Northern Exposure

FAIRness

2009-10-28T17:58:00.002Z

Yesterday's Spotlight programme highlighted the campaign, by victims group FAIR, against the Libyan dictatorship responsible for IRA murder due to Colonel Gaddafi's supplying weapons and financial support to the provisionals.

Willie Frazer, the head of Families Acting for Innocent Victims (FAIR), has been a very outspoken campaigner for IRA victims including many members of his own family; to republicans however he is a bigoted "Brit", an image not helped by Frazers prickly demeaner or past associations with unsavoury characters - but his suffering has been very real and is in the end deserving of sympathy.

After a decade in the wilderness Frazer and FAIR were recognised as representing a silent but very real and long suffering set of victims. Documents leaked to the press showing the breathtaking lack of concern for victims of the IRAs Libyan connection finally pushed the British government into action.

Now perhaps a few innocent victims of the IRAs international terrorism will be compensated or recognised. It remains to be seen if it is really a meaningful gesture and that nothing will be gained by provo-terrorist elements or their sympathizers.

The Provos of course speak of not acknowledeging a "hierarchy of victims" which is provospeak for "republicans are top of thier own hierarchy".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nnnv8

Hillary Back in Northern Ireland.

2009-10-14T14:54:00.002+01:00

US Secretary of State and former first lady Hillary Clinton returned to Northern Ireland to address our folks on the hill, a speech that kept well away from the current "crisis". To be perfectly honest I couldn't care less about Mrs Clintons visit, shes a compulsive liar, fantasist and wife of a serial cheater and fellow liar former President Bill Clinton.

According to Hillarys campaign manager "We would not have peace today had it not been for Hillary’s hard work in Northern Ireland"? Really?
Of course Hillarys no stranger to conflict zones:

AC/DC T.N.T.

2009-10-12T18:43:00.000+01:00

D-Day, 6 June 1944!

2009-06-06T07:35:00.001+01:00

General Eisenhower with the 101st Airborne.

Landing craft at Omaha beach, D-Day

D-Day was the beginning of the end of Nazi tyranny in Europe, as thousands of allied soldiers, sailors and airmen attacked head on the Normandy beaches of "Fortress Europe".

The infamous "Operation Overlord" was the riskiest, most well co-ordinated and costly operations in the history of modern warfare; D-Day however was ultimately the greatest allied success in Europe, which was the main catalyst toward ultimate victory over Nazi Germany and fascism.

The beaches code-named Gold, Juno, Sword, Utah and Omaha, became the point of assault for the thousands of American, British, Canadian and many other nationalities that made up the allied forces. Thousands of men died before setting foot on French soil, especially on "bloody Omaha".

"Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man.

Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck!

And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking."

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander.

Hallelujah, Euro Elections Over!

2009-06-04T23:16:00.000+01:00

Is it over yet?

2009-06-04T15:20:00.001+01:00

Vótáil Nicholson 1

2009-06-03T15:29:00.002+01:00

My Choosiest Choice of all

2009-06-03T14:52:00.002+01:00

Jim Allister is a strong minded, articulate and able politician, a good MEP for Northern Ireland. On domestic (Northern Irish) issues he stuck in a "NO"-unionist time warp, which may be a principled stand on his part, but for the stability and security of Northern Ireland his principles lead to a dead end. If it was his European record alone he'd get my number 1.

Jim Nicholson seems unable to articulate his Ulster Unionist/Conservative agenda, perhaps because of certain media distractions; Lady Hermon, party defections, David Cameron and unionist in-fighting. However he does have a good record as an MEP, his party has put more emphasis on European issues and an alliance with the Tories opens up the possibility of putting Northern Ireland at the centre of mainstream UK politics. It’s the wider European and UK issues, not Jim Nicholson’s charismatic personality that gets the UCUNF my first preference.

Diane Dodd’s is clearly out of her depth, without the aid of her handlers Nigel and Peter, Diane clearly cannot cope especially when surrounded by opponents or sat next to Jim Allister. Her attack dog style of debating and her fantasist anti-Sinn Fein rhetoric are off putting, she's third on my list behind Jim Allister as usual. Peter & Iris certainly don't help the DUP cause (whatever that is). Diane Dodd’s gets my number 3 simply because she's a "unionist".

