Saving the Last Castle.......

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

(with thanks to Bilko for an idea)

She had stood for over 100 years. Not just a sporting venue…but a whole lot more.

For some she was the place where they supported their heroes…their knights in blue…for others she was the focus of their very culture…going their brought them together with similarly minded brethren. And often these very things overlapped creating something special…something unique. She was many things to many people, all of whom celebrated her with a passion and resilience which was unequalled.

She was the place where many dreams were fulfilled, where joyful memories were born which would be everlasting. She was the place where fathers brought sons….where sons learned to understand and appreciate the passion of their fathers…and together they learned of each other.

Quite simply she served as an identity for a people…their culture their beliefs. The castle epitomised the people they were and what they stood for. And within that identity was a welcome for those who did not see her as a cultural identity but merely a sporting institution…and that mutual accommodation merely served to underline the tolerance and respect qualities of both.

She stood through 2 world wars… a bricks and mortar symbol of the freedom and liberty her sons fought for. Each time I pass her and see our flags flying proudly from her ramparts…I am reminded of those who will never bellow out Follow Follow again…but who laid down their lives so that others could.

Even in peacetime she was not a stranger to tragedy…and outside her castle walls stands the tribute to her sons and daughters who fell so tragically. And her re-building was a memorial in itself to those she cherished and never forgot. And still they came.

As the outside world changed the castle became a refuge…a place of sanity from a world which seemed to have gone mad. She stood resplendent as ever… welcoming her sons and daughters.

In recent times her sons and daughters have seen a new enemy emerge. Not one dropping bombs from the air but with actions more akin to stabbing in the back. It took a while but her sons and daughters now know their enemies. They warned the garrison commander who merely told them to ignore them.

And as the attacks continued the castle defenders mobilised…not conscripts but willing volunteers driven by a sense of injustice and indignation at the lies…and determined to defend their castle at all costs. Their sense of loyalty to their castle and one another left their enemies overwhelmed…..outmanoeuvred and beating a hasty retreat. They did not seek self glory for themselves but justice for their castle…they played to the rules set before them and were willing soldiers. At all times they conducted themselves not only as soldier but ambassadors for their castle.

As they stood together, united by cause, inspired by passion and love of their castle they made not a formidable but an unbeatable and united army. They remained true to the conception of what their castle asked of them and discharged with great responsibility the sense of upholding that sacred trust.

But within the castle were others who failed to honour the traditions…failed to play by the rules and ignored the challenge before them. They undermined the work of the formidable army by a desire to satisfy their own wishes rather than that of the castle. Satisfying their own desires was of greater importance to the well being of the castle and her other inhabitants. They forget that they had a duty to reveal tolerance and sanity in the times of great anxiety.

And their willingness to serve self rather than the good of the castle…made the castle weak and vulnerable.

And the answer….?

“Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his rootsâ€

RANGERS FOREVER

[Frankie 505]

Stirring stuff mate.

A great read! Thanks for that.

[minstral 5,375]

another fantastic post.

[DadoPrso9 7]

Excellent read mate

Thanks

[DadoPrso9 7]

Double Post

[carnbroeblue 0]

must be a good shout for post of the week

well said

[minstral 5,375]

you should send a copy to the press.

[Bazza 21]

Great read D'artagnan.

[montyplums 0]

That's an excellent post!

I doubt any fan reading that won't feel a stirring or a churning of anxiety.

This should be made into a leaflet and passed out to EVERY fan at the next home game and then the fightback would gather momentum.

Come on The Rangers!!!

[J_RFC87 761]

smashing

[*Manticore* 1,893]

Excellent stuff D'Artagnan.

Rangers Forever.

[BlueIsTheColour 35]

Very good post DA, with a very clear message. Well done once again for stirring the emotions. championee

[eastcoastbear 122]

Another belter D. Very accrate imo.

ps when's your book coming out??

[nvager 498]

Very poetic and to the point - congratulations on a fine post.

[kirkiebear 1,013]

as i have said before d artagnan, you should be a journalist.

[californiadreamin52 339]

Ok.... is this Edinburgh Castle or Stirling Castle and are Historical Scotland aware that either are under threat ? and this is pure siege mentality

[*Manticore* 1,893]

as i have said before d artagnan, you should be a journalist.

He is, his real name is Spiers

[Coopermania 1]

a stirring read, the emotion and feeling shine through

[*Manticore* 1,893]

Ok.... is this Edinburgh Castle or Stirling Castle and are Historical Scotland aware that either are under threat ? and this is pure siege mentality

Yes, because we are under siege.

[californiadreamin52 339]

Ok.... is this Edinburgh Castle or Stirling Castle and are Historical Scotland aware that either are under threat ? and this is pure siege mentality

Yes, because we are under siege.

Now is not the time to loose ones head in sentiment

[minstral 5,375]

Ok.... is this Edinburgh Castle or Stirling Castle and are Historical Scotland aware that either are under threat ? and this is pure siege mentality

Yes, because we are under siege.

Now is not the time to loose ones head in sentiment

we are the people never forget it. :pipeguy:

[leftyger 0]

(with thanks to Bilko for an idea)

She had stood for over 100 years. Not just a sporting venue…but a whole lot more.

For some she was the place where they supported their heroes…their knights in blue…for others she was the focus of their very culture…going their brought them together with similarly minded brethren. And often these very things overlapped creating something special…something unique. She was many things to many people, all of whom celebrated her with a passion and resilience which was unequalled.

She was the place where many dreams were fulfilled, where joyful memories were born which would be everlasting. She was the place where fathers brought sons….where sons learned to understand and appreciate the passion of their fathers…and together they learned of each other.

Quite simply she served as an identity for a people…their culture their beliefs. The castle epitomised the people they were and what they stood for. And within that identity was a welcome for those who did not see her as a cultural identity but merely a sporting institution…and that mutual accommodation merely served to underline the tolerance and respect qualities of both.

She stood through 2 world wars… a bricks and mortar symbol of the freedom and liberty her sons fought for. Each time I pass her and see our flags flying proudly from her ramparts…I am reminded of those who will never bellow out Follow Follow again…but who laid down their lives so that others could.

Even in peacetime she was not a stranger to tragedy…and outside her castle walls stands the tribute to her sons and daughters who fell so tragically. And her re-building was a memorial in itself to those she cherished and never forgot. And still they came.

As the outside world changed the castle became a refuge…a place of sanity from a world which seemed to have gone mad. She stood resplendent as ever… welcoming her sons and daughters.

In recent times her sons and daughters have seen a new enemy emerge. Not one dropping bombs from the air but with actions more akin to stabbing in the back. It took a while but her sons and daughters now know their enemies. They warned the garrison commander who merely told them to ignore them.

And as the attacks continued the castle defenders mobilised…not conscripts but willing volunteers driven by a sense of injustice and indignation at the lies…and determined to defend their castle at all costs. Their sense of loyalty to their castle and one another left their enemies overwhelmed…..outmanoeuvred and beating a hasty retreat. They did not seek self glory for themselves but justice for their castle…they played to the rules set before them and were willing soldiers. At all times they conducted themselves not only as soldier but ambassadors for their castle.

As they stood together, united by cause, inspired by passion and love of their castle they made not a formidable but an unbeatable and united army. They remained true to the conception of what their castle asked of them and discharged with great responsibility the sense of upholding that sacred trust.

But within the castle were others who failed to honour the traditions…failed to play by the rules and ignored the challenge before them. They undermined the work of the formidable army by a desire to satisfy their own wishes rather than that of the castle. Satisfying their own desires was of greater importance to the well being of the castle and her other inhabitants. They forget that they had a duty to reveal tolerance and sanity in the times of great anxiety.

And their willingness to serve self rather than the good of the castle…made the castle weak and vulnerable.

And the answer….?

“Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his rootsâ€

RANGERS FOREVER

Here we go again. Posts implying that some how our very way of life is under threat, using militaristic language to describe the situation of a football teams and its fans.

It is way over the top and, to be honest, offensive to fans of clubs whose cultures have genuinely been under attack.

Look at Barcelona or the Basque clubs under Franco, when their very language was banned and the clubs became an expression of their culture. We are nowhere near that situation. Also it's not like we are fans of one of the Croat teams in pre civil war Yugoslavia, where they were physically attacked be the Serb dominated Police force.

All that is being asked is that we stop singing anti-Catholic or anti-Irish songs, which should be a given in any civilised society.

[minstral 5,375]

(with thanks to Bilko for an idea)

She had stood for over 100 years. Not just a sporting venue⦣8364;?but a whole lot more.

For some she was the place where they supported their heroes⦣8364;?their knights in blue⦣8364;?for others she was the focus of their very culture⦣8364;?going their brought them together with similarly minded brethren. And often these very things overlapped creating something special⦣8364;?something unique. She was many things to many people, all of whom celebrated her with a passion and resilience which was unequalled.

She was the place where many dreams were fulfilled, where joyful memories were born which would be everlasting. She was the place where fathers brought sons⦣8364;?.where sons learned to understand and appreciate the passion of their fathers⦣8364;?and together they learned of each other.

Quite simply she served as an identity for a people⦣8364;?their culture their beliefs. The castle epitomised the people they were and what they stood for. And within that identity was a welcome for those who did not see her as a cultural identity but merely a sporting institution⦣8364;?and that mutual accommodation merely served to underline the tolerance and respect qualities of both.

She stood through 2 world wars⦣8364;? a bricks and mortar symbol of the freedom and liberty her sons fought for. Each time I pass her and see our flags flying proudly from her ramparts⦣8364;?I am reminded of those who will never bellow out Follow Follow again⦣8364;?but who laid down their lives so that others could.

