This morning I’m afraid. Seriously. I’m afraid that I may guilty of prejudice. I’m not certain I am but I suppose there’s a chance I am.
My fear springs from my viewing of most (not all – in the end it was too much) of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year bash in the big sporting arena in East Belfast last night. There were things in it I enjoyed. I thought, for example, that the young gymnast guy did a terrific performance on the piano – no, not playing it, Virginia, ON it. Amazing. And I thought the way the clips of different performers were put together was very stylish. And the arena looked massive and very impressive as the camera swirled over the audience.
What I didn’t like was Michael O’Neill (it was him, wasn’t it?) saying that the wonderful thing about the Northern Ireland football team was that everybody got behind it. Not true, Michael, and you know it’s not. For all sorts of reasons about half the population here don’t support the Northern Ireland football team. I didn’t like the way the audience went semi-hysterical any time a sports person from here was mentioned. I didn’t like that the most popular sport here by a country mile – Gaelic games – simply didn’t merit mention let alone inclusion in the sports celebration. And I didn’t like the way the event was celebrated as though the show was coming from Manchester or Liverpool or some other English city. And if I’d watched to the end I wouldn’t have liked the word ‘personality’ being used in the same sentence as ‘Andy Murray’ – certainly not if they’re handing out personality awards.
That last bit is where I’m wondering if I’ve allowed my personal prejudice to warp the way I saw the programme. I’m sure I’ll have lots of people who’ll tell me I’ve got it spot on – I am prejudiced. And maybe they’re right. But I definitely got a feeling that we were patting ourselves on the back, saying look at the great wee country we are, we can do things just as well as all the big places in the UK, all that stuff about a divided community is just a bunch of cranks and extremists.
So tell me: was it just me?
You obviously didn’t watch the show both Gaelic games were mentioned!
That last bit is where I’m wondering if I’ve allowed my personal prejudice to warp the way I saw the programme.
er yes!
I would love to have seen your face when M O`Neill picked up the trophy I am sure it would have been priceless.
Fair enough, neill – I knew my prejudice might be in there somewhere. I think Michael O’Neill is a first-rate coach and he deserves every commendation for getting NI to the finals. My point was re ‘We all get behind the NI team’ – factual inaccuracy. Btw, ‘both Gaelic games’, neill? You do know there are more than two Gaelic games? Right – I knew you did.
I’m surprised Jude that you didn’t pick up on Michael O’Neills comment on being the manager of his “country’s” football team.
Actually, Wes, I think I turned over to RTÉ before Michael got on stage. I have a sneaking feeling that there were those in the audience clapping in proportion to how many times a fenian onstage used the term ‘Northern Ireland’. But then, as I concede, I may be prejudiced.
Sorry you are prejudiced have we not agreed on this?
Jude, I may be mistaken but at know time did I here anyone say anything that even resembled ‘We all get behind the NI team’ .
I actually affirm you right to be annoyed that the event showed our wee country in a wonderful light – but please stick to the facts
Well now Kenny, I too may be mistaken but I remember saying to mo bhean cheile “Everybody behind the NI team??” Perhaps I had one too many pre-Christmas swallies…
“I would love to have seen your face when M O`Neill picked up the trophy I am sure it would have been priceless.”
Now now Neill, don’t be confusing Jude with yourself or your Unionist political representatives. If i remember correctly you were very bitter the day after the Republic beat Bosnia in the Play offs and qualified. Its obvious you haven’t gotten over that.
Northern Ireland have qualified for the Euros and fair play to them but this feat has gone to many peoples heads, yours included Neill. I understand the excitement though, it might be another 30 years until NI is at another major tournament, that’s if the team even exists at all in the future due to the event of Irish Unity or an All-Ireland football team being made which a majority in the latest poll supported….
As I mentioned in another comment, we will see Michael O’Neill’s coaching ability at the Euros against real tough opposition like Germany and Poland. That’s in contrast to the teams he played against in the qualifiers, such as the Faroe Islands and Greece (who didn’t even have a manager and whose team was in disarray…)
“I would love to have seen your face when M O`Neill picked up the trophy I am sure it would have been priceless.”
