Live Drawing the Green Party conference

The leader’s speech. Taking a firm line on developers, planners and non-disclosure of party-donations.

Current councillor John Barry (@CllrJohnBarry) and council candidate Clare Bailey (@ClareBaileyGPNI):

Green Party candidate for Balmoral Elli Kontorravdis (@EKontorravdis):

And onto Ross Brown and that cartoon:

Make sure you read or listen to Ross Brown’s (@voterossbrown) story via Alan. A journey from flag-totting super-Prod to green-fingered, eco-man. Fascinating, relatable-to and relevant. The Chinese proverb says that travelling a 1000 miles does more for the mind than reading a thousand books. Ross is a testament to that. He managed to leave Plato’s Cave, and Rosa Luxemburg put her finger on the phenomenon:

“He who does not move does not notice his chains.”

The cartoon was variously described as “disgustingly offensive”, “silly” and “unsophisticated”. The Ross Brown story described as condescending. Batted down for his base snobbery.

I welcome Ross Brown’s story. We should hear more like this. It shows how unfounded many fears are. But once again people want to shut it down with the wails of snobbery. This convention that you cannot speak of loyalist mannerisms, never-mind criticize loyalists, less you be a snob, should really be put to an end. As though intimidatory flag-waving, intolerance and flag-waving are deserving of respect, rather than contempt.

[DISCLAIMER: I am not referring to all loyalists but only the very small minority.]*

It is only through an open and frank discussion and airing of views, experiences and sincere opinions that we can get anywhere. Self-censorship and prior-restraint will only slow whatever forward process we have.

In any case, Ian Knox is well known for endlessly drawing loyalists as knuckle-dragging empty-heads. (I looked at his depiction of paramilitaries, loyalist and republican, here.) So my drawing of Ross is nothing new, but the continuing of a local tradition. Like here and just below, check out the drugs and needles! And contrast with his representation of republicans.

Below I have included some of Ian’s renderings of loyalists, as well as republicans. Below also are some more of mine Ross. Furthermore on Ian Knox, it was said that a loyalist ex-prisoner said that Ian Knox’s cartoons hit him and had more effect than any media report or community scheme. It was a frank airing of opinion through a cartoon that got his attention. So maybe it’s time to let there be more plain English.

In the cartoonists mind and by the code of visual literacy, Ross looks eerily like Sir Reg Empey! On a side note, I’ve explain how visual literacy works here. See Ross and Reg below: