Archive for January, 2006

Democracy Brand in Crisis!

Published
by
Sarah Curran
on January 30, 2006
in GOP, Middle East, Northern Ireland, Politics, U.S.A, World and geopolitics
. 0 Comments

The brand “Democracy” is in crisis tonight, as its main sponsor, the USA, threatened to withdraw funding from its plans for worldwide expansion.

The US leader, George W Bush, said “We thought democracy was a great idea.  Who doesn’t love a brand that lets you drink Coca-Cola, watch trashy Hollywood films and give contracts to ol’ Dickie’s Haliburton?”

However a hitherto unknown, and potentially disasterous, side to the brand has reared its ugly head in recent days.

“Apparently, ” said Mr Bush, “people can elect who they want to be leaders with this crap, even people we don’t like!”

Mr Bush was referring to the recent democratic event in Palestine, where the Hamas political grouping won an overall majority from the previously ruling Fatah party. 

Reports from Washington suggest that the US will withdraw all funding from democracy unless it reverts to its true US form, where the actual leaders are chosen by a college of electors, 200,000 heavily armed troops or an faux-independent Supreme Court.

“Hell, we didn’t think we were letting ordinary people have a say, thats just stupid,” concluded Mr Bush.  “Ordinary people will vote for religious parties led by maniacs who believe they’re talking to God.  And we all know the kind of leaders those guys make.”

Near-octogenarian God-communicator Ian Paisley’s response to the US move can best be summarised as “Ravid!”

Did anyone think it was any different?

Published
by
Sarah Curran
on January 27, 2006
in Northern Ireland
. 5 Comments

The self-righteous media furore over the comments made by the head of the British Metropolitian Police, Ian Blair, regarding different media coverage for different victims will resonate with media-watchers in Northern Ireland.  Over the thirty years of the troubles, there was a hierarchy of victims.

Continue reading ‘Did anyone think it was any different?’

Haven’t we been here before?

Published
by
Sarah Curran
on January 26, 2006
in Middle East, Northern Ireland and Politics
. 0 Comments

In a tribute to two men’s determination to get hope triumphing over experience, the British Prime Minister and the Taoiseach are once again trying to play Frankenstein with the “peace process”.  The victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections provides a useful comparison with Northern Ireland in many respects, where a group once renowned and reviled across the world has come into the “political” process (i.e. stood for election, as opposed to using political violence) and beaten its more moderate rivals.  There is a geniune reason for hope in the Middle East because of this.  It is Hamas and their voters that Israel must come to agreement with before the bloodshed ends on both sides.  The analogy with Northern Ireland is obvious, and will be complete should Likud win the forthcoming Israeli election.  As many have been saying over the airwaves today, its not your friend you make peace with, its your enemy.

MI5 Latest…

Published
by
Sarah Curran
on January 23, 2006
in News, Russia, World and geopolitics
. 0 Comments

Belfastblogger.com has smuggled a bug into MI5 headquarters, and can bring you this exclusive transcript from the heart of the British security establishment…

007:  Well Q, what have you got for me today old chap?

Q:  Something a bit different today 007, we’ve got this high quality transmitter that allows you to just speak into it, and then it transmits the information to us.  Spiffing, eh?

Continue reading ‘MI5 Latest…’

Big Ian’s big thoughts

Published
by
Sarah Curran
on January 23, 2006
in DUP, Northern Ireland and Sectarian
. 0 Comments

Anyone who’s looking for a bit more on the beliefs and philosophy of the individual who has had arguably the greatest influence on events in Northern Ireland over the last 40 years could do worse than look at the website of the European Institute of Protestant Studies.  You get a lot of thought-provoking insights into what Ian Paisley believes in outside the political arena, including audio sermons and some interesting interpretations of teachings coming from the Vatican.

Friday’s best Joke!

Published
by
Robyn
on January 20, 2006
in Humour and Northern Ireland
. 0 Comments

“Best Blonde Joke Ever!”
How far will they go?