Sinn Fein won't get any votes from me, much to their disappointment I’m sure, but they're a not trying to build an "Ireland of equals" not with their sectarian reactionary anti-Britishness, or while Bairbre de Brún stands up in the European Parliament to rail against "Unionist death squads". Not to mention the shinners have the worst attendance records in Brussels compared to their opponents. Also de Brun seems to lose all knowledge of English when asking even basic questions, nothing wrong with Gaelic, but using it as a cultural weapon is clearly objectionable.

RUC-GC 1922-2001

2009-06-01T15:18:00.002+01:00

On 1 June 1922 the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was officially established as the police force of Northern Ireland. The RUC came out of the long history of the Royal Irish Constabulary which was disbanded following partition.

Throughout their history and the troubles in Northern Ireland, RUC personnel paid the ultimate sacrifice, yet despite the terrorist threat and anti-RUC propaganda, members still put their lives and bodies in harm’s way to defend the community as a whole.

"A total of 300 RUC officers have been murdered during the Troubles.The IRA has killed 277, the INLA and IPLO 12 and loyalist terrorists eight. Three were murdered by unknown groups. In addition, four officers were killed by the security forces by mistake and over 9,000 injured during the course of their duties.

Terrorist groups have bombed, shot and beaten RUC officers to death, sometimes killing relatives and other civilians in the process. Levels of stress-related illness have been higher than in any other police force: almost 70 officers have committed suicide, many of them with RUC-issued weapons."

Widows Association

RUC GC Foundation

RUC Benevolent Fund

Why Disband The RUC

Hate, Murder & Politics

2009-05-31T15:43:00.002+01:00

Northern Ireland is associated by many people around the world with sectarian hatred, murder and politics, and not necessarily in that order. Loyalism and Republicanism have become philosophies connected with bigotry, political murder and thuggery, whether it’s shooting or bombing, knee capping children or beating someone to death.

It’s sad that people are filled with so much hate that they think kicking someone to death is not only justified, but a political necessity! Loyalism has no value to anyone, least of all to unionism or even to its own "community".

But as usual the brutal murder of an innocent man is used to score political points

"Unionist" mob murder man"

Jim Allisters Election Leaflet

2009-05-25T23:37:00.004+01:00

Having received Jim Allisters euro election leaflet I'm struck by four things:

First, it makes very little mention of any European issues or TUV policy on the EU

Second, it smacks of pre-GFA DUP rhetoric which is outdated and offers nothing positive or inspiring!

Thirdly, it features Jim in a number of Lenin-esque type poses; having no less than 9 pictures of the man himself, is he big headed or is modelling a side line?

Finally, how can an MEP affect change in the Storment set up? It's almost as ridiculous as Diane Dodds claiming she'll smash her parties partners in government?

For those Unionists wanting to punish the DUPers for whatever reasons, the most important way get at the folks on the hill is to vote for Northern Ireland to play a role at the centre of the union; to put Allister number 1 is a waste of opportunity, so to Diane Dodds!

Jim Nicholson and the Unionist/Conservative New Force actually have a opinion on Europe as well as Northern Ireland, plus they want to put us at the centre of the UK government like we were in the 19th century!

For me Jim Nicholson offers an alternative that's refreshing, UK unionist and honest, for British unionists voting for the Unionist/Conservative coalition will secure our position within the union.

Vote DUP: Smash Sinn Féin! Really?

2009-05-25T14:53:00.003+01:00

Think DUP topping the Poll will "smash" Sinn Féin

Doesn't look like it, does it?

Fundamentalist Christians

2009-05-24T21:54:00.001+01:00

The controversy over homosexual Christians and gay clergy is unlikely ever to be solved, at least not when the orthodox and liberal fundamentalists attack each other. Using the bible as a means of supporting prejudice against other Christians is against the spirit of Christ’s love.

I think pro-Gay liberals are being coerced into or are actively committed to a militant gay agenda, which sees any plain truth in the bible that they don't like as a personal affront. Militant gay activists, like other fundamentalists, are of the opinion that they're 100% right and those who disagree or are morally opposed must be swept aside. Every facet of society must be homosexualised, nothing is worthy or sanctified without their total approval or involvement.

