I find a lot to admire in British and Irish newspapers and television. But however splendid the football coverage, however interesting the book reviews, however helpful the consumer advice, there is one glaring gap which British and Irish media seem to be unaware of : investigative journalism.
Or maybe that should be questioning journalism. Investigative journalism suggests having to dig very deep and meet anonymous sources and work for maybe months before the state of affairs under investigation is made clear. Questioning journalism has an easier job: it just asks questions.
Let’s start with one that’s unavoidable at this time of year, if you’re a TV viewer: the poppy. And let’s try to postpone the debate on whether it’s right to remember the dead of the First World War and those who died in British armed forces uniform since. Let’s just stick to a simple question: why do TV presenters – certainly BBC TV presenters – wear a poppy every year at this time?
In some, perhaps many cases, the answer will be that they do it to show respect for the sacrifice made by those dead soldiers. Which is fair enough. It’s not how everyone sees things but it’s a reasonable position to take. But given that there are thousands of BBC employees, by the law of averages there must be some who would rather not wear a poppy. In fact, we know there are some, with the case of Donna Traynor springing to mind. Some years back Donna, as I understand it, didn’t want to wear a poppy on air. After a discussion with BBC management she did want to wear a poppy. It’s hard to see that as anything but coercion: you will wear a poppy or else.
A similar tradition is emerging in soccer. British commentators at the moment are up in arms because FIFA has declared that players wearing a shirt with a poppy on it contravenes their rule about no political or religious symbols on football shirts.
Again, the dispute is not over the right of people to wear the poppy; the dispute is over the right of people not to wear the poppy.
Which brings us back to the central point: why don’t we see programmes about this issue on TV, especially BBC TV? Why don’t we see a discussion of James McClean’s stubborn refusal to fall into line – despite all pressures, he ain’t wearing no poppy. He’s from Derry and on Bloody Sunday, Derry saw enough chests smeared with red, as far as McClean is concerned.
The footballer’s decision has probably provoked tens of thousands of arguments among football fans – but you’d never guess it, watching TV. Instead the matter is ignored, and so those who aren’t prepared to wear a poppy are seen as being prejudiced, bigots, ingrates who don’t give the dead the honour that is their due.
The BBC coverage of the Twelfth is a similar case. Around half – maybe more – of the population here has no time for or interest in the Twelfth. Yet every year we get generous TV coverage of the many marches, without – and this is the crucial bit, Virginia, so pay attention – without any hint of criticism or that the occasion is heavily laced with bigotry and triumphalism.
I suppose journalists are like the rest of us: they’re not going to stick their neck out if they think a guillotine might slice through it. But isn’t that what good journalism is supposed to do – speak truth to power?
My belief is that the wearing of a poppy is more to do with justifying wars and little to do with honouring the dead and of course it has nothing to do with honouring the dead of your “enemy”. When I watch Remembrance Sunday, which I sometimes do, what I see is a glorification and a justification of Britain’s imperialist and military actions throughout the world, including our own sad little corner. Watching “Countryfile” this past Sunday, all were wearing poppies, including the farmers out in the fields. It looked ridiculous and reinforces my belief that from the Queen down the “sacrifices” made by the men in the 1st WW are used as propaganda to justify the annual poppyfest which legitimatises the blood bath that is “WAR”.
Britain is becoming more and more like America in the glorifying of its military. I suppose it has to to keep the production line of young willing men going to fight its wars.
“My belief is that the wearing of a poppy is more to do with justifying wars and little to do with honouring the dead.”
That’s interesting. What leads you to this belief and have you any evidence to support it?
Anecdotally I don’t know anyone who wears a poppy in order to justify wars but maybe your experience is different?
‘Investigative journalism’? Journalism as we used to know it is dead. All we have now is clowns who simply repeat what a news agency runs with. Inbetween that they just trawl social media for ‘scoops’. They’d probably not know how to use a pen.
Remember when this temporary statelet was set up, there were three LUP militias formed – by the British – to defend the state. The A,B and C Specials. The Cs disappeared fairly early but we had the Bs until the 70s. We still have the As. But a friend of mine raised a salient point the other day. We all know that the UDR and their trailer park in Portrush benefit from the British Legion Poppy Fund but he maintained that the B Specials also benefit. Could I ask the noted evidence presenters (MT and PF) to confirm this or deny as the case may be? A snappy one liner will do.
No idea.
