http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire

Political boundaries drawn by the British did not always reflect homogeneous ethnicities or religions, contributing to conflicts in Kashmir, Palestine, Sudan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka. The British Empire was also responsible for large migrations of peoples. Millions left the British Isles, with the founding settler populations of the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand coming mainly from Britain and Ireland. Tensions remain between the white settler populations of these countries and their indigenous minorities, and between settler minorities and indigenous majorities in South Africa and Zimbabwe. British settlement of Ireland has left its mark in the form of divided Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland.

Its not like Irelands problems are unique its all happened before as the facts above show, the common denominator in the conflicts, is Britain. Wake up fellow countrymen and realise where your future lies.

If the people of the newtownards road did not want a republican parade marching down it, they would not be marching down it, same as the pro union people of the UK when they banned the “Islam4UK”

Unionist politicians are vocal in their opposition when an ‘insensitive & offensive’ parade is planned for Wootton Bassett yet find it acceptable for the Apprentice boys to be led by a UVF band named after sectarian murderer Brian Robinson, to pass the spot where he murdered his victim.

Harry J

their native language would be English, this is an english speaking country. I think youre getting us mixed up with Ireland
Posted by Harry J on Jan 20, 2010 @ 03:28 PM

http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/find-out-more/northern-ireland/

The Plantation of Ulster that began in 1609 was a planned process of settlement aimed at preventing further rebellion among the population in the north of Ireland. This part of the island was at that time virtually exclusively Gaelic-speaking and had shown the greatest resistance to English colonisation. From the early seventeenth century onwards, Irish lands were confiscated and given to British settlers — or ‘planters’ — who arrived in increasing numbers, bringing the English Language with them. Large numbers of settlers came from southwest Scotland and thus spoke a Scots dialect, while the remaining settlers came predominantly from the north and Midlands of England. By 1830, for instance, Londonderry had a population that was 25% Scots, 25% English and 50% Irish.

Now do you see the difference in the defination of “Equality” between Nationalism and Unionism.

But whoever leaked this private meeting to Mr Mallie from the DUP has clearly been trying to cause trouble for the CU pact by sullying it with associations of DUPlicity – clearly some intentional disinformation spreading.

As the BBC report:
A senior Conservative spokesman said the discussions were focused on the current difficulties at Stormont.

“We will be putting up 18 Conservative and Unionist candidates at the next election,” he said.

their native language would be English, this is an english speaking country. I think youre getting us mixed up with Ireland

Catholic residents dont have the right to refuse anti catholic parades marching through areas where they are not wanted………

Protestants have the same rights as catholics to refuse parades in their area.

You mean that they don’t have the right to be totally intolerant of other cultures and beliefs? Why should they have that right? No-one else in Europe does?

” Irish is its native tongue ” – presumably that;’s why so many people are native speakers? But actually the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland and even Ireland speak English as their first language so your point is purely political

I understand that the Conservatives have met them all on a regular basis? Why would they not? It’s how you do business in politics.

Catholic residents dont have the right to refuse anti catholic parades marching through areas where they are not wanted. They do not have the right to speak in their native tounge in courts of law, and as for being a foreign language, remember what you call this country “Ireland” and Irish is its native tounge, English is the foreign language.

“The only national government Irish nationalism want any Irish party to be involved in is an Irish government”

Well, that’s not what they voted for in a referrendum and elections. But I am sure that you know better than all of them.

And I think you will also find that your fellow countrymen in the Reopublic will shout and roar for a United Ireland after 3 or 4 pints but quietly vote to keep it as far away as possible when sobriety returns. In part I have always though that was because the couldn’t stick the incessent wingeing like your posts on here.

It would be good for a party that wants to cross the sectarian devide to have constructive meetings with all sections in NI.

again please answer the question, what rights or laws apply to unionists that do not apply to nationlaists ? and who is stopping anyone speaking a foreing language such as irish?

Harry J with no malice intended,and not knowing your age group, Where have you been this last 40 years, “Equality” has many definations but to Nationalists it seems your definations of it are different than theirs, in many areas like Culture, Identity, Language and obviously “Choice”. The days of privilege is gone for Unionism, try as they might to frustrate and hold back “Change” what type of society can sustain a “One party” choice for the electorate. We are not like fish in a pond, there is a bigger world out there and wheither we like it or not we are part of it. As the European Union gets ever larger and more power and control is “devolved” to them, the issue of sovereignty will be defunct, issues of Legality will be taken by them. We will mearly be a ghetto on the outskirts of Europe. Unionists must embrace change now, so that they together with Nationalists can build a future for our country that is based on Equality and together we can build, plan, for future prosperity and peace.

So for all the rhetoric about ‘a shared future’ in the end self interest wins ie unionists unite. Leaves Peter McCann’s ‘breath of fresh air’ line a bit redundant?

The only concrete information about the meeting (as opposed to Eamon mallie’s speculation)we’ve got is:

Conservative spokesman said: “Mr Paterson held private talks with a number of senior unionist politicians in England over the weekend the purpose of which was to help promote greater political stability.”

“Mr Paterson holds many private meetings and we will be making no further comment on the details,”

That’s it.

The BBC are laughably describing this informal sounding as ‘secret talks’. ie ‘Smoke filled rooms’ as they were previously referred to in an unhealthier age.

so tell me what rights or laws apply to unionists that dont apply to nationalists?

Its just being on radio ulster that the talks were to get both unionist parties to talk on the issue of P and J and to bring some stability around the issue.
Posted by Paul on Jan 19, 2010 @ 11:02 PM

why has reg and others in the UUP been saying they have been informed on the current discussions when clealry they have. WHo was at this meeting and was are the UUP lying that they know nothing about the P+J negotiations?

You talk about unity within unionism in one breath, then you talk about a new political mood…between unionism and nationalism, is that not an oxymoron. The only national government Irish nationalism want any Irish party to be involved in is an Irish government that spreads from the cliff of Antrim to the cliffs Cork. The Tories don’t have much of a good record here and with recent dual attitudes, it looks as though nothing has changed.

What dual attitude I hear you ask. Owen Patterson talks of ending sectarian politics to try attract Catholic voters, while at the same time Cameron talks of a majority led Stormont. Well let me tell you something for nothing, there will never, ever, ever be a majority led Unionist government in this part of Ireland again as they have not got the maturity to be trusted to treat nationalists in the same way as our unionists brothers and sisters.

History is on the side of Irish nationalism!!!