Funny how the Gay liberals sound a lot like orthodox fundamentalists?

Gay Christian activists believe that if they simply believe in Jesus and some vague concept of "love" or "commitment" then whatever they do is fine. It isn't. You can be a Gay Christian, but you can't be a Christian and a practicing homosexual, to put it bluntly no sodomy or sexual acts.

For straight Christians who believe they can behave how they like, so long they go to Church on Sundays, they're behaviour is governed by the same moral code.

Christian fundamentalists who believe they can mistreat people however they see fit because they feel morally superior, have lost their love and compassion and abandoned Christ’s example of love your enemy and love the sinner not the sin.

Name calling and insults isn't what Jesus would do!

On subject of schism I say go ahead! Protestantism is all about reform, acting according to your conscience, there are a lot of Protestant churches, breakaway churches and independent ones, and you can always form your own fellowship in Christ. That goes for all sides.

Gay Schism

2009-05-23T17:07:00.001+01:00

Following the row caused by the appointment of a gay Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) Minister Rev Scott Rennie, it seems that both anti-Gay Christian groups and pro-Gay Christian groups are as bad as each other.

As a Presbyterian and a believing Christian I'm saddened by the ridiculousness of the arguments, comparing gay Christian campaigners to Nazi's, calling conservative evangelicals terrorists etc. It amounts to a far-left Vs far-right argument were each side is morally questionable.

I'm not opposed to homosexuals becoming clergy nor am I a supporter of militant "queer" groups who want to hoist their "culture" on everyone. Gay people are in need of God’s love just as much as heterosexuals, maybe more so? If homosexuality is a sin, which I don't believe simply being gay is- it’s the physical actions that are sinful- then turning them away from God is denying Christ’s salvation.

Straight Christians are just as bound by the ethics and morality of faith, as are gay Christians, of course non-believers don't require any religious basis; those people who profess a Christian faith should not do as they please if they truly believe.

No matter the arguments sexual activity outside of marriage is not kosher in Christianity, nor is sex merely for increasing the population when you are married, homosexual sex is more often than not opposed to in the bible despite what some might like or say. Unfortunately on this basis homosexual clergy cannot be objected to, especially as the Presbyterian Church is a democratic institution, but homosexuals must know that their lifestyle choice isn't necessarily Christian just because you say so.

"So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." John 8:7

Expenses: Just a Friendly Reminder

2009-05-23T14:36:00.004+01:00

Tony McNulty: the employment minister claimed £14,000 per year on his parents’ house in his constituency in Harrow. He insists he acted within the rules.

Jacqui Smith: the home secretary is facing an inquiry after claiming £20,000 per year on her home in her constituency in Redditch, saying that her sister's home in London was her main residence. She denies any wrong doing.

Caroline Spelman: The Meriden MP was told to pay back £9,600 after the parliamentary standards commissioner found that she had unintentionally breached Commons rules by paying her children's nanny through Parliamentary allowances, saying that the nanny was working as a constituency secretary.

Nicholas and Ann Winterton: the husband and wife who are both MPs in Cheshire were found to have breached the expenses rule when they claimed £21,600 per year in rent on their London flat after paying off the mortgage and transferring the ownership of the £700,000 property into a family trust.

Derek Conway: the MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup was suspended from the Commons and ordered to return £13,161 in January 2008 for paying more than £200,000 to his family, including to his youngest son, Freddie, who was a full time student in Newcastle at the time.

Tory Anthony Steen, who become embroiled in the expenses controversy for spending £90,000 on his second home over four years, launched an astonishing defence of his spending yesterday.

He said: "I've done nothing criminal, that's the most awful thing, and do you know what it's about? Jealousy. I've got a very, very large house. Some people say it looks like Balmoral. It's a merchant's house of the 19th century. It's not particularly attractive, it just does me nicely.”

MPs stepping down?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/

http://www.northernexposureni.com/2009/05/sinn-feins-expensive-principles.html

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mps/

Westminster Reform?

2009-05-23T14:10:00.001+01:00

Gaeilge

2009-05-22T23:28:00.004+01:00

The recent Londonderry DPP meeting held in Gaelic sparked the usual response from reactionary unionist politicians, however personally I'm not threatened by the Irish language, those Protestants who react with complete animosity to the Irish language are helping militant republicans to politicize a legitimate part of the UKs collective cultural heritage.

