Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Hate Crime on Display?
The front page of today’s Irish News has a photograph of the ‘Union Jack Souvenir Shop’ on Belfast’s Newtownards Road yesterday. For sale in the shop is the Irish Tricolour for £5, obviously for burning at Belfast City Council-sponsored bonfires and other less ‘well-maintained’ gatherings throughout loyalist Belfast and beyond on the 11th Night. But the label attached to the flags by the helpful proprietor kind of sums up just why the ridiculous efforts to brand the 11th/12th as potentially an all inclusive celebration and gathering are doomed to failure: “FENIAN FLAGS TO BURN £5.”
Of course, as I’ve stated before at considerable length, there is nothing wrong with the 11th/12th remaining a celebration primarily/ exclusively celebrated by unionists/ protestants. But there should be no place for wilful displays of incitement to hatred in the form of flag burning, which clearly only reinforces crude sectarian mindsets like those responsible for this sign.
Chris Donnelly @ 09:53 AM
I agree with Willowfield, a successful prosecution is very unlikely given the circumstances of this case. It could be argued that the good shopkeeper is simply naming and shaming a couple of flags caught conspiring to burn £5. Most likely they were hopng to quietly dispose of the Northern Bank loot amidst the north’s greatest outpouring of art and culture.
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 08:06 PMHow good it is to see the national flag on the Newtonards Road.
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 08:19 PMCould this be a clever marketing ploy by some shopkeeper inspired by the “The Apprentice” TV programme and misled into a bad purchase by the many visits of the good “Dr” IKP to the site of the Battle of the Boyne with his old buddy Bertie.
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 08:36 PMFrom what i’m told there was no sign saying Fenian Flags to burn.
My informationis also hear’Say
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 08:39 PMWhy all the fuss over Northern Irish Loyalism’s expression of high culture?
Word to the wise… leave the apes to fight over the last banana… the rest of us will be across the border (including middle class unionists)
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 08:41 PMBoth sides are as bad as eachother - really?
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 08:43 PMI agree picador, the Loyal Sons on the Newtownards Road SHOULD get used to the flag of the Irish nation flying there. In a few years it will be the normal thing anyway when the island unites. Anyone know a good spot for the Republican Garden of Remembrance in East Belfast when the inevitable comes? What about Dee St. or the junction of the Newtownards & Albertbridge Roads. Indeed Stormont would be ideal for another replica of the Garden Of Remembrance that lies at the top of Parnell Street, in our capital Dublin? PS I wonder what Brigadier McDonald makes of his fellow Loyalists burning the flag of his Presidential buddy Mary McAleese and golfing partner Martin. Mmmmmmmmm! Well Jackie??
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 08:46 PMGiven Sinn Fein’s endless retailing of sectarian artifacts glorifying murder for the last 40 years I dont think any of their syncophants on this site should gern too much or act the innocent.
the shop by the way is not owned by the OO so I see no reason to blame them. It is like blaming the SDLP for Sinn Fein’s extremly tasteless ‘bookshop’
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 09:05 PMThe Orange is in the ticolour can be said to represent protestants/unionists in the same way the embedded St Patrick’s cross in the Union Flag represents Irishness…
The reality is that the orange in the tricolour is a nationalist definition of protestant/orange/unionist and the St Patrick’s flag within the Union Flag is a British definition of Irishness.
Neither definition bears any relation to the people who feel it most......
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 10:07 PMAch sure its the only day of the year they have I suppose. I mean, if it helps the Loyalist community forget, at least for one day, that they have no future, no prospects and no say in the north anymore, then let them have there fun day with Diamond Dan! When the bonfires have died and the sun begins to rise, they will all be nursing their hangovers, as they slowly begin to realise that theres no food in the fridge cos the dole isn’t till thursday, wee Billy is still inside doing time cos he got caught selling class A’s and wee Sammy, bless him, has no job to go to because the shipyard has been closed these many years and he doesn’t even have a GCSE to his name. In fact he can’t even spell his own name God help him. But sure the 12th is only another year away, I can’t wait. Can you?
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 10:18 PMThe average ‘loyalist’ bonfire attender is (as we have all known for some time now) a pointless piece of human sewage. That much is self-evident and no-longer worthy of much in the way of comment. What IS more significant, in my view, is the activities of this ‘Union Jack Shop’ kip on the Newtownards Road. The vile owners of this dump have been committing offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 for the last eight years.
Section 13 of the Act provides that -
“(1) A person in a public place commits an offence if he—
(a)wears an item of clothing, or
(b)wears, carries or displays an article,in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.”
Given this provision, how in the name of fuck do these scum continue to get away with openly selling this:-
http://www.unionjackshop.com/product_info.php?id=129
this:-
http://www.unionjackshop.com/product_info.php?id=275
this:-
http://www.unionjackshop.com/product_info.php?id=198
this:-
http://www.unionjackshop.com/product_info.php?id=163
this:-
http://www.unionjackshop.com/product_info.php?id=130
this:-
http://www.unionjackshop.com/product_info.php?id=129
this:-
http://www.unionjackshop.com/product_info.php?id=120
this:-
http://www.unionjackshop.com/product_info.php?id=50
this:-
http://www.unionjackshop.com/product_info.php?id=352
this:-
http://www.unionjackshop.com/product_info.php?id=353
this:-
http://www.unionjackshop.com/product_info.php?id=319
?????????
