Monday, May 23, 2005

Dr No in cloud cuckoo land

Daily Ireland:

Famously, nationalists in the old Stormont managed to pass just one piece of legislation in 50 years — an act to protect wild birds. Under the new political institutions envisaged by Ian Paisley, nationalists could not guarantee that they would reach those dizzy legislative heights again in the next half-century.

That is not only bad news for our feathered friends but for everyone who thought that, with a strengthened mandate, Mr Paisley might be the man to make a deal for unionism — and keep his word.

Instead, after yesterday’s tête-à-tête with Mr Blair, the DUP leader spelt out his vision of a one-party state that would bring the North back at least to 1969 and, if the Paisleyites could swing it, to 1690.

Dr No says he cannot share power with Sinn Féin because he does not trust them. But then he proceeds to set out a series of hurdles that Sinn Féin and the IRA must clear before Gerry Adams and Co get to occupy the cheap seats in his revamped Protestant parliament for a Protestant people.

The Good Friday Agreement, says Mr Paisley, is dead. Strangely, just six months ago, he was poised to go into a new executive with Sinn Féin within the very model established by the 1998 Belfast deal. That initiative was scuppered over calls for the IRA to be humiliated and republican reservations over the photographing of decommissioning. But the fact remains that the DUP was signing up for a power-sharing agreement.

The Irish and British governments should call the Democratic Unionist Party’s bluff by insisting that the power sharing with Sinn Féin is the only way forward. Anything else is strictly for the birds.

Paisley represents British colonialism in its purest form and colonists never make compromises with indigenous peoples. The only way to bring peace to the north of Ireland is to repatriate Paisley and his fellow British colonists to Britain as soon as possible.

20 Comments:

At 2:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Diarmuid -

I thought you supported the Stormont Treaty (GFA) ?

The solution you outlined (which , btw , I fully agree with !) is NOT on the agenda for the parties that support that Treaty .

Sharon .
1169 And Counting.....

 
At 2:05 PM, Blogger Diarmid said...

I support Sinn Fein since I feel that it is better than the SDLP. I have never had any faith in the Good Friday Agreement.

 
At 3:28 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

...but PSF have nothing else going for them (re the Six County issue) OTHER than the Stormont Treaty !

How can you support the party but not it's policy ?

Sharon .

 
At 3:49 PM, Blogger Diarmid said...

Would you rather have the SDLP representing the indigenous Irish Catholic population of the Six Counties? Whatever you may think of Sinn Fein they are much better than the SDLP which is why I support them.

 
At 3:18 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

...six of one and half-dozen of the other now , is'nt it ?
What is the difference between the Stoops and the Provos ? Both want to work the present system with a stated intention of eventually (!) achieving a (Re-) United Ireland . By peaceful means only , you understand . Mind you , the Brits did not confine themselves to said peaceful means when they came here first . Or when they partitioned our island.
SDLP ? PSF ? The main difference is a slight change in the initials ....
Do you not find it hypocritical to support a party whose main policy (on the Six) you do not support ?

Sharon.

 
At 3:41 PM, Blogger Diarmid said...

You can't be serious when you say that there is no difference between Sinn Fein and the SDLP.

Blair sets out Sinn Fein's choice

Paisley in IRA arms demand

As much as you may not like the admit it, Sinn Fein has stood up to Blair and the Unionists which is why they are always threatening to isolate Sinn Fein. The SDLP, on the other hand, have always been the obedient servants of their British masters.

 
At 2:19 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Apart from the number of seats they each hold , there is no policy differences between them re the six county issue : both parties now only support what they call 'peaceful' (ie constitutional) means to 'solve' the issue . They are both nationalist-leaning political parties , not Republican parties . Both receive financial stipends from Westminster and , in return , both will condemn those who , like the 1981 hunger strikers , would use force to remove the British presence .

'New Sinn Fein' , SDLP - no difference .

Sharon.

 
At 2:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"....out of my mind or an idiot ." What a convincing rejoinder !

The SDLP and PSF are two nationalist parties in competition with each other to see which one of them can obtain the most amount of 'civil rights' for the nationalist's in the Six Counties . Neither are Republican .
If you have to resort to name-calling then you have recognised that you have already lost the discussion . Perhaps you could try to keep it civil from now on ?

Thanks ,

Sharon.

 
At 3:04 PM, Blogger Diarmid said...

I am not name calling. I am merely pointing out that your argument makes no sense.

-----
DUP take top civic position

Quote: "The DUP's Wallace Browne has been elected Lord Mayor of Belfast, with the support of the UUP, Alliance Party and the SDLP.

He saw off the challenge of the only other candidate, Sinn Fein's Caral Ni Chuilin, by 37 votes to 14.

The SDLP's Pat Convery, a councillor for north Belfast, was elected as deputy lord mayor."
-----

As you can see, there is a great deal of difference between the SDLP and Sinn Fein.

 
At 2:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I am not name calling."

