Thursday, March 20, 2008
Gerry Must Go
So sez Squinter, 20 years on, Gerry must face the truth:
“Adams has been the West Belfast MP for 20 years.
If a week is a long time in politics, then 20 years is the Upper Paleolithic Age. It is in that same 20-year period that the slow, steady decline into chaos in certain parts of West Belfast began, and it was on his watch that it has gathered pace to become the runaway train that it is today.
...there are many people and many agencies to blame for the state of the lower Falls ... But while Adams can and does point the finger at some or even all of the above, Squinter has to say that he has never heard Adams accepting any responsibility for the fact that large parts of his constituency are no-go areas ...
Who’s to blame for the failure to press home the Harry Holland momentum? Gerry Adams is to blame, that’s who.
Gerry Adams is the MP, has been for 20 years. He’s supposed to know how to marshal and direct; he’s supposed to give us the ideas and the leadership; he’s supposed to make things better. When he asks for and gets our votes he accepts a host of very onerous responsibilities, and the most basic of those responsibilities is to make his constituency a good place for decent people to live and for parents to bring up their families. In that he has failed terribly.”
“It wasn’t as if Adams didn’t have the clout and the contacts. A former aide of Tony Blair has been making frankly embarrassing revelations in a new book about how close Adams and Blair were. Adams was the Oprah Winfrey of Irish-America. And what did we get? InBev gone and Visteon going. A huge investment conference that holds its nose as it swishes past West Belfast ferrying ministers and Invest NI suits to Hillsborough and Cultra. Adams might have got away with pointing to the lack of investment in his constituency in 1983 and saying: “Nothing to do with me, mate.” 20 years on and you’d buy a house in Ross Street quicker than you’d buy that.
20 years. Two decades. Four parliamentary terms. Four US Presidents. Two Popes. 11 Secretaries of State. Five UN Secretary-Generals. Five Taoisigh. Five Prime Ministers. In Ross Street the wind of change blows in empty Budweiser boxes and despair; it blows out good people and hope.”
Rusty Nail @ 11:41 AM
im a student in west belfast for the past number of years, and to be honest west belfast is as close to a dive as u will ever see,
it is one of the most social and economicly disadvantaged areas in the country,and SF do F**K all to help. thye clima to be a party for the working people, but the state of some the place in the lower falls is just god awful!
Gerry has been MP for 20 years,and the place is getting worse every year, yet the people here just keep voting in drives, to help make thier lives worse,
the only time itgot a bit better is when Joe Hendren was MP.
For a party of the working class i just dnt know how the people cant see how SF are turning WB into a horrible place to live.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 02:03 PMThe penny will drop soon enough. Adams is the problem. May I, in this Easter season of reminders that Christ once existed, remind you that Adams has a certain negative pedigree.
Why Gerry Adams is the Antichrist!
First of all, I believe that Gerry Adams is the Antichrist because of the coincidence that his name comes out at 666 on my numeric alphabet (see website http://www.johnoconnell.org/), a numeric alphabet that I discovered during my years at St Columb’s College in Derry and further investigated during my years at University College Galway. If his name didn’t come at 666, using some reasonable means, then I would not believe that he is the Antichrist. He would simply be to me just another delinquent who leads a very large conspiracy to undermine Ireland.
Second of all, due to another pertinent coincidence his name contains “Adam”, the name of the first man, and from a theological point of view, this adds much to the basis of him being the Antichrist. Adam coincidentally means ‘man’ in Hebrew, and the number of the beast is specifically described as “man’s number” (Rev 13:18).
These are extraordinary coincidences and not to dismissed by any means by any intelligent observer of matters theological.
The apostle Paul wrote: “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor 15:22). Adam therefore symbolises death, and thus the question must be asked, is there significance to the ‘Adam’ in Gerry Adams’ name? Does Gerry Adams, the effective leader of the IRA’s republican movement, symbolise death?
The descriptions of the beasts in the Book of Revelation are interesting.
‘The inhabitants worshipped the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed,’ (Rev 13:12). Coincidentally, Gerry Adams was shot and wounded in 1984, but recovered. Afterwards, he became Sinn Fein president and one of the foremost politicians in Northern Ireland. The use of violence for him is a matter of tactics. That is a matter of fact and record. Gerry Adams has not stepped away from violence. He believes in his own words that “there is a time for peace and a time for war”, mocking the Prince of Peace and equating Christ with the Antichrist, good with evil.
The first beast, who is said to be the Antichrist, is prophesied to have “seven heads” (Rev 13:1), which is coincidentally the number of heads on the IRA army council, including Gerry Adams’ allegedly.