50/50 discrimination continues!

Published
by
Robyn
on January 20, 2006
in Human Rights, News, Northern Ireland, PSNI, Policing, Sectarian and UUP
. 0 Comments

I love this argument, “We have got to put an end to the inequality of 50:50 employment in the PSNI.”

“This morally repugnant recruitment policy is vastly more expensive than its predecessor. Not only are hundreds of applicants suffering religious discrimination, but a much higher percentage of our taxes is being spent on implementing it.

For every day that 50/50 discrimination continues the list of those who have become victims of this policy continues to grow, generating deep and widespread resentment. John Laird’s Bill now gives the Government an opportunity to get rid of this obnoxious recruitment procedure. So I say to the Government, the opportunity is there – take it.�

The same argument is used in the U.S. against Affirmative Action. In a situations were a minority and a white candidate go for the same college opening the minority kid wins in what has been called reverse racism.

But it does go some small way towards righting a wrong even if it was only passive nepotism and not outright sectarianism. In an equal world there would be no reason to have checks and balances, but when there has been prejudice it takes time and legislation to correct the imbalance. Unfortunately it means that innocent people get caught up in the mix and it becomes proportionally very difficult for protestant applicants to get jobs. Is this reverse racism/prejudice/sectarianism?

Definitely it is and it is unfair, but the moral judgement is simple; A police force should be representational of the people it protects, through all levels of command. Programs like 50:50 employment and Affirmative Action take decades to worm their way to equality and when that goal is reached serve to ensure that everyone gets a fair shake of the stick (probably not a good metaphor in Northern Ireland). Sometimes the balance of Democracy and Liberty is hard to maintain.

Surely God is Mad at America

Published
by
Robyn
on January 18, 2006
in New Orleans, Northern Ireland, U.S.A and World
. 2 Comments

There was outrage Tuesday after New Orleans Mayor Nagan said.

“Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it’s destroyed and put stress on this country,” Mr Nagin said.
“Surely he doesn’t approve of us being in Iraq under false pretences.”
He also said that New Orleans must be a mostly black city again because “it’s the way God wants it to be”.
“This city will be chocolate at the end of the day,”

God does get mad but he does not get mad at Americans just evildoers. Things seem to have returned to normal operations in the U.S. as people were upset about New Orleans being a “Chocolate City” and “God is mad at America”, totally overlooking the legitimacy of the “War”.

IRA committing crime whilst not involved in crime shocker

Published
by
Sarah Curran
on January 17, 2006
in IRA, Northern Ireland and Politics
. 5 Comments

The Government appear to be a bit confused about the current activities of the IRA.  BBC’s Northern Ireland news website currently (but probably not for much longer) has a gem of insititutional schizophrenia, reprinted below.  Are members of the IRA still involved in crime?  Almost definitely, as are members of every institution, including all the “major” Northern Ireland parties.  Is this sanctioned by the IRA leadership?  Probably not.  Are the people in Northern Ireland mature enough to understand this?  Sadly, I wouldn’t have thought so.

  bbc

Hatchet Man Hain

Published
by
Robyn
on January 14, 2006
in Belfast, DUP, Human Rights, IRA, Ireland, LVF, News, Northern Ireland, Politics, SDLP, Sectarian, Sinn Fein, Spy, Surveillance, UUP, UVF and World
. 4 Comments

There was a good piece over at Young Unionists by Kenny Donaldson which I felt the urge to reply to:

Northern Ireland has hardly been a great bastion of democracy. I am not aware of there ever having been a truly democratic government here, Unionists have been making excuses since 1921 to prevent Catholics from having an equal say and this continues today.

Times have changed and Britain has changed, England can not present itself as a spreader of democracy to the world while supporting an autocratic regime on its own territory. Peter Hain has the unfortunate task of trying to ensure that Unionism does not get caught on the wrong side of History.

Continue reading ‘Hatchet Man Hain’