follows:
BBC Scotland takes issues of security and confidentiality in relation to editorial material very seriously and we have spoken to staff to remind them of their responsibilities in this area."
No denial. No investigation. No accountability nor responsibility to the licence payer. An interview which BBC Scotland hailed as an “exclusive” was usurped by an employee within their own organisation and BBC Scotland felt “a reminder to staff about security and confidentiality” was the proportionate and appropriate response.
History of course has two particularly annoying characteristics, that of repeating itself and catching up with us. Just ask the BBC managers now under the spotlight with regard to the Savile investigations, who deemed their responses to complaints as “proportionate and appropriate”.
Thursday 27 December 2012
Heart of Darkness
To tear treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire, with no more moral purpose at the back of it than there is in burglars breaking into a safe.
(Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad 1902)
It was one of those strange moments life throws up every so often. Three feet away from me was a total stranger whom I had never met. And yet I was more aware of the darkness and anger within his soul than his wife, who was with him. Furthermore, he was equally aware of a similar darkness deep within me. For the badge on his padded jacket linked us in a way even our most loved ones sometimes fail to fully comprehend. RFC.
It is darkness borne out of anger, frustration, powerlessness and a desire for vengeance. Yes vengeance, and I make no apologies for it. A catalogue of unfairness, injustice, mistreatment bitterness and hatred towards our club is what fuels it. Journalists who do not know any better, are telling us to forgive, forget and move on, in fact even some within our ranks are suggesting the same.
I'm not ready, not even nearly ready, to move on. When I do it will be at a time of my choosing not at the direction of those who have no understanding or comprehension of that darkness and anger.
Those same journalists could wipe the floor with me as they lay out in chronological order, the facts surrounding the demise of our club and the characters involved.
But it's what they cant tell you which gives rise to understanding the darkness within. Night after night without sleep. Agonising over the latest information only to find it contradicted minutes later from another news source. The feeling of powerlessness to save something which you cherish, which has been with you throughout your entire lifetime. That which could lay claim to the many highs (and lows) of life's reflection.
Nor can they tell you what it feels like to have been made a pariah of Scottish society. To be labelled cheats, financial dopers and to be considered in the same breath as those guilty of bribery and corruption. All of course without trial. Much of what has transpired, by all involved, has been done on a presumption of guilt. They even took away our most fundamental of rights – a presumption of innocence until proved guilty. Nor will I forget the efforts by some to influence that decision making process unfairly. Nor will I forget how they were honoured for their efforts.
Before anyone moves to criticise me for harbouring such darkness and anger let me ask you a question. Has anything really changed ?
Have they abandoned the kangaroo court process which seeks to strip us of titles ? Or the transfer embargo which was unlawfully imposed ?
Has there been a heartfelt apology from those who declared us guilty without trial ?
Have we had any assurance that those same people who tried so hard to destroy our club will be prevented from doing so in the future ?
Have we had any acknowledgement from the SPL that our absence is having a detrimental affect on Scottish football as a whole ? Or by lies and mis-information are they seeking to tell us that all is well without us ?
So until I see some measure of remorse from those responsible for our condemnation, or those who sought to punish us on a presumption of guilt, or until there is acknowledgement that our club and it's support are a vital component part which is essential to the ongoing survival of Scottish football, then I'm afraid you will not find me forgiving, forgetting or moving on.
That's what happens you see when you steal the treasure out of the bowels of the land.
Saturday 22 December 2012
Rangers First
There are some who will have missed the thread on the Follow Follow
website regarding David Leggat's latest blog – The Enemy Within. Let me
assure those who did – you are the lucky ones. The sight of the Rangers
support tearing strips off each other was as unedifying as it was heart
breaking.
Personal attacks, personal recrimination, personal accusations, personal animosity. You will note the repeated use of the word “personal”. When the person is put first you can rest assured that Rangers come a very poor second. Isn't it about time we made sure that in our every action, word and deed that our sole motivation is simple – Rangers First ?
Or does satisfying old scores, personal feuds and age old divisions take precedence over putting Rangers First ? Perhaps, more alarming, have we reached a stage, when we truly believe that settling such scores are actually putting Rangers First ? Almighty God, help us in our blindness and pride filled ignorance.
What an indictment it is on us as a support that in an age of computers, internet, social media and e-mail we are more fractured as a support than were before these tools were available to us. These tools should be utilised to fulfil the potential this support has, working as a cohesive unit, not vilifying one another. If the Rangers support organised and orchestrated a one day unofficial general strike – this country would grind to a halt. That is the potential, but time after time after time we fail to fulfil it.