Wouldn’t have happened, Neill. It’s very seldom a non British person wins this award, even less an Irishman.
Agree 100% – well said.
Yeah but who really likes camogie?
neill – don’t look now but your prejudice is showing…
Has Neill suspended Irony over the Christmas period? Hypocrisy certainly isn’t suspended, I know that for sure….
“We’re all behind …etc” It’s how media works nowadays. If you keep saying a thing, people eventually believe it. Who knows, they might even make it happen and in this case, that would be a good thing.
Jude, per my comment on yesterdays topic presented by Jessica McGann, the media here see their role as promotion of continuance of the union between Ireland and britain, this part of Ireland at least. Young people, permitted to stay up late since they’re on holiday, will of course be sucked in by the tripe presented and will believe it, those supporters of the occupied soccer team have changed not a jot in thirty years, they would still throw one off the bridge in Tate’s Ave. if they could, were one indigenous but, if it happened, that same media would do everything to cover up the reason, hypothetical I know but, who knows.
Radio agus Teilifis Éireann are just as bad as the BBC, time for a new, more fair and open channel perhaps?
Mark that’s just tripe and well you know it and you have to be called out on it.Using your logic Martin McGuiness would still be a terrorist people can and do change.
Define a “terrorist” Neill.
Ok Gerry Kelly man who served time for a bombing campaign Lenny Murphy who killed innocent Catholics is that good enough for you?
Again, your pointing out people Neill. Define terrorism, the actual act.
Btw, by your own logic then the British Army are terrorists, they have gone on many, MANY bombing campaigns throughout their history and have murdered many innocent Catholics and colluded in many more with Loyalist paramilitaries.
Still going to wear that poppy Neill?….
Would you include those who drop bombs on built up areas from the sky, Neill? Or even soldiers who go on the rampage on the streets?
Or does your ‘holier than thou’ approach not include these people?
You frequently speak out on this blog about prejudice without a hint of irony or even awareness.
You may notice, however, that this rarely riles posters here as we are used to it – it’s the default Unionist position.
Neill, Jude questioned your ‘logic’ yesterday, today I’m afraid it is my turn. I was referencing institutions, not individuals, institutions do not change easily, the BBC in May 1981 told us 1000, yes, 1000 people attended the funeral of the Deputy for Fermanagh South Tyrone, unfortunately for these liars, many other media were present and my cousin in Ohio heard 100,000 were in attendance, equally this number was reported on RTE so, not ‘tripe’ just opinion, as for Martin McGuinness, I shall not comment on him.
those supporters of the occupied soccer team have changed not a jot in thirty years, they would still throw one off the bridge in Tate’s Ave.
You said it do you stand over it?
If so do you believe I would throw you over the bridge on Tates Avenue?
Not if Mark is big, I should think…
Good morning Jude
I do realise my contributions to your blogs have been very frugal of late and for that I apologise but I thought I would comment on this one.
I just wanted to confirm your suspicions that you are indeed prejudiced!!
Firstly, on the NI Football team thing, you said that half the population weren’t behind the team. Well maybe not those who Republicans who hate all things vaguely British but I know many true “sports fans” of a Nationalist persuasion were delighted about NI qualifying for the Euros. Just in the same way that I and many Unionist “sports fans” thought it was absolutely fantastic that the Republic of Ireland qualified for the same competition even though I am not particularly into football. It was a huge achievement for both teams and if you can’t celebrate that on sporting merit alone, then I’m afraid that there is no doubt that you are prejudiced.
As for Gaelic games and its lack of coverage thereof, I would take your point if this was “BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year” but it’s not. Like it or not, this is “BBC UK Sports Personality of the Year” – a national event. And whilst the numbers playing Gaelic Games may be high in NI as a percentage of the sport playing public, in the UK as a whole, it is a tiny fraction of the sport played. Perhaps if the GAA reached out and tried to be more of an inclusive sporting organisation than a cultural and political one also, that may change in the future but for now, Gaelic Games are primarily played by Catholic Nationalists and you have to ask yourself why that is the case?
