On the BBC, on the evening of Martin McGuinness funeral in Derry, a man on the Question Time panel called Hugo Rifkind who writes for The Times of London was defending the British Empire and condemning Martin McGuinness. He stated: “Martin McGuinness brought war to Northern Ireland.” Such a blatantly untrue statement and yet this man was applauded by many in the audience for telling a big lie. It is little wonder that the English people do not understand the north or do not want to understand. David Dimbleby the host of the programme interrupted a speaker to say: ‘He(Martin) never apologised for his time in the IRA”. Most of the focus was on the IRA –none on what the British were doing here, not much focus on the task Martin and others had to bring about peace and common-sense to the situation before many more lives were lost. The British were going to pursue their military strategy here irrespective of how many lives were lost-Irish lives English lives it did not matter to them. Changes had to be made and it was thanks to Martin and others in Sinn Fein that change began to come about. A peaceful way forward was marked out. Martin McGuinness played a key role in bringing about peace and in reaching out to the unionist community for which he will never be forgotten in Ireland. Sadly, there were a few within the broad republican family who condemned him and even threatened his life. These people did not get the big picture. They did not see the need to reach out to the Unionist community. Some still do not see that urgent need at this time.
An article about Martin McGuinness in the English Daily Mail written by Ruth D Edwards was a disgrace- but then what would you expect from this pro-British propagandist . It should not surprise us that Ruth Dudley Edwards has nothing good to say about Martin McGuinness but the venom and the hatred is quite shocking. Edwards is a politically motivated hack pretending to be an objective commentator. She does not even attempt to deal with the complexity of the man who worked tirelessly to bring about peace on this island. Edwards ignores all of the decent standards of journalism. What a pathetic individual she is if all she can do to make a living is write scurrilous articles about the living and the dead. She certainly needs to learn the meaning of the word ‘respect’ and she needs to try putting it into practice.
However, as the Gospel tells us: “ There are none so blind as those who will not see.”
“Martin McGuinness brought War to Northern Ireland.” It is frightening how many of these unsubstantiated and historically naive comments there has been recently – or perhaps it would be more accurate to refer to same as “revisionist fake news”. If anything, at least there’s a realisation in the comment that the conflict in the North was a War – but the British would have us believe that they never start Wars – historical truth though tends to deviate from this!
I watched a bit of that Question Time, against my better judgement it has to be said. Such ignorance of Irish history is staggering but sadly not in the least bit surprising. The British political class come out with total nonsense. Sadly the people who vote for them with a few exceptions. fall for it. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. They support their soldiers regardless of how many innocent civilians they slaughter. They wear poppies and toady to the royal family. They are no better than the people of north Korea. As for Ruth, she falls into the same category as Malachi O’Doherty and other anti SF writers who only get gigs because they can be relied upon to say the right things.
Their propaganda and lies are just another part of the trauma inflicted on Catholics in the North.
Wrong picture of Rifkind, Jude. That’s his father, Malcolm, the former Foreign Secretary. He was trapped last year in a fake sheik type scenario where he asked for £7 – 10 grand a day to lobby for a bogus business in Parliament. I was surprised by the son, Hugo’s ignorant attack on McGuinness. He was a Herald columnist some years back and he wrote some amusing, whimsical sketches. Still he has Tory, Edinburgh, Jewish genes.
“Still he has Tory, Edinburgh, Jewish genes.”
“Jewish genes.”
What does this have to do with anything?
Yep – thanks John – other dangerous truth-tellers have spotted my error. I need an (unpaid) assistant to bring me cups of tea and point to the error(s) of my ways…
Any thoughts on what “Jewish genes” have to do with anything, Dr. Collins?
Ask John perhaps? Btw – do you not have questions about ‘Tory’ and ‘Edinburgh’ as well?
I already did.
As for Edinburgh and Tory, no, I have no questions about that; but if you wish to keep the reference to a person’s ethnicity and implied, yet unspecified, inherited traits, that’s up to you.
Where I come from there’s a word for it, but I don’t suspect I’ll get a reply from you either.
You might, however, throw me off the site for asking awkward questions – either way it’s your show.
Interesting.
The most alarming example of misleading facts recently was that spotted by Danny Morrison (and which I THINK I put up here – if I didn’t, shout at me and I will) – that Martin McGuinness had told David Kelly, who accused him of knowing who had killed his father and was told “That’s in the past – move on.” This was repeated by Austin Stack on Nolan TV show last week, was repeated by TalkBack during last week and was repeated again by Newsnight. I contacted Newsnight about the error -had acknowledgement of complaint being received, ach sin é…
I’ve listened for years to republicans patiently and, generally, politely responding to loaded questions by journalists and presenters. I have shouted alternative answers at the radio as some commentator makes an obviously biased remark and a republican interviewee calmly attempts to respond in a non controversial manner.
It is time for the alternative history, perpetuated by the media, to be challenged. Each interview should begin with the journalist/commentator being reminded of the facts about our history. Perhaps a brief summary could be prepared and the media representative should be asked to confirm that he/she is cognisant of that. Thereafter, every comment or question which is based on a non factual premise should be challenged.
As with every other aspect of the struggle we have witnessed in this country, media collusion must be exposed, or blameless but ill-educated journalists offered an opportunity to learn.