It is unrealistic to strive for complete unity. In any family unit there will always be differences of opinion, method and approach. It's normal. Our challenge, and our ultimate effectiveness as a support will be determined by our ability to both recognise our differences, live with them, and find the common ground which allows us to perform effectively in our strive towards the common goal – Rangers First.
(This is not just an ideal..it is a challenge to the leaders of the various Rangers factions, and I sincerely hope the Rangers support as a whole hold you accountable)
I have spent years writing and blogging, defending our club, defending our support, defending our traditions from attacks by all and sundry. I am not the only one. But all those hours, pouring over research to ensure what we produce is accurate, visiting the very heart of the soul to tap into that which is mystical and beyond rational to explain our love for the Rangers, will count for nothing if personal vendettas, personal agendas and an inability to work, together, towards a common goal, fail to put Rangers First.
To quote a historic Rangers mantra....”Rangers deserve better”
To quote a historic Nike advertising slogan … “Just do it”
And with that this musketeer bids you all a fond “ Adieu”
RANGERS FOREVER
Kind Regards
D'Artagnan
Personal attacks, personal recrimination, personal accusations, personal animosity. You will note the repeated use of the word “personal”. When the person is put first you can rest assured that Rangers come a very poor second. Isn't it about time we made sure that in our every action, word and deed that our sole motivation is simple – Rangers First ?
Or does satisfying old scores, personal feuds and age old divisions take precedence over putting Rangers First ? Perhaps, more alarming, have we reached a stage, when we truly believe that settling such scores are actually putting Rangers First ? Almighty God, help us in our blindness and pride filled ignorance.
What an indictment it is on us as a support that in an age of computers, internet, social media and e-mail we are more fractured as a support than were before these tools were available to us. These tools should be utilised to fulfil the potential this support has, working as a cohesive unit, not vilifying one another. If the Rangers support organised and orchestrated a one day unofficial general strike – this country would grind to a halt. That is the potential, but time after time after time we fail to fulfil it.
It is unrealistic to strive for complete unity. In any family unit there will always be differences of opinion, method and approach. It's normal. Our challenge, and our ultimate effectiveness as a support will be determined by our ability to both recognise our differences, live with them, and find the common ground which allows us to perform effectively in our strive towards the common goal – Rangers First.
(This is not just an ideal..it is a challenge to the leaders of the various Rangers factions, and I sincerely hope the Rangers support as a whole hold you accountable)
I have spent years writing and blogging, defending our club, defending our support, defending our traditions from attacks by all and sundry. I am not the only one. But all those hours, pouring over research to ensure what we produce is accurate, visiting the very heart of the soul to tap into that which is mystical and beyond rational to explain our love for the Rangers, will count for nothing if personal vendettas, personal agendas and an inability to work, together, towards a common goal, fail to put Rangers First.
To quote a historic Rangers mantra....”Rangers deserve better”
To quote a historic Nike advertising slogan … “Just do it”
And with that this musketeer bids you all a fond “ Adieu”
RANGERS FOREVER
Kind Regards
D'Artagnan
Tuesday 18 December 2012
G51 2XD
Ok it's confession time.
When it comes to the world of social media I am particularly technophobic. Perhaps there is some truth to the adage about old dogs and new tricks. At the request of others who asked for my blog to be “social media friendly” I ventured warily into the perilous world of Twitter and Facebook. I manged to navigate the former with just a modicum of pain, the latter, however proved to be a step too far. My Facebook page exists solely because Mrs D'Artagnan was kind enough to set it up for me.
Nonetheless Facebook continues to perplex me. For instance I responded to what I thought was a message from a friend only to find myself in the middle of a cyber farm. Things went downhill pretty fast after that. I noticed that on the maps section of my page Ibrox was listed as a place I had visited. This bamboozled me and I came to the conclusion, alarmingly I might add, that my wife was tracing my movements via my mobile phone. It was only later I learned from her that she had put this in manually to be something old and familiar for me in the strange and daunting environment of Facebook.
Several months on and I haven't changed it. G51 2XD still shows when I log into Facebook. It’s more than just a postcode or a security blanket for a technophobic blogger. It represents over 40 years of memories and an unbroken passion for a football club. In fact it's safe to say when I first started making the pilgrimage to G51 2XD I still believed in Santa Claus.
The entry on the recent Montrose match day programme had only served to underlined this. The assertion that our club is now defunct appears to have been lost on my inbuilt human navigation system. My eyes and ears appear to have been tricked as well. Because a trip to G51 2XD allows my to see the Rangers I have followed for over 40 years amidst the choruses I am familiar with.
