Comments on The Pensive Quill: Why they won’t keep the union flag flying here

Frankie, This is become one of those urban myths....

2013-02-11T08:54:05.146Z

Frankie,

This is become one of those urban myths. We were not forced out of West Belfast. In fact by the time we left relations had improved with the Shinners who lived on the street at least. But we had not lived happily there.

Larry- "MERRY XMAS EVERYONE " Wait til...

2012-12-24T18:29:14.120Z

Larry-

"MERRY XMAS EVERYONE "

Wait till St John sees that- a x instead of Christ-what the hell were you thinking of-lol-

Frankie Would be sure to read your adventures. I...

2012-12-24T15:24:02.059Z

Frankie

Would be sure to read your adventures.

Itsjustmacker

Wont be going anywhere for 3 yrs if i get doing my PHD. Had considered the dissidents but at the rate of 40 arrests and 3 operations per decade it would be a difficult study. Eventually i'd like a couple of years away for teaching experience then apply for a teaching position at home.

Tain Bo

im merely lamenting the fact those in the Dail have never had an interest in effectively managing a wee nation of 4 million people. Disgraceful.

As for the English and the famine; did anyone research what the RC church did about it? Or the fact that not a penny of O'Connell's repeal 'chest' of over £30,000 was spent on famine relief? yep, the brits were scum, but they had good company. AND WHO BENEFITTED fromn the land clearances? The wealthy Irish Catholic farmers consolidated their position. England is a handy scape-goat. Germany next!

MERRY XMAS EVERYONE hope you all have a good festive season.

firstly differences of opinion will arise over wh...

2012-12-22T00:41:34.005Z

firstly differences of opinion will arise over what occurred and terminology of An Gorta Mor, The famine, potato blight but with my opinion at least is it was socially and economically constructed - by Britain - examples include the poor laws of 1838 - eviction from small holdings and clearances and forced emigration - a succinct timeline of The 19th century link here-
http://www.thegreathunger.org/MoreInformation/FamineTimeline.asp
It was genocide the difference to famine is policy - it was deliberate starvation.

Not everyone had "the choice of emigration to the land of choice the USA" but no choice - The diaspora wasn't by choice but many emigrated through force or sheer desperation.

The article poses some interesting points on the state in Ireland today and its relationship to Britain, the 6 counties and Europe.
Personally I think Ireland will not look to renew commonwealth ties with Britain - the economic power of Europe is much larger than Britains, for all its pontificating, Britain knows its future lies in Europe hence Irelands-if the banks are too big to fail Europe won't let nation states "fail" that's how they maintain the capitalist system.
There is some credence to a de facto home rule existing in Ireland now but it only exists because 26county governments have entered into cross border bodies yet cannot deliver for example a bill of rights which was in the GFA, because the GFA was built on Britain maintaining its overall rule in the 6counties. Devolution to stormont came with caveats that Britain held responsibility for eg national security in justice and policing.
Quisling SF bought in to a slice of the cake looking to the USA as much of the 6 counties does for its $$$, and a coalition to ensure some grip on power.
It may be an island of Ireland but its still divided and so the people as one half looks to Europe while the other to the US and UK at the same time-Quisling SF can't deliver anymore than any other they are all trying to be all things to all people and fooling less and less.
I go on a bit! but yes Ireland has its resources say today that residents in Clare wanting to resist newly granted licence to explore and commence fracking off the coast for shale gas. economics is not everything - the resources are still there don't destroy an ancient isle and its environment for a quick buck - that will be judged by history too.

Tain Bo. Thanks for that, appreciated, and, Your ...

2012-12-22T00:06:16.312Z

Tain Bo.

Thanks for that, appreciated, and, Your opinion is more than welcome in my book, to me its all about dialogue.

Itsjustmacker you are not butting in your opinion...

2012-12-21T22:21:33.776Z

Itsjustmacker

you are not butting in your opinion is always welcomed in my book.

Marty/Tain Bo Not butting in here but The proper ...

2012-12-21T21:37:13.910Z

Marty/Tain Bo

Not butting in here but The proper term would be "Potato Blight", when the british realised this they cleared all the stocks and took them to england thus creating "THE FAMINE", which was genocide.

