Until they tackle the problem of segregating kids into Catholics and Protestants at age 5 then this wont stop. This segregation has created our own football fundamentalists, we would normally invade a country to put an end to this kind of trouble, but we turn a blind eye when the churches are involved, and lets be honest it is only the catholic church that is fueling the RC only schools. Typical government fast fix, blame drink in a bid to cover up the real issue, not once has the religious divide came into their argument. Keep religion for the weekends and bring the schools together, tackle it at a young age and you might stand a chance. It would take a couple of generations but it might work, who knows maybe even an end to orange parades etc...eventually, walk alongside the marchers the next time in your area and you'll see the kind of scum that crawls out of the woodwork.

Anon 11:33

Only one of your chosen examples – Catholic education and Orange parades – promotes hatred and intolerance. I'll give you a clue: it's not Catholic schools. It's ludicrous that you choose these as way of comparison.

That, ultimately, is what's wrong. Rather than merge everyone into one amorphous group, diversity should be celebrated and encouraged and tolerance to all – be it religious, nationality, race or colour – should be taught and taught thoroughly. Obviously there will still be those with their own backward-thinking agendas but that will always be the case. Speaking as a Catholic (which you clearly are not) I never once was taught to believe I was different. I was taught to believe that I am what I am (cue Gloria Gaynor) and that, simply, is that. I had Protestant friends I played with from neighbouring schools but we all lived in a quiet neighbourhood and weren't exposed to the big bad world. But speaking as a Catholic, I know what it's like being in the company of people who have a blind hatred for you purely because of the school you went to. I have been assaulted and spat upon – by strangers – because of my religion. Funnily enough, I have never felt compelled to do the same to someone different to me. So whilst my experiences may sound like a good argument for generic education, I don't think the problem lies with what Catholic schools do or teach, but for the intolerance they provoke in others. Should they be closed down because the small-minded can't handle someone different to what they – perhaps subconsciously – perceive to be their master race?

In my view its high-time the puss-filled boil of Rangers and Celtic is lanced once and for all and these clubs are closed down. They are an embarrassment to Scotland and to Glasgow. By keeping alive feuds from the past they endlessly pick the scabs of sectarianism. And when security, policing and washing urine soaked streets is taking into account - not to mention the harm they do to Scotland's national reputation - they do not even contribute to the economy. Lets get rid of them now.

I am not going to get into religion on either side but anon 11.33 has a point. I lived well outside Glasgow until i was 10. I came back to segregated schools by religion. Non denominational and Catholic. There was trouble every day. The solution is if you want religion in your house. Go along to your church if the urge takes you, on a Sunday and keep it out of the Schools.

Anyway why are these analy retentive politicians getting involved another debate in a useless parliament that will fix nothing.

Simple answer stop apartheid by religion in Scottish schools and then nobody will bother what religion you are. Just imagine if we segregated the workplace in the same way we do schools – I rest my case.

13.20

Apartheid? Do me a favour love. Think about what you're saying. Though if you are genuinely serious, care to tell us which side assumes the roles of the white oppressors and who are the wrongly discriminated-against blacks?

Not that I'm suggesting one is worse than the other but there were more arrests at the UEFA Cp Final beam back at Ibrox in 2008 than there were last Wednesday. The beam back was Rangers fans and Rangers fans alone fighting amongst themselves. The 'Chelsea' interlopers were all in Manchester tearing the place apart.

I blame cafflik schools.

Anon 12:19

See what I mean! You have inadvertently blamed your Catholic upbringing for your social problems, and why, because you were perceived to be in a group which doesn't wish to be associated with the rest of society (but only throughout your school years) funny that eh!

"You have been assaulted and spat on by strangers" who knew nothing about you, I find that a bit hard to believe, tell the rest of that story and we'll get to the real reason you were spat on.

Why do you think Asian communities find it difficult to become accepted by the general public ... because they want their own sets of rules just like you ... and have therefor segregated themselves from the rest of normal working society.

Diversity should very much be celebrated and encouraged but not through religious brain washing, get a grip.