Thursday, March 20, 2008
Normalisation and managing the message
You couldn’t have failed to notice the English Queen has just completed a three day trip to the six counties.
A visit that occurred in such a ‘normalised’ environment today’s event in Armagh was flagged weeks in advance.
The media assisted with normalisation of the visit by pretty much ignoring Republican protests. So far the Newsletter is the only outlet giving the protests any real coverage, though they’ve downplayed the combined numbers attending demonstrations organised by both éirígí and RSF. (éirígí note the normalisation did not extend to the people of Armagh)
UTV News chose to cover the protests by lumping them in a section including some hoax bomb alerts (like the Newsletter), showing only a small section of the crowd, ignoring the rest and relying on the connotations brought to mind by using the throwaway tag ‘dissident Republicans.’ The BBC just completely ignored the whole issue.
So it all seems so normal but that’s only possible by ignoring the truth, something many other groups also found a convenient tactic.
Mark McGregor @ 09:10 PM
It’s been on the NIO website since this morning, Jo.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 02:22 AMIt is a bit different to historic visits to Dublin and Belfast. SF are, in a certain way, British ministers, they just are. So the protests a bit of a silly thing. SF are not ye olde republican party, the world has changed, if not utterly, enough not to care.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 03:56 AMNevin
I was worried about the potential traffic-- not Bushmills!! Neither was the slightest bit of bother in the end. Although it was really interesting to talk to people in Bushmills and hear their feelings on the recent property developments in and around the town. There seems to be a depth of feeling about how property has been developed and how the issues around that have been handled.Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 09:44 AMNevin, another Jo Moore also had bad news published on her ministerial website but made sure that it was on days when the media were otherwise occupied. The point I’m making is that Woodward and his NIO PR team weren’t exactly pro-active about informing the media on this decision, unlike those ‘positive’ developments which they want to get covered.
Surely, with every major news organisation covering the Queen’s visit and with Woodward present at everyone of her engagements, had the media been aware of the issue, is not strange that no-one asked him about it.
As I said, just like another Jo Moore, its all about picking the right time to bury bad news.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 10:37 AMShe’s the Scottish Queen as well.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 10:50 AMJo, the information was on the website yesterday morning. I spotted it by accident; I was checking to see who the current minister responsible for policing and justice is. Lazy journalists?
You might note that many of the ‘stakeholders’ in policing and justice (and the care of young people) haven’t featured in the media debate on the brutal murder of Frank McGreevy. I’ve named some of them but I don’t think any of Slugger’s bloggers have responded.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 11:45 AMWhy the reference to “English Queen”?
I saw a clip of about a dozen saddoes (including, even more sadly, a child) standing with a banner in Armagh. Quite a pathetic sight. These people need to get a life.
In contrast, it was interesting to see interviews with people perceptibly from the nationalist tradition who had met the Queen and seemed more than happy to do so (GAA officials and a Roman Catholic nun).
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 01:02 PMNevin, perhaps the various stakeholders you refer to were otherwise engaged at one or more of the various receptions this week!
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 01:09 PMMM
“BTW Irish presidential visits have pretty much been ‘normalised’ even with Mcaleese’s foot in mouth tendencies. Is normalisation to be a one way process?”
I would appreciate an answer
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 01:20 PM‘I saw a clip of about a dozen saddoes (including, even more sadly, a child) standing with a banner in Armagh. Quite a pathetic sight. These people need to get a life.’
whats sad and pathetic is people grovelling to someone who hasn’t worked a day in her life, not done anything of notable or noble. to see people ‘courtseying’....really bowing, to an archaic institution like a monarchy in this day and age is laughable. these people need to get a life.
‘In contrast, it was interesting to see interviews with people perceptibly from the nationalist tradition who had met the Queen and seemed more than happy to do so (GAA officials and a Roman Catholic nun).’
Hang on, I thought the GAA was sectarian???????
Nationalism was a sectarian ideology????quite obviously not.
Get off your knees people and shake the womans hand if you must, nothing more !
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 01:34 PM*not done anything of notable or noble value*
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 01:35 PMwhats [sic] sad and pathetic is people grovelling to someone who hasn’t worked a day in her life, not done anything of notable or noble [sic]. to see people ‘courtseying’....really bowing, to an archaic institution like a monarchy in this day and age is laughable. these people need to get a life.
Even if you do consider the above to be sad, it doesn’t follow that the dozen protestors with their banner were not also sad.
I personally don’t think participating enthusiastically and appropriately in a ceremony involving the Queen is any sadder than doing so in a ceremony involving any other head of state.
Hang on, I thought the GAA was sectarian??????? Nationalism was a sectarian ideology???? quite obviously not.
Again, it doesn’t follow that because some GAA officials were happy to meet the Queen that the GAA is therefore not sectarian. I am sure, for example, that Orange Order officials would equally be happy to meet the Queen.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 01:43 PM‘Even if you do consider the above to be sad, it doesn’t follow that the dozen protestors with their banner were not also sad.’
what an argument.