It's the same G51 2XD where I was mesmorised by Davie Cooper, the same G51 2XD where the King of Ibrox Park, Parlane reigned, in fact its the same G51 2XD where my older brother before me raved about Brand, Baxter and Caldow.
That's not to say some things haven't changed along the way. I no longer alight from a train at Partick and take the subway to G51 2XD. The latter mode of transport of course put me in touch with my own mortality the week after the Moorgate Disaster. Those who travelled on the old underground will know exactly what I'm talking about. And of course there is no longer a maritime passage to G51 2XD, for those of us who embarked from Kelvinhaugh and Finnieston during the long overdue upgrade of the aforementioned subway.
And despite this being an age of Health & Safety I no longer wear the obligatory customised hard builders hat, nor do I eat unwrapped cheese or ham rolls from a cardboard box which had seen better days (along with the rolls) all served with a dessert of macaroon bars. The six foot Union flag which once adorned my shoulders is now replaced by a small metallic one on my lapel. The symbolism may have changed but the beliefs most certainly haven't.
But should I trust my sensory perceptions that my club is very much alive despite repeated assertions to the contrary ? Perhaps...but a little more objective evidence wouldn't do any harm.
Lord Nimmo Smith, who chairs the SPL 's independent panel panel probing alleged undisclosed payments to players by the “defunct” club, and which the club which currently plays at G51 2XD is being brought to task for, stated that Rangers FC is a recognisable entity which continued in existence notwithstanding the change in ownership. Pretty conclusive.
But there is more bad news for the proponents of Sevco...
European Clubs Association - Rangers
And those pesky Europeans are at it again....must be some kind of grand scale conspiracy...
UEFA - RANGERS
88th in UEFA rankings. I'm sure you would all agree that's not bad for a football team, who as some would have you believe, have never played in Europe before.
So I will keep making my pilgrimage to G51 2XD to see the Rangers, and I will leave those proponents of Sevco and “defunct” to their own deluded and hate filled wishes.
But I have a parting life lesson for them from a little boy who, when he first went to see his beloved Rangers, still believed in Santa.
Believing in something does not make it true, no matter how much you wish for it to be so. And the Rangers will still be here when your keyboards eventually fall silent.
When it comes to the world of social media I am particularly technophobic. Perhaps there is some truth to the adage about old dogs and new tricks. At the request of others who asked for my blog to be “social media friendly” I ventured warily into the perilous world of Twitter and Facebook. I manged to navigate the former with just a modicum of pain, the latter, however proved to be a step too far. My Facebook page exists solely because Mrs D'Artagnan was kind enough to set it up for me.
Nonetheless Facebook continues to perplex me. For instance I responded to what I thought was a message from a friend only to find myself in the middle of a cyber farm. Things went downhill pretty fast after that. I noticed that on the maps section of my page Ibrox was listed as a place I had visited. This bamboozled me and I came to the conclusion, alarmingly I might add, that my wife was tracing my movements via my mobile phone. It was only later I learned from her that she had put this in manually to be something old and familiar for me in the strange and daunting environment of Facebook.
Several months on and I haven't changed it. G51 2XD still shows when I log into Facebook. It’s more than just a postcode or a security blanket for a technophobic blogger. It represents over 40 years of memories and an unbroken passion for a football club. In fact it's safe to say when I first started making the pilgrimage to G51 2XD I still believed in Santa Claus.
The entry on the recent Montrose match day programme had only served to underlined this. The assertion that our club is now defunct appears to have been lost on my inbuilt human navigation system. My eyes and ears appear to have been tricked as well. Because a trip to G51 2XD allows my to see the Rangers I have followed for over 40 years amidst the choruses I am familiar with.
It's the same G51 2XD where I was mesmorised by Davie Cooper, the same G51 2XD where the King of Ibrox Park, Parlane reigned, in fact its the same G51 2XD where my older brother before me raved about Brand, Baxter and Caldow.
That's not to say some things haven't changed along the way. I no longer alight from a train at Partick and take the subway to G51 2XD. The latter mode of transport of course put me in touch with my own mortality the week after the Moorgate Disaster. Those who travelled on the old underground will know exactly what I'm talking about. And of course there is no longer a maritime passage to G51 2XD, for those of us who embarked from Kelvinhaugh and Finnieston during the long overdue upgrade of the aforementioned subway.
And despite this being an age of Health & Safety I no longer wear the obligatory customised hard builders hat, nor do I eat unwrapped cheese or ham rolls from a cardboard box which had seen better days (along with the rolls) all served with a dessert of macaroon bars. The six foot Union flag which once adorned my shoulders is now replaced by a small metallic one on my lapel. The symbolism may have changed but the beliefs most certainly haven't.