When in any other year have Gaelic Games been mentioned when the show was broadcast from, say, London? And I don’t remember any VT footage of the Scottish Shinty Team when it was being broadcast from Glasgow. Why should it be any different just because it’s being beamed live from Belfast.
So again Jude, I’m afraid to say that, as usual, you were looking at last night’s big bash with your Green, White and Orange spectacles on and you know what? – not everything’s about that.
My main concern, was that Andy Murray ( a man clearly with no personality) won!
And yours should be too.
Nollaig shona dhuit!
I didn’t know it was BBC UK Sports Personality, George. And I don’t think I’d compare the popularity of Shinty with that for GAA games…
God I love Google Jude
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/34627945
Dear God, George – I keep seeing stuff in your post that lure me back in, and me should be in my sick-bed….I’m glad the NI team made to the finals. That doesn’t mean I’m completely behind them. Ditto for the very many people in the north who chose to support RoI. As to the GAA reaching out more – are you sure you’re not confusing it with the Orange Order?
I feel bad arguing with a sick man but you make my point for me Jude. As far as I know, the Orange Order don’t play sport (if you exclude marching) and therefore wouldn’t expect to be included. And it is “UK” Sports Personality of the Year because they actually have an International Sports Personality of the Year award within the show – maybe the GAA could enter that.
I feel you’re not on the best of form and your arguments are slightly muddled. Away you go back to bed with a box of Kleenex and a Lemsip. 🙂
Very droll, George. I have heaved myself from my death-bed for a minute or two to read your latest sculpted prose. Regarding the OO, my comparison was not sporting, it was an example of an organisation frequently compared to the GAA (for some reason). That’s the OO that, in its origins, history and ordinances is steeped in anti-Catholicism (although some of them may be sportsmen too). I really hadn’t noticed the UK thing – in fact when I google I can’t find a single reference to UK. Odd. As to the GAA entering the International Sports Personality of the Year award – I didn’t know you had to enter these things – I thought you were picked. And aren’t there an awful lot of GAA players in this open-minded little corner of our island? Who are repeatedly reminded that they’re part of the UK? I think that’d disqualify them. A bit like having gone to the wrong school in the dear dead days (let’s hope) beyond recall…My God, I feel cured. Are you aware of your faith-healing-online abilities??? (Can’t stand those wee smiley buggers)
Yes, a bit like Mrs Doyle falling down the stairs with her bad back in Father Ted – “I’m cured” says she, when she gets to the bottom.
Now don’t you go confusing me with some apologist for the Orange Order Jude – I have no time for bigots or the intolerant, whatever side they hail from. I just didn’t see their relevance to last night’s show.
Isn’t it interesting though that whatever subject you write about it, we can always find some tenuous link back to our divided society. That’s sad – I think we need a smiley bugger to cheer us up. 🙂 ( Emojis they’re called)
This exposes you, and me, to the same prejudice Jude. It started a while ago when I was just awakening my political flame and could see the former Northern Ireland Events Company using public funds to showcase that NI was this fantastic wee place to live. And just look at how that ended up with accusations of the misuse of millions of pounds of our money. The same continues today with flagship events being brought to the North at huge expense. Now I know this type of thing goes on everywhere and yes, Yorkshire spent millions bringing the Grand Depart stages of the Tour de France a number of years ago and could be why London pulled the plug a few weeks ago on the same event, but there are genuine economic returns from hosting these events, albeit in the form of internet analytics and internet exposure that would otherwise have to be paid for in advertising costs, but it rankles with me that this use of public money is used to showcase how marvellous it is to live here.
(And to expand Neill’s understanding of the GAA, I played handball in my youth as well)
A refusal to be manipulated by the media is not prejudice. We know turkeys do not vote for Christmas as animals have no concept of festivals or new years. Flashing lights and ticker tape simply illuminate the fog of consumerism.
In the midst of excess, why think about the privileged minority and poor people? We are being bombarded with advertisements about designer gifts and a culture of “buy one get one free” while others are being bombed out of their homes.
