Fred_Zeppelin Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Deflect And Deny Written by: The Ref Tuesday, 24th of September 2014 I followed closely the entire referendum campaign and I listened and watched as both sides in the debate worked their socks off to put their points across. I saw numerous reports and statements made by supporters of the "Yes" campaign stating that they had been threatened and intimidated by supporters of the Better Together campaign and my heart sank. Not because there was any truth in their allegations, because that is all they were. Unsubstantiated allegations. The only evidence was hearsay and rumour. No, my heart sank because I knew right away what was being done. Having been called a traitor and a " hun" for having the audacity to wear a polo shirt with a small Union Flag badge on it while walking in Dumfries, by a group of people sporting "Yes" flags who were heading into town to either put up a stall or canvass potential voters, I saw at first hand who the real perpetrators of intimidation were in the campaign. I was a bit slow in getting out my phone to film them, but then I didn't expect to be abused for wearing a shirt with a small badge on. Maybe Ralph Lauren was a "Better Together" supporter, but to be honest I was unaware of that when I bought the shirt. I actually said to them that they had no right to insult me bearing in mind they had no idea how I was going to vote, and I was told that the badge on my shirt said it all. If I hadn't had more important things to deal with at present, I would have followed the group and reported them to the police for hate crime and sectarian behaviour, but it was eight against one, and with no video evidence I would have been stuffed. By claiming that they had been intimidated by "No" supporters, the "Yes" supporters had managed to turn the allegations of intimidation full circle. Deflect and deny, a tactic used throughout history and particularly evident during the referendum campaign as used successfully by the "Yes" supporters. Of course events of Thursday past proved beyond doubt that the majority of the population of Scotland want to remain a part of the United Kingdom. Unsurprisingly all of the members of the Vanguard Bears were overjoyed with the result, albeit a few had probably the most nerve-wracking day of their lives while waiting on the results coming in. Members of this group were informed that there was to be a coming together of people who had voted "No" in George Square, Glasgow on Friday night. There was also a time for reflection on the campaign and this forum were quick to recognise that the "Yes" campaign had used the Saltire as a symbol of independence, whereas we had perhaps failed to highlight that the Saltire is our flag too and it is an integral part of the Union Flag. Our group contains many people who are proud to be BOTH Scottish and British. That is our right. Members of our group were asked to take Saltires as well as Union Flags to the celebration on Friday night as a show of unity, and many did so. Members of our group were reminded that the eyes of the world were on them and that any opportunity for the anti-British media in Scotland to attack Unionists would be pounced on and used endlessly in their attempts to further vilify the Unionist people of Scotland. And so it proved to be. Some Vanguard Bears members may have been present in George Square, but they were not involved in any of the unrest which has been emblazoned across every front page in Scotland since the event. The celebration was good natured and much in the spirit of Last Night of the Proms, until supporters of the "Yes" campaign decided to voice their displeasure at the fact Unionists were being allowed to celebrate. Members of Celtic supporters group "The Green Brigade", a group with links to the IRA, who have long championed the actions of terrorist groups around the world also turned up in numbers, solely intent on causing trouble. The trouble appears to have been triggered by a bottle thrown from the direction of a group of "Yes" supporters who had gathered. The bottle was aimed at people celebrating the decision made by the majority of the population of Scotland to maintain the Union, and it was undoubtedly the catalyst for subsequent events. Flares were set off from both sides and at the time of writing 11 people have been questioned by Police Scotland over acts of disorder. The Herald newspaper, a tawdry rag which has long been a home to republicans with a real and bitter hatred of all Unionists has been at the forefront of blinkered reporting of the events; blaming all Unionists, including our group, while at the same time failing to mention or recognise the guilt of the pro-independence supporters in not just inciting the trouble, but thereafter being in the middle of it. By doing so, they have shown themselves to be nothing more than a platform for republicanism at its very worst. When accusing groups like ours, they have no proof at all. Like the original accusations of intimidation made by "No" supporters to "Yes" supporters in the run up to the referendum, their claims amount to no more than unsubstantiated allegations made by people with a radical hatred towards the Union and our group. Any attempts made by pro-unionist members of the public to put forward their version of events on Friday night have been censored and removed. It appears that while democracy still counts at the ballot box, the same cannot be said for the Herald. Deflect and Deny. The referendum may be over, but they will not stop in their campaign of hatred towards Unionists and the Union. Their propaganda war continues at pace, and we must be ready for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamntg Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Top satire - they've a great sense of humour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parklife Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Top satire - they've a great sense of humour. Exactly what i was thinking. All that's missing is a "No