James McLean being a bit of an idiot again..

I was comparing very similar things, in my honest opinion.

 

I get what you meant by your comment now. I don't say the prayer, the 'father' or whoever does; I listen quietly and respectfully but choose not to join in the collective 'amen' at the end.

 

That's what I do. I mean absolutely no offence to anybody who's religious, but I think it's all utter clap trap and will never partake in any of it, even at weddings/christenings/etc.

I thought you meant you said the prayer but refused to say "amen"

 

I kind of agree with that, I didn't make the promises at my own daughters Christening, I stood at the altar & when it came to that part I stood silent. My wife wanted her Christened, I didn't, I spoke to the vicar a few days beforehand & he said if you feel uncomfortable because of your own beliefs then just stay silent, so I did. We all had a lovely day, my wife got her wish & I didn't have to make a false promise to a god I don't believe in.

 

If you've ever watched Being Human, especially series three, you'll know where I've picked it up from. Main 'baddie' Herrick, a vampire, says "hmmmmm, it's a naughty one" when deliberating over whether or not to kill Robson Green's werewolf character.

Had I been Danny Dyer'ing it, I'd have said 'nawty' obviously.

 

I don't think you can automatically conflate sectarianism with Irish independence. He's got a cause, let him get on with it. Best of it is nobody would even know if the Mail weren't falling over themselves with moral indignation

 

In one sense youve got to admire his refusal to conform to main stream pressure. Why should his political thoughts be questioned and held to task every time he refuses to comply. Just because he is plying his trade in this country doesnt give anyone the right to question his stance.

As ive stated before in other threads, my late uncle fought with pride in the second world war but to his dying day refused to buy or wear a poppy.
The amount of times i heard him say ....if the powers to be were as eagar to look after those injured and the families devastated by war has they are and were to send men to war then there would be no reason for poppies.

He wouldnt even stand and recognise the national anthem either, stating it stood more for repression of the working masses than anything else and the royal family were actually sympathisers of those he fought.

Does that make him a traitor to the crown or a wise man knowing that every thing we are forced fed isnt what it appears if you look hard enough for answers with a open mind.

On the same footing why should anyone be persecuted for their beliefs.

 

I fully agree, and I think that is the very point. I think that is what a lot are saying. He has chose to be there, play for and get paid by an English club, yet won't respect their values.

 

Why not? Are you saying he can have freedom of speech and freedom of his actions but no-one else can?

 

How are they similar?

 

Fair enough. As I say, I wanted an explanation and got one. I'm still not fussed, but can appreciate some are. Much more pressing matters in today's news that deserve a thread though, in my opinion.

 

Footballers. Football game. Flags. Showing respect (or not).

 

Come on Andy, only in a parallel universe can anybody of reasonable intelligence (which you are) compare the British national anthem with the flag of ISIL or the swastika. There isn't even the faintest of comparison.

 

In isolation maybe you can separate this incident from sectarianism but when you also consider his actions in November it starts to look very much like sectarianism.

 

Was the national anthem played? I'd assumed - judging by the article - that they all turned for a flagpole ceremony. The British and US flags, and McClean turned away.

 

Eire doesn't come into it. He's from Northern Ireland and so God Save The Queen is his national anthem. However he doesn't recognise it as such because of his religion and politics. That's his democratic right and it's his right to make his living wherever he can. Eire gives the right to have an Irish passport to everyone born in Northern Ireland and I assume he's taken up that option as he doesn't recognise British rule over his native Derry. But he doesn't have to live in Eire.

And I'm not sure about the comparison with an atheist at a funeral or wedding, which are about respecting people you know or knew, not about respecting a religion. The national anthem is about paying respect to the state, not to people.

Personally I wouldn't sing God Save The Queen as I'm a republican and when I watch the England team before a match a lot of them don't sing it either.

 

The point still stands. They can't be compared. Considering his ideology he probably liked the US flag though.

 

every one has the same rights so when a individual goes against main stream thought patterns, why does that make him wrong, are you then not in danger of removing that said individuals rights to protest peacefully and his freedom of speach by saying you dont agree and hes wrong, therefore suppressing every thing that you are led to believe and told that are the principles of our society is supposedly built on.

 

People have different causes. Some people agree with them, some don't. He obviously has strongly held beliefs. Of all the ways of expressing support for a cause his seem pretty low key and not hurting or even impacting on other people. It is at worst a gesture of his own personal defiance.

 

G

My grandad felt pretty much the same. Nothing else to say really.