“Who can make war against him?” (Rev 13:7). The IRA has been described as ‘the most sophisticated terrorist organisation in the history of mankind’. Their structure makes it impossible for a conventional army to defeat them.
Gerry Adams fulfilled another prophecy during the run-up to the 2007 Assembly election campaign in the North of Ireland. This involved him requesting the use of Clonard Monastery (Roman Catholic) church in West Belfast for a political meeting discussing his party’s policy. He still believed that armed struggle was a legitimate means of resolving differences.
When Gerry Adams took to the altar of Clonard monastery while his beliefs were in conflict with Christ’s teaching, he was proclaiming himself to be wiser than God and better than Jesus Christ. He was in logic proclaiming himself to be God.
“[The man of lawlessness or the Antichrist] will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thes 2:3-4)
When you think of all the violent activity, brutality and attacks on old people in West Belfast, you must think “man of lawlessness” as the beast or Antichrist is decribed.
Fror further information, see http://www.johnoconnell.org/
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 02:13 PMIn all honesty, I’m not sure what an MP can do for an area (although he could do more by taking his seat.)
What is happening in the West is surely more a failure of “community politics” - which might explain why the “community paper” is nominating someone else to take the fall.Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 02:14 PMSSR is community politics another way for you to say community activists - those guys who get paid minimum wage and mostly employed on a casual basis? Could ‘community politics’ be interpeted by some as ‘vigilantism’? Perhaps the law of the land should be replaced with an eye for an eye in WB?
Or could it be that a community paper is maybe exposing the views of the community? What a terrible idea!
As for grizzly, when he retires from WB perhaps you could leave him in charge of ‘community politics’ on the Shore Road? I’m sure people there would be glad of him? No.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 02:22 PMIf I may take the opportunity to point to one line in particular.
“When the bad guys can kill a well-known and popular ex-prisoner who was a fit and strong body-builder, then quite frankly Squinter’s more than a little concerned himself.”
Indeed.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 02:22 PMGerry’s fate was sealed in the abysmally poor SF results in the South. He won’t be too concerned at this as it is an easy way to get n early retirement from public service. His poor attendance record wont be missed on the Hill and his smug grin wont be missed by anybody who actually expects to be able to meet their MP to discuss the problems they face.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 02:37 PMthe only time itgot a bit better is when Joe Hendren was MP. Posted by I can see.
Are you a mature student - what age are you? Joe Hendron hasnt been MP for years and you didnt live there then. Go spout your SDLP line somewhere else. This thread is about helping WB or the ‘dive’ as you like to call it. Very constructive!
I started by saying I am a SF supporter and remain so but I want a bit of leadership from them on this issue - no wooly words, no just blaming the police, no ‘where are the parents’. I want to hear a plan to tackle the problem.
As Squinter says Ourselves Alone doesnt mean republicans fighting for Irish unity, it means the pensioner sitting in her house in Ross St who are more afraid now than she was of the Brits.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 02:40 PMI have a feeling that he may be feeling that enough is enough anyway and has already decided it would be more fun flying to and fro on the lecture circuit like President Blair/ Trimble/ Powell etc… N.Ireland people are as hard on their politicians as they are on football managers.Gerry is going -maybe even before the Doc and before the Army Council announces it is leaving the stage.
For what its worth in terms of building bridges-Martin is weel thought of in some Unionist circles.
T.RuthPosted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 02:40 PMSRR
What is happening in the West is surely more a failure of “community politics” - which might explain why the “community paper” is nominating someone else to take the fall.
I’m not so sure. I think if anything a sense of community under siege was a bit of a bulwark against this for a time, and the fact there are strong community ties means this issue will continue to ratchet up the scale.
What’s needed isn’t politics. It’s enforcement.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 02:40 PMInteresting that most discussion focuses on a change of leadership within SF, and not the political alternatives. Do the SDLP have any chance of a comeback? Or is this fertile ground for FF or Labour?
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 02:52 PMCould it be that the lower falls area remains stuck in time and remaining oppressed in all aspects for the sake of political advertisment.
Over the years west belfast has been used as a specific area for spinn fein to highlight as the forgotten community and people, who have been repeatedly passed over by investment of any and all discription.
Yet again it will be selfishly used in some way to
move forward the presant phase of stalmate.
Spinn fein will tell all with vested interest that this area can no longer remain without proper policing etc if it is to survive.Spinn fein appear to have taken a leaf from the catholic church in that they target the most poverty stricken area`s of the world to highlight conditions when attempting the abstraction of funds from the deepest of our pockets.Whilst refusing to sell off any of their own treasure`s.