But should I trust my sensory perceptions that my club is very much alive despite repeated assertions to the contrary ? Perhaps...but a little more objective evidence wouldn't do any harm.
Lord Nimmo Smith, who chairs the SPL 's independent panel panel probing alleged undisclosed payments to players by the “defunct” club, and which the club which currently plays at G51 2XD is being brought to task for, stated that Rangers FC is a recognisable entity which continued in existence notwithstanding the change in ownership. Pretty conclusive.
But there is more bad news for the proponents of Sevco...
European Clubs Association - Rangers
And those pesky Europeans are at it again....must be some kind of grand scale conspiracy...
UEFA - RANGERS
88th in UEFA rankings. I'm sure you would all agree that's not bad for a football team, who as some would have you believe, have never played in Europe before.
So I will keep making my pilgrimage to G51 2XD to see the Rangers, and I will leave those proponents of Sevco and “defunct” to their own deluded and hate filled wishes.
But I have a parting life lesson for them from a little boy who, when he first went to see his beloved Rangers, still believed in Santa.
Believing in something does not make it true, no matter how much you wish for it to be so. And the Rangers will still be here when your keyboards eventually fall silent.
Monday 17 December 2012
We shall know them by their deeds...
Two events caught my eye on the internet cyber world over the weekend.
The first was considerable excitement on some Rangers forums that a Scottish newspaper intended to print a recording of a high ranked football official alluding to "burying Rangers”.
The second notable occurrence was a blog by Ms Angela Haggerty, editor of Phil Mac Giolla Bhain's book - Downfall. Ms Haggerty as some of you may remember was particularly angry and outspoken when the Sun newspaper decided against serializing the aforementioned book, suggesting it's author was "tarred with a sectarian brush". This is how the Scotsman newspaper reviewed the book recently.....
Ms Haggerty of course has been a guest on disgraced lawyer Paul McConville's blog Random Thoughts on Scots Law. For those thinking of visiting this shamed lawyers blog let me give you some advice to help you navigate his blog. Rangers, who have managed to generate over 600 "random thoughts" for Mr McConville, are not some mass murderer whose release, on compassionate grounds proved the catalyst for both political and legal arguments. You will find a person fitting that criteria under A for Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrah. Surprisingly this had only managed to generate 1 random thought for Mr McConville. Funny that.
Of course McConnvile himself is no stranger to being a guest on the blog of others having featured on the Scotzine website recently.
Oh what a wicked Web we weave.
Surprisingly there is a connection between those excited Rangers fans I referred to on the opening paragraph and Ms Haggerty's latest blog offering. The connection is in the word “injustice” which Ms Haggerty uses almost as frequently as she uses the word Sevco.
Do we as Rangers fans really have to hear on tape that some on the upper echelons of our footballing hierarchy wanted Rangers dead and buried ? Do their actions not speaker speak louder than any words, recorded or otherwise ?
Have we forgotten that the footballing authority in this country abandoned the fundamental principle of justice, that you are innocent until proven guilty, as they sought to deal with our club ?
That their solution of a five way agreement was a presumption of guilt which they tried to blackmail our club into accepting ?
That a host of football chairmen from the SFL were publicly commenting that the football authorities in this country were bullying, threatening and intimidating them to pursue a course of action with regard to our club ran contrary to natural justice ?
That the government agency investigating Rangers alleged tax discrepancies was leaking confidential information to a number of unknown persons who used that information to manipulate and per-meditate public and media perception with regard to the outcome of this case.
Having failed to stem the leaks, that same government agency failed to involve the Police in the search to attempt to identify those responsible, such leaks of course represented a Breach of the Official Secrets Act, The more cynical amongst us have even suggested that HMRC were less than thorough and professional in their actions, as the consequence of such leaks, despite their criminal nature, suited their purpose.
So no, I don't need to hear a recording to know that some within the echelons of our footballing authorities did everything within their power to see our club dead and buried.
But of course none of the injustices aforementioned are cited on Ms Haggerty's latest blog.
Still.... perhaps her next job will be to edit the Oxford Dictionary, that will give her the perfect opportunity to look up the definition of “injustice”.
The first was considerable excitement on some Rangers forums that a Scottish newspaper intended to print a recording of a high ranked football official alluding to "burying Rangers”.
The second notable occurrence was a blog by Ms Angela Haggerty, editor of Phil Mac Giolla Bhain's book - Downfall. Ms Haggerty as some of you may remember was particularly angry and outspoken when the Sun newspaper decided against serializing the aforementioned book, suggesting it's author was "tarred with a sectarian brush". This is how the Scotsman newspaper reviewed the book recently.....
