So our First Minister has been changed, changed utterly. When Enda Kenny invited her down for an all-Ireland – oops, all-island discuss of Brexit, Arlene did her frosty reception thing as only she can, and told him she wouldn’t be there. Shortly after, of course, she found a way to go into a huddle with interested parties north and south. Now it seems, the British and the southern government couldn’t be working more closely if they were Siamese twins. Now she’s speaking of the “special relationship” between the UK and the south of Ireland and how this will be made clear “by them working very closely together”.
She’s talking, of course, about how the border should not become an impediment to trade north and south. Both states, she indicates, will be working to share the load of changed circumstances as closely as possible.
Sounds good, eh? Brexit is a toxic mess and we have to use whatever resources necessary to, if not clean it up, at least make it sufficiently hygienic that we can all go on breathing. The question of “Who pays?” has virtually been answered by our First Minister. Both states will pay.
But whoaaa there, Dobbin. Supposing your next door neighbour decides to give up on using his wheelie bin and lets his left-overs, his recently-deceased dog, old bits of rotting fruit and Christmas cake from last year – in short, all his waste – let all that stink pile up beside the fence separating you. Most nights you can even hear the rats squeaking as they rummage through the heap. And then your neighbour appears at your door and says “Ah, neighbour, I see we have a waste problem here. Obviously it’s going to affect you and me. So what I’m planning is, we’ll split the cost of getting a clean-up – dumper truck, rat-catcher, etc – and we’ll also share the cost of keeping the pile from growing too high in the future. OK?” I’d venture to say you might tell him to go and take a dive down his own toilet. He created this disgusting situation: the fact that it’s affecting you as well as him doesn’t take away from the fact that he is to blame for its existence and he should be the one to clear up and control the stink in the future.
But it seems it’s not going to be like that, according to Arlene. Enda and his government will show what good neighbours they are by forking out public money so the polluter can have help in clearing up. Nice. So here’s the thing: when did that little rule that the polluter pays evaporate? The UK created the Brexit mess. Why should the south of Ireland help pay for some sort of clean-up? Granted, Enda Kenny isn’t the brightest light on the Christmas tree, but surely even he can see through this dodgy move.
I’m glad that you are seeing the black comedy in it all too, Jude. When we look back in years to come , some scratching their heads and asking who this David Cameron person was exactly….and what was it he did to create this Brexit thing ,……all of us trying to figure out just how the British government walked into this shit-storm with a blindfold on. Surely life was already complicated enough….? In about four weeks the year will all be over and the pundits will poke through the ashes and the cartoonists will have their say.We all already know what they will say :” How did these idiots get us into this awful expensive mess?!!!”
2016 will go down as the year when people realised just how vulnerable their idea of a stable ,civilised life and the whole idea of “civilisation” actually was. It will be remembered as the year when all ideas of surety and certainty crumbled. They’ll know that everything is built on shifting sand and that you don’t even need a war to screw up people’s lives and their idea of themselves. The first signs at the beginning of the year, as though to soften up the general hoi polloi to accept anything, was the sudden death of the iconic popular stars such as David Bowie ..after that they fell, one at a time, week by week ….all those figures of popular culture and on which popular culture was built, were really only mortals after all…. they were dying hand over fist .It was that kind of year.
Then there was the gradual resurgence of fascism across the world. They started calling fascism something else of course .the truth of it was a too- bitter a pill to swallow ..They called it “alt-right” or some such nonsense , but there it was across the world , popping up like mushrooms in Britain , America , France …. the fascists had been let out of the cupboard they’d been stuffed into ever since the end of World War Two.Here they were again ,seventy -odd years later, openly fulminating about the “other” and the “immigrant”, inventing a unifying enemy and making their “Seig heil “salutes. In the middle of it all ,some nutjob wound himself up to kill a Member of Parliament in public view , but he was only the very mad tip of a noxious movement.The people voted for Brexit and then discovered that they didn’t actually know what that might mean at all ,or even how much it would cost them. Our own First Minister voted for Brexit , while the majority of us didn’t, but she hadn’t a single clue what it might mean either.Had she known that it would start the process of dismembering the United Kingdom ,she might have thought otherwise. The fact is , she hadn’t a clue and put on her blindfold and followed the far right Conservatives .That’s the kind of leader she is.There doesn’t appear to be an original thought in her head. Now we have the very obvious notion that Scotland might vote for independence sometime soon and vote to remain within the EU. In the south of Ireland they have no notion of leaving ,because they have done very well by it, as we have ,also .