Why would you think I did; unless you are falling victim to the disease of stereotyping.
And before anyone asks, I’ve no comment to make on the ‘poppy’ debate.
“Remember when this temporary statelet was set up, there were three LUP militias formed – by the British – to defend the state. The A,B and C Specials. The Cs disappeared fairly early but we had the Bs until the 70s. We still have the As.”
We don’t still have the As. Such nonsense. They were disbanded in 1922.
“But a friend of mine raised a salient point the other day. We all know that the UDR and their trailer park in Portrush benefit from the British Legion Poppy Fund but he maintained that the B Specials also benefit. Could I ask the noted evidence presenters (MT and PF) to confirm this or deny as the case may be?”
More nonsense. Of course the B Specials (are any still alive?) .don’t benefit from the poppy fund. The fund is only for military personnel.
“The fund is only for military personnel.”
Eh that’s false. I recall a representative of the poppy appeal scam, on talkback, earlier this year, admitting that RUC terrorists benefited from it too.
“Eh that’s false. I recall a representative of the poppy appeal scam, on talkback, earlier this year, admitting that RUC benefited from it too.”
It’s not false. Your recollection must be false.
I am 100% sure. I rang in to challenge him on it but alas I was censored by others.
He conceded that the n.lreland branch of the British legion used the funds not only to help British army terrorists who had fallen on hard times but also UDR and RUC terrorists. I am sure if winkie Irvine or Dee stitt fall on hard times they’ll be accommodated too.
“I am 100% sure. I rang in to challenge him on it but alas I was censored by others. He conceded that the n.lreland branch of the British legion used the funds not only to help British army terrorists who had fallen on hard times but also UDR and RUC terrorists. I am sure if winkie Irvine or Dee stitt fall on hard times they’ll be accommodated too.”
Nonsense.
Where does the money go?
The Legion currently spends more than £1m a week helping over 130,000 armed forces’ dependents, as well as veterans and those bereaved, and is hoping to extend that to 160,000 beneficiaries this year. In 2008, it spent a total of £101.2m; on care services £18.4m, community welfare services £41.6m, Remembrance and ceremonial £3.2m and funds generation £23.9m. The charity says that for every pound raised, 80p goes towards achieving objectives while 6.6p goes on support costs.
Who is eligible for help?
There are 9.5 million people eligible for help in Britain because they are serving or have served in the armed forces for at least seven days or are a dependant of someone who has. The charity’s work varies from offering home help to elderly and disabled veterans to campaigning for higher compensation payments for the wounded.
While it continues to support veterans from previous conflicts, it also helps survivors and grieving families of those killed in Afghanistan such as Royal Marine Lance Corporal Peter Dunning, 24, who lost both his legs in Helmand last year, and Hester Wright, 22, whose husband Damian, of the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, died in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan in 2007. The legion has helped her pay off debts, buy household goods and a school uniform for her six-year-old son Josh.
““I am 100% sure. I rang in to challenge him on it but alas I was censored by others. He conceded that the n.lreland branch of the British legion used the funds not only to help British army terrorists who had fallen on hard times but also UDR and RUC terrorists. I am sure if winkie Irvine or Dee stitt fall on hard times they’ll be accommodated too.”
Nonsense.
Where does the money go?
The Legion currently spends more than £1m a week helping over 130,000 armed forces’ dependents, as well as veterans and those bereaved, and is hoping to extend that to 160,000 beneficiaries this year. In 2008, it spent a total of £101.2m; on care services £18.4m, community welfare services £41.6m, Remembrance and ceremonial £3.2m and funds generation £23.9m. The charity says that for every pound raised, 80p goes towards achieving objectives while 6.6p goes on support costs.
Who is eligible for help?
There are 9.5 million people eligible for help in Britain because they are serving or have served in the armed forces for at least seven days or are a dependant of someone who has. The charity’s work varies from offering home help to elderly and disabled veterans to campaigning for higher compensation payments for the wounded.
While it continues to support veterans from previous conflicts, it also helps survivors and grieving families of those killed in Afghanistan such as Royal Marine Lance Corporal Peter Dunning, 24, who lost both his legs in Helmand last year, and Hester Wright, 22, whose husband Damian, of the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, died in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan in 2007. The legion has helped her pay off debts, buy household goods and a school uniform for her six-year-old son Josh.”