The sirens started to sound at the first of several references to Rangers supporters as “the Ibrox klan”. The author makes no attempt to disguise his hatred for Rangers, stating at one stage “please let this football club die”. And yet he yearns to be taken seriously as a journalist, repeatedly complaining that no-one from the mainstream media ever calls him. As the tale unravels, Mac Giolla Bhain starts to disappear up his own rear, declaring: “I am aware of my own contribution and I rather like the guy I see in the shaving mirror every morning.” These are two classic mistakes: believing you are the story, and wanting a story to be true. When it’s not.
Ms Haggerty of course has been a guest on disgraced lawyer Paul McConville's blog Random Thoughts on Scots Law. For those thinking of visiting this shamed lawyers blog let me give you some advice to help you navigate his blog. Rangers, who have managed to generate over 600 "random thoughts" for Mr McConville, are not some mass murderer whose release, on compassionate grounds proved the catalyst for both political and legal arguments. You will find a person fitting that criteria under A for Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrah. Surprisingly this had only managed to generate 1 random thought for Mr McConville. Funny that.
Of course McConnvile himself is no stranger to being a guest on the blog of others having featured on the Scotzine website recently.
Oh what a wicked Web we weave.
Surprisingly there is a connection between those excited Rangers fans I referred to on the opening paragraph and Ms Haggerty's latest blog offering. The connection is in the word “injustice” which Ms Haggerty uses almost as frequently as she uses the word Sevco.
Do we as Rangers fans really have to hear on tape that some on the upper echelons of our footballing hierarchy wanted Rangers dead and buried ? Do their actions not speaker speak louder than any words, recorded or otherwise ?
Have we forgotten that the footballing authority in this country abandoned the fundamental principle of justice, that you are innocent until proven guilty, as they sought to deal with our club ?
That their solution of a five way agreement was a presumption of guilt which they tried to blackmail our club into accepting ?
That a host of football chairmen from the SFL were publicly commenting that the football authorities in this country were bullying, threatening and intimidating them to pursue a course of action with regard to our club ran contrary to natural justice ?
That the government agency investigating Rangers alleged tax discrepancies was leaking confidential information to a number of unknown persons who used that information to manipulate and per-meditate public and media perception with regard to the outcome of this case.
Having failed to stem the leaks, that same government agency failed to involve the Police in the search to attempt to identify those responsible, such leaks of course represented a Breach of the Official Secrets Act, The more cynical amongst us have even suggested that HMRC were less than thorough and professional in their actions, as the consequence of such leaks, despite their criminal nature, suited their purpose.
So no, I don't need to hear a recording to know that some within the echelons of our footballing authorities did everything within their power to see our club dead and buried.
But of course none of the injustices aforementioned are cited on Ms Haggerty's latest blog.
Still.... perhaps her next job will be to edit the Oxford Dictionary, that will give her the perfect opportunity to look up the definition of “injustice”.
Saturday 15 December 2012
Investigating the Investigators
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
Despite often being attributed to Voltaire himself, it was actually Evelyn Beatrice Hall (Voltaire's Biographer) who penned these words. One line in and I digress already, that, even for me must be some kind of record. But to more serious matters....
I have to confess that David Leggat's Legoland Blog is not my first bookmark for Rangers related issues. But in true Voltaire fashion I have to say I was utterly appalled at his recent treatment at the hands of Strathclyde Police. In fact we all should be appalled – it was a full frontal assault on the principle of freedom of speech in this country.
His alleged crime ? Naming an individual who had been mentioned on twitter by someone else (without sanction I may add) as a suspect in the HMRC leaks of the Rangers Tax Case. In other words... good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander.
I thought the fundamental principle hammered into every recruit who passes through the Scottish Police College is that they would discharge their duty without fear, favour malice or ill-will towards anyone. Back to college for some methinks.
Post incident Leggo has directed much of his ire over the incident towards Strathclyde Police lawyer Duncan Campbell. I think he is barking up the wrong tree. The decision for the Police to become involved was an operational matter not one made by some lawyer employed by them to sift through employment contracts etc. Sure he may have been consulted for his legal knowledge, he may even have advised the Police, but at the end of the day the decision for the Police to become involved in what at worst amounted to a civil case of defamation( if even that), was purely an operational decision taken by a Police Officer, and probably a fairly high ranked one at that, within Strathclyde Police.
Furthermore in cases which have a considerable grey legal area, my understanding is that the Police are far more inclined to contact the on call Procurator Fiscal for advice rather than some lawyer employed by them. They are after all answerable to the Fiscal.
