A good decision
Well, there we have it. For the first time ever, the DUP and Sinn Féin have held a joint press conference, actually it's the first time there's been a joint anything.
The agreement to go into devolved government on a joint, equitable basis is a really Big decision, and I congratulate Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams on the success of the work they and their people have done to bring us this far. Well done, and may it herald a new era in Irish politics.
The terrorism I saw on the news as a young lad destroyed thousands of families. While it's partly true that IRA terror helped get Sinn Féin to the top table, it's unseemly for anyone to revel in it. Let's remember all our dead with honour and thank God with bowed heads for the political progress both communities will now benefit from. Only with His blessing will we muster the compassion and courage to make it.
As Paisley said, we may "loathe the hurts of the past", but we mustn't allow them to stop us building a great future together. Let's go for it.
posted by B.U. @ 4:33 p.m.
10 comments
10 Comments:
Absolutely stunned at the very welcome news. Not before time.
I am concerned at the tone of your comments though B.U.
"While it's partly true that IRA terror helped get Sinn Féin to the top table, it's unseemly for anyone to revel in it."
In a supposedly equal society there would have been no need for an organisation like the IRA. Who it must be said, only re-emerged to try and protect people from being murdered, assaulted and burnt from their homes. No-one revels in their subsequent actions, some merited, some not. At a time when state violence was oppressing those whose only crime was marching for civil rights. It was inevitable that violence would eventually be met with violence.
The terror inflicted by the state, and subsequent breaking of laws by those who are supposed to uphold the law. Now that should be considered in tandem with any other finger pointing.
"As Paisley said, we may "loathe the hurts of the past", but we mustn't allow them to stop us building a great future together. Let's go for it."
Did he keep a straight face when he said it? If he is sincere I will hold my hand up, we can only hope. It is difficult to disengage the evil associated with the man.
I do not wish to spoil the occassion, this should have occured much, much sooner
Speaking about getting to the top table, I watched Ian Paisley engineer everything that has happened over the last thirty plus years in order to gain power. From inciting hatred to instigating destruction of property and lives, the re-invention of the IRA, etc. I believe that every death, every maiming and all the evil produced during these most recent troubles is directly attributable to Ian Paisley. Good luck, he's now head of state.
Bill.
Do you think that the mandarins in Whitehall(whomever they are) finally understood that it HAD to be Paisley who made 'the deal' An old man in a hurry and all that. Seeing that he would not have gave any other peace to do it themselves
Clearly, anyone with a modicum of sense realises that Unionists had to make a deal soon, if they were to get a worthwhile deal. The impregnation of sectarian supremacy as a premise for just about everything MUST cease. Unionists will not be remembered kindly by history.
A wolf in sheep's clothing is a WOLF not a sheep. I believe that Ian Paisley felt that he had a better chance to head off unification from the inside than the outside. I believe that he will do everything in his power to see that Unionists prevail in all things with a total disregard for the will of the people. He will do everything he can to discredit Sinn Fein and all the other parties until he can sweep the field. I believe that he will foster more bitterness and hatred than ever. It was this or joint rule and he would have no control over circumstances then. You ain't seen nothin' yet.
' I believe that he will foster more bitterness and hatred than ever. It was this or joint rule and he would have no control over circumstances then. You ain't seen nothin' yet.'
Jeez, and I thought I was cynical. Paisley, despite the blood on his must be given the opportunity to actually lead people somewhere worthwhile. Agreed, that he had to be dragged kicking and screaming by the threat of joint rule.
I agree with Tony in that history will not be kind to Unionists, but it will be far worse on the legacy of paisley. He now has the chance to negate some of this. I only hope to God he takes it.
I agree with you BU. The Shinners did bomb their way to the top table, although I'm not sure that it could have happened any other way, given that Ulster always said no. Where would Parnell have been without Captain Moonlight?
The classic saying about Ireland was "There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again." Hopefully this is no longer true.
I've said it before, BU, if we are to genuinely move forward unionists must acknowledge that their side was involved in the conflict as well as republicans.
To perpetuate the myth that republican actions were without merit or justification and simply the behaviour of mindless terrorists indicates how superficial progress has been to date.
The state was founded on the threat of violence and perpetuated by the threat and actual use of violence against the nationalist population. A refusal to acknowledge this and to focus on the republican campaign to end the sectarian state's existence without reference to their rationale,e.g,
"While it's partly true that IRA terror helped get Sinn Féin to the top table, it's unseemly for anyone to revel in it."
is just silly. Nationalists votes got people to the "top table".
IRA actions forced unionists to make room for them.
Unionists, a minority in the country, organised an army and threatened war so that they could create a table all for themselves.
They revel in it at every opportunity.
If we are going to move on from those mind sets, then do it, don't play at it!
If fortune smiles on us, when we pass over and line up to be judged and do our atonements, the good reverend will be ahead of us and we will spend eternity waiting in line.
Observer,
if we are to genuinely move forward unionists must acknowledge that their side was involved in the conflict as well as republicans. Agree entirely.
The state was founded on the threat of violence and perpetuated by the threat and actual use of violence against the nationalist population. Yep, true.
A refusal to acknowledge this and to focus on the republican campaign to end the sectarian state's existence without reference to their rationale, e.g,
"While it's partly true that IRA terror helped get Sinn Féin to the top table, it's unseemly for anyone to revel in it."
is just silly. I've acknowledged the rationale: the armalite and ballot box did the trick. But I'm appealing to Republicans not to rub it in. You are where you are, and I'm glad. Please don't celebrate murdering my cousin and my schoolfriend. Let's be sensitive to the wounds each other carries.
' But I'm appealing to Republicans not to rub it in. You are where you are, and I'm glad. Please don't celebrate murdering my cousin and my schoolfriend. Let's be sensitive to the wounds each other carries.'
I believe these words say more about where you are at the moment B.U. No offence intended.
Rub what in? Do you think that Nationalists/Republicans feel victorious at having odious bigots acknowledge us as human beings? Give me a break!!! I would be offended in the extreme if Republicans were at this moment celebrating any deaths, time to move on.
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