John Barnes, who recently made suggestions that he was sacked by Celtic sooner than white managers because of unconscious racist bias, has now disgraced himself further with another ill informed and distasteful tweet about the Irish/Glasgow Irish.
Many people pointed out the attitudes and action of the Celtic support, as well as the anti-Irish racism experienced by the Irish at home and in Scotland – many of whom are Celtic fans. This, aside of the obvious outlandish claims in the first place, show the absurdity and ignorance of what Barnes was saying.
Yesterday, Barnes outdone himself when he posted a tweet suggesting that the Irish are not a different race than the English and then questioned whether anti-Irish discrimination exists today:
The irish are not a separate race from the english, theres a difference between nationalities and races there was discrimination over the irish but it wasnt RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.. and does it wxist now??? https://t.co/pUc3RACc7q
— John Barnes (@officialbarnesy) July 21, 2020
Firstly, discrimination is discrimination so the fact he feels it isn’t racist doesn’t make it any less important. It smacks of ignorance and actually shows him to be racist himself by dismissing the issue… how ironic. Although, he’s incorrect anyway as many pointed out:
2/2 is correct without understanding what generations of Irish people went thru. It was bigotry & bullying. It was horrible. Don’t tell an Irish person that they are the same as the English when you clearly dont understand.Rather ask someone who lived it-see if they agree with u.
— dave haran (@haran2012) July 21, 2020
“skin colour/race” not interchangeable terms. Bizarre to claim so.
1923 Church of Scotland report, “The menace of the Irish race” preceded a movement to target the Irish community by denying Catholics employment.
This was racism – conscious and organised.
Source – Tom Devine.
— The Bunnet (@WeeFergus98) July 22, 2020
Besides debating whether anti-irishness is based upon racial, ethnic or any other type of discrimination, it certainly is no different to racism aimed at people based upon skin colour. Neil Lennon touched upon this when managing Hibs and many pointed out the abysmal treatment of the Irish over the years and in current times. The fact that Barnes is oblivious to anti-Irish hatred such as the Famine Song, the Orange Order marching through the UK and Ireland, or the banners depicted on 12 July bonfires just shows what a buffoon he is.
Racism towards Neil Lennon. pic.twitter.com/gy8mGfzKpx
— Olivier Ntcham CSC 🔟IAR💚 (@DBestseventy2) June 19, 2020
Waste of time replying here John is quite rightly making a stance against racism and that is due respect BUT he looks to have boundaries on discrimination that does not suit whatever he stands for. Sad and weak outlook not to condem ALL discrimination on race, religion, sex, etc
— Martin McLaughlin (@thebigcup67) July 22, 2020
Read some history books John,Ireland was unlucky enough to be right next to England geographically.For centuries they raped,murdered their way through the Island,it was barbarism with a bit of racism mixed https://t.co/TFoLbUqgnW this day 6 counties are still colonised.
— minkster1 (@minkster36) July 22, 2020
And yet it seems a bit of craic. No uproar about the plantation, rape, murder of people in Ireland. Yet there is in other parts of the world. Even parts of the world where they even did the practice (such as slavery) before the British arrived.
— Robbie Zanetti (@Robbie_Zanetti) July 22, 2020
