Slugger O'Toole

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Latest comments from Damian O'Loan (see all)

Damian O'Loan has commented 431 times (0 in the last month).

1. Comment on What’s the difference between Nationalism and Republicanism?
   on 16 February 2013 at 12:09 pm

   Chris Gaskin makes the most relevant point – that Irish Republicanism has long been closer to nationalism, witness the SF position regarding Europe.

   It’s a pity that so many people identify as one or the other without ever seeming to look into what the term means elsewhere in the world. If they did, I suspect the two would become much less interchangeable. In France and Italy, it’s the difference between the centre parties and the far right. In England, the use of the term, as well as National in party names, is more indicative of the commonly accepted use. How would the SNP react if the BNP were to form the next government?

   Nationalists, in this sense, tend to be uncomfortable with the political theory underpinning republicanism, which is informed by many of the world’s most brilliant minds across centuries. In the US, it’s unfortunate that a hesitation to identify with republicanism means liberalism does not claim the ideals of the constitution as assertively as it might. In NI, it’s unfortunate that an acceptance of nationalism has fostered a divorce from the values of humanism.

   That’s before you consider the contradictions that appear when you precede either with ‘Catholic’…

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2. Comment on Belfast Project (Boston College tapes): “an invitation to people to engage in deep moral reflection on the consequences of war and political violence”
   on 5 February 2013 at 10:53 am

   Fair points Alan. I think we’re forced to speculate, as helpful as the Judge’s comments are.

   Among other stories, it does serve as a reminder that Republicanism needs to be vocal on the issue of physical threats against those outside the mainstream, or who are seen to have betrayed their cause. It’s a question of gaining the trust of Unionism if nothing else.

   It also leaves the question of whether such an enterprise should be legally possible. The promised conditions seem tantamount to amnesty, which is not something I’d favour, as interesting as the idea sounds in terms of a fair historical record.

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3. Comment on Belfast Project (Boston College tapes): “an invitation to people to engage in deep moral reflection on the consequences of war and political violence”
   on 4 February 2013 at 1:11 pm

   I’ve mostly been informed by two points of view on the subject of this archive. One is Anthony McIntyre and the other here:

   http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/mcconville-death-secrets-in-boston-archive-1-3448045

   Briefly and I hope accurately, it states that the PSNI has an obligation to pursue lines of evidence based on, among other things, victims’ right to justice. There being no exemptions to the law for academics or this project, it follows that the material should be made available in the search for evidence.

   I would extend the logic to say that would be in the search for prosecutions, as Anthony himself suggests, that being the right and proper role of a police force under the rule of law.

   What’s interesting is that I’ve never heard Anthony McIntyre challenge this. His opposition is based on an increased threat to his life that comes not from, presumably, mainstream Republicanism. I’d be interested in his view of how an effective police force should proceed in such a circumstance and what are reasonable expectations for victims to hold regarding the police.

   Great post and great interview, as ever.

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4. Comment on What’s the Point of the Peace Rallies?
   on 18 December 2012 at 12:48 pm

   “…like the rioters in London a year or so back, I don’t think they really know what they want.”

   Potentially an interesting thread here, not enough attention to this question.

   Two simplistic answers jump to mind:

   1. Abandoning the designated days only policy

   2. Satisfaction that British identity isn’t under threat

   Since nobody is making open requests, it would be interesting to hear from the people taking part.

   And perhaps in future you could see if those who claim to represent them are actually asking for the same thing.

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5. Comment on What the feck happened to Moderate America?
   on 26 October 2012 at 6:14 am

   The question of the middle ground is interesting. In most Western two-party systems, the dissatisfaction is most evident in low turnout. Australia, like the US, strikes me as a country divided between conservatives and liberals with radically distinct points of view. Concurrently, in countries like France and Greece, you see a greater harmony between the far left and right, with populist appeals that are translating into parliamentary influence.

   I would expect the future of the two-party system to be a choice between the centre ground and the extremes, with measures to maintain ‘democratic stability’. Or compulsory voting, as already widely practiced. The chasm you allude to seems unsustainable.

