Fall upon deaf ears.
How often in these last few months, as Rangers supporters, can we empathise with, and understand the depth of such frustration. Our frustration, which has now been surpassed by a righteous indignation, is based on events not from the future but from the past. At the very heart of that indignation is a desire sought by mankind since time in immemorial – justice. The foundation stone in the building of great nations, but a millstone however for the also rans. The pursuit of justice has inspired mankind for generations, epitomised in Dr Martin Luther King's letter from a Birmingham jail, “I am here because injustice is here”
And injustice is also here – in our native Scotland – as an ever present travelling companion to Rangers in our club's journey over the last few months.
When you condemn someone without trial – that is injustice.
When you pre-determine someone's guilt and draw up punishments before a verdict is passed – that is injustice.
When you impose sanctions upon someone which a court has declared unlawful – that is injustice.
When you honour and award those responsible for the sowing of lies and deceit – that is injustice.
Former journalist and publisher Alex Mooney is absolutely correct, writing in The Rangers Standard, in describing this as “The witch hunt which shamed Scotland“. It demotes our nation's status to that of an also ran. It is inexcusable. Nor is it a singular poor judgement made in the heat of a crisis, the frequency of it's recurrence serves to confirm that.
Imagine for a moment that rather than being wrought on a football club, the injustices aforementioned had been committed in respect of a terrorist suspect in this country.
Would our politicians, our press and media, our social commentators ignore such shameful conduct.? Would the breaches of that suspect's right of equality before the law, the usurping of his right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, be tolerated ? Not only has the injustice imposed upon our club being characterised by deaf ears, but to the shame of many, silent tongues also.
Scotland, once of the brave, now of the also rans has a dirty little secret. A secret shame in fact, for it is rarely mentioned. Perhaps by ignoring it they hope it will go away quietly, epitomised by a recent press article which encouraged the Rangers support “to forgive, forget and move one” when the news broke that both club and support would boycott the Scottish Cup tie with Dundee United.
On June 8th, 2012, Dundee United chairmen Stephen Thomson gave an interview to BBC Scotland, with regard to Rangers, during which time he stated :-
"There's been a lack of remorse shown. Views have hardened.
"Taking things to a court of law hasn't helped. That's certainly hardened views of people within the game.
I recognise that type of language from my days as a harassment and discrimination counsellor. It comes under scale 3 on Allports Scale of Prejudice and Discrimination under the heading of Discrimination. Its manifestation seeks to deny the victim the opportunity to seek that which they are entitled to – in this case justice. But not only does Thomson question our right to seek justice, he infers that a consequence of doing so will see further recrimination against us.
But do not think for a minute that our “acquittal” at a tax tribunal will prove to be a turning point. One only has to look at the proposed league construction proposals for evidence that the injustice against Rangers is set to continue, unabated. Such proposals have a precedent. In the 1994 Stranraer were in a similar position in that reconstruction would deny them of the promotion they had earned. This was deemed to be unfair and unjust and they were rightfully awarded the promotion their endeavours had earned. Fast forward to today and you will find no such provision has been made for Rangers in an identical position.
It was former Daily Record Editor John Allan who wrote :-
“That is the story of the Rangers. They have had good times and bad times, critical times and times of exultation. No club with the same modest origin can claim so distinguished a record of achievement. They were not born in the lap of luxury. They have been the architects of their own fortune, and, simply because of that, they have become equipped with the moral resistive force to grapple with adversity, which is better than being coddled in the cradle and whining when the wind blows cold. May all who look upon the old club with a friendly eye stand prepared, by precept and example, to protect its interests and its good name”
Have we as a support forgotten how to use the tools of moral resistive force ? Not only use them but use them effectively and strategically ?
Those responsible for the injustices against our club, not only remain in position, they continue to administer in a manner which denies our club justice. That is not only Scotland's shame but our own shame also.
Its time for us to stop whining and start grappling. It's time for that cold wind to change direction.
Let every person who looks upon not only Rangers with a friendly eye, but who has duty to see justice upheld, who desires more for their nation than to be an also ran, issue Scotland with a weather warning – Hurricane Justice is coming.
No comments:
Post a Comment