Profile for babyface finlayson
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babyface finlayson has commented 620 times (25 in the last month).
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Books
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The First Shades of God (Jamie Bryson): unremarkable theology, but an insight into the mind of the protest-organiser
Tweet Jamie Bryson has come to prominence recently as one of the leaders of the flag protests across Northern Ireland. As Chris Donnelly pointed out in his post (and was echoed later in the Belfast Telegraph), Jamie Bryson is a well known loyalist in North Down where he unsuccessfully stood at the council elections under [...] read our review »
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“Good Friday. The death of Irish Republicanism” by Anthony McIntyre: a review
Tweet This was a book that I first reviewed at the same time as “Unionism Decayed” back in 2008. Like Vance’s work, it is the author’s portrayal of a defeated political movement or ideal and as a Unionist it was instructional to read an interpretation of the immediate post-Agreement period from the other side of the [...] read our review » -
The Imperfectionists (Tom Rachman) – an insight into a newspaper that’s maybe not so fictional
Tweet ‘news’ is often a polite way of saying ‘editor’s whim’ Given the shift from print to online and e-ink, maybe Tom Rachman’s The Imperfectionists was a suitable first first book for me to finish reading on the Kindle. Considering the economic pressures on the newspaper industry, his novel perhaps captures the spirit and soul [...] read our review »
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Comment on “Republicans should remember that the third colour in the Irish flag is Orange…”
on 24 May 2013 at 8:27 am
ArdoyneUnionist
None of that is under the control of the OO. Surely you would agree they should put their own house in order first and foremost. Lead by example. That would be what a christian organisation would want to do, I would think.
They can then challenge others with some moral authority
Does it have to be;
‘we won’t change before they do’.
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Comment on “Republicans should remember that the third colour in the Irish flag is Orange…”
on 23 May 2013 at 3:56 pm
I often wonder who does the PR for the OO. If they were smart they would be taking the initiative in sorting out disputed parades and dodgy bands and while they are at it amend that out of date oath.
Talk to resident groups. Don’t wait for Parades Commissions or any one else to tell you not to play tunes outside Catholic churches. Annnounce that you have made that decision yourselves.
Police your members rigourously and make it clear you do not approve of burning effigies on bonfires.
None of this would take away from the essence of your Orangeism.
These steps would not only be the right and christian thing to do in my view, they would be excellent PR for the organisation in the eyes of the world,.
Sadly I don’t supose it will happen anytime soon.
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Comment on Ann Travers: “If had joined the IRA or a loyalist paramilitary and killed someone, I would be being listened to…”
on 22 May 2013 at 8:47 am
A very moving interview.
I find it hard to understand the suggestion in comments about ‘Vichy government’ that somehow her family deserved this.
Or indeed the ludicrous notion that somehow the BBC are at fault for interviewing her.
I agree with Grannie Trixie that although SF were within their rights to appoint Mary McArdle as SPAD, doing so showed a complete lack of compassion.
McArdle could easily have been found a post as a community activist away from the limelight but still gainfully employed.
She was not elected to the post. SF actually sat down, thought it through, and decided her appointment would be a good idea.
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Comment on “Republicans should remember that the third colour in the Irish flag is Orange…”
on 21 May 2013 at 11:08 am
Morpheus
“Google ‘Beyond Closed Doors’ by Paul Malcomson (a former member of the Royal Arch Purple, an elite branch of Orangeism) and see some of the reported rituals.”
Yes I suppose there is an element of secrecy about the rituals alright, although I think that is more so with the Purple.
My point is that the open parade of members is hardly conducive to secrecy and the kind of sinister behaviour implied by comparison to the KKK, as suggested by Sherdy above.
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Comment on “Republicans should remember that the third colour in the Irish flag is Orange…”
on 20 May 2013 at 8:06 pm
I’m no fan of the the Orange Order but I think Martin og Meehan’s use of the term ‘secret society’ is a bit misleading.These guys parade up the road week in and week out in plain view.
Don’t they know how to cut holes in pillow cases?
Also the common comparison to the KKK seems unfair to me and I am sure the vast majority of OO members would be appalled at such a comparison. Maybe back when they were the ‘peep o day boys’ it would have been valid,but not today.
Having said that they need serious reform and they need to cut off the connection to provocative bands if they are to have any hope of being seen as a wholly benign organisation.
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 9 May 2013 at 7:52 pm
Can we make an ‘A Team’?
We have a Murdoch, Fergie the strategist would have to be Hannibal.
Gerry is, we can all surely agree, a handsome fellow, so he can be feisman.
We need another long term successful leader to fill the part of B.A.
Maybe the Queen as E.R Baracas. Well she has the bling.
“One pities the fool…”
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Comment on Sinn Fein undermining the sanctity of marriage
on 5 May 2013 at 10:19 am
abucs
There is something about only including one or two links in a post, I think. Anymore and it automatically goes to moderation.
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Comment on “Win a weekend break for two in Londonderry”
on 4 May 2013 at 6:22 pm
Brian
I’ve seen very little on Slugger about the city of culchies…I mean culture.
Was there not a question of them not hitting their targets?
Was there not a resignation?
I recall hearing Malachi O’Doherty being quite scathing on Radio Ulster about the opening ceremony,but I don’t think Slugger touched it.
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Comment on Adams’s extended RTE interview on political murder turns the southern clock right back for Sinn Fein…
on 2 May 2013 at 7:15 pm
I see the ever faithful Jude Collins is taking a fairly ironic approach to this, listing reasons why Gerry should come clean.
Unfortunately for Gerry, he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. The question is unlikely to go away until such times as he resigns or gets ousted as president (has anyone ever stood against him?).
He should have come clean years ago like Martin. This is a hole he has dug for himself. And that really is ironic.
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Comment on “the British Government, and the British State, no longer claim jurisdiction over this part of the island”
on 2 May 2013 at 5:10 pm
westprog
“The people responsible for an act are the people who carry it out. The British Army and State have to take responsibility for Bloody Sunday. The Loyalists have to take responsibility for sectarian murders. The IRA are responsible for the people they killed.”
Well said. I think it is fine to try and understand why things happened and say
‘government policy was a factor’ or
such and such loyalist/republican act led to such and such retaliation’ but those who decide to pick up a gun and kill others must primarily take responsibility for such acts themselves.
They could always have put it down and walked away.
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