Nonsense. Just recently we had British army terrorists on the radio whineing that SF was stopping them from obtaining funds by refusing to sign off some Brit govt scheme to help ‘veterans’ who were struggling with PTSD etc. Like, wtf, is the legion doing with the money that grown British army terrorists have to sob on a phone to a radio station to get help for their nightmares? It’s all very embarrassing.
“Nonsense.”
It’s not nonsense: on the contrary those are the facts of the matter.
““I am 100% sure. I rang in to challenge him on it but alas I was censored by others. He conceded that the n.lreland branch of the British legion used the funds not only to help British army terrorists who had fallen on hard times but also UDR and RUC terrorists. I am sure if winkie Irvine or Dee stitt fall on hard times they’ll be accommodated too.”
Nonsense.”
It’s not nonsense, I did ring in.
Right behind you,Wolfe. I know that RUC ASpecials benefit from fund.
“Right behind you,Wolfe. I know that RUC ASpecials benefit from fund.”
You ‘know’ that a long-disbanded police force benefits from a fund for military personnel?
Right, OK.
I call them the A specials so that readers are aware of their provenance. To simplify it for you the now disgraced and rebranded RUC benefit from the poppy fund. OK?
“I call them the A specials so that readers are aware of their provenance. To simplify it for you the now disgraced and rebranded RUC benefit from the poppy fund. OK?”
That doesn’t make sense. And they don’t benefit from the poppy fund, which is for military personnel.
“military personnel” you say?
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/british-legions-uslster-blooper-on-ruc-badges-31250562.html
Yes. The proceeds of those badges went to the RBL, which (as you’ll see if you scroll to the bottom of the article) ‘provides support and care to serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families’..
“Yes. The proceeds of those badges went to the RBL, which (as you’ll see if you scroll to the bottom of the article) ‘provides support and care to serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families’..”
I was merely pointing out that the RUC and British legion are inextricably linked.
I will state again that a representative of the British legion recently went on Talkback and admitted that they do indeed help RUC terrorists.
I am sure you are familiar with the criteria the British legion officially states is required to qualify for their ‘support’? Well I could drive a bus through that criteria. Like everything else concerning British state terrorism; what they state officially often doesn’t mirror what they do unofficially.
“I was merely pointing out that the RUC and British legion are inextricably linked.”
No you weren’t. And they aren’t.
“I will state again that a representative of the British legion recently went on Talkback and admitted that they do indeed help RUC terrorists.”
I’m sorry but I don’t believe you. You must have misunderstood because the poppy fund is for.military personnel.
“I am sure you are familiar with the criteria the British legion officially states is required to qualify for their ‘support’? Well I could drive a bus through that criteria. Like everything else concerning British state terrorism; what they state officially often doesn’t mirror what they do unofficially.”
The criteria make clear that the fund is for military personnel.
” “I was merely pointing out that the RUC and British legion are inextricably linked.”
No you weren’t. And they aren’t.
“I will state again that a representative of the British legion recently went on Talkback and admitted that they do indeed help RUC terrorists.”
I’m sorry but I don’t believe you. You must have misunderstood because the poppy fund is for.military personnel.
“I am sure you are familiar with the criteria the British legion officially states is required to qualify for their ‘support’? Well I could drive a bus through that criteria. Like everything else concerning British state terrorism; what they state officially often doesn’t mirror what they do unofficially.”
The criteria make clear that the fund is for military personnel” ”
Nonsense. I am astonished that you can mind read now. Again, you could drive a bus through their ‘criteria’. And judging by your amazing psychic powers you could even start the said bus sitting at your desk.
I’ll reiterate again for the hard of hearing- the British legion assist former terrorists of the RUC and of course the UDR. Sin é.
Reiterate away. You’re still wrong. You’ve offered no evidence from your claim other than unsubstantiated hearsay.
MT
This is why I don’t get involved in debates about the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
“unsubstantiated hearsay.” is the least of our worries.
“MT
This is why I don’t get involved in debates about the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal”
You just did.
Just like we had official British government statements over the years stating they weren’t involved in terrorism, folk like yourselves urge the rest of us to take it as fact, in spite of the obvious links to various terrorists groups here and abroad.
Now we have to believe the British legion’s stated official stance concerning to whom they help. We have RUC terrorists raising funds via pin badges etc and then donating the proceeds to the poppy appeal allthewhile these same terrorists are complaining about sore ears and whatever and looking compensation. Surely they’d be better keeping the money for their ears or whatever rather than tarnishing the squeaky holier than thou image of the British legion?
