Yesterday evening I was standing in a checkout queue in my local Co-op, minding my own, when I became aware of tall rangy looking guy carrying a Rangers scarf bellowing into his mobile in the queue ahead. It went like this, "Aye the cunts in the queue here coughing his fucking ring up, he disnae sound well, maybe cause his team got beat the day, two fucking wan man," all this in a queue with women and children who like me had begun to show a reaction. he then engaged the target of his bile, in the usual football supporters ned manner, "what's yer fucking problem by the way ya fucking tube, cannae take it eh?"
The victim had evidently had a drink or two and kind of lurched towards the abuser and patted him on the cheek. It was all that was required as the abuser launched a flurry of blows on the drunk, sending him and his bottle of wine crashing to the floor. At that point a woman began shouting at the abuser as I stepped in between them to try and protect the drunk who was now out cold on the floor. I was concerned that the ned would try and pick up the bottle top that was lying near him and start to use it. However thankfully he realised that the tide was against him and retreated out of the shop hurling abuse. Eventually the drunk came to and I helped him to his feet, he seemed dazed but otherwise OK.
As a man of sixty who has had to deal his own moments of hostility in life and sporting two metal hips and a pelvic plate and screws in my thigh, I was left with a feeling of anger at what had taken place. I know if the thug had tried to continue with his assault that I would have been forced to become involved, as I think some others would. I have been in similar situations when I was young and very fit and could easily have overpowered this thug, at that time, but I am not so confident these days.
When it began I was like everyone in the shop, stunned by this show of triumphalist aggression from a thug who was so obviously out to bait anyone into a showdown, and picked on a drunk who he seemed to know. I reacted in what I thought was an appropriate manner. Then I thought what if this thug had taken out a blade as so many of them do now, what would I have done. Well I know I would have done something but what? I have thought about what else I could have done, but at what point do you intervene. Should I have shouted at the abuser as he cursed and swore into his mobile? Should I have shouted as it became obvious he was going to assault the drunk? Should I have landed some blows my self? Others in the shop were very distressed and angry at the scene, like me they felt helpless.
Finally I would venture an opinion that I have had for some years. If I were president of Scotland, I would disband Rangers, and Celtic, and force them to play in a team called Glasgow Untited. I would demolish Parkhead and Ibrox and force them to build a new stadium mile out of town with no pubs allowed within a ten mile radius. And I would have every game kicking of at 10 in the morning. If the religious tribalism appeared at any other club in Scotland the same fate would await them. This medieval shit has no place in Scotland and is a stain on out nation.
From a Scotsman.
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6 comments:
I know it's a typo KBW, but I quite liked "Glasgow Untitted" as it sums it up quite neatly :¬)
Your solution is long overdue KBW. Most women would support it I'm sure.
Conan, yer sharp as a tack this morning I see. :)
I should really read my posts and let them simmer before posting Conan. I was torn between "untitled," and "united," and so you see the result. But untited seems a bit cruel. It pays to pay attention.
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Pay attention
First-year students at Texas A&M's Vet school were attending their first anatomy class, with a real dead cow.
They all gathered around the surgery table with the body covered with a white sheet.
The professor started the class by telling them, 'In Veterinary Medicine it is necessary to have two important qualities as a doctor: The first is that you not be disgusted by anything involving the animal body'.
For an example, the Professor pulled back the sheet, stuck his finger in the butt of the dead cow, withdrew it and stuck his finger in his mouth. 'Go ahead and do the same thing,' he told his students.
The students freaked out, hesitated for several minutes. But eventually
took turns sticking a finger in the butt of the dead cow and sucking on it.
When everyone finished, the Professor looked at them and said,
'The second most important quality is observation. I stuck in my middle finger and sucked on my index finger. Now learn to pay attention. Life's tough, but it's even tougher if you're stupid.'
Amen
Good post KBW. We shouldn't have to put up with this kind of behaviour. Certainly not in front of children.
I grew up in that culture - thank god I got out.
No need for drastic measures. Just end the state sponsorship of religious apartheid in schools - that's 'game over' for the bigots.
But if you so much as suggest that, you'll discover that those who run our lives require that bigotry as part of their control mechanism and therefore you won't be allowed to touch it. Amusingly (and ingeniously) they will call you a bigot if you try.
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