Comments on The Pensive Quill: Withstanding the Regime

reggie, I think you may be right, but if so why n...

2009-06-13T12:22:20.982+01:00

reggie,

I think you may be right, but if so why not admit it. The question which needs to be answered is who held the decision making reigns during the second hunger strike. Richard all but admits in his book that the prisoners had conceded this to the PIRA Army Council.

Some volunteers who were Army Council members in 1981 and have since broken with SF, appear to have shifted all responsibility for the way the hunger strike was run onto Adams and his A/C sub committee, which may be partially true, but nevertheless it is difficult to believe that members of the A/C at the time would not have know where responsibility for calling off the hunger strike lay. (Who finally made the decision to call off the Hunger strike?)

We must also not lose sight of the fact that the hunger strikers saw themselves as soldiers, under the orders of their PIRA command structure.

The mistake the Adams leadership are [still] making is to believe they can bat everything into the long grass and it will disappear. For what Richard O'Rawe has done is reject the scythe which left the field half cut, and gone at the job with a high tec lawnmower, which has cleared the ground for all to see.

Is it possible that the leadership were simply not...

2009-06-12T19:36:54.718+01:00

Is it possible that the leadership were simply not intelligent or courageous enough to make the decision to withdraw from the strike? We know how devious they are now but back then were they simply afraid of being outfoxed by the brits.

The silence from the Shinners is shameful. I'm...

2009-06-12T16:21:39.660+01:00

The silence from the Shinners is shameful. I'm not surprised they didn't turn up for the Derry debate because the evidence on the night was very convincing. Here’s a suggestion for the West Belfast Festival; I dare you to dedicate this years ‘Let’s Talk’ debate to the Hunger Strike and have Richard O’Raw, Willie Gallagher, Liam Clarke, Danny Morrison and Gerry Adams on the panel.

Sinn Fein and the revolving door strategy content ...

2009-06-12T05:10:43.111+01:00

Sinn Fein and the revolving door strategy content to put their spin on the issue with old British tactics of censorship and selective amnesia.
Political amnesia seems to be a requirement of the new progressive Sinn Fein.
The hunger strike conveniently forgotten much like who was a member of the IRA within the leadership seems to lend creditability to the issue of a deal.
If these people seriously can’t remember an issue that is unforgettably a part of the republican psyche the issue is lost.
The revolving door tactic of amnesia is flawed surely some one would recall an important probably life saving question of a deal or offer.
If all these forgetful people are running a political party should people be concerned that they suffer from memory lapse?
Granted it is almost 29 years ago and memories fade though I would wonder if anyone would forget the issue of a deal or offer!
If Sinn Fein produced concrete evidence to show there was no offer then the issue would be settled the fact they introduce shaky and questionable changing short narratives that are inconsistent indicates there is truth to be found.
Cleary the issue has been and is still being swept under the rug the more they push it away the higher the mound of questions grows.
As I said before I was not convinced that any one would “betray” the prisoners
Now like many others I am convinced it is the leadership who need to disprove Richard O Rawes well solidified facts that haven’t changed.
Keeping the issue afloat is necessary and I would encourage people to comment on the matter. It is one issue we can’ let political loyalty displace human truth.

And now the ball is in SinnFein's court. Go...

2009-06-11T21:21:04.368+01:00

And now the ball is in SinnFein's court.

Good post as usual Anthony. I hope this doesn't stop now. I want the people involved to admit the truth.

Over the years, reading everything I could, when O'Rawe's book came out..I thought about it. Could they have been that sick. My answer came up..yes they could and are.

Walking on the bodies of dead IRA heroes doesn't seem to bother them at all. Look what they did to Brendan Hughes. They made his last years miserable.

I hope an investigation continues and if the sickos refuse to participate again...then we will all know the truth.

Kate, 'why is more important than ever befor...

2009-06-10T20:32:18.141+01:00

Kate,

'why is more important than ever before'

I think that is true but don't feel O'Rawe has to bear the onerous burden of having to prove it. In order to come out on top all he had to do was prove what he alleged to be true. I think he has done that.

2009-06-10T20:07:55.197+01:00

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