In the cold light of day, the country remains divided, parts of it remain flooded, many will spend this Christmas far from home or without a roof over their heads and bankers do not have to worry about Special Criminal Courts. Many voters in Spain, however, have given a thumbs down to right wing austerity policies. Time will tell if voters in Ireland have been dazzled by the bright lights of consumerism.
A telling post, Iolar. Maith thú…
Well, Jude , I watched instead a programme about the making of Spain and how the Christians and the Muslims slaughtered each other and had a lovely time figuring out novel ways of killing and torturing each other and chasing out as many Jews as they could find who refused to convert…. in its making…followed by a re-run of a thing about Nat King Cole, his vocalising, great jazz piano-pumping and how whitey hated the fact that he was a perfect gentleman and refused to air his show below the Mason Dixon line and instead dressed up in bedsheets and burnt lovely crucifixes and used weedkiller to burn “nigger” on his lovely lawn and scare the bejasus out of his family. I followed this with a programme about the great Nina Simone…bonkers as a brush but a wonderful artist and campaigner for Civil Rights during the sixties…followed again by a programme about the making of Bruce Springsteen’s…{…hero of the working man…}… album “The River”….
Who won the “personality” thing again and who is he ? I have no idea what he might have won it for at all …at all.
Sorry, PK – I didn’t stay until the end. That must have been the part where they referenced the GAA (twice, according to neill). I must say if I’d had the wit to scan the alternatives I’d have had a happier evening. Although I did get ‘Ireland’s Rising’ featuring the great Fiona Shaw, a fine figure of a Cork woman. Mind you, not once did they mention partition or the existence of us lot up here. In fact, they refer you to a website that’ll ‘tell you what was happening in YOUR county in 1916’. So I tried. You can probably guess the rest…
Watched the Nat King Cole and Nina Simone programmes. Brilliant fusion of fuges and jazz. Equally brilliant was the manner in which Nat dealt with the issue of “undesirables” in the neighbourhood.
Tá brón orm, that should read, fugues and jazz.
Jude, I agree Michael O’Neill is a good coach but as a lifelong soccer/football fan myself (especially when it comes to the FIFA World Cup and International tournaments) it could be argued that Northern Ireland simply qualified for Euro 2016 simply because they were in an easy group, they had no real tough opposition. That’s not an opinion, that’s a fact. Its the same with England, who maybe had the easiest group there was and obviously topped their Group the same way NI did.
Now, if Northern Ireland or England had the Republic’s group: Germany (World Champions), Poland (a very, very tough team), Scotland (a tough team to beat when they are determined), Georgia (easy enough to beat) and Gibraltar (a walk in the park) then it would’ve been a very different story.
Northern Ireland has drew Poland and Germany in their group games in the Euros itself so you will see what I mean. That’s when the true abilities of Michael O’Neill as a coach will be displayed. The same goes for Martin O’Neill too, btw but getting the Republic through that tough group, beating and drawing with Germany, drawing and losing 1 against Poland, drawing with and then beating Bosnia in the play off’s (Bosnia’s a good team) shows Martin O’Neill has great ability as Ireland coach.
As for “everyone being behind the Northern Ireland team”, that’s a ridiculous and false statement and Michael O’Neill knows it. In fact the latest poll (done by the Belfast Telegraph, I believe) showed that a majority here favoured an All Ireland team, the same way Rugby is run, I’m assuming. Its interesting to note that nearly 50% of Protestants favour an All- Ireland football team too.
Whatever happens in the Euro’s i wish the Northern Ireland team well but my support will be firmly behind my team, the Republic of Ireland.
You don’t, Esteemed Blogmseister, have to go to Beal to find a certain predge against the GAA; down here in Baile the monopoly media have also taken the same predge.
(That would be, respectively, Beal Feirste and Baile Atha Cliath).
Not only have the Baile boyos taken the predge but they could be classified as true Pioneers in the dark art of dissing the National Sports by a National Broadcasting Station. That would be RTE (and their under-the-counterparts in the private DOBlin media).
