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Books
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The peace process not such a good model after all
Which reminds me…. Platform for Change’s driving force Robin Wilson has produced a corrective to the notion that the lessons of the NI conflict are easily exportable. Like myself, Robin is associated with the Constitution Unit. He introduced his new book in a CU blog which I here reproduce. The water crisis in Northern Ireland [...] read our review »
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“I loathe Ireland and the Irish.”
In the Irish Times, Brian Cosgrove takes up temporary residence in An Irishman’s Diary in the hope that, with the lifting of European copyright restrictions on James Joyce’s major works, a greater familiarity with Joyce’s ”sometimes ruthless realism” may change the nature of the “annual Edwardian charade” that is Bloomsday. From the Irish Times The devastating cultural effects [...] read our review » -
“Unionism Decayed 1997-2007″ by David Vance: book review
I initially wrote this when the book was first published three years ago; whilst certain elements of it now sound dated, its basic premise that the period of 1997-2007 was a period of irreversible decay for Northern Irish Unionism can still be argued as a valid opinion. My own feeling is that it did indeed [...] read our review »
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Comment on There is no reprieve from the grave: rejecting the DUP’s death penalty call
on 13 November 2011 at 6:26 pm
I think people are missing the point. This is a domestic dispute between a couple stuck in a loveless relationship who are only staying together because they can’t sell the marital home.
Of course murderous thoughts are bound to creep in.
Bless!
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Comment on What on earth was that Dr Al?
on 6 November 2011 at 7:27 pm
As someone sympathetic to the only Ulster Scot in the SDLP’s leadership race, I take a kindlier view of the man they call the Doctor.
About that speech.
He called nobody “scum”, he hadn’t any cards prominently displayed saying “World’s Best Dad” and did no property deals with dodgy developers nor did he have to apologise to anyone for the murder of their loved ones by his “comrades”.
A bit of technology failed.
I for one have never heard of that happening before.
Go figure.
Political leader makes one substandard speech and his 30 year career is over.
Beam me up.
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Comment on “There was no provocation”
on 13 July 2011 at 5:04 pm
What we really have to look forward to is a year until the next Twelfth. As a seasoned observer of what we now refer to as “OrangeFest”, the air goes out of the balloon after the big day. Of course there’s a few curtain calls but the main performance is over for 2011.
Among the questions remaining are whether this is a religious festival or a folk festival? A celebration of culture or a triumphalist coat trailing exercise.
Let’s look to our brethren in Scotland for potential solutions. I doubt very much whether the Strathclyde polis will ever be accepting the Sash as a hymn tune. The rerouting and cancellation of parades and general vilification of Orangeism in Scotia offers a poor prognosis for the Order should our own elected reps try this at home.
A general point should be borne in mind; part of the problem with politics in Northern Ireland is the apparent absence of the concept of political change. Trimble and Mallon (and later Durkan) were apparently untroubled that there would ever be another administration other than their own. Hence the annexation of so many powers to the OFM/DFM. Who knew Paisley, Robinson and McGuinness would ever get the keys to the sweetie shop?
Peter and Marty may yet get their marching orders over the marching orders.
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Comment on Marching on a pin head as Belfast District LOL No 6 squares up to the Parades Commission (updated)
on 13 July 2011 at 8:59 am
Toastedpuffin,
Why mention religious beliefs? What has religion to do with anything?
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Comment on Marching on a pin head as Belfast District LOL No 6 squares up to the Parades Commission (updated)
on 12 July 2011 at 8:08 pm
Toastedpuffin,
Forgive my ignorance of your father, who judging from your post, seems to have been an Orangeman. I thought that Ian Paisley was the first non Orange premier this country ever had. I thought all our (old style) Stormont unionist MPs and indeed Westminster Unionists MPs were Orangemen. Similarly Unionist councillors, there being pretty much only Unionists of one stripe, back in the day.
How could I have gotten things so wrong. Perhaps it was republican propaganda.