” When we look back in years to come , some scratching their heads and asking who this David Cameron person was exactly”
Paddy, that’s if the UK even exists in years to come. Personally I think the division is far too deep North and South of the UK for that gulf to be filled. The prospect of another Scottish Independence referendum (which looks very likely), the demands of the English for more powers for their councils and the major changes going to occur here in the North, its hard to see how the UK could survive. It will at the very least be a loose Federation, becoming more and more the “Not so United Kingdom”. That’s not factoring in the effects of Brexit, which will be bad. It will certainly be terrible if the UK doesn’t get access to the EU Single Market, that requires the UK giving up what it voted Brexit for in the first place: Control of its Borders.
People often say: “History repeats itself”, when it comes to David Cameron it really does. His ancestor, King George III, is remembered mainly for losing the American Colonies, aka the USA. There’s a very good chance his baby faced descendant could be remembered for starting the process (Brexit) of losing the UK itself….
Humanity has never needed wars to screw up peoples lives Harry. Many wars have indeed been the result of how nations have been screwing up peoples lives on mass scales.
Yes, far right parties or fascism as you call it has been gradually on the rise for 40 years. In fact, far right parties across Europe have factually been the fastest rising parties in many EU nations ever since the EU was formed. It pretty much started immediately and has gradually increased ever since and we are on the verge of many nations having the first far right heads of state since WW2.
It seems to me that in many ways were are reliving history. Perhaps we are seeing first hand how nut jobs such as Hitler got into power in the first place.
You say that Scotland might vote for independence sometime soon and vote to remain within the EU.
First of all, the EU doesn’t negotiate, so that wont even be possible. Nations who caused two world wars and the slaughter of millions of young people, did not do so because they were reasonable. Would Scotland vote for independence from England outside of the EU? I would hope they would bit fear they have already bottled that one.
As for the south of Ireland having no notion of leaving, because they have done very well by it,
I sometimes feel I am living in a parallel Ireland.
A housing crisis, collapsing health services, the number of people in debt up to their eyes higher than ever before, negative equity and unsustainable debt on the rise once again and still ruining many lives, public services demanding more and more money stretching it ever further ahead of the working class majority who fund their by comparison lucrative wages.
If the majority of the people of Ireland had a voice, I doubt very much that it would be singing any praises of the EU.
I would be very surprised if Ireland did not have more than a notion of leaving the EU bubbling beneath the surface and ignored just as the people were in all of these nations moving towards the far right parties who are prepared to listen.
It appears to me that a majority of people on this site are doing ok out of it and couldn’t give a monkeys about the most vulnerable who have been suffering the most from globalisation which is what the EU is driven by.
But that is probably just my racist and fascist side coming out again.
You summed it up nicely Jessica. Blinded by EU grants for roads and other various schemes some folk still refuse to see that the most vulnerable on this island are being ignored and even being told ‘tough luck’.
The ‘well read’ continue to label brexiteers as racist,ignorant etc. They still refuse to come out of their bubbles and listen. The so called rise of the right has as much to do with the vanishing of the left. The Tony Blairs of this world cornered that angle and basically did what any other right winger would’ve done. There’s a reason why a lot of folk don’t vote in general elections; they view all the parties as chancers and full of crap. Just there to fine dine and pat each other on the back in the great job they are doing keeping the unwashed obedient.
Even though some of the most vile,greedy,evil chancers eg Blair are rallying to to reverse the brexit result doesn’t seem to ring alarm bells with some. Why would this gangster be interested in the EU well being? What’s his agenda? Does anyone really think he has the interests of the European people at heart? Seriously?
The great and the good and so called educated will claim the EU is a great thing that will prevent future wars etc etc. I beg to differ. They started the Ukraine crisis by putting a gun to the head of the president of the Ukraine and told him if he wanted to establish deals with the EU then they had to scrap long established deals with Russia. Simple as that. Pure dictatorship and bullying. Also we have had France and other EU troops going to Mali under the auspices of tackling al shabab swaddywaddy or whatever they call these terrorists these days. Others suspect France just wants to preserve its colonial interests in Mali. Are former European colonialists going to use the EU to preserve their interests in former colonies? Don’t forget, the song and dance EU members are making about Alleppo is nothing to do with innocent civilians being killed etc but rather colonial interests. They simply want a colonial friendly in power in Syria.
