Thursday, November 09, 2006
“Waiting for the wheels to come off”
One of the duties incumbent on any director is to make sure that all your actors are performing in the same play. Not that the programme team is anyway responsible, but tonight’s edition of Hearts and Minds hosts a strangely dysfunctional discussion on the St Andrews Agreement. Five individuals, five differently referenced realities, with little sign of any mutual reference. Quote of the night comes from Naomi Long: “The things that you leave out tell their own story. When we get to the First bump in the road, the wheels will come off”.
Mick Fealty @ 11:18 PM
Greenflag
Welcome to the real world of ‘dirty ‘ politics.
I know, but the sad question is, does it really have to be like this? I am one of those strange people who prefer to be told the truth. Spin, half truths, sycophants and lies really don’t impress me, and in my opinion are often counter productive and ultimately discredit. In business you can’t build on a pack of lies and avoidance (unless you are deliberately trying to defraud) and I have a feeling that ultimately the same applies to politics. You make a deal you stick to it and eventually people respect you, wriggle and twist and eventually no one will trust a word you say.
Posted by on Nov 12, 2006 @ 03:06 PMOLOIBHER CHROMWAILL
What Alan McFarland’s comments regarding the Irish Language Act display is the core contradiction within unionism. Mainland, I use the term advisedly, regard all Northern Irish as Irish. Depends on whom you speak with but most unionists would regard themselves as Irish without compromising their Britishness. As far as I can tell they regard Irishness as part of the British mix. Yet, when it comes to the issue of the Irish language, Alan McFarland sees no space for that in the British identity - the ‘Simply British’ tag they applied to themselves at the last election - Why not? No doubt he supports the Irish rugby team, even against England, or the Northern Irish soccer team? Yet he - and his fellow unionists turn green when they have to engage with the Irish language. Don’t they think that a British culture which accomodates Bangladeshi, Indian, West Indian etc influences, can accomodate the Irish language? Or is this a ‘simply British’ blind spot?
On the face of it, that is reasonable comment. Unfortunately, though, the Gaelic language is used by Irish nationalists as a marker to try and make themselves culturally distinct from the British (in the loosest, most apolitical sense) mainstream. It is used as a badge of ethnic and political identity. That is why unionists are so wary of it.
Posted by on Nov 12, 2006 @ 05:14 PM“Instead, that document contains sticky tape and glue. Where, for example, are the proposals to improve community relations with a view to getting rid of the peacelines ?”
Why should it be there? It isn’t the job of the StAA. It’s job is to get local government working, and it’s local government’s job to tackle those problems.
“Note the news this week about a new mixed housing development where new residents are required to sign up to a community understanding. This is the kind of thing any Agreement should be promoting and encouraging. Yet, there’s nary a mention of it. NONE of the major political parties came out to welcome this development. “
You see, I find that nonsense appalling. The correct is answer is not to ban all flags, all symbols and pretend we are all the same. We haven’t won when no one dares to stick their flag up anywhere, we’ve won when people can display whatever symbols (within reason) they like and no one gets offended.
Obviously, there are some caveats; I’m against sticking things on public property and marking territory. But if some wants a flag or such in their garden, that should absolutely be their right.
Posted by on Nov 12, 2006 @ 08:27 PMCrataegus,
‘I know, but the sad question is, does it really have to be like this?’
Look around the world at political behaviour in countries which don’t have a constitutionnally divided population as in Northern Ireland . Look for the incorruptible republic or constitutional moarchy without it’s ‘dirt’ ? Not a one. Admittedly some are worse than others .
‘I am one of those strange people who prefer to be told the truth.’
In theory and in practice so do I . I accept however that in divided societies of the type that NI is , there is no ‘truth’. One man’s truth is often another man’s lie particularly in the political world. The Orangeman beating his drum as a symbol of his adherence to democracy , civil and religious liberty for all etc is seen as an unreconstructed hypocrite by Republicans . Likewise the Republican freedom fighter is seen as a militant terrorist by Orangemen . Is the truth both or neither ? Is the truth orange or green or grey ?
‘In business you can’t build on a pack of lies and avoidance (unless you are deliberately trying to defraud) and I have a feeling that ultimately the same applies to politics. ‘
Ultimately -certainly . Ultimately in the world of politics can mean anything from a few weeks to decades . We have seen in the modern world for instance the example of Mugabe in Zimbabwe and Kim Il Sung in North Korea? During this ‘ultimate ‘period -wars are fought -genocides committed -countries partitioned -new countries formed etc etc etc .
‘You make a deal you stick to it and eventually people respect you, wriggle and twist and eventually no one will trust a word you say.’
While I agree with this comment I’m also aware that in a divided society like NI there has to be ‘wriggle’ room within which political leaders can find the space to make a compromise with the other side .
Without that ‘room’ you might as well condemn such a society to a permanent state of warfare between it ‘s divided groups . The ‘failed ‘ state syndrome .
Politics in ‘normal’ successful democracies always leaves enough ‘wriggle’ room for political opposites to form voluntary coalitions or have a changeover of political power without the disintegration of the State .
Northern Ireland is not there yet . The fact that if it ever gets a devolved ‘government ‘ it will be between parties SF/DUP) who are being ‘forced’ into a coalition of the unwilling .
Not a recipe for longer term stability IMO.
Posted by on Nov 13, 2006 @ 12:20 PM