Perhaps the British legion has taken the hint from the British state and set up proxy charities so as to ensure all their terrorists can avail of monies donated? Doing that they can deny they’ve anything to do with any controversial terror groupings? Nevertheless they are inextricably linked.
Btw, anybody familiar with the commentators on this blog would be forgiven for scratching their head wondering why regularly supporters of the forces of the six county region on here, are quick to laud the RUC,UDR etc but at the same time quick to deny they’ve any link to the British legion poppy scam. If I were a supporter of these gangs I’d be demanding they were included in the poppy appeal. After all the RUC and UDR members firmly believed they were in a war and would surely claim they fit the criteria.
Could it be they want to distance the terror gangs of the RUC and UDR from the British legion because they believe they can suck more Irish people into their ways? I don’t know, I ain’t a mind reader but apparently M.T is.
“You just did.”
Actually, my comment wasn’t about the Poppy Appeal at all.
This one isn’t either.
And, notably, I didn’t read passed, “you just did”, so I’ve no idea what else you said.
questioning journalism,has an easier job..
yep,their ordered not to ask probing questions in case they upset the apple cart at stormont.
BBC poppy wearing is just a triumphalist reminder of a ” we were the bosses here and dont you forget it”
I was intrigued by the BBC radio coverage of Halloween in Derry. Not once did any of the reporters use the term Londonderry. Was there no Halloween celebrations in Londonderry?
Maybe the BBC reporters have finally caught themselves on!! I doubt it!!!
I got this article as I entered hell, a large shopping centre in Spain, hell as it has shoe shop’s and I am with my wife how and ever, on dandeting through a few moments ago there’s a large lassie with large red flower displayed on her gansai, larger than the norm, even last evening, on my way to town last evening there’s a lage blue opel, Spanish reg., with plastic red flower on front, you cannie get away from it, even on holidays.
Harry Patch, the last survivor of the war that was to end all wars said,
“War is organised murder.”
The evidence suggests that an incompetent elite encouraged millions to fight to the last drop of their blood in a family squabble over vested interests. We are oft reminded that the First World War was fought for “the freedom of small nations.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Current events in Mosul spring to mind.
How often have the great and the good advocated peaceful methods for the resolution of political problems, but only in certain circumstances. Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary wasted no time in ruling out an inquiry into the misconduct of the South Yorkshire police during the “Battle of Orgreave” on the 18 June 1984.
The secretary of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign in response stated:
“…So it’s OK that you get beaten up and seriously injured, but so long as you don’t die the police don’t have to be held accountable…the announcement and the decision meant there would be “no transparency, no accountability, no truth and no justice”.
“…and the band played waltzing Matilda…”
Folks could I ask your opinion on the white poppy. I happen to see a fellow wearing one this morning. I have not seen them here too often. Thanks Eamon
we could also consider a green poppy for Catholic irishmen who fought in WWI and WWII (for whatever reason, maybe just to put food on the table).
They were treated abominably when they returned home to Northern ireland . . . for years and years and years . . even after they won a VC
https://eurofree3.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/catholic-ex-servicemen-dont-count/
Ah, the compulsory wearing of the Poppy and associated Cock of the Walkies, Esteemed Blogmeister.
While James McClean has adopted the attitude stroppy towards the wearing of this simple, sentimental yet never sloppy, symbol, the same accusation cannot be levelled at the real pair of Cool, Clean Heroes of Camp ROI: (gulp) Martin O Neill, suave sophisticate, and (gasp) ROI,oops, Roy Keane, prototype tough guy.
Unlike, say, the former bandy-legged and nippy winger, Napper Tandy, there is possibly no danger of either of these DOB-sponsored Bainisteoirí being hanged for the wearing of the Red Badge of Honour.
GB, a lone and courageous voice for so long on Liffeyside, one who was never slow to take a pop from his morally lofty perch on Radio Rooftop at those miscreants who did not put the Wearing of the Poppy on top of their f. bucket list in Occidental Britannica, would have been proud of the both of them.
G.B., for Gay Byrne.
One who once reviewed (not unfavourably) Prime Minister’s G. FitzGerald (big G x 2) magumnum opus:
-Towards a Gnu Ireland.
Who can ever forget, who ever heard it, that book review as sung in Barber Shop style by GB:
-It’s a g-nu
It’s a g-nu
The g-nicest work of g-nature in the human zoo.