‘I am sure, for example, that Orange Order officials would equally be happy to meet the Queen.’
no doubt because as an avowedly anti-catholic and therefore sectarian organistion, they would be more than happy to meet a monarch who sits ontop of her throne shrouded in anti-catholic legislation.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 01:54 PMwhat an argument.
It wasn’t an argument: it was a refutation of your implied argument that the protestors weren’t sad because curtseying to the Queen was sad.
no doubt because as an avowedly anti-catholic and therefore sectarian organistion, they would be more than happy to meet a monarch who sits ontop [sic] of her throne shrouded in anti-catholic legislation.
And thereby negating your argument that those who are happy to meet the Queen cannot be sectarian.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 02:14 PM‘refutation of your implied argument that the protestors weren’t sad because curtseying to the Queen was sad.’
lol....sad....what exactly is one if one is sad?
‘And thereby negating your argument that those who are happy to meet the Queen cannot be sectarian.’
where did i say that those who meet the queen cannot be sectarian???????? i merely highlighted the fact that the GAA is not a sectarian organisation. but with the orange order, if a klansman greets the grand wizard, it doesn’t mean they ain’t racist.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 02:24 PM“I thought McAleese’s comments came dangerously close to overstepping her constitutional boundaries. And not for the first time. Still, elect such a person and what do you expect.”
What do you expect from a Sticky apologist for Mass Murder (both Stalin and the Fuckin British Empire). Nobody will elect any of the control freak left wing authoritarian jackboot stamping on a face crowd you like. Send your beloved Queen Bessie my regards! You can’t beat the stickies, lovers of horrible empires British and Soviet.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 04:32 PMwillowfield - “Why the reference to ‘English Queen’?”
Perhaps some of the Republicans on here could explain why they continually use the term English as opposed to British?
fair_deal - “I would appreciate an answer” ref “BTW Irish presidential visits have pretty much been ‘normalised’ even with Mcaleese’s foot in mouth tendencies. Is normalisation to be a one way process?”
Exactly fair_deal. But McAleese is over the border every 10 minutes as the President of a country that styles itself “Ireland”. Normalisation should be perhaps an official visit once every year or two as McAleese is head of a foreign state. It’s time for groups and schools in Unionist areas to be ‘too busy’ to meet McAleese when she happens to be in the area on yet another official visit.
RepublicanStones - “i merely highlighted the fact that the GAA is not a sectarian organisation”
When is a fact not a fact - when you hear one from ‘RepublicanStones’ - one of the most sectarian posters on here.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 06:18 PMwhen is a troll not a troll......when its the goblin that is peace&(unionist)justice.
im one of the most sectarian posters on here am I?
it seems your out painting too many kerbstones to actually read.Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 06:43 PM“whats sad and pathetic is people grovelling to someone who hasn’t worked a day in her life, not done anything of notable or noble.”
They looked quite happy to me, smiling and neatly dressed.
What have you done with your life that is notable or noble? ... me neither.
Before you go off on a radge, I’m not a monarchist, but, I’m comfy enough living alongside those who are.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 06:43 PMwhen is a troll not a troll......when its the goblin that is peace&(unionist)justice.
im one of the most sectarian posters on here am I?
it seems your out painting too many kerbstones to actually read.and as regards your beloved Liz Windsor, she is from England is she not? or would you prefer
her to be called the anglo-germanic ‘queen’?Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 06:49 PM‘What have you done with your life that is notable or noble? ... me neither.’
so you haven’t done anything notable or noble, and so recieve no praise, which reinforces my point. thanks !
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 06:52 PM‘What have you done with your life that is notable or noble? ... me neither
Which probably explains why no one bows and scrapes in our presence
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 07:28 PMRepublicanStones - “as regards [the Queen], she is from England is she not?”
She is your Queen too but you choose to close your eyes and cover your ears and pretend otherwise. That must be why you make such good videos!
The point was that as she is the Queen for the whole of the UK (and further afield), why the Republican fixation with the term English instead of British i.e. titles, anthems etc
As regards your other rant about the Queen’s role, I think she does a very good job at representing our country. And I think it’s quite a tough job as well with little privacy - it’s not all living it up in big houses. But I don’t expect Republican death squad supporters to discuss the matter rationally.
And don’t even start about the GAA - I’ll take your claim that it’s not sectarian as a joke. It can’t be anything otherwise.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 07:45 PM‘She is your Queen too’
afraid not, im irish, we have no monarchy.
‘why the Republican fixation with the term English instead of British i.e. titles, anthems etc’
why the unionist fixation with all things british.....when they aren’t even from britain?
‘I think she does a very good job at representing our country’
really? job? a job is something someone does in which they exert themselves mentally or physically for monetary gain. so Lizzie’s on a salary now is she?
Represent? really? does she take part in the olympics? or go on trade missions?‘But I don’t expect Republican death squad supporters to discuss the matter rationally.’
I don’t expect supporters of British armed forces in Ireland to discuss the matter rationally.
P.S, glad you like the vids.
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 09:16 PM“so you haven’t done anything notable or noble, and so recieve no praise, which reinforces my point. thanks !”
true
Posted by on Mar 21, 2008 @ 09:27 PM