I have no doubt when political gain has been exhausted to the condition of the lower falls,with its geographical position to the city centre will become the next white collar apartment area with the few making a lot.Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 03:09 PMThe last time Robin Livingstone wanted to boot someone out of their job it was Newton Emerson.
Newton lost his job and gained a career.
Gerry Adams has nothing to fear from Livingstone.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 03:09 PMInteresting that most discussion focuses on a change of leadership within SF, and not the political alternatives. Do the SDLP have any chance of a comeback? Or is this fertile ground for FF or Labour?
Posted by Kenny O’Donnell on Mar 20, 2008 @ 02:52 PM
I think is one area where FF will be looking very closely.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 03:26 PMWhen Gerry does retire has anyone heard of which house he`ll use as full time residency. Belfast, Dublin or Donegal. (Bulgaria)?
Not bad economics on his behalf when he apparently
only takes £20,000 a year (maybe thats per job)or he`s well in with his bank manager at the NB.Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 03:27 PMKoD: “Interesting that most discussion focuses on a change of leadership within SF, and not the political alternatives. Do the SDLP have any chance of a comeback? Or is this fertile ground for FF or Labour? “
One step at a time, Kenny… habits are difficult to unlearn.
slug: “Gerry Adams has nothing to fear from Livingstone. “
Mayhap… but at some point in the not too distant future, the electorate may just decide they want representation that will actually represent them. Gerry may have something to fear from them, eventually.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 03:29 PM“Are you a mature student - what age are you? Joe Hendron hasnt been MP for years and you didnt live there then.”
actually i am a mature student! thanks fro reminding me! but im not an SDLP member or lover, but just take a look back at the wrok done, it doesnt take much, just give google a shot, and ull see that at least Hendron managed to use Westminster to help the local people, something SF refuse to do.
i ask you to compare WB to Derry city, at the MPs thier are using thier infulence and position to better the lives of the people living thier.
im not saying Attwood would do a better job, i think hes proved he cant! look at his sliding vote.
but i do find it stupid why the people vote for SF during Westminster election when the would benifit more from getting repensentation at WM. I think the poeople would be better off voting SDLP at westminister elections just to get the advanatages thats other areas get. I dont think many really object to people taking WM seats.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 03:31 PMFrom a Unionist point of view who knows very little of West Belfast it is interesting to note the parallels with the Shankill Road. I have read before on this very site of how Nationalists were incredulous that the people of the Shankill still vote for Unionist parties who have failed them miserably both socially and economically in every way just because their are wrapped in the Union Jack. Interesting to see to same thinking starting to turn on Sinn Fein in their own homeland and from many of the same thinkers too...I suppose the main thing both the Falls and the Shankill have in common is the same MP - a certain Mr Adams....
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 03:37 PM“He’s supposed to know how to marshal and direct; he’s supposed to give us the ideas and the leadership”
Could I point out the blindingly obvious, which many never seem to get:
MPs (and TDs) are elected to *represent* you, not *lead* you.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 03:53 PMThe best that a good constituency MP can do, is channel state controlled infrastructure into his/her constituency, a new school or hospital, swimming pool etc, and gain a part of regeneration budgets, encourage business to relocate into their patch.
Dealing with young thugs is somewhat different, Gerry’s days of giving the nod to the Belfast brigade to take them out back for a chat etc are long gone and as he seems so fearful of the Brits taking his political toys away they are unlikely to return any time soon.
His and SFs suggestion that the PSNI should get tough with these kids may sound fine, but people should remember they will be their kids who are being shafted by the PSNI, that is if the police were to do the job they are payed for; and one cannot but think the PSNI is enjoying both the discomfort of the people of West Belfast and that of SF on this matter..
So what to do, people who live in West Belfast have to take some responsibility for their home area, if the streets are dirty and unswept, instead of groaning they should be knocking at Adams, the MLAs and local councillors door and demand they get off their arses and get the streets swept, even if it means doing it themselves.
What is to stop the local men and women forming an organization themselves that attempts to keep the streets safe?
It will not be the first time working class communities have been forced to come together to protect themselves against vultures from within and without. [Gerry might remember those days before he became a ‘statesman’;] If people choose to go down this road, it will not be long before new leaders emerge to replace those who are no longer doing their job.
SF have a choice, they can take off the suits and return to the same trench as those who have given them their trust, or they can move over and make room for people who are prepared to work at street level alongside those they represent.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 03:54 PMI think this could possibly be a springboard for Éirigí rather than Fianna Fail or the SDLP.
