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>RSF Defends Dr Jeanette Findlay > >26 Samhain/November 2007 > >The chorus of denunciation by the unionist media >against University of Glasgow lecturer Dr Jeanette >Findlay for defending the right of Celtic fans to sing >songs in support of the centuries old struggle of the >Irish People against English colonial rule, is as sad >as it is predictable. > >Our songs of freedom carry a message not of bigotry or >hate, but of survival, of a fight for freedom against >tyranny and genocide and against bigoted legislators >and despotic governments. This latest attack on our >songs is morally wrong and is really just a cosmetic >exercise to appease the bigots in Scottish society who >would prefer that the Irish community in Scotland did >not exist at all. > >We trust that these same detractors would not wish to >suggest that it is bigoted to sing songs like Flower >of Scotland, Scots Wha Hae or the many other patriotic >songs that depict the heroic struggles of Wallace and >Bruce against English colonial oppression. Are these >not “rebel” songs as well? Or are they only offensive >when they are Irish? > >Dr Jeanette Findlay was making her comments in her >capacity as Celtic Trust chairperson in the context of >the opposition of fans to former British defence >secretary John Reid becoming Celtic chairman. It >should be remembered that polls indicate the majority >of Scots believe the British invasion of Iraq and the >ongoing occupation of that country to be illegal and >immoral. Consequently a significant section of Celtic >fans do not believe that the decision to appoint Reid >is in keeping with the ethos and traditions of the >club. > >Republican Sinn Fein fully endorses the legitimate >sentiments expressed by Dr Findlay and defends the >right of Celtic fans and the Irish community as the >largest minority ethnic group in Scotland, to express >itself culturally which includes the right to sing our >songs of freedom. Therefore whilst we applaud all >genuine initiatives aimed at tackling the scourge of >religious sectarianism in Scottish society, we reject >those forces that would seek to engage in anti Irish >racism under the guise of opposing bigotry. > >Sinn Fein Poblachtach > >Also see <a rel=nofollow target=_blank >href="http://www.rsfcork.com">http://www.rsfcork.com</a >> or <a rel=nofollow target=_blank >href="http://saoirse.21.forumer.com">http://saoirse.21. >forumer.com</a>

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