Unfortunately Gaelic nationalists use Irish to define it as a sole part of Irish nationalist indentity, but why should it be so? Ulster Unionist member Sir Ian Adamson speaks fluent Gaelic, indeed my grandmother (who was a Southerner) spoke Irish yet was a proud unionist and a monarchist. In the 1970s there was an Orange Lodge in Belfast that promoted Gaelic and Irish Protestant culture.

Gaelic as a language is dwindling as numbers of native speakers decrease, also there is a lack of interest amongst Southern youth in learning it, beyond what they're force fed at school - I know for me being made to learn French at school was a put off - also English is the de facto national language of Ireland.

Personally I believe outside of a cultural context Gaelic is limited, aswell as being constrained by a narrowly defined political identity, interest in reviving the language might be better suited on a voluntary cross-cultural basis.

Oasis

2009-05-22T19:38:00.001+01:00

Two Examples of Unionism

2009-05-21T17:46:00.001+01:00

As a unionist I have always admired the example set by Sir Edward Carson, his philosophy was whole heartedly "Union first". He was not a bigot nor was he a partitionist, as an Irish unionist and a Dubliner, his motivation was to save Ireland's place within the United Kingdom.

Though he is seen in a very narrow light by both his nationalist detractors and loyalist admirers, his leadership of Ulster Unionists was to him a way to preserve all-Ireland for the union, the 1920 Government of Ireland Act and subsequent partition were by no means his preferred solution but he had to accept the reality of Ireland’s situation.

He acknowledged that a part of Ireland within the UK was better for unionism than no part. Disappointingly he turned down the offer to be elected Northern Irelands first Prime Minister, had he done so perhaps his pragmatic non-parochial example would have created a state free from discrimination and fear of "the other side" or "the enemy within". Instead he chose to warn unionists and Protestants:

"We used to say that we could not trust an Irish parliament in Dublin to do justice to the Protestant minority. Let us take care that that reproach can no longer be made against your parliament, and from the outset let them see that the Catholic minority have nothing to fear from a Protestant majority."

Instead the premiership of Northern Ireland was held by James Craig, an Ulster Protestant and Unionist leader. Craig’s unionism became inward looking and parochial, from being an active part of government life at Westminster, as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland he avoided contact with the UK government whenever possible.

Craig was very much a Protestant with a limited appreciation for civic or inclusive unionism. Although he may not have been an active bigot, like Eamon de Valera his opposite number in the Irish Free State, his national identity was more often than not defined in religious and cultural terms.

In 1931 de Valera declared:

"There was an Irish solution that had no reference to any other country; a solution that came from our traditional attitude to life that was Irish and Catholic."

In a St. Patricks Day address to the nation de Valera reiterated "since the coming of St Patrick 1500 years ago Ireland has been a Christian and a Catholic nation she will remain a Catholic nation". Thus the war of words between the narrow strands of unionism and nationalism was fixed.

Craig declared in return "they still boast of Southern Ireland being a Catholic State. All I boast of is that we are a Protestant Parliament and a Protestant State." His reactionary and narrow view of Unionism was unfortunately the example followed by successive Prime Ministers; similarly those who followed in the wake of Eamon de Valera in the Irish Republic followed his Catholic Nationalist agenda.

My Unionism like Sir Edward Carson’s is not based on a narrowly defined religious or cultural philosophy, although I am proud of the cultural roots I have, by religious or cultural identity is separate from my unionist principles. I believe our place should remain within the inclusive, tolerant and multi-cultural United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

James Craig’s Protestant unionism and political Orangeism are at odds with the civic inclusive nature of Britishness defined within the UK, I am proud of my Irish Protestant roots and Orange culture, but neither of those defines unionism within the UK which embraces many cultures and religions. Unionisms future lies at the centre of the union as a tolerant inclusive society

Little Ulsterism in North Down

2009-05-20T21:59:00.001+01:00

The rejection of the UUP/Conservative pact by North Down party chairman Mark Brooks has led to his defection to the DUP, coming on the heels of Our Lady of North Down's rejection and UUP defections to the reactionary TUV, it seems like a case of small u unionism and "Little Ulsterism".

