Slugger O'Toole

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Latest comments from justoh (see all)

justoh has commented 6 times (0 in the last month).

1. Comment on Workers Party conference on Saturday
   on 28 October 2011 at 8:12 pm

   Henry McDonald has also written about whole tracts used by the northern WP have been appropriated almost in their entirety and in some cases virtually verbatim by SF within the last few years in speeches and written documents.

   I’d like to know more. Could you point me towards the source of this? Is it in one of his books or a newspaper article?

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2. Comment on David Latimer’s speech: if an opportunity; one he missed completely
   on 11 September 2011 at 5:48 pm

   ” But isn’t the position of not taking a position, in and of itself, a position?

   And hasn’t that particular position been historically a faux ‘Northern Irish’ identity, a UDI option of dubious validity? I’m not Irish, I’m not British, I’m Northern Irish/Ulster. That is just ethno-separatism under another name.”

   You can call it ‘faux’ if you wish but who’s to say whose national identity is true or ‘faux’? If it’s what people genuinely feel then only an ideologue could call it faux.

   And no, I don’t think that most of the people who describe themselves as ‘neither’ are subscribing to some form of “ethno-separatism” of the UDI variety. Almost certainly many of them would vote on one side or other if there was a border referendum at some stage. In the meantime, I assume, many of the ‘neither’ people are sick of identifying and being identified along ethno-sectarian lines and prefer a more ‘neutral’ terms to describe their national identity. If I’m right, this is a cause for hope a lot more substantial than Mr Latimer’s personal ‘journey’.

   On a weightier note, if the storm hits us it will be God’s judgement about something or other. If we miss the worst of it, that will because of all the praying that is being done. Those religious guys can’t lose. (Except God doesn’t exist.)

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3. Comment on David Latimer’s speech: if an opportunity; one he missed completely
   on 11 September 2011 at 1:19 pm

   The “ that was then and this is now” defence is a little strange coming from someone who is prepared to go back as far as the Plantation (!) to score his points.

   I agree with An Sionnach that with respect to national identities we should “be British (Scots-Irish?) in Ireland, with the Irish, and lets all just get along” and I would add to his list those who claim to be nothing or Neither. Speaking of which, An Sionnach avoids the issues raided by the increasing Neithers and those Catholics who don’t want a united Ireland by dismissing the data as a “done to death” and “a bit of a crock”. I’ve read the data but I haven’t followed the debate. Perhaps An Sionnach could point me to where I can find out why this data is bullshit? If not, I can only assume that An Sionnach doesn’t want to deal with the issues raised.

   An Sionnach questions my politics while knowing almost nothing about them. If a unified Ireland were politically possible and economically advantageous, I would be behind it. Until that time, in my view, the DUP and Sinn Féin will work comfortably together in Stormont –currently they’re in the business of administering cuts- while attempting to stoke sectarian fires as it suits them, eg. to ensure the faithful that they haven’t ‘sold out’. In my view progressive change will not come from those parties.

   Anyway, I too am an atheist and it’s good to talk to another one, even if we disagree about evrything else!

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4. Comment on David Latimer’s speech: if an opportunity; one he missed completely
   on 11 September 2011 at 11:44 am

   An Sionnach Fionn wrote:

   “…added to all the ‘Lundy’ stuff and insinuations of bribery it doesn’t help the cause of Unionists and simply enhances the stereotype of a British colonial minority in Ireland wrapped up in religious, ethnic and cultural fundamentalism which leaves them unable to reconcile with the natives.
   What we might call, if I’m honest, the Plantation Mentality.”

   It’s astonishing that Provos still talk about “the Plantation Mentality” and “reconciling with the natives”. An Sionnach thinks he’s saying something clever about the Prods but really he’s betraying his own sectarianism and, indeed, his cultural fundamentalism. Sectraianism and cultural funadamentalism can be found in bucket-loads ion both sides of our unlovely divide but there are other more hopeful signs. For example the Public Attitude Survey carrried out on belhalf of the Assembly in 2009 indicates that 49 per cent of people aged between 16 and 34 describe themselves as neither Unionist nor Nationalist.This percentage decreases to 40 per cent for those aged between 35 and 44 while 38 per cent among all age groups described themselves as “neither”.

   It’s interesting, and not surprising, that An Sionnach didn’t respond to the comment about the Life and Times Survey which shows that the Taigs in particular generally not playing by Provo rules. What “Mentality” does the fact that only 16% of NI’s population favour unity, with only 33% of the Catholics favouring it indicate? The Provos have an uphill battle convincing their “own sort” abut Irish unity never mind those recalcitrant Planters. What the maverick cleric Latimer does and says is newsworthy but, in the scheme of things, neither here nor there.

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5. Comment on Catching up with John Lowry (Workers Party) #lg11 #belw11
   on 3 May 2011 at 11:40 am

   “with such a small platform, it’s hard to see how the Workers Party on its own will ever again achieve electoral success”

   Who can say what changes might bring people towards the politics of the WP. The WP continues to exist because class difference continues to exist. Moreover, the WP is active internationally along with other workers’ and communist parties. The WP manifesto can be downloaded at the workerspartyelection website.

   Thanks for giving the smaller parties this platform.

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6. Comment on Real change or mirage in NI political behaviour?
   on 17 April 2011 at 11:05 pm

   I am a member of a (small) political party here and the True Colours survey suggested that i should vote for another political party that i would never vote for. I filled in the form faithfully and expected my party to flash up. But no.
   Make of that what you will.

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