But it doesn't end there. For Leggo alludes to the fact that if he did not remove his blog article he was offered a nights bed and breakfast courtesy of Strathclyde Police. I thought in these days of liberty, human rights and lawyers strikes, that arrest was not the preferred option when the interests of justice could equally be served by service of a copy complaint/summons on the accused. After all Leggo did not fit the common law criteria for arrest. He was not of “no fixed abode” because Strathclyde Police, after all had come chapping at his door, nor was their an evident intention to abscond or a need to prevent a repetition of the offence. So why such heavy handed tactics to oppress freedom of speech ?
The whole incident is now of course subject of an official enquiry and I'm sure Leggo, in his own indomitable style will keep all interested parties updated.
But on the subject of Police Investigations, or perhaps lack of them in this case, I didn't share my fellow bears joy upon hearing the news that Sir David Murray had instructed his lawyers Levy McRae to petition the Crown Office to launch a criminal investigation into the leaks at HMRC during the now ill-fated Rangers Tax Case.
My initial reaction was “What ?”.
Are you telling me that a government agency which was leaking information at such an alarming rate, which allowed the beneficiaries of that information managed to hold a whole nation captive for several months, and the quantity and the quality of the leaks even allowed them to win awards, had not involved the Police to date ? That the epidemic level of breaches of the official secrets act were not reported by those in charge at HMRC ?
If not then we deserve answers as to why not.
Why has such glaring breaches of criminal law not been reported by those whose job it is to investigate ? My information is that despite an internal investigation by HMRC the perpetrator (s)of these leaks has not been identified. So in the most high profile tax case in Scottish history the investigating agency are aware of tsunami size leaks and breaches of the law within yet, to date it remains unreported as a crime ?
Why were the Police who have the power to search homes, the technology to forensically check computers, the ability to examine documents for DNA and fingerprints, the authority to access phone records, not brought in to identify the culprit ?
Forget conspiracy theories, if this matter has not been reported to the Police we are talking about professional incompetence at a level which should prove to be a catalyst for a government enquiry into the whole affair.
I must go for now....I have a letter to write to my MP.
Despite often being attributed to Voltaire himself, it was actually Evelyn Beatrice Hall (Voltaire's Biographer) who penned these words. One line in and I digress already, that, even for me must be some kind of record. But to more serious matters....
I have to confess that David Leggat's Legoland Blog is not my first bookmark for Rangers related issues. But in true Voltaire fashion I have to say I was utterly appalled at his recent treatment at the hands of Strathclyde Police. In fact we all should be appalled – it was a full frontal assault on the principle of freedom of speech in this country.
His alleged crime ? Naming an individual who had been mentioned on twitter by someone else (without sanction I may add) as a suspect in the HMRC leaks of the Rangers Tax Case. In other words... good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander.
I thought the fundamental principle hammered into every recruit who passes through the Scottish Police College is that they would discharge their duty without fear, favour malice or ill-will towards anyone. Back to college for some methinks.
Post incident Leggo has directed much of his ire over the incident towards Strathclyde Police lawyer Duncan Campbell. I think he is barking up the wrong tree. The decision for the Police to become involved was an operational matter not one made by some lawyer employed by them to sift through employment contracts etc. Sure he may have been consulted for his legal knowledge, he may even have advised the Police, but at the end of the day the decision for the Police to become involved in what at worst amounted to a civil case of defamation( if even that), was purely an operational decision taken by a Police Officer, and probably a fairly high ranked one at that, within Strathclyde Police.
Furthermore in cases which have a considerable grey legal area, my understanding is that the Police are far more inclined to contact the on call Procurator Fiscal for advice rather than some lawyer employed by them. They are after all answerable to the Fiscal.
But it doesn't end there. For Leggo alludes to the fact that if he did not remove his blog article he was offered a nights bed and breakfast courtesy of Strathclyde Police. I thought in these days of liberty, human rights and lawyers strikes, that arrest was not the preferred option when the interests of justice could equally be served by service of a copy complaint/summons on the accused. After all Leggo did not fit the common law criteria for arrest. He was not of “no fixed abode” because Strathclyde Police, after all had come chapping at his door, nor was their an evident intention to abscond or a need to prevent a repetition of the offence. So why such heavy handed tactics to oppress freedom of speech ?
The whole incident is now of course subject of an official enquiry and I'm sure Leggo, in his own indomitable style will keep all interested parties updated.
But on the subject of Police Investigations, or perhaps lack of them in this case, I didn't share my fellow bears joy upon hearing the news that Sir David Murray had instructed his lawyers Levy McRae to petition the Crown Office to launch a criminal investigation into the leaks at HMRC during the now ill-fated Rangers Tax Case.
My initial reaction was “What ?”.
