Saturday, June 16, 2007
From Ikea to Limavady
SDLP Councillor Gerry Mullan is objecting to the display of a Union flag during a World War I commemoration event in Limavady. The solitary Union flag will not be flown on council property, on a temporary flag poll for approximately 30 minutes. However, this is too much for Cllr Mullan who has attacked it as a “flag-waving exercise”.
Fair Deal @ 10:59 AM
It’ll only be a flag-waving exercise if it’s a windy day.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 11:24 AMShameful from the SDLP. Are they trying to outdo the SF-IRA criminals with their sectarianism? Or just outdo their youth wing?! How does this contribute to peace and respect for their neighbours?
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 11:29 AMSmall minds, small issues.
The histories of our two islands are inextricably intertwined.
Many Catholics/nationalists fought in WW1 and, this councillor notwithstanding, they did fight under the Union flag.
Bah.Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 11:31 AMJoe,
A good point, well made.
Regards.
Martin
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 11:36 AMAll I can say to nationalists like Cllr Mullan is keep it up, because such actions like this will help keep partition between NI and the ROI until at least 2116.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 11:39 AMSDLP sinking to new lows, I thought they were better than that. I thought the SDLP youth statement was petty but this takes the biscuit.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 12:00 PMThis really is absolutely unacceptable nonsense from the SDLP. The union flag will be there as it will be a British Legion event honouring the many people who were killed and injured fighting in a war which still has a kind of iconic status for many many people in these islands (combining as it does a feeling that it was probably unecessary, though that can be analysed in great detail, involved poor leadership, though again I think it is a bit more complex and undoubtly involved appaling human sacrifice).
I know the SDLP in East Londonderry are feeling the heat from SF but this really is unacceptable and comes across as small minded biggotry.
I remember an RC priest of my acquantince being at a memorial service in Coleraine. I am sure he had some part in the service (I think he said a prayer). We briefly discussed it later, it did not change his Irishness, nationalism or anything else and the union flag was so irrelevant to it no comment on it was deemed necessary.
As has been said above many Irish nationalists fought and died in that war (as in the 2nd world war). They fought and died under the union flag as the whole of Ireland was under the crown at that point. Trying to make political propoganda out of this is really quite insulting and could even rebound on the SDLP in certain areas of East Londonderry.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 12:08 PMFly it high, and fly it proud - in glorious memory of our brave and glorious fallen.
Never be deterred by the blind bigotry of those such as Mr Mullan.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 12:25 PMAre the SDLP on some sort of a suicide mission?
It can’t be easy to simultaneously piss off every shade of Unionism while making the shinners look moderate. Way to go Mr.Mullan.Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 01:04 PMYes.
It seems to this remote observer that SF have peaked in terms of electoral support both North and South.
For those wanting to capitalize on that, this is definitely not the way to go.Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 01:07 PM>>Many Catholics/nationalists fought in WW1 and, this councillor notwithstanding, they did fight under the Union flag.<<
It would be a misconception to suggest (indeed if that is what you are doing) that if they had a choice they would have fought under that flag, or fought for that flag. Many were conned into fighting for little Belgium so that small nations (Ireland included) might be set free from the oppression of bigger countries.
On reading the link it is clear that lots of work has been put into making sure that this can be a cross-community event. Something so tentative could easily come undone. Although on the outside I would agree it could be viewed/portrayed as a petty matter, at the heart of it though is the essence of the fragility of the bridge building going on Ireland wide.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 01:32 PMPrince Eoghan,
“Although on the outside I would agree it could be viewed/portrayed as a petty matter, at the heart of it though is the essence of the fragility of the bridge building going on Ireland wide.”
Exactly so why are the SDLP trying to tear down the bridge? I await with interest any “explanation” from that quarter. It sadly is very possible that the SDLPs actions have destroyed this bridge irrevocably.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 01:39 PMjust fly a tricolour andathe union jack. both communities represented. problem solved!!!
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 02:16 PMIts not so hard to figure out turgon you’re on here whining that the SDLP is trying to Exclude you by complaining about the big house prods, like yourself, excluding them by flying the very the flag that is an anethma to nationalists.
Simple enough really either its cross community or its not.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 02:20 PMNo Ian you do not see. Before this was an issue that could have been done and it might not have been commented on.
Now the SDLP has raised the issue if the union flag is removed it will cause controversy. If the tricolour is flown it will cause controversy. The SDLP opened a mini Pandora’s box on this one for what looks very like silly party political reasons.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 02:24 PMI would describe myself as a (soft) nationalist.
I don’t see the Union flag as being anethma (sic).Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 02:28 PMthats a shame, because to normal people these things are just brightly coloured tea-towels (except the saltire, obviously ;o))
anyway, it should be the act of rememberance that is important, not the ownership designated by the tea-towel!
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 02:29 PMEmerald Pimpernel,
“Its not so hard to figure out turgon you’re on here whining that the SDLP is trying to Exclude you by complaining about the big house prods, like yourself, excluding them by flying the very the flag that is an anethma to nationalists.”Please translate into something which approximates to English, adheres to something resembling a coherent sentence structure and just possibly has some relevance to the debate.
Incidentally as I said it is only quite a big house.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 03:00 PMIf “nationalists” cannot respect the Union flag, how on earth do they expect “unionists” to respect the Tricolour?
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 03:03 PMAs long as there’s a Tricolour to represent the numerous Irish nationalists who fought and died in the ‘war to end all wars’ what’s the problem?
This is a great idea and its wonderful to see all the unionists here so keen on cross-community events. Let’s have more of this - perhaps a Catholic priest, preferably an ex-army chaplin if that was possible could be invited to lead the service?
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 03:04 PMIt is only flag waving if some Orangeman manages to wobble the flagpole.
Its a flag FLYING exercise councillor.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 03:12 PMLib2016,
I am not clear on who created the whole idea of this commeration but all that you say might have been possible before this nonsense was started by the SDLP. Now it will become a zero sum game and if a tricolour were present that would offend. Before the SDLP intervention you never know it might have been acceptable now as I said this bridge has probably been pretty comprehensively burnt. I suspect even now an RC priest taking part would not be a major problem but like I say I do not know the exact ins and outs of it.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 03:15 PMFair enough lib2016.
But, from the report, it seems that this controversy wasn’t about the absence of a tricolour but solely about flying the union flag.
As Turgon says, it’s probably now too late to lay this to rest. Pity.Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 03:19 PMTurgon.
>>It sadly is very possible that the SDLPs actions have destroyed this bridge irrevocably.<<
Another view could be that the SDLP are trying to raise awareness that flying the Union flag may make some feel uncomfortable, ergo destroying the whole point of the cross-community exercise.
Joe
>>If “nationalists” cannot respect the Union flag, how on earth do they expect “unionists” to respect the Tricolour?
Posted by joeCanuck on Jun 16, 2007 @ 04:03 PMIs it possible that you may be missing the point of the objections?
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 03:21 PMPrince Eoghan,
“Another view could be that the SDLP are trying to raise awareness that flying the Union flag may make some feel uncomfortable, ergo destroying the whole point of the cross-community exercise.”
Very true I was about to post the following.
There was a way for the SDLP to take this forward properly. That was to contact the organisers of the parade and discuss the issue and see if a compromise could be reached. Such a strategy woul have required patience and confidentiallity. It would also not have yielded a headline for the councillor in question.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2007 @ 03:26 PM
