When did Martin McGuinness become such a statesman?
Now don’t get me wrong. Don’t go jumping all over my bones just yet.You know I don’t really give a tuppenny damn about any of our politicians of any stripe.Well..I may have a soft spot for the odd “face”. The odd one who may have a bit of wit or possess some charm . The odd one who can actually argue a case with a little sense and the odd flicker of real humour…not that dull-witted nonsense that passes for wit most of the time in Norn Ireland.
Having lived for over sixty years, it’s a sad fact that anything that can happen in Northern Ireland, right up to civil unrest, near civil war , exploding buildings , drive -by shootings by armed gangs and security forces alike, fascist marching men in neat regimented lines, chests puffed out like little sparrow-farts and the rest of the chaotic murderous, nonsense that has happened in our society… has already happened many times over. We now , collectively have voted into “power” a group of politicians to hammer out a solution to all these recurring problems.
The fact is , we have failed.There I’ve said it.It’s over. You just don’t know it yet.
Between us all or at least between the half of the population that actually votes , we have been absolutely unable to produce and breed any politicians that are capable of dealing with the problems. It’s a hard bald fact, that although some of them can talk between themselves and obviously , assisted by a team of advisors, are able to shift reams of paperwork about from file cabinet to file cabinet { electronically ..or otherwise}, and appear on shows like “The View”, they are ultimately unable to solve any of the problems we wanted them to solve.If you like, they really are not fit for purpose.
It’s like trying to teach ducks to roller-skate.
As they appear on television or radio, my eyes begin to glaze over and a tiny filter in my ears begins to block out the repetitive sound because I’ve heard and seen it all before . Years and years of it. There is not some novel new idea to hear. There is never going to be one. I am going to die without hearing a single idea worth a damn.
There is not one single creative political thought in their heads.There is a juvenile obsession with triviality and marching on our streets.The kind of stuff that any intelligent person would go on holiday to avoid.
At this moment in time ,the politicians on the unionist side have apparently finally realised this awful fact .They have come to the conclusion that they’ll never be any good at it .Their main minister, our First Minister has had to bow down to that awful fact that they cannot “do politics” so they are walking out on it. They probably think that it would all be so much easier to have Direct Rule again .They are obviously mentally gearing up to dissolve Stormont.
Things are much simpler when you can blame someone else.
So to Marty ..
How much more benign, benevolent and …yes, “statesmanlike ” can one man be than to stand in front of reporters , as he did just now on the radio, and to explain the marital difficulties his partner in government, First Minister , Peter Robinson is having. He kindly made excuses for the problems. As Marty explained it so succinctly today, Peter is unable to do his job as First Minister properly because he is locked into a sado-masochistic relationship with some rabid background elements in his party. Apparently they have him handcuffed in a rubber gimp mask {I know , not in front of the children!} with his hands and feet bound in some esoteric bondage ritual and his mouth taped tightly shut. Marty is obviously a good friend trying with han on heart to help the poor fellow out with this public statement , but it’s obvious that Peter needs marriage guidance rather than diplomacy or Marty’s statesmanship.
A side note about Martin McGuinness that didn’t seem to get picked up on much by the media, was what Kyle Paisley said about him a few weeks ago
“As a matter of fact, Mr McGuinness has treated my father with a greater deal of care and respect than a number of my father’s fellow-churchmen and DUP colleagues. This is apparent to all.”
http://eamonnmallie.com/2014/05/kyle-paisley-on-thawing-dupsinn-fein-frostin/
I think a lot of people still, after all this time, and in some ways quite rightly so, see Martin McGuinness as the OC of the Doire Brigade and as a big bad wolf. This is all some people are willing to see and when he comes out with something like this you can see a person who resembles a true leader, a true statesman and a man who actually cares what happens here in this wee courner of the known world. Yes, Sinn Fein’s main aim, their ultimate aim is to see a united Ireland where both Catholic and Protestant, Nationalist and Loyalist can co-inhabit but in this current environment I’m seeing Martin as a peace maker (attempted) and someone who is willing to try and accomplish something which up until now has been impossible. That ‘something’ is a marching season where everyone would be in some way accomodated but it seems Loyalists want to have their cake AND eat it rather than having a little bite and share the rest.
He was born for this roll, a formidable man,a visionary, in the right place at the right time.
I hope and wish, he has the powers to unite the people, as well as the country.
Norma
Agreed Norma and I think he has shown his worth time and time again. He has condemned dissident Republican actions publicly and without a second thought unlike, I hasten to add, Unionist politicians have done in regard to Loyalist paramilitary involvement in trouble in Ardoyne and beyond.
Martin, agree with him or otherwise is “the real deal” interpret that as you wish. Peter Robinson et al are cardboard figures who think discourtesy and tough talk make them ‘hard men’. Good community relations are not in the DUP’s best interest and there lies the problem.