I could go on but you get the flavour of the place. This dump should be raided by the cops, the wank-pots running the place arrested and the reams of terrorist paraphernalia on the premises seized and destroyed. What do the various political representatives of East Belfast have to say about the fact that some shower of cunts are running a terrorist shop in the heart of their constituency? What do the cops have to say about it? These vermin should be put out of business forthwith.
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 10:33 PMBemused,
Agreed!Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 10:40 PMP.S. Before the usual selection of whataboutery merchants pile-in - yes, if there are similar shops selling IRA/CIRA/RIRA/INLA etc. merchandise then they should be shut-down and their operators arrested immediately. Seriously though folks, this ‘Union Jack Shop’ is just outrageous - why on earth are the police tolerating this? Anyone?
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 10:46 PMAaah, at last, a thread about flags!
There’s sure to be some progressive intellectual emotion-free debate now....
Can we have one about anthems soon?
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 10:53 PMSomeone wearing an IRA shirt can just claim he is glorifying the freedom fighters of the 1920s.
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 11:18 PMHowever, if he has on a Provisional Irish Republican Army shirt on could he be prosecuted for anything?
Someone wearing a british army t-shirt could be seen to support collusion with murder gangs throughout Ulster, putting aside all other atrocities committed by that group over time.
But, as a great man once said..."The state calls its own violence law, but that of the individual, crime”
or
“To offend, to oppress, to despoil, to plunder, to assassinate or enslave one’s fellowman is ordinarily regarded as a crime. In public life, on the other hand, from the standpoint of patriotism, when these things are done for the greater glory of the State, for the preservation or the extension of its power, it is all transformed into duty and virtue”
Posted by on Jul 09, 2008 @ 11:21 PMAs I recall a few years ago there was an attempt made in the United States to make burning the US flag a criminal offence, most people who believe in civil liberties considered this to be an outrageous restriction on the expression of opinion. I happen to agree with that opinion.
If someone sells or purchases a piece of coloured nylon that is their business, if the purchaser then chooses to destroy their newly purchased possession that is also their business and the peelers can get stuffed.
The same applies to religious tracts that they also may purchase and wipe their arses with if they so desire.
Stop demanding that free expression be made a criminal offence or some day you will discover that Plod is fingering your collar for your thought crime.
Posted by on Jul 10, 2008 @ 01:22 AMNever mind the flags Harry - what about the patently illegal and criminal tat that these vermin are peddling?
Posted by on Jul 10, 2008 @ 01:25 AMA hate crime? Catch yourself on and stop rolling about in the dirt together playing these silly little political games.
Posted by on Jul 10, 2008 @ 02:47 AMI agree with Harry!!!!!
WOW - still rocking from the shock of that realisaton.
As for the rest of their wares in this loyal little shop - shitey old tat sold to dickheads with too much money and too little sense. Never mind the content, did you look at those prices - SCANDALOUS!Posted by on Jul 10, 2008 @ 07:31 AM“if it helps the Loyalist community forget, at least for one day, that they have no future, no prospects and no say in the north anymore, then let them have there fun day with Diamond” Dan! “slowly begin to realise that theres no food in the fridge cos the dole isn’t till thursday, wee Billy is still inside doing time cos he got caught selling class A’s and wee Sammy, bless him, has no job to go to because the shipyard has been closed these many years and he doesn’t even have a GCSE to his name.”
FFS - I despise the 12th myself Quagmire and always have - but I must admit that as a Prod after reading your ridiculously bigoted musings I actually hope every Orange band and Lodge in the land go out of their way to make a special tour round your street 4 times or so on Saturday afternoon - I’d love to see your oul purple bake frothing at the mouth......Posted by on Jul 10, 2008 @ 08:35 AMHarry - true, but rude to say the least ... and audacious at that! However, while we have people “down here” in Cork that will get all hot-and-bothered about the flying of the UK flag outside city hall to honour John Major then it’s hardly surprising that “up there” in Belfast you’ll have enterprising folk selling their nylon counterparts as tender for a bonfire.
They might only be pieces of nylon but we’ve both really got to grow a little self-confidence to celebrate our own things without having to exorcise the other’s.
Posted by on Jul 10, 2008 @ 08:56 AMThis “hate crime” business really is a stroke of genius. After all, why go to the trouble of lobotomizing the people when you can get the people to put all their time and energy into lobotomizing each other?
Clearly, both communities are united by their stupidity.
Posted by on Jul 10, 2008 @ 10:10 AMblandy: “It is like blaming the SDLP for Sinn Fein’s extremly tasteless ‘bookshop’ ”
Why did you put bookshop in commas there? It does actually sell books afterall.
Posted by on Jul 10, 2008 @ 01:00 PMtsk tsk
what’s the world coming to when young loyalists have to go to a shop and buy flags to burn? In my day you did the manly thing and went to themmuns’ territory and nicked them. That’s the trouble- standards nowadays is slippin something shocking.....Posted by on Jul 10, 2008 @ 01:12 PM
