[Stu]

Originally Posted by setanta

While I don't agree with the silly chanting that went on during the minutes silence, I do have a problem with the governments politicising of an event by turning it into a public relations campaign in an effort to gain public support for the illegitimate wars that they have been involved in recently. You're always going to run the risk of a reaction when you force it on people during a football game, particularly when it involves a team like Celtic who have a long history and association with Ireland's plight against British occupation.... you're playing with fire in a situation like that.

Well said. It's a bit like Harold & Kumar expecting to get a standing ovation at a BNP rally.

And it is indeed a public relations campaign also. Nobody wants to look out of line, but lets face it, whilst they have my sympathy, soldiers died in Afghanistan because they signed up to be a soldier. Just like suicide, it's a very unfair thing to those who love you, because you run the risk of, I don't know, say being shot in the head.

Of course people still get brainwashed into it because they believe you are fighting for the 'honor' and 'dignity' of your country. Let others take care of it and serve your country in a real way, instead of being a tool of a military operation even those running it cant understand.

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

and what about common decency?

Nobody is denying the Celtic fans showed a complete lack of decency, I think the point being made was surely everyone involved beforehand knew it was going to happen.