On Saturday night, at the RTE annual sports bash, the team of the year award went to (gasp) the Dundalk soccer team. A team which probably attracted an aggregate crowd during their entire league season slightly more than that which attended the League Final which the all-conquering Dublin Gaelic Football team won.
An anomaly? Not particularly so. The decision having been hatched in the RTE canteen (where all the best omelettes a la gom are served) to throw this particular award open to the (gasp) public. This gave the tiny but perfectly organized supporters club of the Airtricity League of Eireland the greenlight go ahead to get cracking on the old phoney phone in route. 23/7 they were at it. (Even distortionists need sleep).
All rather reminiscent of the antidepressive Showband era when spiv Managers used to tour the record shops and fill the boot of their Morris Oxford / Austin Cambridge cars with box loads of their band’s latest record. Which would be duly warehoused in the managerial domestic garage while the record in q. shot to the top of the hit parade.
The, say, Shawnee Showband just managing to pip the, say, Pawnee Showband into second place with a cover version of, say, the Wigwam Wiggle.
The same stress-tested modus operandi again worked admirably well last Saturday night in the case of Dundalk soccer club. ABU ! is a term used on the Mainland to do with either Merchandise Utd or Mercenary Utd; in the Free Southern Stateen it’s spiv equiv is: ABB Abu !
Leading to a clinking of fluted champagne glasses in the RTE canteen today, to the same toast:
-ABB Abu !
(ABB = Anything But Bogball).
Not to be outdone, Newstalk fm showed themselves to be fine and dandy with the same modus operandi.
On its flagship sports programme the laddish and faddish Off the Ball they featured the unsavoury aspects of the sporting year. To the fore was the playing down of a certain schemozzle by Jim Gavin, the low key bainisteoir of the high-flying Dublin Gaelic Football team. This was a schemozzle which took place in (gasp) a challenge game between the Dubs and the Ardvaarks and which was held (gulp ) behind closed gates.
Nobody dyed their hair.
What did not get featured on the same Look Back / Feachaint Siar in this fake outrage prog presented by predge-taking sledgers was an item of a far more sinister import. That was the item raised in the annual report of the secretary of the Dublin GAA Board, John Costello, about the shameful and shameless rejection of the same board’s above the odds bid for the on the market Spawell Leisure Centre.
Its ambition concerned a vacuum which has been ullagowning to be filled for yonks and which the sporting nature of things abhors: a 25,000 stadium for Dublin GAA. Currently the best football team (in any of the three codes) on the island of Ireland has no choice but to play their games in either Croke Park (80,000) or Parnell Park (10,000).
Instead the one-man band of Namaland opted to toot his flute in favour of a faceless and foreign cabal of locale speculators. Resulting in the flautist raiding his fluted glass of champagne and proposing the following toast:
-ABB Abu !
As this is the shortest day in the year, one will cease, as of now, almost. Except to say that there were disappointed visitors to Bru na Boinne / Newgrange this morning as the sun did not show. The crowd both arrived and left under a cloud.
The Sun (Irish edition) however did rise and was on a sale as normal in the newsstands of the Free Southern Stateen. The Sun, the newspaper du jour of the Shoneens. (see above).
You qualified through the back door in fact if the tournament hadn’t been extended you wouldn’t have gone full stop.
Guess what you have to beat who you play against something we did which meant we finished top of the group.
I for one will be fully behind Northern Ireland and as for Southern Ireland well I don’t wish them any bad luck at all.
God loves a generous giver, neill – maith thú…
Neill, remind us when the last time the Northern Ireland team qualified for a tournament? Yes, 30 years ago. You cant avoid the fact the NI team had a very easy group, a group which didn’t put them under any pressure and I’m 99% sure if the NI team have had tougher opposition they would’ve gone out of the qualifiers very early on. That’s not me being a bitter lemon like you come across Neill, that’s a very fair opinion. Coming top of a very easy group isn’t something to be proud of Neill, again I think all this is going to your head. When the Republic beat World Champions Germany and drew with them, me and most other Irish supporters didn’t let that go to our heads, simple reality is we should’ve played better because we can improve and I’m sure the likes of Roy Keane thought exactly the same.