Journalists and commentators need republicans. Republicans need people to know what they are doing and thinking of doing, but they also need people to understand why they are doing it. The media do not deliver on this last aspect.
We are told, endlessly, about Arlene’s past hurt, about the countless victims (I heard hundreds of thousands mentioned on one show – all victims of the IRA), about the bloody past and the lack of remorse shown by the perpetrators. We are told the perpetrators were republicans. We are told about this as if it is indisputable fact. For those who do not know better, that is exactly what it becomes.
I tried listening to a Nolan interview, before Martin passed away, when Nolan was defending Arlene. As an experiment I tried to take the comments out of context and accept the argument made by Nolan as accurate.
By the end of the interview, I would have voted for Arlene.
What was lacking was context. Context is everything. If a pupil is hauled before the Principal for punching another pupil, he is likely to face suspension and onlookers would agree. If the context is years of bullying and assaults on the pupil, who finally hit back, then the outcome and the opinion of the onlookers is going to be different.
In our circumstances, the onlookers are, ultimately, voters. Many of these onlookers are too young to really know or understand the context (largely due to the work of people like Martin McGuinness). They rely on the media to inform them. Not only do the media not acccurately contextualise, they present a false context. This confuses people but also, more significantly, reinforces prejudice and serves to entrench views. Almost like a rearguard action.
Change is coming but we are going to fire up the troops and slow the enemy down as much as possible.
Part of their arsenal is a coterie of pet republican haters and solid establishment types. All can be relied on to push the correct line, but it is the general run of the mill presenter who promotes, without question, the false context. Day in and day out. If Malachi or Ruth make a ludicrous comment, you might feel a flash of annoyance, but you understand that he/she has to earn a living and being the way they are is the only chance they have. They are also a known quantity who’s destructive capacity is limited. The everyday boys and girls, however, engage in a slow grind, normalising the false context with everything from sharp tones and formality when talking to some people to stating inaccurate facts in the middle of questions and preventing these being challenged.
Negotiations are taking place with the British Government,unionism and the other parties at the moment. These will be reported on by the media. It’s a bit like having the reserve goalkeeper for Man United reporting on a Man U vs Liverpool Cup Final.
If this correcting of interviewers wer to happen, live broadcast of the interviews would cease and Corrections would be edited out before broadcast.
This may happen, but it should only be allowed to happen once. If journalists agreed to abide by the rules (ie, they do not engage in propaganda) then there is no reason why they would have to endure an educational lecture at the start of an interview. If they insist on allowing a bias to govern their interviews, then they should be denied the opportunity to repeat this.
Journalists sell a product. They offer themselves as someone who delivers information. They rely on their reputation to enhance their career. A journalist who is unable to access representatives of the largest nationalist party because of an inability to portray events accurately, within a factual historical context, may find the new reality less than career enhancing.
It is time honesty was introduced into this process. The flagrant disregard for the truth has hampered progress and infected mindsets long enough.
Unfortunately there would appear to be a trend with both politicians and media to represent the establishment argument on a whole variety of issues as fact. It is pretty blatant in the Six Counties but it has also crept into United Kingdom politics. The public were lied to in Scotland by establishment figures over the Independence referendum and then lied to again over the Brexit referendum. There was little or no attempt by the media to hold the individuals to account indeed it was portrayed as normal political posturing.
In Scotland the Irish “troubles” are seldom explained within the context of the corrupt and sectarian policies pursued by the Stormont regime, no attempt to explain years of job and housing discrimination and no mention of gerrymandering. Above all there is no examination of the peaceful civil rights movement of the 1960s and the violence with which it was met with by the forces of the state.
“as the Gospel tells us: “ There are none so blind as those who will not see.””
Emm, no it doesn’t.
Jeremiah 5:21
Yes, I know; and there are similar references in the books of Matthew, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Acts and Romans, but none of them say what Joe says they say, and none of them mean what Joe says they mean.
YAWN.
Still A famine about to start in Yemen due to British Supplied arms to Saudi Arabia.
Can they Blame this on MMG also.
Corruption blinds as they say.
The Irish have experience of a Brit Manufactured Famine.
Where do the English find time for this self righteous garbage cans.
TO RUTH Dudley Edwards you must not have one once of Christianity in your body ,along with other journalists, because,2 Jesus said I give you a new commandment Love thy Neibour as I have loved you. You must not sleep to well, with all the hatred you spew out, your poor head must be like a washing machine fighting with itself,The late great Martin McGuinness ,made a teriffic effort to bring two Communities together away from War, which was created by some Loyalists backed by the British GOVT, who murdered children women and innocent men,like the plaque they carried at Martins funeral Martin didn’t start the war, The war came to Him, RIP Martin.
The BBC , The Belfast Telegraph , and the News Letter have their preferred political commentators , who can be relied upon to take an anti Nationalist line . RDE is one of those commentators / writer / historian who appears to have some intellectual credibility . However if you read her past articles and comments , it is not long before you realise she lacks balance and objectivity . She is quite popular with Unionist supporters and I think she even wrote a book on the Orange order which depicts them is a good light .
. like Kate Hopkins , RDE takes the extreme view on many issues , which is sure to get an emotional response from the audience . Both these individuals set out to cause offense, which is certain to create a create a debate . Being deliberately controversial is similar to a spoilt child throwing a tantrum to get attention . The most effective method for dealing with spoilt children and attention-seeking egotists is to ignore them .