....you said I was either "out of my mind or an idiot ... " - how is that NOT name calling ?
How can you seriously deny saying something when it's there , in print , for all to see ? Please !




"As you can see, there is a great deal of difference between the SDLP and Sinn Fein."

..as I already stated - "apart from the number of seats they hold... " The Stoops and PSF will fight between themselves to see which can wield the most influence with Westminster , in order that the 'winner' can secure even more 'civil rights' from the Brits . PSF are stealing SDLP clothes . And they're welcome to them !

Sharon.

 
At 8:50 AM, Blogger Diarmid said...

If you really believe that there is no difference between Sinn Fein and the SDLP then the only explanation that I can come up with is that you are either insane or stupid. The SDLP is not really a Nationalist party which is why they had no problems in supporting a DUP candidate over a Sinn Fein one. As Hume liked to say his party was a "Post-Nationalist" (i.e. unionist) party. The only time the SDLP talks about an united Ireland is when elections come around. The rest of the time they refer to the north as "Northern Ireland" which is a phrase that no true Nationalist would use to describe the Six Counties.

 
At 4:12 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Northern Ireland " and "no true Nationalist .... " , Diarmuid . I think you're right -


'Ireland On Sunday' newspaper , 11 April 2004 , page 30 : In an interview , Mary-Lou McDonald (PSF) stated - " People expect our candidates to be from Northern Ireland , so I imagine they're surprised when they hear my accent . " They might even be more "surprised " , Mary Lou , to hear you refer to the Six Counties as "Northern Ireland " . I would say Diarmuid is , anyway !

Sharon .
1169 And Counting.....

 
At 9:41 AM, Blogger Diarmid said...

But did she actually use the phrase "Northern Ireland" or did the newspaper just record it that way?

 
At 3:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

But did she actually use the phrase "Northern Ireland" or did the newspaper just record it that way?

Oh come of it , Diarmuid !
That is not even a straw worthy of clutching at !
Thirteen months and no request/demand for a 'correction' to be published re that description ? Face it - A PSF election candidate referred to the Six Counties as "Northern Ireland " . I believe if Mary-Lou said it to your face you would still not accept it .
That's not loyality - it's blind obedience . You'll go far in PSF with that attitude ... !

Sharon .

 
At 10:27 AM, Blogger Diarmid said...

Face it - A PSF election candidate referred to the Six Counties as "Northern Ireland".

Isn't it possible that she said it by mistake? The SDLP makes a habit of referring to the Six Counties as "Northern Ireland" but Sinn Fein does not. I am not going to hold it against a Sinn Fein member for using the phrase by mistake.

 
At 3:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Isn't it possible that she said it by mistake? The SDLP makes a habit of referring to the Six Counties as "Northern Ireland" but Sinn Fein does not. I am not going to hold it against a Sinn Fein member for using the phrase by mistake.

.... An Irish Republican would never make that mistake , Diarmuid : a 'nationalist' would .
As I said earlier : Mary-Lou could , I believe , say those words to your face and you would still excuse her for it . I firmly believe you would/will excuse PSF no matter how constitutional they go . Are you by any chance hoping for a position in the re-vamped RUC in return for your loyality ?
It certainly seems that way !
Sharon.
http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com

 
At 9:25 AM, Blogger Diarmid said...

.... An Irish Republican would never make that mistake , Diarmuid : a 'nationalist' would.

So now you are claiming that Republicans never misspeak? Then there must be few Republicans in the world since most of the people that I have ever known have misspoke on numerous occasions.

 
At 2:47 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

So now you are claiming that Republicans never misspeak? Then there must be few Republicans in the world since most of the people that I have ever known have misspoke on numerous occasions.

.... "never misspeak " in relation to describing the Six Counties as 'Northern Ireland' as Mary-Lou has done - YES , Diarmuid , I am most definately saying that !!
How , exactly , have your friends "misspoken ... " , politically , would you mind telling me ... ? I am curious as to whether you 'hang out' with Republicans or Nationalists . But I suspect it is the latter .

Sharon .

 
At 3:17 PM, Blogger Diarmid said...

I am curious as to whether you 'hang out' with Republicans or Nationalists. But I suspect it is the latter.

In my experience only the SDLP and their Unionist friends try to divide up the indigenous Irish population into "Nationalists" and "Republicans". The only division that matters to me is the one between the indigenous Irish and the British colonists.

 
At 12:29 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

In my experience only the SDLP and their Unionist friends try to divide up the indigenous Irish population into "Nationalists" and "Republicans". The only division that matters to me is the one between the indigenous Irish and the British colonists.

.... Not so : for as long as we have been blighted with the British presence , we have always had those who were prepared to 'tweak' the system ('Nationalists') and those wishing to overthrow that system ('Republicans') . The likes of the SDLP , FF and the WP have always been there and were dismissed , by Republicans , (and rightly so , in my opinion) for claiming that they were 'working within the system in order to bring it down ..' . The British have always exploited those of a nationalist bent and will do so now with PSF . Just as they did [and are continuing to do] with the Stoops .
Sharon .

 

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