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6. Comment on Better journalism: “We have to learn directly from news consumers through experiments”
   on 7 February 2012 at 1:34 pm

   Mick,

   I had no ideas in mind – I thought that was your role?

   In terms of data, though, I don’t see great difficulty in compiling the various statistics published by various Stormont depts, local government, commissions, NGOs and charities into spreadsheets that could be worked on by anyone who requested an invite. A fairly laborious task, but I think you could encourage an exchange on your usual topics based on data manipulation and mining as opposed to opinion, by presenting it in the right format. Were this to encourage better-presented, more thorough reporting in the first place, it could only be a good thing.

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7. Comment on Better journalism: “We have to learn directly from news consumers through experiments”
   on 6 February 2012 at 1:49 pm

   The table showing the sources of news is interesting, and will become more so. What’s missing from the debate is that developments in hardware are as significant as those in software and online behaviour.

   As TV and internet become one and the same thing, a huge market becomes open to news and comment providers who have been marginal in their influence. When you can sync your news providers across your TV and any mobile devices you have, the potential for the control of communications staff to be weakened is also increased. Advertising revenue, in this context, is sure to be sufficient to ease any worries about the death of journalism.

   If, as seems probable, this results in a situation where those who follow stringent and transparent editorial lines, provide stimulating and trustworthy news and react to events most quickly become or remain institutions, things won’t have changed that much after all.

   Incidentally, I don’t recall Slugger O’Toole ever engaging in data journalism. The attempt at crowd-reporting the 12th was led by a blogger who then left after a disagreement, and only one blogger regularly provides original video content – which is often more interesting than the BBC or UTV coverage of the same events.

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8. Comment on NI’s least understood virtue: Diversity has a Dollar (not to mention a Yen) value…
   on 18 November 2011 at 2:36 pm

   The original post doesn’t say much, but your comment at 1:56 adds a lot.

   I’m not sure why the Yen features in your headline.

   “richer, cleaner and more stable than China”

   NI, for one, is none of the above. Far from being richer, as you say. Cleaner in parts, perhaps, but too small to form a meaningful comparison. And no stabler, much less so.

   The idea that people who return from NI to China are leaving behind civilisation is absurd. They may leave close friends who form part of the network you describe.

   It’s sad though that to render cultural exchange in NI attractive, it has to be sold as a business investment. From the MTV awards to the Titanic quarter to your post, it reflects little sincerity. I suspect it appears that way to the outsider too.

   Also, where is the quote from? I don’t think NI is in a position to sell democracy to anyone.

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9. Comment on Why is there no Irish unrest? “Because we shrug and go, shrug and go, shrug…”
   on 14 October 2011 at 9:12 am

   Excellent programme. I could only point to one facet that wasn’t really explored.

   Discourse regarding emigration tends to focus on the economic factors that give rise to it. This is understandable as they no doubt form the most common motivation. However, there are those who leave for cultural reasons.

   You can’t grow up in Ireland without the feeling that what really counts on a global scale happens elsewhere. Culturally and economically, Ireland follows and does little to innovate, let alone have the critical mass that would create a feeling of being in a society that was ahead of its time.

   Then there is the well-documented reality of insular attitudes and closed-mindedness, one area in which the Irish are close to leading Europe. The nationalist identity has much to answer for here. This is, for me and I’m sure others, a large part of the reason Ireland is not a great place to live.

   If the economic case for emigration has been well researched to the end of attracting back bright minds, it may be worthwhile to look at the social phenomena that render Ireland, in some ways, a less than hospitable environment for its own citizens and for potentially valuable immigrants.

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10. Comment on SDLP leadership readers’ survey: McGlone leads with good show from McDevitt…
    on 27 September 2011 at 3:36 am

    “But how exactly do you think more polls would fix the problem?”

    I don’t, but I like polls and there aren’t enough conducted on NI affairs.

    “this is about crowd sourcing judgement”

    Funny, the word you used repeatedly in interpreting was “sentiment”. You have confused these two concepts from start to finish.

    “I’ve been thinking about why I chose the word significantly. It’s a reference to an alleged plan, the existence of which is much gossiped about but not known.”

    Care to elucidate?

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