Surrender" sign-off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstevie007 Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debian Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 What a bunch of Moron's these guys truly are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParisInAKilt Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Staggering Best ignored Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred_Zeppelin Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 They must have been reading the TAMB, anything bad happens, blame the Green Brigade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie x Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 They forgot to change the heading of their article from what they were trying to achieve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstevie007 Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 They must have been reading the TAMB, anything bad happens, blame the Green Brigade Don't worry, we'll get back to the GB in due course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhumper Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 (edited) Mutants. Thankfully a dying breed of mutants. Scum breeds scum sadly. Should just sterilise the pr1cks. Hopefully their team dies (again) this time permanently. Edited September 24, 2014 by Squirrelhumper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhumper Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 That photo looks photo shopped too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred_Zeppelin Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 That photo looks photo shopped too. It does, actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ST#7 Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 The celebration was good natured and much in the spirit of Last Night of the Proms Brilliant. Yeh you just cant be British in Scotland anymore with out those pesky Celtic trouble makers ruining it for the decent people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilly71 Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 I was in George Sq on and off between 6 and 6.45, I must admit I never saw anyone with a tricolour either in their hands or on their backs. There werent that many Yessers, a couple of hundred there and even at 6pm half of the Sq had Union Jack wavers and id have remembered seeing someone with a tricolour because id have thought it would have been a very stupid thing to carry given the circumstances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TartanJon Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 At least they are admitting they told members about the organised do in George Sq Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossy Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 I've no idea how any decent Rangers fan could put up with these scum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ST#7 Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Some Vanguard Bears members may have been present in George Square, but they were not involved in any of the unrest Yes I am sure this will be correct, no doubt it will have been Chelsea supporters no doubt the same ones who wrecked Manchester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rasputin Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 I've no idea how any decent Rangers fan could put up with these scum. What do you want them to do? I personally have given up on Rangers, no longer attend games and now have switched sport to actively supporting the Glasgow Warriors instead (partly cos of the loyalist types and partly because of the way football is these days in general). These aggressive types are in organised groups, not something individuals can rail against without fear of retribution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBonnetsowertheBorder Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 (edited) What is this numpty on? He keeps going on about "Deflect and Deny" is he too thick to realise that is exactly what his statement looks like to me! To take the blame away from them, start blaming the green brigade, you could not make this up! Edited September 24, 2014 by BlueBonnetsowertheBorder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilScotsman Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 "Like the original accusations of intimidation made by "No" supporters to "Yes" supporters in the run up to the referendum, their claims amount to no more than unsubstantiated allegations made by people with a radical hatred " Is it just me or does this bit actually mean the opposite of what they're intending to say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilly71 Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 for the sake of your sanity I wouldnt even bother trying to understand the inner workings of these folk. Theyre absolutely barking mad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Of Paisley Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 The Herald, a tawdry rag with a bitter hatred of all things Union. They do understand that The Herald actually supported a No vote. Bunch of utter cnuts. I'm comforted that these scumbags are a minority in our society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Endell Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 (edited) The Herald, a tawdry rag with a bitter hatred of all things Union. They do understand that The Herald actually supported a No vote. Bunch of utter bunny rabbits. I'm comforted that these scumbags are a minority in our society. It's known as The Gerald . Edited September 24, 2014 by Charlie Endell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Of Paisley Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Up there on a pedestal with the Daily Rhebel, Charles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Dod Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 you could not make this up! Eh, I think he just did. This guy has a promising future at the BBC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.