With a power-sharing peace settlement in the north of Ireland between nationalists and Unionists (or between Catholics and Protestants, as it was termed for years in the media) you might be forgiven for thinking that religious bigotry on these islands is largely over. Then again, you obviously haven't been to Glasgow...
A classic example of the old divide has just led to a massive climbdown by the Sunday Herald after one of its sports columnists used the phrase "bead-rattling" in a piece about Celtic. [For those who don't know about Scottish football, that's a Glasgow football club supported largely by Catholics. For those who don't know about religion, the reference is to prayer beads used in Roman Catholic devotions, aka rosary beads].
That provoked uproar. A statement soon appeared on Celtic's website about the "disparaging characterisation of Celtic supporters" being "extremely disappointing and offensive" and "completely inappropriate". Letters also poured into the Herald's office.
The result, as Spike reports, a full-page apology under the by-line of the Sunday Herald's sports editor, Stephen Penman:
The use of the term 'bead-rattling' is clearly unacceptable in a quality newspaper. Indeed, it is clearly unacceptable in any context and in any walk of life.
The Sunday Herald's stance on bigotry and sectarianism is clear: as a newspaper we have consistently and systematically challenged prejudice wherever we have found it. We have written dozens of articles - in the sports section, in the news section, in opinion and debate and in the magazine - condemning those who continue to perpetuate sectarianism and praising the considerable efforts of both Celtic FC and Rangers FC, among others, to stamp it out.
Religious bigotry continues, however, to be a blot on the landscape of Scottish football and also in wider society. There has been huge progress in recent years, but there is still more to be done before we can consider ourselves a truly united society.
The Sunday Herald would like to take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly for any offence caused by the use of this phrase and assure our readers that we are treating this matter extremely seriously.
Penman also stated that the writer, Kenny Hodgart, would no longer write his Leftfield column and that an investigation was under way "to discover how this unacceptable terminology was able to get through our production system."
The newspaper also carried letters from readers, including one from Celtic's chief executive.
This episode may seem extraordinary to people in England, but I have a sister-in-law who lives in Glasgow and she once told me how, when she was opening a restaurant, she was advised not to use green ink on the menu "in case it gave the wrong signals." In other words, green means Catholic and it might scare off Protestants. Similarly, she was counselled against using blue ink for the reverse reason.
By the way, things aren't much better in Edinburgh. Have you read Trainspotting?