In this week of weeks, oopps, weeks of week, lets us remember , at the g-noing down of the Sun and in the Morning Screech, to sing this swan song of, erm, Flanders and Swann.
No more, Poppy lie down, down here south of the Black Sow’s Dyke !
(Note: the lyricist of that shameless slice of subversion, ‘The Wearing of the Green’ was , erm, Dion Boucicault. You wait for one DB and what happens, two DBs come along simultaneously and at the same time. And Dublin just coming off a, erm, a double decker Boucicault Strike, and all).
The non-treasonable reason, EB, for the free press of the Free Southern Stateen not tackling the Compulsory Wearing of the Poppy does not err on the side of difficulty.
Fact is, the C-word, C for Compulsory has already been booked. Actually, booked and spoken for. As it has to do with a topic which is mediated through both the written and the spoken word. That would be the L-word:
-L for Leprechaun.
Till death do they part: Compulsory and Leprechaun. And until such time as that happy day happens, so will Compulsory be shackled, spancelled and straitjacketed to Leprechaun. In a phrase, Compulsory is hogtied to the patois of Pat of the Bog Oak Monolith (BOM).
Of course, there are synonyms for Compulsory: so what’s the problem?
Back in the day, actually back in the night, when the Perkin’s youthful inner dabbler in the sock exchange, used to set his old clock, for the wee small hours, the better to lend an ear to a glowering Sonny Liston confront a cowering Floyd Patterson, two M-words rang a bell.
M for Madison Square Garden and M for Mandatory. As in a Mandatory count of a-Eight:
-a-I, a-2, a-3, a-4, a-5, a-6, a-7, a-8.
(The Big Fight referees back in the night were invaliably of Italian extraction: from Johnny Lo-Bianco to Joe Santarpia to Frank Sicora and, the unforgettable Frank Cappucino).
Now, Mandatory is a synonym for Compulsory. So, why then did not Mandatory elope with Leprechaun and free up, liberate and emancipate Compulsory : the Freddy Mercury of the Dictionary who wants nothing more, nothing less, than to Break Free.
Thus, allowing our putative Pulitzer-prize winning Investigative Journalists in the Free Southern Stateen to tackle such, erm, hot-button topics as the Compulsory Wearing of the Poppy ?
Could it be that Mandatory is too (gasp) same-sexy a term for the up-tight, down-low Leprechaun ?
Herein lies the Imbroglio which the Bog Oak Monolith (BOM) has thoughtfully left behind, and landmined the FSS, a la the antisocial outskirts of Mosul.
Not quite. In fact, while Mandatory is indeed a synonym for Compulsory yet it remains – and this is the kicker –a mere venial synonym. Compulsory being, erm, the supreme Mortal Synonym, indeed, The Mortlar, the kind that requires the attendance of a Cardinal, even a number of Cardinals, for its Absolution.
And this is clearly not something which is going to happen in the near future, oops, anytime soon.
Thus, as long as Compulsory Leprechaun remain in bondage chained, Investigative Journalism on Liffeyside will continue to remain on the starting blocks, hamstrung and hobbled Unless, of course….
Now, where did one leave one’s electroshock cattle prod?
The supposed intention of Poppy Day was to honour those who were injured and died during WWI. But we now find that the ‘honour’ also has passed to all British military adventures since then, including our 40 years of terrorism they caused in N Ireland.
So those of us who suffered at the hands of British military thugs over those years are now expected to hand over our money to support them in their later years – certainly nobody in England is collecting money to make my later years any easier!
But back to the matter of ‘honouring’ those British soldiers:
Does their own government honour them or pay any disablement benefits? Nope.
The British send their soldiers over the world on these military adventures, and they never seem to be short of poor gullible fools prepared to do so.
But when they come home dead or injured the government refers them to the British Legion for help.
And where do the RBL get their money?
They send volunteers out into the streets of the country to BEG for charity – yes, after serving their country, someone has to beg on their behalf.
What honour is there where an injured soldier doesn’t get financial help from the government in appreciation of his service? He/she is dependent on the charitable nature of the public.
Nolan said this morning that he was going to ask the BBC what their official position was on poppy wearing. He never mentioned it again and that can only be down to the fact that he was told to drop it.This from a programme that holds everybody else “to account” and “Wont let x,y or z go “till we get a satisfactory answer”,especially if that answer is required from SF!