Even in peacetime she was not a stranger to tragedy⦣8364;?and outside her castle walls stands the tribute to her sons and daughters who fell so tragically. And her re-building was a memorial in itself to those she cherished and never forgot. And still they came.

As the outside world changed the castle became a refuge⦣8364;?a place of sanity from a world which seemed to have gone mad. She stood resplendent as ever⦣8364;? welcoming her sons and daughters.

In recent times her sons and daughters have seen a new enemy emerge. Not one dropping bombs from the air but with actions more akin to stabbing in the back. It took a while but her sons and daughters now know their enemies. They warned the garrison commander who merely told them to ignore them.

And as the attacks continued the castle defenders mobilised⦣8364;?not conscripts but willing volunteers driven by a sense of injustice and indignation at the lies⦣8364;?and determined to defend their castle at all costs. Their sense of loyalty to their castle and one another left their enemies overwhelmed⦣8364;?..outmanoeuvred and beating a hasty retreat. They did not seek self glory for themselves but justice for their castle⦣8364;?they played to the rules set before them and were willing soldiers. At all times they conducted themselves not only as soldier but ambassadors for their castle.

As they stood together, united by cause, inspired by passion and love of their castle they made not a formidable but an unbeatable and united army. They remained true to the conception of what their castle asked of them and discharged with great responsibility the sense of upholding that sacred trust.

But within the castle were others who failed to honour the traditions⦣8364;?failed to play by the rules and ignored the challenge before them. They undermined the work of the formidable army by a desire to satisfy their own wishes rather than that of the castle. Satisfying their own desires was of greater importance to the well being of the castle and her other inhabitants. They forget that they had a duty to reveal tolerance and sanity in the times of great anxiety.

And their willingness to serve self rather than the good of the castle⦣8364;?made the castle weak and vulnerable.

And the answer⦣8364;?.?

⦣8364;œCriticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots⦣8364;?

RANGERS FOREVER

Here we go again. Posts implying that some how our very way of life is under threat, using militaristic language to describe the situation of a football teams and its fans.

It is way over the top and, to be honest, offensive to fans of clubs whose cultures have genuinely been under attack.

Look at Barcelona or the Basque clubs under Franco, when their very language was banned and the clubs became an expression of their culture. We are nowhere near that situation. Also it's not like we are fans of one of the Croat teams in pre civil war Yugoslavia, where they were physically attacked be the Serb dominated Police force.

All that is being asked is that we stop singing anti-Catholic or anti-Irish songs, which should be a given in any civilised society.

give the poster some credit its a great post just like all his other posts.

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Here we go again. Posts implying that some how our very way of life is under threat, using militaristic language to describe the situation of a football teams and its fans.

It is way over the top and, to be honest, offensive to fans of clubs whose cultures have genuinely been under attack.

Look at Barcelona or the Basque clubs under Franco, when their very language was banned and the clubs became an expression of their culture. We are nowhere near that situation. Also it's not like we are fans of one of the Croat teams in pre civil war Yugoslavia, where they were physically attacked be the Serb dominated Police force.

All that is being asked is that we stop singing anti-Catholic or anti-Irish songs, which should be a given in any civilised society.

Is it really so way over the top ?

Some newspapers refer to our fans as "h***" or "DOB's"....often used stereotyping to present an general image of us somehow being little more of an object of derision.

Only the other weekend the flags of our country were taken from us by those Policing the match.....testified to by many posters on here

In Spain many of our suporters were treated like animals...physically attacked by the Spanish Police Force testified to by many posters on here.

Even the chairty sponsored to look at the issue of sectarianism appear to treat attacks on Rangers supporters differently.

And you want to tell me its offensive ???

Tell you what lefty....go and tell some of the victims of the Spanish Police last week that they were not genuinely under attack.

Meantime you want to play the left wing "political card" and tell posters on here that the IRA are not sectarian. You seem all too ready to forget that when the political road they are following doesn't go they own way they are quite prepared to fall back into their old ways...how was it Adams put it..."The IRA have not gone away you know"

Take your idealogy and tell some of the victims relatives of the IRA's reign of terror and intimidation that the IRA are no longer sectarian.

Then perhaps you will see what offensive really means.

[DadoPrso9 7]

Here we go again. Posts implying that some how our very way of life is under threat, using militaristic language to describe the situation of a football teams and its fans.

It is way over the top and, to be honest, offensive to fans of clubs whose cultures have genuinely been under attack.

Look at Barcelona or the Basque clubs under Franco, when their very language was banned and the clubs became an expression of their culture. We are nowhere near that situation. Also it's not like we are fans of one of the Croat teams in pre civil war Yugoslavia, where they were physically attacked be the Serb dominated Police force.

All that is being asked is that we stop singing anti-Catholic or anti-Irish songs, which should be a given in any civilised society.

Theres always one