Athough I am not too sure on its position regarding abstentionism in Westminister or Stormont. I think it could make inroads in local council elections
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 03:56 PM‘What is to stop the local men and women forming an organization themselves that attempts to keep the streets safe? ‘
When was the last time you brushed the streets Mick. OK all you silly old age pensioners on Ross Road, get off ya butts and get a broom!
After they’ve done that they can take a walk up to Sevastapol street to complain on the local hoods and be given the message to phone the cops, who then do not respond, or if they do it makes the person who called them a target in that area.
‘What is to stop the local men and women forming an organization themselves that attempts to keep the streets safe?’
We’ve had that before and it turned into vigilantee-ism.
‘The best that a good constituency MP can do, is channel state controlled infrastructure into his/her constituency, a new school or hospital, swimming pool etc, and gain a part of regeneration budgets, encourage business to relocate into their patch.’
Yes they gave us the Falls swim centre. Horray! Doesn’t make people feel safer.
May I remind you Mick, that the first duty of any government is the safety of its citizens. A poll in todays ATN sez 64% of people in WB would rather have safety than stormont, looks like they are failing in their first duty.
Nothing in your post Mick that says, well these are the elected reps, here is the MP who has been in place for 20 years, so since you haven’t mentioned it shall the good people of WB let him off and do the work themselves as if we lived in some sort of commune?
This is a democracy????Or so we are told. It’s not a commune. Lets try holding those in high office to account and then maybe we’ll get some where.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 04:33 PMMICK Derry is awash with such groups, the most taken over on formation by ‘guess who’
Job seekers allowance scheme`s etc where the unemployed get a few quid extra by claiming to have carried out community work on behalf of these groups who also gain financial reward for same.
This is were Spinn fein had contionously attracted new voters by the visability on the ground and appearing to have the cure for many ills.
Of course Spinn fein could / still not openly claim owenership of such groups as part of the criteria for initial setup and annual funding etc was that political affilation to any parties was a no no.
However the powers that have been appeared to turn the blind eye as it had the beginning of that calming effect which has brought Gerry & co onto the nice soft chairs with the feeling of importance.
Perhaps a tally of what has been paid out to date for these projects would allow Joe public to form a better oppinion of value for money.
In some of these area`s Spinn fein claim of a sustained 30 year neglect policy on demanding these groups be granted another years budget to keep open every other corner flat.
This in itself has to be seen as an admittance of failure by them, who the dogs in the street know who`s in control.
To allow such practice`s to continue with out transparency and better accountability penalises those genuine groups and associations who carry out thankless work at all levels in that they are applying for survival grants which no doubt have already been gobbled up by the well oiled machine.Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 04:42 PMI lived in North Belfast until last year and it is so bad after 11 you get taxis to take you what would otherwise be a 5 min walk. And that is in the supposed ‘nicer’ areas. Casual, recreational violence is widespread. I know that West Belfast is bad too, but there is ZERO leadership in the north. Blaming Gerry is easy but the problem is much more widespread and there are a lot of others to blame.
We need much tougher sentencing (abolishing remission would be a good start), a zero tolerance approach to be adopted and for our supposed police to start acting like policemen.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 04:49 PMSo its only taken 25 years then, a quarter of a century, to realise that an abstentionist MP won’t do much for his constituency then? Anywhere else the elected representative for an area would be expected to be held accountable by the electorate for rising crime rates and the total moral decline over which he/she has presided over during their time as MP.
But not West Belfast - where the voter turnout is always one of the highest, if not the highest, proportionally across Northern Ireland in every general election and where support for Grizzly seems to get stronger and stronger in each successive election. Instead of being outraged by the progressive slide of their community into the mire the populace of West Belfast, perversely, seem to content enough with the way things are going to want to continually endorse it.
There’s no real room for complaint I’m afraid - you get what you vote for. When you vote for unsavoury characters then don’t be surprised when they seem oblivious or passé to the odd mugging or car-jacking when it happens in your area. After all it would take a pretty desperate act to make someone with Gerry Adams’ extensive experience of the macabre to even bat an eyelid at a few pensioners getting battered for some five pound notes on their way back from the shops.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 05:02 PMPOlitical parties (SDLP and SF) refused to acknowledge that WB was a nogo area which was part of the reason the policing vacuum in WB was not addressed and SF supported the RUC being on the IRA legitimage targets list whcih was obviously a chill factor for RUC effectiveness.POlitical parties in WB and other authorities also looked the other way at the system of punishment beatings as a way of dealing with (largely) juvenile delinquency.
So how to undo the consequences of these years of such a system is the question to be addressed.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 05:16 PM