In case people need reminded, the EU has exploited the chatter about brexit to push ahead with their agenda to create a EU army. Yes history will/could repeat itself were small nations will be duped into fighting for imperialism, albeit euopean(German/French/Italian) imperialism rather than British imperialism, which of course will be under the auspices of humanitarian reasons or some other concocted excuse to convince a gullible public.
And just for the record, I believe the EU is racist. They label the brexiteers as racist but they have been very quiet themselves in welcoming refugees into the EU. Refugees that they played a big part in creating. The free staters, cute hoors that they are, will say nice words etc concerning the refugee crisis but I suspect they calculate that if the EU decides to allow them in they will be highly unlikely to all rush to Ireland especially as this island is further away from them than the rest of the EU countries. If the free state was truly concerned about the wellbeing of refugees there is no reason why they can’t welcome thousands of them to their shores in the interests of humanity. As is often the case with the cute hoors they are probably hovering around Brussels for a few million euro EU grants to take in a couple of hundred refugees so they can pat themselves on the back in duping the unwashed yet again.
You are spot on about the cute hoors that have always run Ireland.
Unfortunately, they are letting so many people down.
I don’t know why so many intelligent people don’t see this WT.
It is all a con.
Ireland is one of the wealthiest nations in europe, so many millionaires they tell us, but the statistics are based on the ownership of huge mortgages often far exceeding the ability to repay, so many people driving around in huge cars in debt to their eyeballs. Aren’t we so lucky, hasn’t the EU been so good to us?
How else could we afford to allow our people to get so far into debt?
The EU rubbing its hands, don’t worry about it lads, sure borrowing is as cheap as chips – it will all be grand in the end.
No need to invest in your own infrastructure, just give us your money and we will build the roads for you, once we own them, then we will toll them and make money from them while you keep paying in for all the benefits of cheap borrowing, that’s right, keep the choke chain tightening, once your in you will never be allowed to leave, look at all the money you owe us now. Do you think you can just walk away or something?
Now, just in case, lets all build a great big army which we will use to make sure you all remain compliant. Not only will it keep you all in check, but you have all been so compliant to far, we are going to let you pay for it all as well. That’s right. But sure borrowing is cheap. We know whets best.
Let me just take that spine from you, you wont need it where we are going. And don’t forget to keep those EU goggles on at all times.
Housing crisis, what housing crisis, sure that has nothing to do with the low cost borrowing driven by those nice people in the EU who have only our best interests at heart, bless their cotton socks.
If people cant afford to live in homes in Dublin, simple, there are 31 other counties in Ireland that they can move to, now what’s the problem?
Dublin is the capital after all. You don’t want homeless people about the place making it look all untidy now do you?
Since the reason to leave was mainly money paid into EU, it’s hardly surprising the Brits don’t want to pay for any mess they are creating. Money is the Brits great God
nice try at shifting the blame on why brexit happened.the majority voted on the immigration open door policy created by blair,corbyn,merkle and their lefty followers.like your neighbour getting the rubbish dumped on his doorstep the people noticed the build up of beards and burkas on their doorsteps and voted accordingly to have the problem removed.simple as.
“beards and burkas “, billy? …on their doorsteps?…and how is Brexit going to remove a person’s faith or culture, eh?There’ll still be “beards and burkas” , billy .we’ll just have to pay a bit more for the pleasure the way things are looking.
and how is brexit going to remove a persons faith or culture eh….well as some of the suggestions on the new laws being brought in ;£500 on the spot fines for wearing a burka,(after all we cant wear balaclavas in banks ect)thats only one example,their loads of other suggestions on websites if you look.so no you wont have to pay a bit more for the pleasure,the savings in benefits housing schools ect ,means in fact you will pay less.
I don’t think you get it billy.Brexit will not change the facts that muslims will continue to live in our society, no more that it will stop people being Buddhists or Jains …or that there will be any real changes in immigration. There patently will not be if the free-movemnet of people continues and it’s looking like that part of Brexit was a bit of a red -herring anyway. The movement of people will still continue anyway .There might be laws about covering your face in banks (although it’ll hardly matter soon because most of us deal only with the machines in banks anyway or bank online , so nobody sees your face ) and my guess is that you will still be allowed to grow your beard anytime you want to, billy. .
