Profile for ORWELLSPEN
just a politically minded person
Latest comments from ORWELLSPEN (see all)
ORWELLSPEN has commented 98 times (0 in the last month).
Advertise
-
Books
-
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 » -
Help me with the West Wing: Essential viewing or Party Political Broadcast?
Having somehow managed to avoid watching a single episode of the widely praised West Wing TV series I was delighted to discover the entire Box set in my Christmas stocking – and with enough spare time over the holidays to give it a good lash. But with 10 episodes of the first series under my [...] 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 »
-
Comment on Final look back at Sinn Féin’s ard fheis
on 11 September 2011 at 8:27 pm
I was trolling. Apologies for any offence caused
Go to comment
Comment on Final look back at Sinn Féin’s ard fheis
on 11 September 2011 at 3:31 pm
400 in the hall eh? That’s one delegate for every 6 graves their organisation filled
Go to comment
Comment on Sycophant. Fool. Traitor. Egotist. Motivated by financial gain. Lundy!
on 11 September 2011 at 3:23 pm
The Rabbi praises Himler. It’s one thing to reach out to “the other side” but to heap praise on an unrepentant murderer is many steps too far. What would Jesus have done? He would have addressed the gathering but he would have rubbed their noses in the manure of their sins first of all
Go to comment
Comment on “Members of the group are described as experienced Provisional militants.”
on 24 April 2011 at 9:10 pm
We live in a world there this a new group in Gaza who murdered an Italian man because they think Hamas have gone soft.
There are headcases and extremists everywhere but this is no justification for tolerating them however.
I’d love to know what oppression do dissident republican suffer so greatly as to murder people for a UI? Do Welsh or Scottish nationalists not love their respective countries as much as Irish nationalists yet not a drop of blood has been spilt in modern times over Wales or Scotland.
Neither unionism or nationalism triumphed and let me explain:
Prior to 1921, the unionists were actually called The Irish Unionist party. Their party slogan was believe it not, ‘Erin Go Bragh’
Yet independence for Eire was a monumental failure of unionism as they failed to keep the whole of Ireland in the UK.
Nationalism failed as they failed to get independance for the whole of Ireland.
But unionism morphed into Ulster Unionism and completely abandoned any hope to get Eire back into the UK. It was as if the 26 counties they hitherto wanted so badly to remain in the UK, no longer mattered. Why didnt the unionists who were left behind in the 26 counties fight the new Eire? Because Unionism never felt an emotional attachment to the island so unionism got over its failure ver very quickly.
Nationalism however, never got over its failure hence its constant political and military quests to address the failure.
The fact that Unionism abandoned the 26 counties and never tried to get them back has given grist to the mill of republicanism of the ‘historical inevitability’ of a UI.
Had Unionism fought as vociferously for a UK of the 32 counties as Nationalism fought/fights for a UI of the 32 counties, then perhaps NI’s position in the UK would be more secure than it is today. Had Unionists not abandoned the 32 county UK, republicanism would never have had the confidence it garnered and has to this day.
So what about today then…
the dissidents are an irrelevance just as the old IRA were in the 50′s when they called off their border campaign for lack of support.
But the IRA were waiting for a 1969 moment.
Right now, we are in the political slumbering of the 50′s.
Are the dissidents waiting or even trying to engineer a 1969 moment or set of circumstances, real or imagined to act as a firestarter?
It troubles me that so many people seem to give them ground cover and support when there is no actual oppression. Being ruled by ‘another country’; doesnt mean you are necessarily oppressed.
Go to comment
Comment on The response to Con. Kerr’s murder must be measured yet decisive
on 3 April 2011 at 1:57 pm
Never mind sf electoral support; the litmus test is what the mood is in the pubs of Carrickmore and Coalisland and other pockets of recidivism. Did they cheer and sing Kevin Barry? Crum – more West Belfast whinging ?perhaps if the people of west Belfast were not so predeposed to falling for slogans and psychopathy perhaps the police and army would have been nicer to you
I grew up in a nationalist area but the RUC treated us decently. That’s because our housing estae never tries to kill them. Simples
Go to comment
Comment on Fine Gael appoint Minister for Happiness…
on 1 April 2011 at 11:54 am
The fact that Kerry kept electing Healey Rae to the Dail election after election proves that its perpetually April 1st in that lovely but cooky little county
Go to comment
Comment on UUP Deputy Chair opposes his own Health Minister…
on 26 March 2011 at 5:02 pm
It’s been asked several times but without answer : why did Nevin get red carded? Other users need and have a right to know and it’s a bit arrogant to keep us in the shade. Sorry but it’s how many of us feel
Go to comment
Comment on Dominic – computer says ‘kneel’
on 26 March 2011 at 11:08 am
Everyone who claims they know Irish can speak English. If English was good enough for Jesus then it should be good enough for you
Go to comment
Comment on UUP special advisor suspended following sexual favours allegations…
on 25 March 2011 at 10:10 am
I’ve never understood these hyerbolic descriptions of party apparatchiks. ‘Intellectual giant’ etc. Tell me, seriously, how Mr Crowe was an intellectual giant within the UUP? Did he write and publish a series of academic papers on political, social and philosophical matters that received plaudits from peers in the world of academe? I’m not being personal, I’ve said the same about such hyperbole when David Milliband was being lionised last year – I ask the same questions about him.
As for the lobbyists – getting on one’s knees for audience with the Pope or Obama can be almost understandalbe but Danny Kennedy? A nice but let’s face, not-that-important face in a minor political party of a minor political legeslature in a backwater of the UK. Does Mr Kennedy have some special secret knowledge that he hides beneath a bushel of insignificance?
I’ve always said that ultra religious people cannot be healthy as they ingore the animal instinct that God blessed us with. No amount of bibles and pastoring can calm the swells of the tides of lust.
Go to comment
Comment on Flag wars over St Patrick’s Day in Downpatrick
on 17 March 2011 at 10:55 am
only pea brained people bleat about flags and anyway, anytime I’ve been to Downpatrick on St Pats the streets were festooned with alcopop bottles and unruly bellicose proles in Celtic tops and hoopy earrings – hardly an image to be proud off. Only nations that lack confidence wave flags, parade and beat drums. Whose the patron saint of France, Norway, Argentina, Germany? Do we know? Do THEY know? Is there even a patron saint for those nations? having returned from 3 weeks in London, all I can say is that NI is a sick inward backward parochial backwater that thinks the world revolves around it. Well I’ve a message for u flag waving idiots: noone gives a toss about Ireland/Ulster/NI anymore.
Go to comment