We might have “qualified through the back door” Neill but we weren’t facing the likes of the Faroe Islands or Finland in order to do that, we beat Bosnia which are a great team and have great players, that’s not including the victories and draws we had against Germany, Poland, Georgia, etc.
“and as for Southern Ireland well I don’t wish them any bad luck at all.”
Yes, your comments over the past few weeks clearly reflect that Neill…
You qualified through the back door we won the group you only had one victory against the three top teams hardly impressive.
We on the other hand were only beaten once
As for being a bitter lemon you are so much worse than that!
“You qualified through the back door we won the group you only had one victory against the three top teams hardly impressive.
We on the other hand were only beaten once
As for being a bitter lemon you are so much worse than that!”
Kids, None of us did anything, the players in both teams did themselves proud, regardless the politics of division we all have to endure.
Let them enjoy it, it will be tough enough as it is.
“You qualified through the back door we won the group you only had one victory against the three top teams hardly impressive”
Which top teams did the Northern Ireland team beat Neill? Hmmmm, none? Last time I looked the Republic beat Bosnia too. Drawing with the likes of Poland and Germany alone is a decent achievement. I cant even remember the last time the NI team beat a top side. I can only remember one particular victory and that was against England in the qualifiers for (I think) the 2006 World Cup which was 10 years ago….(and England can hardly be described as a “top team”). Indeed the last time Northern Ireland and the Republic played each other it ended 5 or 6 nil to the Republic….
“We on the other hand were only beaten once”
I know that Neill and I will be honest with you that isn’t something to be proud of or impressive either, considering who was in your group. Who beat NI, I forget? Romania? the Faroe Islands? or was it the Greek team that was in disarray and didn’t have a manager for months?……
“As for being a bitter lemon you are so much worse than that!”
Am I? You’ll have to point out instances where I am being a bitter lemon or worse. I mean, its not as if I’m on here begrudging another team for qualifying for a football tournament or letting easy football game victories go to my head….
The achievements of the six county team and the free state team in qualifying for the euros should be tempered by the fact that the tournament was dumbed down in an effort to make it easier for more teams to qualify in the obvious attempt to spread the interest and thus make more money for UEFA. If the normal set up had been in existence then I would guess both teams would not have qualified. There’s more teams going to the euros next year than are not going lol. It’s rumoured Hulk hogan will be presenting the winning trophy.
A George, a chara,
Just to be very clear, I consider myself a true “sports fan” of a Nationalist persuasion I couldn’t give a toss about NI qualifying for the Euros.
A Jude, a chara,
I couldn’t agree more with your piece today. However, to me, the BBC (and some of their presenters last night) have been exposed in regard to their dumbwittery – speaking about ‘this wee country of NI’ (its not a country) and constant references to this wee nation (its not a nation). Then, when referring to the Irish rugby team they referenced players playing for their (wait for it) COUNTRY!!!! Which is it to be BBC???
Ah I seen you have signed up to the Fresh Start then Gearoid?
The act of parliament which partitioned the country, created the 6 county entity which it referred to as a polity.
Our wee polity doesn’t have the same ring to it though.
My ‘wee country’ is Ireland, all 32 counties of it, to which we have an inalienable right to and one which cannot be taken away by any state on this ‘wee planet’.
The implications of your aside about Andy Murray and personality, surprise me Jude; coming as they do from a man of learning with letters to prove it. As a teacher and mentor to the profession , you will have studied aspects of human behaviour and personality, emotional intelligence and expression.
Personality refers to individual differences in characteristics of thinking feeling and behaving. I would guess that Andy Murray conforms to the norm in most adolescents. His family live not too far from here. I do not know him personally but those who do say that he is witty and refreshing company in private. He is a sportsman who shuns the celebrity life and further , he is a Scot who indicated support for Scottish independence. The Daily Mail et al have created a stereotype of a dour Scot and it has stuck with the uncritical. That’s not where I should have expected to discover Jude Collins.