Billy wants to live in a country where you can get fined depending on what you wear.
That sounds such a fun place.
Can’t see anything wrong with that, no siree.
“Can’t see anything wrong with that, no siree.”
Don’t agree with Billy’s tone Michael but he has a point. The Burka is hardly a normal piece of dress. If someone is allowed to wear a Burka, why not a Balaclava? There’s no logic in saying someone should be allowed to wear one but not the other. The Burka itself is not Islamic, no where in the Koran does it say a woman must wear a Burka. The Hijab is essential for a Muslim woman to wear, no one has any issue with that, given it just goes around the head, leaving the face open.
People wearing the Burka are hardly going to make friends with people of different traditions, cultures, etc which is essential for a healthy society. Would I feel comfortable speaking to a woman (or man….It’ll be hard to tell which gender the person is) if they are wearing a burka? Of course not. Its basically talking to a pair of eyes through a slit in the fabric. If everyone on this blog met up for a cup of tea and a chat and I turned up with a sheet over my body with a slit for eyes, would you feel comfortable?….
You cant just dismiss legitimate arguments for being “wrong” (what defines “Wrong”?) or anti-muslim. That is what led to Brexit and President Trump.
” If everyone on this blog met up for a cup of tea and a chat and I turned up with a sheet over my body with a slit for eyes, would you feel comfortable?….” I’d say Yes, since judging by the anonymity observed in the comments section on this site, everyone would be wearing a KKK-type sheet (hope I haven’t offended anyone there) with just two holes showing for eyes. Do a count and see how many people give their names with their (often caustic) comments. Sorry, Ryan – it’s near-hilarious that billy or anyone else should complain about Muslim non-identification…
” Sorry, Ryan – it’s near-hilarious that billy or anyone else should complain about Muslim non-identification”
Well I can only speak for myself Jude but Ryan is my real name. I think me and Billy agree but for very different reasons, judging by Billy’s tone.
There’s quite a difference between meeting people in person and chatting online. If that hypothetical meeting between contributors on this blog were to happen and one person did turn up in a Burka/sheet, would we all feel comfortable? I know I wouldn’t. From my point of view (maybe not Billy’s), their religion is irrelevant, its the fact they have their face covered. I believe when it comes to meeting people its simply normal to be expected to show your face. I find it incredible that I would even have to say that.
As I noted before, why should the Burka be tolerated but not the Balaclava? If I walked into Belfast City Centre today in a Balaclava I’d more likely be arrested.
Call me crazy Ryan but I don’t think the state should dictate what you can and can’t wear.
that sounds such a fun place…………..well michael a fines not to harsh when you compare it to ireland.turning up at a loved ones funeral wearing a beret can get you interned for a few years ime sure thats not much fun.
The UK has a population of over 60 million and last year had net immigration of 300,000
a mere 0.5 percent or 1 in 200.
The greatest numbers came from Romania, China and Poland.
The females among them rarely wear beards or burkas and only a small minority of the males do.
Though clean-shaven myself, I don’t find beards frightening. And some of my Norman ancestors Gaelicised their name to De Burca.
I recoil with horror from gentlemen attacking Burka-wearing ladies with Billy Clubs.
Billy Clubmen should be deported and sent to sea in a sieve.
One of Jude’s finest. In 500 years the British, English or whatever you wish to call them haven’t been good neighbors and they aren’t going to start now.
“One of Jude’s finest. In 500 years the British, English or whatever you wish to call them haven’t been good neighbors and they aren’t going to start now”
Just call them English, the term “British” is just another word for English, it makes it easier for the Scottish, Welsh and Unionists here to accept who’s the boss. Hence why the English language is dominant, the English Parliament (Westminster) is supreme over the Scottish, Welsh and Stormont assemblies and why English politicians have the final say in all political/economic matters. Even when it comes to Brexit the Scottish and Welsh have very little say. Its for “Mother England” to sort things out.
Even Ian Paisley Snr turned to Marty McGuinness in 2007 and said: “You know what Martin? We don’t need English Ministers coming over here and telling us what to do, we can rule ourselves”. Paisley finally got his eyes open…..took him long enough….
It was Churchill who said: “We always found the Irish to be quite odd, they don’t want to be English”. That quote, for me, says more about the Scottish, Welsh and the Unionists than the Irish…..
