As stupid as this sounds...

[Calais]

I've heard from an extremely reliable source that Bachar Houli would be reluctant to ever pull on a St.kilda jumper due to the fact the cross is part of our emblem. Now this might seem stupid but I myself am Muslim and my Dad ( very religious ) get's pretty distressed whenever I'm wearing my Saints jumper so I know where he is coming from.. Even though I see it as a non issue.

Hypothetically, If he ever got traded to the club what would happen? Thoughts?

[dcstkfc]

St Kilda's cross has no religious signficance. It's just a pattern.

[Calais]

St Kilda's cross has no religious signficance. It's just a pattern.

I myself know this mate, but the family he comes from is devout and much more religious and they see it otherwise..Trust me lol

[Kilda]

It makes sense to me, Calais. The only other example I can think of is back during World War 1 when St Kilda F C felt so uncomfortable about having colours that were the same as the German national flag, that they changed the colours to red, yellow and black in line with our then ally, Belgium.

Associations are powerful for each and everyone of us. So I can see why devout Moslems would feel uneasy about the black cross.

[Teflon]

Hard to run in a Burka.

[Enrico_Misso]

Hard to run in a Burka.

We could have a red, white and black one and call it a Nathan.

[Thinline]

Hard to run in a Burka.

We could have a red, white and black one and call it a Nathan.

that is quite funny.

[joffaboy]

yes and all the Jews who have played for us were distressed by the cross as well

What a load of bollocks. If the dips.hit is that much of a fanatic, we dont want the clown at the club.

he can go and practice his idiotic fairytales at some other place.

Anyway as slow as a wet week, and crap with the ball. We've already got plenty of those types.

[Furphy]

yes and all the Jews who have played for us were distressed by the cross as well

What a load of bollocks. If the dips.hit is that much of a fanatic, we dont want the clown at the club.

he can go and practice his idiotic fairytales at some other place.

Anyway as slow as a wet week, and crap with the ball. We've already got plenty of those types.

My sentiments exactly!

[Superboot]

Best to think of the cross as just a design.

It might interest him to know that no person named Kilda actually existed.

One version of the origin of the name has it that it is derived from the Norse "sunt kelda" (sweet wellwater). There are various other explanations but general agreement that there is no such saint.

And it's true that we have a large Jewish following, and even a Jewish premiership player, so if it's good enough for them....

What's more, at a recent home and away game I was sitting close to a group of young people in Saints gear who, from the girls' headscarves, were very obviously Muslim.

[FQF]

Best to think of the cross as just a design.

It might interest him to know that no person named Kilda actually existed.

One version of the origin of the name has it that it is derived from the Norse "sunt kelda" (sweet wellwater). There are various other explanations but general agreement that there is no such saint.

And it's true that we have a large Jewish following, and even a Jewish premiership player, so if it's good enough for them....

What's more, at a recent home and away game I was sitting close to a group of young people in Saints gear who, from the girls' headscarves, were very obviously Muslim.

We do have a large Jewish following, and even back in the 90s when we had that jumper with the large cross across the front, no one seemed to be bothered too much.

[gringo]

The saints cross was designed as a christian cross symbol, but never used in a religious sense.

It was simply picked up on because of the nickname "saints". St kilda is named after a ship that anchored off st kilda beach for a time in the 19th century. Danish I think and have heard the story of sweet water too.

It was as far as I know meant as an ironic name the Saints as we were not so angelic. Christians as such probably have a lot more to be pissed about than any other group in society about our symbolism as it is commercialising a sacred symbol. It plays it as something that can be reproduced in design with no relevance to it original meaning.

A bit like if a team in another sport had the name the Sheiks or something similar and used the crescent moon in their design where it had a slight feel of ridiculing it's original meaning.

I would probably point that out to him so he could feel comfortable with the design and not stress about it. Not sure he is the right fit though for us, a bit like trading Armo for Armo.

[gringo]

On the Jewish thing, the Ajax footy club in my parts who are the local Jewish team play in Saints colours. I think a lot of kids play in our colours and have jumped on through that.

Anyway the god of Islam, Judaism and Christians is one and the same, and Jesus is rated as a minor prophet in Islam, if my memory serves me right.

[borderbarry]

Just as a point of interest, our first premiership ever, 3rds, was captained by the same Ian Synman, he of Jewish faith. And several members of that team were in the '66 Premiership side. See, it does pay to start with young ones instead of rejects.

[Con Gorozidis]

I've heard from an extremely reliable source that Bachar Houli would be reluctant to ever pull on a St.kilda jumper due to the fact the cross is part of our emblem. Now this might seem stupid but I myself am Muslim and my Dad ( very religious ) get's pretty distressed whenever I'm wearing my Saints jumper so I know where he is coming from.. Even though I see it as a non issue.

Hypothetically, If he ever got traded to the club what would happen? Thoughts?

pretty interesting insight calais. not something that would have crossed my mind (excuse the pun) as i was thiking houli is just the type of player we need (pacy midfielder with nice kicking skills and the occassional goal).

thanks for sharing.

shame that young people still feel/think this way in 2010.

[degruch]

Hmmm...I'd like to hear that from Bachar myself, but it sounds like a throw away comment to me, possibly someone else's throw away comment too. If he ever got traded, he'd have to suck it up...but maybe the club would be sensitive enough not to revert back to our old 'Crusader' away jumper of the mid-to-late 1990's.

