FENIAN Scum", "F**k the Pope", "Orange scum", "Protestant bastards", "We're up to our knees in Fenian blood".
Does any reasonable person in Scotland think that it is acceptable to shout this at people in a public place and not expect consequences?
What about "Black scum", "Black bastards", "We're up to our knees in black man's blood". Does this seem even
less acceptable?
The problem with sectarianism in Scotland is that for many of us it's like wallpaper; we cease to notice it because it has always been there in the background. Yet racism seems more shocking because it is a reasonably new form of hate in Scotland compared to centuries-old Protestant-Catholic hate.
Let's be clear, all the above comments are equally disgusting and unacceptable and simply represent prejudice.
UEFA, the European football body, will pass judgment this Wednesday on the element of Rangers fans that indulge in sectarian behaviour. UEFA have already sanctioned clubs in Europe for their fans racist behaviour that has included fines and closing part or all of grounds.
It is sad that it has taken an authority from outwith Scotland to eventually tell us what we all should already know: no reasonable society will tolerate bigotry.
It is a fact that there is an element within the Rangers support that have, for some considerable time, brought shame to the proud reputation of Rangers Football Club and brought shame to the many decent people who support Rangers who want no part of bigotry.
Whatever happens on Wednesday, it is surely time for decent Rangers supporters to have their voices heard above the bigots. It is time for Rangers to implement an unrelenting campaign of having stewards remove groups of bigots from their games, home and away, until bigoted behaviour is eliminated.
Rangers, of course, are certainly not alone in Europe - or, as we know only too well, in Scotland - for having bigots in amongst their support. UEFA's action should be a big alarm bell for Celtic and Hearts, two clubs that also have an element of bigotry within their support.
It is inevitable that both these clubs will face similar scrutiny, and in turn sanctions, should they not be able to sort out the bigoted element within their supporter base before they play in European competition next season.
A further important question is, can the Scottish football authorities continue to accept this type of behaviour within domestic matches? Bigots shouldn't only be accountable in European competition and be able to behave how they like at Scottish games.
Rangers will not doubt rightly point out that they have, along with Celtic, a very impressive anti-bigotry programme aimed at school-aged children and have participated in many other education or promotional programmes for which they should be commended. Education offers a key factor in finding a long-term solution for future generations. However for many, Rangers' failure to consistently identify and remove current sectarian offenders at their matches is the sharp end of the matter that needs addressed.
This process needs to be clear and accountable. Unfortunately, the embarrassing refusal on last year's Panorama expose to be willing/able to identify how many people Rangers had thrown out of their ground for specifically sectarian behaviour was unacceptable.
Celtic also have problems they need to address - an element of their away support, in particular, frequently indulge in bigoted behaviour. Hearts also must act.
Unfortunately, whenever one club is in the spotlight a futile debate will take place with people arguing via letters pages and phone-ins, "Your bigots are worse than ours".
Let's be clear: a bigot is a bigot. Celtic bigot or Rangers bigot, it's irrelevant. You are still just a bigot.
The sad fact is so many people will say, "Och, what PC nonsense", "It's all banter, just a laugh, these folk should get a life". Well, Mark Scott, who had his throat slit following a football match, lost his life because of sectarianism. There are also many other Celtic and Rangers supporters alike who have lost their lives. Try telling their families that it's only banter.
I have great sympathy for people like Alex McLeish the Rangers manager, a decent man who detests bigotry. As a young teenage Rangers supporter Alex played for a team called Rantic that was set up to bring Rangers and Celtic supporters together.
Alex is no doubt like many other decent Rangers men who detest bigotry and will feel ashamed of the element of Rangers fans who promote bigotry and hate.
Rangers and Celtic have had many generations to get tough with the bigots in their support, so should either of them have any grounds for complaint when taken to task?
The clubs will rightly say that bigotry is part of society and is not merely football's problem. While this is true, it is also true that it is around football that the worst manifestation of sectarian behaviour exists, sometimes leading to people losing their lives.
Jack McConnell is trying to promote Scotland as a country that celebrates cultural diversity. How helpful is it to have millions of people in hundreds of countries around the world watch thousands of Scots screaming sectarian hate at each other each time an Old Firm game is broadcast?
How helpful is it when Rangers supporters travel to a country like Spain and chant "F**k the Pope"? Or a number of Celtic supporters behave in a similar equivalent bigoted fashion?
Surely it's time for decent Rangers, Celtic and Hearts fans to speak up and tell the bigots: "We will not tolerate the shame you bring to the club we cherish."
• Nil By Mouth Anti-Sectarian Group