So, if I understand correctly, when the all-Ireland (we may as well call it what it is) project is aimed at money-making, culture-assimilating, invisible bordering, inter-governmentaling, tax-harmonising and cross border voting rights, it’s all OK. But when it comes to sharing in the cost…
Ryan
“Even Ian Paisley Snr turned to Marty McGuinness in 2007 and said: “You know what Martin? We don’t need English Ministers coming over here and telling us what to do, we can rule ourselves”. Paisley finally got his eyes open…..took him long enough….”
The DUP were always devolutionists. It’s one of the (myriad) reasons I haven’t, don’t and won’t (ever) vote for them. The hurdle the DUP got over was called ‘power-sharing’, once they were in a position to be the power-sharing partner. It really is that simple.
so if i understand correctly..no its an agreed and reconciled ireland now havent you heard.martin galvin has a letter in the irish news about it,he explains arlene organising the upcoming celebrations leading northern ireland into a new century of being.was just reading it there on the pensive quill,your power sharing point seems to right and fits in to his thoughts.
Let’s look at this thing cooly PF . Of course this mad Brexit project affects the people and the government of the republic, but they are happy within the EU.They haven’t had a referendum to IREXIT. It is only Arlene and a minority in the mad fantasyland of Norneverland, Ireland , where logic stands on its head, that voted for this nutso schemeShe has finally woken up to that tiny fact, probably originally believing , like Cameron did , that the buggers wouldn’t really be daft enough to vote us into this sticky tar-pit. She and her cohorts , through her own foolishnesss, created this madness. That is all jude is saying..Now , if those southernern households , happily living within the EU, were paying taxes into a united Irish tax system , within the EU, I could understand them paying , but they really have no responsibility to pay for Arlene’s mad scheme . She will not even admit her blunder. A majority of us knew already what it would mean , even if she didn’t and basically told her so. She was foolish enough to go against a lot of very wise voices , so why should anyone pay for her blunders? She especially made a point of stating that very thing very recently… that it was no business of anyone else anyway.She held back and refused to even discuss it until the recent meeting in Armagh. So why should EU members in the southern state be expected to pony- up? The answer is that it might be the pragmatic thing to do in the circumstances….lend a helping hand to a confused and addled neighbour….help them out in a jam and so on….but how do you sell that to the southern householder who still thinks he’s already been stiffed by the banks and is still fuming about NAMA.Remember we’re not united yet and Arlene is making no shape at even talking about shared responsibilities in that light.
I actually agree with you that the powers that be did not believe or expect that such a majority of people would have opted to leave the EU but were rather were using the threat that they would allow people to choose to, as a bargaining chip to get concessions over immigration and to extend the EU direction away from an EU super state and to bring other commonwealth and english speaking nations into the single market. The UK have been arguing this case for many years and have even produced official documents on alternative trade agreements with other parts of the world.
I really don’t give a fig any more but I do fear that if you don’t start basing your views inclusive of these facts, you are going to be expressing the same shock at how the Irish people could be so foolish to opt to leave the wonderful EU in the not so distant future.
Arlene is a total non entity in the brexit decision making process and was likely told as much from her HQ on the other island when the frost suddenly thawed with Enda.
In my view, Dublin should be paying towards all parts of Ireland north and south as it is has a responsibility for Irish citizens wherever they are in the world.
Would you be critical is the US used tax payers money on projects to help US citizens living overseas?
It would also entitle them to have more say in what goes on here, which I doubt would be objectionable to many nationalists though how Arlene will deal with that one I dont know. I don’t believe the DUP lack the intelligence to consider such things so my guess they have not been given any choice in the matter.
The UK will support Enda and Fine Gael in return, they are the last hope of preventing Sinn Fein getting into power in the south.
Roll on the collapse of the Fine Gael / Fianna Fail cloak and dagger coalition and the next round of propaganda politics and lets see where the pieces fall.
PK
“ln the mad fantasyland of Norneverland”
When you stop using the pejorative, “Norneverland”, I will continue conversation.
When I refer to Republicans, I use the word, “Republicans”; when I refer to Ireland, I use the word, “Ireland”; I use Nationalists for “nationalists, the Republic of Ireland for “the Republic of Ireland’, “Amhrán na bhFiann” for the National Anthem, and Sinn Fein for “Sinn Fein”.
It’s called respect.
Byeeee PF….with respect !
PF
Good luck with that.
I gave up some time ago on expecting any respectful debate here.
Pejorative comments abuse and misrepresentation are common.
