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Books
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Do Words Matter?: Book Review of Political Discourse and Conflict Resolution – Debating Peace in Northern Ireland
I share many of the concerns of Andy Pollak, whose recent post ‘My Response to the Slugger Begrudgers’ zeroed in on the ‘relentless flow of negativity’ of some Slugger commentators. Pollak’s post was largely concerned with the medium of the blog. Indeed, I think the anonymity of the online world encourages extreme discourse and allows [...] read our review »
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Of the Old North and other Vanished Kingdoms..
I’m currently trawling through Norman Davies’s fabulous new tome – “Vanished Kingdoms” – Five stars in the (London) Telegraph’s review from Ben Wilson: All the nations that have ever lived have left their footsteps in the sand,” writes Norman Davies. “The traces fade with every tide, the echoes grow faint, the images are fractured, the human [...] read our review » -
Talking to a brick wall: how to make politicians listen?
It took me a long time to warm to advertising agencies. The first time I worked with one I was working in sales management on Fairy Washing Up Liquid. I was due to attend a meeting at which I was to be told what consumers really thought of the brand. I remember my reluctance to [...] read our review »
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Comment on DUP still living in hope of a unionist unity candidate in South Belfast…
on 10 April 2010 at 7:07 am
Harry J, you are one big bore … !
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Comment on DUP lessons for incoming Tory politicians…
on 9 April 2010 at 7:49 pm
Good to see her over and at least taking an interest. Maybe she could have been better prepared by her advisers, but in the scheme of things it’s no big deal. The Labour Party isn’t even bothering to put up candidates in NI until next year .. if they get round to it. There are 646 constituencies in the UK. She would be super woman if she could remember all of them along with the candidates.
I look forward to hearing Seamus McKee having a go at the Shinners in the same manner he has been questioning Unionists recently.
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Comment on Tories: “Fermanagh and South Tyrone has characteristics that are unique within the UK”
on 9 April 2010 at 6:14 pm
A sensible statement from the Conservative Party and a mature approach from the DUP given that Rodney Connor will take the Conservative whip.
It’s time to restore democratic representation to FST with a well respected candidate like Rodney Connor.
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Comment on Unionist unity candidate declared in Fermanagh South Tyrone
on 9 April 2010 at 5:39 pm
Mack “How come they didn’t try to run a joint anti-abstentionist candidate with the SDLP?”
Last time I checked, the SDLP were not a Unionist party? Unionist doesn’t have to mean Protestant. I would have also supported a Roman Catholic Unionist candidate in FST. Frankly, I’m not interested in the religion of Rodney Connor – that’s his business. But I would like to see a full-time Unionist MP representing that area in London. And Rodney Connor fits the bill in terms of the wide cross-community support he had while he was Chief Executive of Fermanagh Council.
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Comment on Unionist unity candidate declared in Fermanagh South Tyrone
on 9 April 2010 at 4:53 pm
I would have preferred if Rodney Connor had stood as a full C&U candidate rather than an independent C&U, but given the circumstances in FST, it seems the only way forward. SF do not represent FST at Westminister and the people in that area need a full time MP in London.
Rodney Connor has shown himself to be someone who works for the whole community. If he gets elected, it will be a good for everyone in FST regardless of their religion. See the praise here from SF after he stood down as chief executive of the council. To quote SF “I know his task has not been an easy one and he has done tremendous work over the years and as members we always had a hotline to his office on all sorts of issues.”
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Comment on “…not a digit is aimed at the parents.”
on 7 April 2010 at 5:53 pm
To N.Exile – I never belonged to any gang – unlike Mr Donnelly. SF/PIRA always attempts to rewrite history. You cannot equate their murder gangs with the proper forces of law and order.
It’s a sad story about Phoebe Prince. We should remember her and all the other children driven to suicide.
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Comment on “…not a digit is aimed at the parents.”
on 7 April 2010 at 6:53 am
To Chris Donnelly – how many children do you think committed suicide due to the gang you belonged to – Sinn Fein/PIRA? i.e. the murder, torture and ethnic cleansing carried out against Protestants in Ulster. But of course your Green Book makes everything OK …
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Comment on Chris Grayling adopts the Adrian Watson policy position…
on 5 April 2010 at 7:46 pm
Adrian Watson should be the official candidate. I agree with what Chris Grayling said. If someone opens up their own home for paying guests, then they should also have some rights who they do and don’t accept. And I’m not just referring to homosexuals.
As Chris Grayling also stated, it’s a completely different matter when you are talking about a high street hotel where it would be unacceptable for homosexuals to be turned away because of their sexuality.
In NI, we have a Deputy First Minister who STILL believes it was completely right to murder people in their homes in front of their families, and the Nationalist press don’t question it.
Yet, a law abiding family trying to earn a living isn’t allowed to decide who should or shouldn’t be a paying guest in their home.
Re-instate Adrian Watson now. It’s not too late. And I would suggest he would have a very good chance of taking the seat from the part time politician/part time preacher/part time singer Mr McCrea.
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Comment on The Tories in Ulster and the social policy trap..
on 2 April 2010 at 4:09 am
They should use the full title: Ulster Conservatives and Unionists.
To Dec – The Government of the Republic of Ireland continues to use the term ‘Ireland’ when referring to just the 26 counties.
Ulster has changed size over the centuries and it’s common to interchangeably use Ulster and Northern Ireland.
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Comment on UCUNF Deal in FST being blocked by the DUP?
on 1 April 2010 at 11:34 pm
If the DUP are big enough to stand aside in FST and allow Rodney Connor to be the official CU candidate (as opposed to some ‘independent’ CU), then I think they will get a lot of praise for doing so from the Unionist electorate.
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