We all must focus on beating bigots

Widespread disgust has been expressed over the parcel bombsintercepted on their way to Celtic manager Neil Lennon, former MSPTrish Godman and lawyer Paul McBride, QC.

Depression is another obvious reaction. There is a danger inleaping to conclusions - the motive for the individual orindividuals behind such terror tactics is as yet unknown. But thefact is that one factor unites the potential victims of these letterattacks - a connection to Celtic football club.

The members of the public warned by police to be wary aboutsuspicious packages are also prominent figures who have expressedopinions about issues of controversy connected to the club.

We don't know what motivated these despicable attempts to injurethose on the receiving end of packages, or whether the sender had anallegiance to a particular club or faith.

But what cannot be disputed is that the acts were carried out inthe context of a toxic stew of prejudice, sectarianism, football"pride" and faith which has for too long blighted the west ofScotland.

It is probable the perpetrator is acting alone. But for theCeltic manager in particular this looks like the culmination of asteadily worsening campaign of intimidation.

Bullets have been sent to him in the post - there is apparentlyno link with the current case - and he has been the subject of anumber of hate sites on the internet, one of which urged people toshoot him.

Some believe sectarianism is on the wane, or that we shouldn'texaggerate the importance of a minority of bigots.

So what of the 700-plus people who posted that they "liked" justone hate site on Facebook? What of the hundreds of messagesyesterday on social media sites such as Twitter apparently welcomingthe targeting of Lennon and others?

Outside of the west of Scotland, it seems baffling that thisremains an issue in the 21st century.

But the fact remains that while bigotry can still be dismissed asbanter, and simmering resentments are not defused, a minority feeljustified in acting in unacceptable ways.

These incidents must provoke a renewed attempt to overcome theproblem. What would make a difference? Lip service and summitmeetings are no longer enough.

Political attention to the issue has ebbed and flowed, but whatis needed is a consistent focus on overcoming sectarian attitudes. ATsar, responsible for developing a clear plan of action, would be asensible step forward.

Education has a key role to play, but it is not enough forschools to bring pupils from different backgrounds together only forold intolerances to be fostered by their parents when they returnhome.

What is needed is a generational campaign. Early yearsinitiatives have been used to good effect in Northern Ireland in anattempt to prevent poisonous attitudes taking root.

However the experience of Northern Ireland has been thatreligious divisions have been difficult to heal and truereconciliation can too easily give way to an uneasy tolerance.

This will not do. Lasting change must be brought about so thatsectarian bigotry becomes as unacceptable as racism, sexism andhomophobia.