I find it helps not to view it as serious debate but just a bit of entertainment.
I suspect a few others,including paddy see it the same way.
That’s about it gio. I know we are not going to change the world here, but a little stimulation and light entertainment and sometimes even humour and education are always welcome. If I regard this place(Norneverland, ….. not Jude’s platform!)) as an absurd province somewhere west of Lilliput and slightly east of Alice’s Wonderland , I;m still waiting for someone out there to prove me wrong.There is sometimes serious debate but by no means all the time.I wouldn’t know how other such sites might be run but I think overall Jude tries to run a tight ship.
Ah, PK, so it’s humour. I see.
Let them eat cake and have it – that kind of thing.
I doubt anyone will ever prove you wrong – the righteous are never wrong.
I thought it was funny 🙂
Gio
“I find it helps not to view it as serious debate but just a bit of entertainment.”
That’s a pity.
Unfortunately, PK’s response closed a door to communication; and that surprised me somewhat.
So, Jessica, if I decided to use one of those dismissive, stereotypical and pejorative terms we hear from time to time about ‘Catholics’, or ‘Republicans’, or ‘Ireland’, and its people, we could all have a good laugh at that too?
You mean like us being rogues and renegades that need a good unionist gatekeeper to keep an eye on the purse strings.
Or like unionists claiming to have to hold their noses to work with us?
Or perhaps a few public japes mocking the Irish language, is that the sort of thing you mean Peter?
Morning, Jessica.
I couldn’t possibly say. After all, I’m not the one saying.
I was just wondering if you thought mocking each other was a useful way to conduct affairs.
My suggestion is that we step away from that kind of language.
I can control what I say, you can control what you say and PK can control what he says. That would be a start.
Morning Peter
You are quite correct, it is not.
I guess the issue over partition is a highly emotive one and we are all obviously passionate about our own positions on it which result in difficulty accepting views opposing to our own which inevitably ends up in an argument.
I think MT has been rather successful in winding me up and manipulating my responses which I accept can get ugly.
I am trying to ignore him/her and not get drawn in.
I still don’t know what you want out of our conversations though.
I do think it would be helpful if you did a blog on a topic that interests you, and I promise to engage respectfully and honestly.
It would give a better insight of what is important to you Peter, and I would genuinely be interested.
If you have stuck us out this far, you must feel there is some sort of community here and that is worth exploring.
We are not going to get anywhere vilifying one another, that is for sure.
jessica
You mean like terms that PF has never used?
I never said he did.
Those are the words of the leadership of unionism, and it is much, much worse than an individual on a blog site making them.
If Peter wants to come on to an Irish interest blog site and declare he is a unionist, then he us going to have to accept that it is not what he has to say that unionism will be judged on, but what those elected to represent unionism.
If he is not comfortable that the leadership of unionism is adequately representing the nuance that he is more comfortable with, I can understand that. I would be just as embarrassed if our lot behaved so poorly.
But IF, that is the case and it is not simply duplicity, then he would be best positioned on a unionist blog site and trying to change the leadership of unionism that his nuance would be more becoming. We aren’t going to be able to do this for him. I for one don’t know what he wants from us.
It’s just that I really do find much absurdity around me PF and it seems that a lot of the inherent mad, dark humour of it all is passed over and missed altogether. I’m by no means po-faced about any of it. Think of it like scanning through “Private Eye” or reading “Catch -22″…that kind of thing. Life’s really too short sometimes. Take a look at the recent commentary by our local police on the state of “control” by criminals in Carrickfergus, for example …and scratch your head in wonder….where else on the planet would you get it?
jessica
I see.
Only republicans welcome on republican blogs and unionists should stick to unionist ones.
And yet so many posts here are about unionism over whom republican bloggers have no influence.
It would surely be more useful to debate what direction republican or nationalist parties should go rather than just slagging off the other lot.
Of course that would not be so much fun.
I have never considered this a republican blog gio.
When I first started here I thought it was an Irish interest blog, mostly people from all over the world, just keeping up with the thinking in the troubled part of Ireland.
It frustrated me how focussed it was on what was going on in britain and ignoring too much of what was going on in Ireland.
When I complained Jude challenged me if I didn’t like it, to write my own blog and he would post it, and he has kindly tolerated my ramblings ever since.
I am totally and absolutely against trying to persuade unionists of anything.