Yes the DUP, TUV, Lady Sylvia want to represent the union it’s just they'd prefer to spend as little time as possible in London especially in government. What I'm baffled by is they seem to believe that they're taking a principled stance; really they just want to maintain their own little fiefdom in Northern Ireland.

“The Conservative Party was responsible for the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985, the removal of our own Stormont government before, and it is my feeling that they cannot be trusted on this occasion either.”

Trying to paint the Tories as type of imperial power taking over their turf is short sighted, backward and irrational, but then Ulster nationalism is a little far-fetched. I can understand of course, imagine being part of a UK government? In London? Playing a full part within the Union representing Northern Ireland is hardly what Ulster Unionists should be seen doing.

Red Sylvia and her North Down rejectionistas seriously need to prioritise they're big U-Unionism. But maybe the failing, broken, washed up Labour Party would've been more like the thing?

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." Confucius

A Tangled Position

2009-05-20T21:20:00.001+01:00

Andrew McCann over on A Tangled Web has endorsed Jim Allister for the June 4 Euro elections, not because he believes he can retain his seat, but to simply knock Diane Dodd’s off of topping the polls. Well I'm no DUP fan so Mrs Dodd's top-dog hopes don't much matter to me.

What Andrew McCann, David Vance and Jim Allister really want is to "wreck it" as Ian Paisley once said of the GFA, or at least to get a majority of unionists rejecting the St. Andrews agreement with an unofficial referendum by voting TUV.

"Like David and I, Allister is not interested in reconciliation with physical-force Irish republicanism, only is total and comprehensive defeat."

I'm not sure what point there is to be made from such an outcome, yes I know that they believe getting rid of the Provo’s is an end in its self, but it’s hardly going to render much of a defeat to republicans.

Making them work within partitionist institutions, militarily withering down the PIRA, their lack of support down south and attacks by dissidents; those to me are the only defeat - outside of a bloody and costly military operation Sri Lanka style - that the republicans are going to suffer.

Say confidence is shot and the assembly collapses, yet again. If the Provisional’s retreat back to their shadowy ghettos and their "old ways", blaming rejectionist unionists as they go, what will be the end result? Allister represents the old reactionary unionism, like Paisley of old, yet their reactions are always too late to do much but hope to reverse time to when things were easy to understand.

Now the RIRA are back in town the dismantling of the assembly simply adds Provo fuel to a dissident fire, hardly a great alternative. I'm no great admirer of the executive or Sinn Fein but the alternative is much worse and quite frankly unneeded. Wrecking the relative peace and stability of Northern Ireland for your so-called "principles" is a job better suited to republican hardliners and loyalist terrorists, not Jim Allister.

Anyone Believe in Karma?

2009-05-19T15:55:00.002+01:00

Parliamentary Reform

2009-05-19T15:51:00.001+01:00

Now that Michael Martin has more or less jumped ship from Westminster a radical reformation of the entire parliamentary system is drastically needed;

1) First of all the speaker of the house should either be directly elected by the people or should be an independent figure of no party political background.

2) MPs salaries should be taken into account when claiming for further expenses, how many houses they own, cars, staff etc.

3) An online database of expenses claims should be made available for the public to view.

4) A Parliamentary Covenant should be drawn up and MPs made to sign it, if they fail to abide by it they'll automatically be deselected for running for further election.

5) Those seeking election should be forced to make personal projections, based on their individual circumstances, of what essential expenses they might likely need to claim for.

6) A points system based on MPs performances during the year should be made available.

Basically any abuse of office that brings parliament into disrepute should be met with swift action.

Ireland of Equals?

2009-05-18T22:14:00.003+01:00

Why does Sinn Fein feel the need to honour republican death squads on their online store, their claim to be building an "Ireland of Equals" is simply hollow rhetoric with insensitive sectarian displays such as this. The action of Provo terrorists is nothing to gloat over.

If the DUP were selling UDA t-shirts republican hypocrites would be hysterical with rage, but the DUP don't nor should they; this Ireland of equals is business is completely bogus unless we are to fall in line behind the shinners.

The Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays

2009-05-18T21:14:00.000+01:00