Are you telling me that a government agency which was leaking information at such an alarming rate, which allowed the beneficiaries of that information managed to hold a whole nation captive for several months, and the quantity and the quality of the leaks even allowed them to win awards, had not involved the Police to date ? That the epidemic level of breaches of the official secrets act were not reported by those in charge at HMRC ?
If not then we deserve answers as to why not.
Why has such glaring breaches of criminal law not been reported by those whose job it is to investigate ? My information is that despite an internal investigation by HMRC the perpetrator (s)of these leaks has not been identified. So in the most high profile tax case in Scottish history the investigating agency are aware of tsunami size leaks and breaches of the law within yet, to date it remains unreported as a crime ?
Why were the Police who have the power to search homes, the technology to forensically check computers, the ability to examine documents for DNA and fingerprints, the authority to access phone records, not brought in to identify the culprit ?
Forget conspiracy theories, if this matter has not been reported to the Police we are talking about professional incompetence at a level which should prove to be a catalyst for a government enquiry into the whole affair.
I must go for now....I have a letter to write to my MP.
Wednesday 12 December 2012
The Apocalypse cometh...
I've lost count of the number of times I've watched Apocalypse Now, and yet despite countless viewings, I'm still undecided on Willard's feelings at the end towards Kurtz strategy. Did he sympathise or find the tactics abhorrent ?
For the younger bears out there who may not yet have enjoyed this Coppola classic - the story revolves around a special forces commander Col Kurtz (Marlon Brando) who had gone rogue. Frustrated with fighting an enemy who won't play by the rules Kurtz embarks on an unconventional and irregular strategy of doing unto others as they would do unto you. Except worse. Much worse in fact. Suffice to say that the words Geneva convention did not feature in the Brando's unconventional and irregular strategy. So much so that the Pentagon despatches another special forces operative, Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) to bring closure to Kurtz's regime.
Of course unconventional and irregular doesn't have to contain the element of brutality. During the Falklands war I served in a commando unit who did much of it's fighting behind enemy lines. We operated on a mantra of the three d's - disruption, destruction and demoralising. Post war a summation of our role was described as “unconventional, irregular but highly effective" Without I may add, the element of brutality espoused by Col Kurtz aforesaid.
These last few months have seen the Rangers support face an enemy who, like Brando's adversaries refused to play by the rules. Our club was branded guilty without trial, our chairman blackmailed by those who are expected to display governance, fairness and justice. But injustice did not stop at Rangers doorstep. SFL chairmen were bullied, intimidated and threatened to embark on a course of action which ran contrary to any sense of natural justice. Unlawful and unjust sanctions were imposed upon our club. Shame on them.
The Scottish press participated in the bloodfest labelling us cheats tax dodgers and much worse. Government agencies breached criminal law in the stampede to damage or club beyond repair. Internet bloggers manipulated government agency leaks in an effort to further destabilise or club. This bloodfest became an unstoppable force whose intent was clear – the death and destruction of Rangers FC.
Scotland became the scene of the eternal cosmic conundrum - the unstoppable force versus the immovable object. Two forces propelled by those timeless human emotions – love and hate.
And at at the end of carnage there was only one left standing. The immovable object - the Rangers support. Driven by love rather than hatred, and against all rational thought and soothsayers of doom, the Rangers support proved to be the unflinching and unbeatable vanguard of Rangers football club. Their love for a football club, which for many symbolises their very identity, was put to the test. They were not found to be wanting.
It's perhaps symptomatic of the problem, that press reporters outside Scotland, from far flung continents, want to report on the supporters who would not let their club die. Perhaps those Japanese reporters at Ibrox recently felt the unflinching loyalty and devotion of the Rangers support in the face of adversity would resonate in a culture which still holds the values of the Samurai in high regard.
Its against this backdrop that the boycott of Rangers forthcoming Scottish Cup tie at Tannadice could therefore be described as both unconventional and irregular if not surprising. Dundee United chairman Stephen Thomson epitomised everything which was wrong with Scotland during the Rangers crisis.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18365480
No Stephen views haven't hardened – unbridled hatred was allowed to replace a desire for fairness and justice. Lack of remorse ? You want us to apologise because you have pre-empted the result of a tax tribunal and declared us guilty ? And how dare we have the audacity to challenge a ruling which the court ultimately ruled was unlawful within the context of the SFA's own regulations.
I become infuriated when I hear journo's, post tribunal verdict, state they “understand Rangers fans anger”. No they don't. They have no idea at all. Only Rangers supporters truly understand the anger. There is a fury within the Rangers support which burns in a manner akin to napalm – it cannot be extinguished. A fire of righteous indignation has spread right through the Rangers support.