My views are as you well know, that until the elected representatives of unionism acknowledge the role they played in starting the conflict, and stop trying to make out that republicans created all of the trouble, then it is imperative that we do not allow narrow minded shit stirrers such as Pay Kenny and even yourself from allowing your biased views go unchallenged.
I have posted more suggestions on what direction I think republican or nationalist parties should go than you and indeed many others have.
Are you saying that I haven’t?
I even went as far as drawing up a potential road map for Irish unification when people were crying that there wasn’t one.
Most never even commented on it or had any interest including yourself if I recall.
Sinn Fein producing one before they are in control in Dublin would have about as much success.
Jessica
“I still don’t know what you want out of our conversations though.”
Why would you think I want anything out of our conversations.
They are conversations between individuals who represent no one in particular, that’s all. For my part, I find them interesting, and if I gain anything it is that I learn something about other people.
“I do think it would be helpful if you did a blog on a topic that interests you, and I promise to engage respectfully and honestly.”
I fail to see why this is important. I wouldn’t be saying anything of greater note than I am already saying.
“If Peter wants to come on to an Irish interest blog site and declare he is a unionist”
I hadn’t thought that “Irish interests” and Unionism were mutually exclusive.
“If Peter wants to come on to an Irish interest blog site and declare he is a unionist, then he us going to have to accept that it is not what he has to say that unionism will be judged on, but what those elected to represent unionism.”
If I’m going to say something about what I think and then be judged by what others say, then contributing is pointless.
“But IF, that is the case and it is not simply duplicity, then he would be best positioned on a unionist blog site and trying to change the leadership of unionism that his nuance would be more becoming.”
Why would it be my job to do anything remotely close to that. I’m not a politician and do not seek that responsibility. I merely say what I say as straightforwardly as I can, representing no one and no organisation other than myself.
You could do a blog outlining why you think Ireland should remain divided.
What are the benefits of division in your view?
What aspirations do you have for our children in a divided Ireland?
What options do you think will be available to them within the UK that would not be available in a united Ireland?
I for one would be delighted to read a blog of your views on these and as I say, they would be treated with respect as they could not be seen as an anti view of the blog topic you are commenting on, but an opportunity to get real feedback from people with a pro Irish viewpoint based on mutual respect of your unionist views.
I think you should at least give it a go – if for nothing else to at least prove whether or not we are capable of considering your unionist view point with respect.
You would have my interest and respect for doing so.
PK
“where else on the planet would you get it?”
Most places, I expect; we’re all human beings, and human beings do weird and strange things.
Jessica
We’ve discussed this before, I’m not for a divided Ireland.
Could there be a starker contrast, Esteemed Blogmeister, between the attitudes of the two Leading Ladies in the Latitudes of the North ?
Nicola Sturgeon and Arlene Foster (for it is they !) are so out of line with each other that they make apples and oranges seem like kissing cousins and as for chalk and cheese, they are left to look like Siamese twins.
When the Scottish First Minister addressed the Senate in Dublin the other day even that platoon of poltroons was reduced to drooling by the sheer presence and eerily calm demeanour of this formidable female.
The normally pompous Senate chamber was suddenly transformed into a backlot of a Max Sennet comedy as the members of the Upper House lowered themselves with selfies in hand: the Slap Stickies haven’t gone away, you know. This was by way of a follow up to the recent Keystone Kops saga in the Lower House of The Doll.
Rather than whistle the same thistle-sharp song of resistance as the Bonny Wee Lass, the Max Sennetors opted instead to hijack the moment for their own banal Kodak purposes.
As you accurately nail it, EB, with your vivid image about the next door neighbor from Hell (which is as British as Hull) Brexit is indeed a toxic mess. And which has been made even messier on the Island of Ireland by the Ms in the North and the Messers in the South. Alas, it has far less of the Lionel than the Leonine about it.
OUR ARLENE becomes MORE LEONINE
Just when twas thought this toxic mess
Could never show that more was less
Here’s Nicola Sturgeon
See the selfies burgeon!
There’s Arlene, our British and Irish Lioness.
like the rest of you I was totally puzzled about the twists and turns of this Brexit shambles!
But then I found a tube map for the new Euro line!
We are now at Brexit Circus – see where we are going next!!
https://eurofree3.wordpress.com/2016/12/01/brexit-circus-on-the-new-euro-line/
Excellent work , ben…a flock of headless chickens springs to mind…