You’re spending too much time in the studios and mixing with bad company!
Well you’re right about the bad company – my God, have you looked at some of the people commenting here?? As to Andy and personality – I can only go on what I see, and he does come across as humourless and a mite dour. But I take your point: there can be and is a big difference between how people come across on telly and how they are in private life. But since the audience were voting in terms of what they saw of personality on telly, I’m presuming, it does seem a bit odd to give it to Andy. He’s not an adolescent, by the way. Pace your definition of personality, I kinda doubt it was what most punters had in mind when they voted. In any case, is it personality that we like or just personality? Under that heading, I’d say the inimitable Tyson Fury should have walked away with the prize: he has personality in spades but you might think of him as far from your favourite person. Time magazine gives its Person (Once Man) of the Year award to the person who’s made most impact on the world, for better or worse. If the Sports Personality used that criterion, again I’d say T Fury Esq would have walked it.
You can’t blame ‘house negroes’ like Michael oneill and of course the BBC for playing the old letsgetalongerist game. After all I was left confused when I spotted Sean cavanagh and a few other GAA celebs amongst the audience as well lol. Added to that I read in the Vatican times Martin mcguinness joined the Tyson fury protestors outside for a while before entering the arena. This master plan of appeasing unionists into a United ireland is going spiffingly don’t ya think?
“House negroes” even by your lamentable standards that is poor. Shall we take it that Jude accepts that comment as he has allowed it to be posted?
Yep, you may Neill. One of my favourite novels is Huckleberry Finn. As I’m sure you know, a central character in it is a man referred to as ‘Nigger Jim’. Even when I was teaching it back in the 1970s, there were idiots who were all for correcting Mark Twain’s unfortunate terminology. “House negroes” has a similar history and what it describes is obvious. Or would you prefer something more sanitized (see today’s blog)
I shall remember this for future use Jude.
Oh dear. Is that a…threat, neill?
Great.read.Jude.
God.You’re. Smart. Jim.
Not if Mark is big, I should think…
Perhaps I am bigger and stronger than Mark?
Yes, I know – that’s why I said ‘if’; I like to think of you as 6′ 2″, broad-shouldered, blond, with a winning smile…Am I warm?
Very close.
Would you include those who drop bombs on built up areas from the sky, Neill? Or even soldiers who go on the rampage on the streets?
In war there is nothing wrong with bombing. However if soldiers went on the rampage here they should be charged and convicted.
Or does your ‘holier than thou’ approach not include these people?
I would most certainly include these people
You frequently speak out on this blog about prejudice without a hint of irony or even awareness.
I am fully aware that I am prejudiced to a degree as frankly are most people here are, can the other contributors accept they are as well?
You may notice, however, that this rarely riles posters here as we are used to it – it’s the default Unionist position.
That’s just silly talk I could equally say that during the trouble most Catholics supported the armed struggle.
“In war there is nothing wrong with bombing….”
Interesting.
“…if soldiers went on the rampage here they should be charged and convicted.”
They did. They weren’t. In fact, they were defended and are still cosseted.
“I am fully aware that I am prejudiced to a degree as frankly are most people here are, can the other contributors accept they are as well?”
Everyone has a bias. Yet it is generally the only argument you fling at people here. Glad to know you are really no different from the rest of us.
“That’s just silly talk I could equally say that during the trouble most Catholics supported the armed struggle.”
No you can’t, Neill because that is untrue. However, most Unionists decry Republican actions, the odd time mention extreme Unionist violence and seldom even recognise British violence, let alone condemn it.
We have heard it all so many times. Shouting ‘your Ma’s washing is dirtier than my Ma’s washing’ all the time is gonna get us nowhere.
Again, your pointing out people Neill. Define terrorism, the actual act.
Btw, by your own logic then the British Army are terrorists, they have gone on many, MANY bombing campaigns throughout their history and have murdered many innocent Catholics and colluded in many more with Loyalist paramilitaries.
Still going to wear that poppy Neill?….
Yep in exactly the same way that you will always try to defend the IRA and say their campaign was a just one.