Recently a film called ‘66 Days’ has been released. It is about Bobby Sands hunger strike in 1981 which is 35 years ago. I have not seen the film but I noticed in the Newsletter the other day an article saying that a group of Protestant victims of the Troubles led by Kenny Donaldson met in Enniskillen to watch their own film about the Protestant victims of IRA violence. Their purpose was to counter the publicity being given to the Bobby Sands film. Such pettiness! Such a sectarian mindset!
We live in a sectarian state. Unionism has always thrived on sectarianism –another form of racism. They have always used their differences with Catholicism to garner support for the Union. Their power has been greatly reduced with the GFA but they still beat the Orange drum over the summer months. They still believe that there is a hierarchy of victims, that their victims are somehow more important and more worthy of remembering that the victims of the British, the RUC and UDR and loyalists like Billy Wright!
At intervals in our history the loyalists resort to killing Catholics and when they are not actually killing Catholics they are keeping the hatred of Catholics alive with bonfires and sectarian marches past Catholic churches, flag waving etc.
This must be stopped. Unfortunately, unionists do not have a leader who is strong enough and courageous enough to say ‘enough is enough’. I believe many ordinary unionists are disgusted with the anti- Catholicism that prevails within the ranks of Unionism and Orangeism.
Patrick Shanaghan, who was killed 25 years ago yesterday on 12 August 1991, was yet another victim of their hatred, of their anti- Catholic culture which pervaded the society and the RUC at that time. It may not be as all pervasive now but it is still there. This anti-Catholic bigotry must be dealt with if we are to have any future.
It was interesting to hear the number of people making negative comments about the film who went on to say a. they had not seen the film and b. they did not intend to watch the film. A good film, like good theatre, should raise questions, not answer them.
“IIt was interesting to hear the number of people making negative comments about the film who went on to say a. they had not seen the film and b. they did not intend to watch the film. A good film, like good theatre, should raise questions, not answer them.”
What questions does this film raise?
“This anti-Catholic bigotry must be dealt with if we are to have any future.”
All bigotry from all quarters must be dealt with, including any remaining republican bonfires and flag burning, including southern Ireland insulting the Irish citizens in the north by calling us brits and insulting our rights as Irish citizens. It all has to be confronted
What do you expect, jessica, when your try to steal their Taoiseach?
I expect the same respect to be afforded to every Irish citizen wherever they are on this planet.
I expect those in Ireland who achieved their independence from English rule to show respect to the Irish who didn’t, who were abandoned to unionist hegemony and treated like second class citizens in our own country for generations.
I expect not to receive the same treatment from my fellow countrymen and women now that the demographics suggest the end of unionist rule is not far away.
and I certainly don’t expect puerile remarks or the infantile behaviour you are displaying fiosrach
Like the respect you show the non Sinn Féin and anti GFA republicans,jessica?
“Like the respect you show the non Sinn Féin and anti GFA republicans,jessica?”
Says someone who cannot even respect the position of Taoiseach.
But it would help if you were clearer who you are referring to fiosrach.
If you mean the half wits claiming to be the IRA that are currently shooting people in our communities, drug dealing and engaging in criminality all over Ireland, then absolutely not. Why should I or any of us for that matter?
They have been tolerated long enough and it is time our community was free of them.
If you mean people who did not agree with the GFA and don’t always agree with Sinn Fein then I would fit that criteria myself.
If you mean people who have a grudge against Sinn Fein but have no alternative options and are obviously incapable of getting their message out there but are against a return to violence, then I can at least respect them for that much.
Whoever it is you are referring to, would they have the same respect for me I wonder?
Patrick Shanaghan, who was killed 25 years ago yesterday on 12 August 1991, was yet another victim of their hatred, of their anti- Catholic culture which pervaded the society and the RUC at that time. It may not be as all pervasive now but it is still there. This anti-Catholic bigotry must be dealt with if we are to have any future.
He was killed because he was a terrorist society is no poorer for his death.
But isnt it telling Joe McVeigh uses a dead terrorist to have a go at at Unionists so called sectarianism i found that amusing and sums up Joe Mc Veigh very clearly.
“He was killed because he was a terrorist society is no poorer for his death.”
The true face of unionism in all its glory.
No it says i dislike terrorists.
That’s rich since unionism has always resorted to violence and terror to impose its political aims.
Until the sectarian antics of the loyal orders are recognised as sectarianism rather than a harmless, if somewhat boisterous, aspect of Protestant ‘culture’, they will continue as usual.
Meanwhile, nationalists/republicans should be free to invoke whichever aspects of our native culture are most offensive to our loyal neighbours, if only to make the point that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
And of course, we should be generously funded to engage in cultural sectarianism since the other side is substantially funded for their hatefests.
Father Joe
Is it not a bit patronising of you to dismiss as sectarian the right of Protestant victims of the I R A in Fermanagh to watch their own film?Since I understand that you are resident in Enniskillen ,have you ever tried to engage with groups such as these?They might well feel that atrocities such as the Enniskillen Poppy Day bombing by the I R A did little to advance the Republican cause which you so clearly espouse.Maybe you could enlighten us whether there is good dialogue between the churches in Enniskillen and if so,what part you play in it.