Slugger O'Toole

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Latest comments from Count Eric Bisto von Granules (see all)

Count Eric Bisto von Granules has commented 49 times (0 in the last month).

1. Comment on The UK comprises four nations not two and its history is a lot more complicated than many seem to appreciate
   on 30 January 2012 at 7:51 pm

   If there are only 4 nations – which one is Peter and where does he and those of his ilk belong?

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2. Comment on Has McGuinness Breached the Good Friday Agreement?
   on 30 January 2012 at 7:49 pm

   It might run along the lines of the Scottish referendum, where there will be a Devo Max option. If there is, he would get the vast majority of nationalists and some of the unionist vote.
   Northern Ireland might then be pushed down the road to independence, because the english would not continue to support the province that was seen to take the money but not contribute.
   Then the choice for the electorate in 10 – 15 years might be unify with the south (some federal arrangement) or much lower living standards as an independent state. Given these 2 options, unionists may be prepared to do the unthinkable.

   Unification by degree

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3. Comment on Unionist cause in Scotland should fight from a position of strength
   on 19 January 2012 at 9:26 am

   Unionist arguments centre around the negative. Scotland is too small, economically dependent, lacks the expertise and will cost too much etc. This argument will only lead to defeat. It is negative and patronising and does not address the emotional aspect of nationalism

   When they do stray into the positive, it centres around punching above their weight on the world stage as part of Britail. UN vetos and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan mean little to voters in Scotland. The other aspect is the historical legacy of the empire, which is irrelevant to young scots

   I was thinking about what is positive about Britain now. The Olympics came to mind, but that is draining lottery resources from the periphery with little benefit.

   Give me something else to consider.

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4. Comment on Unionists too distanced from the future of the Union debate?
   on 17 January 2012 at 12:41 pm

   Could Schopenhauer’s point have been made any clearer??

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5. Comment on Trouble with the Troubles in the Irish Diaspora…
   on 5 January 2012 at 3:15 pm

   @DoppiaVu.

   I am much less selective and while I recognise that trait in my fellow countrymen, I believe never setting foot in Ireland isnt a barrier to being an erse.

   But we’ll leave it there and look forward to the next time.

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6. Comment on Trouble with the Troubles in the Irish Diaspora…
   on 5 January 2012 at 2:38 pm

   @DoppiaVu
   “Just don’t expect anyone that actually is Irish to take you overly seriously.”
   I’m Irish and while I dont pretend to sway the masses with my rhetorical skills, when talking about matters political with friends and acquaintances, the banter is good, the points are serious and the discussion invigorating.

   I must have missed the election when I voted for you to speak on my behalf or on behalf of ‘anyone that actually is Irish’.

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7. Comment on Trouble with the Troubles in the Irish Diaspora…
   on 5 January 2012 at 1:53 pm

   Mick,

   I did read it and while Richard states he feels the attitudes towards the troubles are felt sincerely as if that person were at home, he goes on to refer to the man in his encounter as a ‘Plastic Paddy’.

   Now maybe that’s a compliment where he comes from but it doesn’t read well from my point of view and is dripping with a conceited snobbery that implies the author is a ‘better Irishman’

   But not to get bogged down in this, the point I was trying to make ineloquently was that like the heirarchy of victims, there appears to be a drive for a heirarchy of citizenship where location, contribution, affability, experience, eruditeness (?) all contribute to whether a person has the right to hold an opinion. If they are based in the US, are against the GFA and are coarse – they score zero points and their opinion is dismissed out of hand. Retired doctors who vote Alliance in North Down are top of the anecdotal points list, if you’re interested.

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8. Comment on Trouble with the Troubles in the Irish Diaspora…
   on 5 January 2012 at 1:08 pm

   @ DoppiaVu – its the agenda adopted by mainstream media outlets which slavishly follows the GFA agenda that proscribes one way forward as espoused by the british and irish governments and the main parties in northern ireland and woe betide any person, group or organisation which deviates from this. They are described as peace wreckers, dissidents, micro-groupings, plastic paddies etc – any adjective which will belittle, marginalise or associate their views with the ignorant and the unrealistic.

   Hope that cleared that up for you.

   If people in Ireland (north and south) would actually like to have some f**king peace for a while – I suggest that they stop treating each other like s**t and paying lipservice community ideals and just get on with it in practice. Not sure how the opinion of someone who lives abroad can impact negatively on what people in Ireland need to do.

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9. Comment on Trouble with the Troubles in the Irish Diaspora…
   on 5 January 2012 at 11:47 am

   I am always amused by the dismissive attitude of the liberal meeja when encountering opinions of the Irish abroad that they dont like. Perjorative terms like plastic paddy are merely insulting. The willingness to recognise the Irish disaspora as an asset to be used, as long as they remain silent and dont voice opinions that dont fit with the current liberal agenda. It may be true to say that it is easier for people not domiciled in Ireland to veer towards the extremes of the current political discourse, but this doesnt make their point of view less valid.
   In fact if a sizable portion of the diaspora hold these views then they must not only be recognised but taken into account if there is to be engagement with them in the future – presidential election franchise extended to emmigrants???

   Democracy isnt just for Alliance voters

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10. Comment on “Time for the beginning of a calm debate” on Northern Ireland’s Demographics
    on 5 January 2012 at 12:59 am

    DR : I hear what you’re saying and recognise the figures you use as factual. However, the interesting bit for me is that the people unionists consistently using them, will in the same interview will espouse policies and views that are contrary to what they have stated and undermine their original argument.
    I think that the tide is positive for nationalism and while using isolated figures as a comfort blanket, it means that unionists will continue to support contrary ideals. Surely a confident unionism shouldnt have any problem with an Irish language sign on Belfast City Hall – and yet they do.

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