I didn’t mean to imply that Orangemen voted blindly for sash-wearing bigots. Their election must have been pure coincidence. Or perhaps it was a deliberate choice.
I don’t know, since as a non Orangeman, I’m probably not entitled to a view, or at least, not one that needs to be heeded.
And the notion that people might be offended by kick the pope bands and bonfires bedecked with papal flags, posters of nationalist politicians and Irish tricolours is almost certainly a very recent phenomenon, doubtless the work of Gerry Adams.
Thanks for putting me right.
I personally enjoy the 12th. The sight of all those DUP politicians at the field, fresh from their love-in with Sinn Fein up at Stormont. I know it makes me laugh, it must be a tonic for the brethren.
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Comment on Marching on a pin head as Belfast District LOL No 6 squares up to the Parades Commission (updated)
on 12 July 2011 at 4:43 pm
I think we are being much too hard on a group quite clearly suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. I mean, these people ran the country, literally and figuratively, for many many years so the shock associated with such a loss has caused severe psychological damage. The sooner we start treating these people as victims, the better.
I’d personally prefer to see them in secure accommodation and on strong medication. I’m certain they could be cured within a matter of decades but let’s not rush this.
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Comment on “We have a very developed flag flying policy here in the borough”
on 10 July 2011 at 7:01 pm
Ranger 1640, cuppla questions. Who would identify these “community representatives”? Who would validate their right to speak on behalf of a community? How long would your “allotted time” be? Would you agree it with anyone or will you just advise the rest of us, like some sort of Grand Master (with or without your Furious Five)?
Who would remove the offending items, when they became offensive? Police? Council workers, perhaps as part of the 11th night bonfires clean up? I do take your main point that if the police do a stupid thing in one place, they should, of course, do the same stupid thing in other places. That makes everything alright then, doesn’t it? That’s not whataboutery, is it? I applaud the strategy of opening the Twelfth to wider scrutiny and am certain that riots will affect the popularity and perception of “OrangeFest” though not perhaps in the way intended. Ballyclare follows the Newtownards Road and Bangor in becoming “cold houses” for loyalists.
“Cold houses” for violent thugs more like.
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Comment on “We have a very developed flag flying policy here in the borough”
on 10 July 2011 at 1:14 pm
What am I missing here? Public disorder around the 12th July, decades and indeed, centuries old. Why is this news?Concerning flag, have some people gotten their wires crossed?
The problem ain’t the flag(s) but the use of publicly owned (and hence “neutral”) street furniture for this purpose. I am almost sure this is illegal, irrespective of the branding.
Back in the day, flags were flown from houses of private individuals, not necessarlity private homes. There may even have been flagholders on some houses for precisely this purpose. The problem for some elements of loyalism is that many citizens no longer do this. It is possible to speculate about the reasons for this but not the fact. Yes a tiny minority still do but certainly not the numbers that did. The possible reasons are scary to some people.
Similarly, bonfires. Try and burn a tyre in front of your residence or in a public place and the chances are Plod will be at your door to feel your collar.
Pile them high on a boney, in full public view of the Federales and not a squeak from the authorities. Children in the area with asthma? Tough. Emphysema sufferer? Get over it.
Why not do it outside a hospital, like the City Hospital. No reaction from the authorities. Why should anyone complain? Certainly not because there’s a possibility your name might be provided to local “community activists”.
I am reliably informed the Ballybeen bonfire has a plethora of tyres and a lovely banner proclaiming “Fuck the Green Party”.
When people talk about moving on, do they mean emigration?
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Comment on Black Watch – swearing like troopers
on 2 November 2010 at 7:35 pm
I think it’s called expletive infixation.
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Comment on McGuinness saw Chesney on his deathbed…
on 9 September 2010 at 4:40 pm
I belteve Marty implicitly. I’m sure he’s seen a lot of people just before they died, how could he be expected to remeber them all.
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