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New Yorker has commented 59 times (1 in the last month).
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Books
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Review: To Kill a Mockingbird
Somehow I escaped reading this essential school text, with its story of racism in 1930s American South. Living in Northern Ireland, I draw parallels with sectarianism, with its similar bigotry and prejudice. To Kill a Mockingbird was part of a Unite Against Hate campaign event at Parliament Buildings in Northern Ireland, which I’ve written [...] read our review »
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Hearing the Other Voice from the Grave: Why Should we Listen to David Ervine’s Stories?
Ed Moloney’s Voices from the Grave: Two Men’s War in Ireland has received considerable attention in the press and in the public realm since its publication earlier this year. Although the book relates the experiences of the Provisional IRA’s Brendan Hughes and the PUP/UVF’s David Ervine, much of the discussion has focused on Hughes’ stories [...] read our review » -
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 »
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Comment on The End of the Northern Ireland Model of Peace Processing?
on 30 April 2012 at 5:57 am
I do not know how much Michael Rubin knows of recent history in Northern Ireland. He may not be aware of the distinction made between the Provos and the dissidents. But he is aware of ongoing terrorist activity by those claiming to be republicans and that is what matters to his argument. The GFA was supposed to do away with terrorist activity and it clearly has not done so completely. Can anyone deny that?
One could say that there is much less terrorist activity, but it has not been eliminated, as the recent Newry bomb sadly proves. Probably most people think the level of terrorist activity is tolerable, but that is not saying that the problem is solved. And the GFA was advertised as a solution to the problem and that may have been a disservice.
Michael Rubin is well respected in his circles and the publication, Commentary, is often controversial but generally highly regarded.
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Comment on 100 Years ago today: The third Home Rule Bill…
on 11 April 2012 at 8:46 pm
I also agree with Harry Flashman on the HR bill. In 1912 the Brits lost their nerve, in 1916 the Irish lost their heads.
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Comment on If Carlsberg did weekends
on 5 March 2012 at 2:36 am
If they truly accept responsibility they would fold up their tent and go away. Since they will hang around, they really don’t accept responsibility. They are part of the past and should not muddy the present and future.
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Comment on Is Northern Ireland less innovative than the Republic?
on 8 February 2012 at 2:42 am
Congal Claen raises a good point – where is the real innovation? Ireland is not known internationally for innovation and invention. There may be some tinkering about, but does anyone think Ireland, North or South, is or was a place of major innovation. There was the pneumatic bicycle tyre but that is a good while back. Estonia came up with Skype and implemented a flat tax. Can anyone think of innovations on that scale for Ireland?
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Comment on Another go at transformation at the Maze
on 4 February 2012 at 10:17 pm
To spend 18million on this in a time of economic hardship is unwise. Surely medical, educational, infrastructure projects should come before commemorating the divisive past.
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Comment on Florida – All Over?
on 1 February 2012 at 7:00 pm
When voters find out how Romney made millions, Bernie Madoff will look like a saint. At least Madoff admitted he was a crook, Romney will protest that he is a successful capitalist, but there is not much difference between most private equity schemes and what Madoff was up to. Those who prize the innovation and hard work type of capitalism will be wise to stay away from Romney and all corporate carnivores.
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Comment on SOTU – signs that transformation is finally on the way
on 26 January 2012 at 2:41 am
Obama delivered a very good State of the Union. I don’t recall him saying anything about the flat tax concept. What did make an impression was that a minimum of 30% tax for income of $1million+. Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg all agree it is fair and should be done. Gates and Bloomberg are highly respected for their business acumen and created many thousands of jobs; so the argument that higher taxes on the rich would discourage creation of jobs is once again proved to be hogwash. Michael Bloomberg paid 35% tax and the company he founded employs over 15,000. Mitt Romney paid 13.9% and created no jobs. The tide is with Obama on this proposal.
There are more and more good economic developments. But the debt head Mitch Daniels drones on and on displaying how depressing he and his party are. I’ll take optimism over depression every time, and so will most US voters.
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Comment on Ireland vindictive treatment of soldiers who ‘deserted’ peace for war…
on 17 January 2012 at 5:13 pm
The argument that they would be needed in case of invasion does not hold up. If the Germans had invaded, what could the Irish Army do? Very little according to recent scholarship. The best way to have assured Irish security at that time would have been to join the Allies.
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Comment on Trouble with the Troubles in the Irish Diaspora…
on 5 January 2012 at 6:20 pm
Most Irish Americans I know would not have a high opinion of politics in Northern Ireland or the Republic either. Opinions would have been a bit higher when the violence stopped in the North and the Republic was the Celtic Tiger. But that seems like a distant age now that politically the two communities in the North seem more at odds and the middle has been squeezed, while the Republic’s sleaze and looting of the public purse are stomach-turning.
The phrase “Plastic Paddy” is offensive. There are some but the majority of Irish Americans are well-educated and fairly affluent. Of the people I know they would not opine on Ireland unless they were well informed by reading the Irish Times and many books on Irish history and culture.
I would not pay much attention to Richard McKibbin both after looking at his slight website and considering his reaction to the man in Chicago. It could be that the fellow was using the Derry/Londonderry question to find out if McKibbin is Catholic or Protestant.
On the subject of which authors are used in Irish history courses in the US, I think Roy Foster and Joe Lee would probably be at the top of the list. I have yet to come across a respected academic who could be considered pro SF, and that should be mulled over.
I agree that Americans often drop the “American” when citing their ethnic identity. In fact, you might hear “I’m Irish, Danish, German with some Italian.’
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Comment on The GOP knows what it doesn’t like, but…
on 5 January 2012 at 5:42 pm
I largely agree with Dana Milbank. The US Republican party is a mess. They got 60 or so Tea Party Republicans elected to the House and they have been nothing but trouble-makers throwing Congress into gridlock when the country needs action from Washington. They have no good ideas and are generally a surly lot.
The Republicans may well end up with Romney, but the majority of Republicans don’t trust him and see him as weak.
Meanwhile the Obama campaign and Democratic party organization will be in good fighting form ready to rumble a Republican party in disarray and without any real leadership.
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