“why do TV presenters – certainly BBC TV presenters – wear a poppy every year at this time?”
Because they are forced to, they are forced to give the impression that everyone supports the British Armed forces.
The same tactics is used when it comes to the NI football team, as I mentioned before. The media, particularly UTV and the BBC, wanted to give the impression that everyone here supports the NI football team, which obviously isn’t the case, as Belfast City Centre showed when the ROI games were on during the Euros, it was packed with ROI shirt wearing supporters. But also, supporting the NI football team gives the indirect impression that the same people support the British Union, that’s why the media want to give the impression most people here support NI in football.
But a good question would be: Could a news presenter wear an Easter Lily or any other brooch to commemorate an event?
“In fact, we know there are some, with the case of Donna Traynor springing to mind. Some years back Donna, as I understand it, didn’t want to wear a poppy on air. After a discussion with BBC management she did want to wear a poppy”
The term: “Poppy Fascism” originated in Britain. Many British people in the public arena have been abused and harassed for not wearing a poppy. Hence the term “Poppy Fascism”. I’m sure Donna Traynor was a victim of it, she was probably given the choice: wear a poppy or lose your job. I suppose this is the “freedom” we’re told the British armed forces fought for…..
“because FIFA has declared that players wearing a shirt with a poppy on it contravenes their rule about no political or religious symbols on football shirts”
UEFA allowed the Irish football team to wear a black armband in memory of those murdered in Loughinisland at Euro 2012 in their Italy game. Would FIFA have allowed the same? I guess maybe both groups have different rules.
” Why don’t we see a discussion of James McClean’s stubborn refusal to fall into line – despite all pressures, he ain’t wearing no poppy. He’s from Derry and on Bloody Sunday, Derry saw enough chests smeared with red, as far as McClean is concerned”
Because it will expose the truth that James McCleans stance is moral and right. Anything that shows the British Army in the wrong light isn’t allowed. For example, when paramilitaries kill anyone its called “Murder” but if the British Army kills someone its called “killings” or sometimes “controversial killings”, especially in regard to Bloody Sunday or the Ballymurphy Massacre.
I was watching “In the Name of the Father”, Gerry Conlons story on Sky Movies the other night. To this day the media still refer to Gerry and his families imprisonment as a “miscarriage of justice”, despite the fact it was deliberate framing by the British Government, they still want to portray it as some sort of “accident”.
“Instead the matter is ignored, and so those who aren’t prepared to wear a poppy are seen as being prejudiced, bigots, ingrates who don’t give the dead the honour that is their due.”
Its funny hearing supporters of Orange men calling other people bigots for not wearing a poppy.
“Yet every year we get generous TV coverage of the many marches, without – and this is the crucial bit, Virginia, so pay attention – without any hint of criticism or that the occasion is heavily laced with bigotry and triumphalism.”
While at the same time we get very little coverage of St Patricks Day events, despite the fact its far bigger than the 12th and far more inclusive. Indeed St Patricks Day is a worldwide event, numerous global landmarks turn Green specifically for the occasion, from the Great Wall of China to Table Mountain in South Africa to the Chicago River in the USA.
Instead of joining in and celebrating, many Unionist politicians foolishly spend their time on the lead up to St Patricks Day every year trying to claim St Patrick himself for their own tribe. The best has got to be Ruth Patterson saying St Patrick was a Protestant…..1,500 years before Protestantism even existed….
“I suppose journalists are like the rest of us: they’re not going to stick their neck out if they think a guillotine might slice through it. But isn’t that what good journalism is supposed to do – speak truth to power?”
Journalists ask the questions when they are told to. Just last night I was watching Paul Clarke of UTV ask Anna Lo : “Do you have any regrets for supporting a United Ireland?”. Anna Lo replied: “Oh no”. I tweeted Paul, who usually replies, to ask why would Anna Lo have any regrets over Irish Unity? Its perfectly reasonable thing to aspire to, the fact it upsets Unionism is irrelevant. At this point in time Paul has yet to reply…..
The impression given by the media, especially the Belfast Telegraph, is supporting the Union is desirable. Any support for Irish Unity is portrayed as against etiquette…..
No folks for many of us it’s not about militarism, triumphalism or sectarianism.
As so often the case Alex Kane sums it up better than I ever could.
Jude you should have him do a guest blog. It would make a nice change.
http://eamonnmallie.com/2013/11/why-i-wear-a-poppy-by-alex-kane/