Friday, May 16, 2008
“I’ll not be here anyway, so it doesn’t matter..”
At the Cedar Lounge, WorldbyStorm picks up on a quote from an Irish Times interview today, by Deaglán de Bréadún, with out-going Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley Snr. [subs req]
Of the future, he says: “I believe that we can live together. We’re not going to have a united Ireland within 50 years or maybe 100 years but then I’ll not be here anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”
And, regardless of what some might say, unless former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s advice is followed, he’s probably not wrong.
Pete Baker @ 09:43 PM
It’s such a strange statement, isn’t it Pete?
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 10:40 PMPresumably humour?
It reminds me of William Hague’s first speech to Tory Conference, talking about the long term damage of a Labour government: “its all right for you, your not going to be here in 30 or 40 years time”.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 10:43 PMIts possible to read it as though he thinks he might live another 50 but knows he will not make it another 100 (to 182 years old).
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 10:44 PMStrange.. or pragmatic, WbS?
I know that Deaglan chose to end his article with it, but is it significant beyond an acceptance of the corporeal nature of human existance?
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 10:45 PMNo-one can predict the future. Who knows where we’ll be in 10 years time never mind 50 years time. If someone had of told me a couple of years ago that there would have been a cosy DUP/Sinn Fein govt up at Stormont I would have said, to borrow a phrase from the big man himself, “never, never,never, never”. To borrow another well known phrase, “A week is along time in politics”, and with the nationalist electorate growing faster than the unionist, the removal of the Unionist veto on the constitutional status of the north and the increasing role of the south in the north’s business, in direct correlation with the obvious decreasing involvement of London in our matters, I believe that constitutional change is much closer than anyone cares to acknowledge. It will not be a radical or dramatic event but rather a more organic,developmental and agreed approach. Cue the Unionist onslaught!
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 10:48 PMIt is only a strange statement if you experience cognitive dissonance when confronted with the awful realisation that politicians serve their own interests instead of your interests where democracy, sovereignty and self-determination can be sold for an EU pension. Why would anyone familiar with the man think that Paisley believed that anything is transcendent to his own self-interests, and could have any value that outlasts his use for it? Still, if man will sell his g-d for thirty pieces of silver, he will surely sell his countrymen for less.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 11:11 PM‘but then I’ll not be here anyway, so it doesn’t matter.’
Translation
‘All that matters is me -all that has ever mattered is me , me , me , and me ‘
No surprise there then :(
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 11:12 PM“I believe that we can live together.”
But not as long as I’m alive.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 11:15 PMI heard him refer to the *north of Ireland* earlier.
Was I hearing things?
More creeping *hibernicisation*?
Like making reference to dead children in Wexford?
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 11:20 PMPredominantly wishful thinking/interpretation rather than objective analysis so far.
It might help if people left their preconceptions to one side before commenting.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 11:28 PMOn topic.
TUV want a reversal of this living together and mutual respect. Therefore cross referencing and contrasting their atttiude is analysis.
Foirtunately no unelected politician will replace Dr Paisley. (who I must admit not supporting previously).
Ends.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 11:39 PMIf Paisley is, apparently, conceding that there will be a united Ireland eventually, why don’t the Unionists start preparing seriously for it now?
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 11:54 PM“If Paisley is, apparently, conceding that there will be a united Ireland eventually..”
Ermmm, except he isn’t, Joe.
Posted by on May 17, 2008 @ 12:05 AMPredominantly wishful thinking/interpretation rather than objective analysis so far.
It might help if people left their preconceptions to one side before commenting.
Paisley doesn’t leave his preconceptions to one side before providing us with his wishful thinking interpretation of the future.
It’s not easy to give an objective analysis of a totally subjective quote.
Posted by on May 17, 2008 @ 12:10 AMTrue, George. And just how objective can one be when asked to gaze into a crystal ball and predict the future? I wouldn’t rule out wild cards, either - such as a British government producing a report a decade hence that says Northern Ireland will only be economically viable if it is integrated into the Republic and using that report as a pretext to remove the subvention, saying “It’s time to live in the real world, boys ‘n’ girls: you can stay in the UK but here are a bunch of new rules about regional subvention for non-GB regions.”
Posted by on May 17, 2008 @ 05:22 AMMoney talks and bullshit walks. In the long term cross border fiscal initiatives will rule the day.
We will see a united 32 quicker than the big man thinks.Posted by on May 17, 2008 @ 06:19 PM