In the end, religion is a code for living, if you want to let it dictate your life and it helps you be a better person, that's great. But expecting other people (or sporting clubs) to jump through hoops to fit your chosen belief is pushing it a little. Religion has no place in sport, so relax.

[Con Gorozidis]

Just as a point of interest, our first premiership ever, 3rds, was captained by the same Ian Synman, he of Jewish faith. And several members of that team were in the '66 Premiership side. See, it does pay to start with young ones instead of rejects.

mordy bromberg. saints player and federal court charge. although we shouldnt bring this up as it might make bachar dislike us even more

[Con Gorozidis]

Best to think of the cross as just a design.

It might interest him to know that no person named Kilda actually existed.

One version of the origin of the name has it that it is derived from the Norse "sunt kelda" (sweet wellwater). There are various other explanations but general agreement that there is no such saint.

And it's true that we have a large Jewish following, and even a Jewish premiership player, so if it's good enough for them....

What's more, at a recent home and away game I was sitting close to a group of young people in Saints gear who, from the girls' headscarves, were very obviously Muslim.

i think our large jewish following is because of the geographic location (st kilda) is near the jewish area. i dont think there is any significance with the colours. I assume ajax adopted saints colours just because of the geographical connection (large jewish community centred in caulfield).

[bozza1980]

St Kilda's cross has no religious signficance. It's just a pattern.

I myself know this mate, but the family he comes from is devout and much more religious and they see it otherwise..Trust me lol

I trust you, doesn't make it seem less odd.

Everyone is entitled to believe what they like, but being wary of a cross designed emblem with no religious significance, to my very small mind, sounds like something you read in a vampire story not as thoughts of a person living in the 21st century.

[Dr Spaceman]

St Kilda's cross has no religious signficance. It's just a pattern.

I myself know this mate, but the family he comes from is devout and much more religious and they see it otherwise..Trust me lol

I trust you, doesn't make it seem less odd.

Everyone is entitled to believe what they like, but being wary of a cross designed emblem with no religious significance, to my very small mind, sounds like something you read in a vampire story not as thoughts of a person living in the 21st century.

Well if there's even a modicum of truth in it I wouldn't touch him with one of those really big barge poles.

It's bound to lead to issues down the track and it's not like he's a gun. Just another fringe player who happens to play well against us now and then. If I recall, that’s what lead to us recruit Michael Frost all those years ago (it also lead us to Milne although that only cost us a rookie pick )

Anyway it seems he's keen to go to the Tiges.

I say let Richmond, with their muslim friendly guernseys, have the lad.

[FQF]

Best to think of the cross as just a design.

It might interest him to know that no person named Kilda actually existed.

One version of the origin of the name has it that it is derived from the Norse "sunt kelda" (sweet wellwater). There are various other explanations but general agreement that there is no such saint.

And it's true that we have a large Jewish following, and even a Jewish premiership player, so if it's good enough for them....

What's more, at a recent home and away game I was sitting close to a group of young people in Saints gear who, from the girls' headscarves, were very obviously Muslim.

i think our large jewish following is because of the geographic location (st kilda) is near the jewish area. i dont think there is any significance with the colours. I assume ajax adopted saints colours just because of the geographical connection (large jewish community centred in caulfield).

The vast majority of Jews support Carlton because that is where all the Jews lived coming to Australia after World War II.

Then many Jews lived in the Elwood area, so we picked up a lot of supporters through that.

Collingwood also have a strong following... not sure why.

And Melbourne too, as demonstrated through Gutnick's presidency.

So I don't the AJAX colours were chosen because of St Kilda.

[Con Gorozidis]

Best to think of the cross as just a design.

It might interest him to know that no person named Kilda actually existed.

One version of the origin of the name has it that it is derived from the Norse "sunt kelda" (sweet wellwater). There are various other explanations but general agreement that there is no such saint.

And it's true that we have a large Jewish following, and even a Jewish premiership player, so if it's good enough for them....

What's more, at a recent home and away game I was sitting close to a group of young people in Saints gear who, from the girls' headscarves, were very obviously Muslim.

i think our large jewish following is because of the geographic location (st kilda) is near the jewish area. i dont think there is any significance with the colours. I assume ajax adopted saints colours just because of the geographical connection (large jewish community centred in caulfield).

The vast majority of Jews support Carlton because that is where all the Jews lived coming to Australia after World War II.

Then many Jews lived in the Elwood area, so we picked up a lot of supporters through that.

Collingwood also have a strong following... not sure why.

And Melbourne too, as demonstrated through Gutnick's presidency.

So I don't the AJAX colours were chosen because of St Kilda.

if u check the ABS (and other sources) you will find that caulfield/east st kilda is the highest jewish population in melbourne. by some way.

next is doncaster.

[bergsone]

Easy solution

Ban all religion

[FQF]

if u check the ABS (and other sources) you will find that caulfield/east st kilda is the highest jewish population in melbourne. by some way.

next is doncaster.

That is more of a recent development over the last 30 years.

And for most of us, we support our team because our parent/s did/do.

So although Jews live in Caulfield now, the alliances were created quite some time ago.

[ausfatcat]

what suburb is next to balaclava?