If Scotland was to genuinely reflect on it's treatment of Rangers over the last few months, it would quickly realise that the club is due a heartfelt apology. Whether such an apology is forthcoming is another matter. If it was, it would go some way to dousing those flames of anger within our support.
If however, its not then the unconventional and irregular may become the norm, with a brutality which would put Kurtz strategy to shame, and Scottish football will face a financial apocalypse as a consequence. Perhaps as ever, “sorry” will prove to be the hardest word.
We have come a long way from the opening paragraph and the jungles of Cambodia so perhaps it's fitting I close with the words of Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore (Robert Duvall) from the same film....
“I love the smell of napalm in the morning. It smells of victory”.
For the younger bears out there who may not yet have enjoyed this Coppola classic - the story revolves around a special forces commander Col Kurtz (Marlon Brando) who had gone rogue. Frustrated with fighting an enemy who won't play by the rules Kurtz embarks on an unconventional and irregular strategy of doing unto others as they would do unto you. Except worse. Much worse in fact. Suffice to say that the words Geneva convention did not feature in the Brando's unconventional and irregular strategy. So much so that the Pentagon despatches another special forces operative, Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) to bring closure to Kurtz's regime.
Of course unconventional and irregular doesn't have to contain the element of brutality. During the Falklands war I served in a commando unit who did much of it's fighting behind enemy lines. We operated on a mantra of the three d's - disruption, destruction and demoralising. Post war a summation of our role was described as “unconventional, irregular but highly effective" Without I may add, the element of brutality espoused by Col Kurtz aforesaid.
These last few months have seen the Rangers support face an enemy who, like Brando's adversaries refused to play by the rules. Our club was branded guilty without trial, our chairman blackmailed by those who are expected to display governance, fairness and justice. But injustice did not stop at Rangers doorstep. SFL chairmen were bullied, intimidated and threatened to embark on a course of action which ran contrary to any sense of natural justice. Unlawful and unjust sanctions were imposed upon our club. Shame on them.
The Scottish press participated in the bloodfest labelling us cheats tax dodgers and much worse. Government agencies breached criminal law in the stampede to damage or club beyond repair. Internet bloggers manipulated government agency leaks in an effort to further destabilise or club. This bloodfest became an unstoppable force whose intent was clear – the death and destruction of Rangers FC.
Scotland became the scene of the eternal cosmic conundrum - the unstoppable force versus the immovable object. Two forces propelled by those timeless human emotions – love and hate.
And at at the end of carnage there was only one left standing. The immovable object - the Rangers support. Driven by love rather than hatred, and against all rational thought and soothsayers of doom, the Rangers support proved to be the unflinching and unbeatable vanguard of Rangers football club. Their love for a football club, which for many symbolises their very identity, was put to the test. They were not found to be wanting.
It's perhaps symptomatic of the problem, that press reporters outside Scotland, from far flung continents, want to report on the supporters who would not let their club die. Perhaps those Japanese reporters at Ibrox recently felt the unflinching loyalty and devotion of the Rangers support in the face of adversity would resonate in a culture which still holds the values of the Samurai in high regard.
Its against this backdrop that the boycott of Rangers forthcoming Scottish Cup tie at Tannadice could therefore be described as both unconventional and irregular if not surprising. Dundee United chairman Stephen Thomson epitomised everything which was wrong with Scotland during the Rangers crisis.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18365480
No Stephen views haven't hardened – unbridled hatred was allowed to replace a desire for fairness and justice. Lack of remorse ? You want us to apologise because you have pre-empted the result of a tax tribunal and declared us guilty ? And how dare we have the audacity to challenge a ruling which the court ultimately ruled was unlawful within the context of the SFA's own regulations.
I become infuriated when I hear journo's, post tribunal verdict, state they “understand Rangers fans anger”. No they don't. They have no idea at all. Only Rangers supporters truly understand the anger. There is a fury within the Rangers support which burns in a manner akin to napalm – it cannot be extinguished. A fire of righteous indignation has spread right through the Rangers support.
If Scotland was to genuinely reflect on it's treatment of Rangers over the last few months, it would quickly realise that the club is due a heartfelt apology. Whether such an apology is forthcoming is another matter. If it was, it would go some way to dousing those flames of anger within our support.
If however, its not then the unconventional and irregular may become the norm, with a brutality which would put Kurtz strategy to shame, and Scottish football will face a financial apocalypse as a consequence. Perhaps as ever, “sorry” will prove to be the hardest word.
We have come a long way from the opening paragraph and the jungles of Cambodia so perhaps it's fitting I close with the words of Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore (Robert Duvall) from the same film....
“I love the smell of napalm in the morning. It smells of victory”.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)