Marty I agree wholeheartedly it was genocide and ...

2012-12-21T19:32:19.342Z

Marty

I agree wholeheartedly it was genocide and at the time an English solution to the wretched Irish problem. I understand what you are stating as I have some knowledge of the history but famine is the result from the potato blight. A third party reading might have no knowledge on the subject and the word famine might raise an eyebrow whereas potato blight in modern terms could read different.
In our coin and paper, society we grab things of a shelf and give little or no thought to where it came from.
There was, as you say correctly no shortage of food, the poor depended on the potatoes they toiled for as not only the main source of food but also as currency trading for other goods and foods without that they became disposable.
Famine or potato blight we are splitting hairs it was preventable genocide.

Tain bo a cara I wasnt asking for a form of cens...

2012-12-21T17:47:53.093Z

Tain bo a cara I wasnt asking for a form of censorship ,what happened in that period of 1846 -52 was not a famine a cara, you know full well the dictionary definition of a famine is shortage of food, there was in Ireland at that time no shortage of food indeed the records show bumper crops and livestock exports, most people and historians use the proper description of that time as AN GORTA MOR or great hunger it was genocide a cara nothing else ,and using words like famine let those responsible of the hook,Its not about opinion a cara its about facts...and they say genocide...sin é

Marty I understand your purpose of offering advic...

2012-12-21T16:51:58.902Z

Marty

I understand your purpose of offering advice on choosing words carefully as it is easy to offend the problem being you are asking for a form of censorship based on your preference.
Famine is an appropriate description in our case the potato blight was the cause of famine.
You jump the gun, as you did not ask my view on the famine do I believe the English took advantage of the crop failure(s) and exploited it politically and financially with a if you can’t beat them out then starve them out policy the answer is yes without doubt.
Do I believe the English acted alone in creating profit from starvation and human misery no there is a certain amount of Irish guilt Irish proprietors and unscrupulous businessmen whom enjoyed profiteering from their fellow people’s plight.

Tain bo a cara and anyone else here please chose y...

2012-12-21T10:14:51.916Z

Tain bo a cara and anyone else here please chose your words carefully when talking about the geoncide which took 1846-52,there was a potato blight but no famine, what occured here in those dark days was mass murder plain and simple..so a cara its like saying bloody Sunday was mass suicide if we repeat the lie re famine.....

Larry you complain about people migrating but inf...

2012-12-20T23:02:49.560Z

Larry

you complain about people migrating but infer when or if you do it is not the same thing.
Where would humanity be without migration you swing it as an ax against the Irish and belittling the Irish Famine serves no purpose ignore the cause of famine write it away as an intestinal pain.

“ It has been identified from pre famine times, anyone with a titter of wit or talent got outa Ireland ASAP and it was bemoaned that the majority left behind were the dregs, wasters, cripples, ass-holes, bellyachers and the mentally sick. (the 'physically' sick got on the boat)Don't take my word for it, read a book on the history of Irish emigration.”

Are you saying you lack both wit and talent as you have not left does that apply to all that have no desire to uproot past and present? Do not let gravity hold you down I am sure you will find away to rise above the rest of humankind.
I am sure there was no cause of the famine and sure that there was no profit made in the trafficking of human misery.

The rest of that makes no sense at all and just sounds like anti Irish gibberish.

CDs much like armed republicanism are both outdated I can understand it but have stated before they should unite and form a political party it is not a big secret armed republicanism will not remove the British. I have no political affiliation but shall always support the working class and the poor a few of your many pet hates.

Is my negative attitude any more or less offensive than your post as you show and are consistent in showing a negative view of many things doing the PC shuffle when I questioned your reasoning is acceptable as you feel offended yet you are anti PC as the positive aspect of it deeply offends your sensibilities.

Read back I wished you all the very best on bettering yourself on more than one post unlike you Larry I do not object to people living as they choose.

You nailed me down Larry on that cross of societies rejects I am lazy, I complain, both fair enough but how do you come up with me backstabbing you when I address you.

Frohe Weihnachten meine freind

Larry: Whatever country you choose to go to to te...

2012-12-20T20:31:36.353Z

Larry:

Whatever country you choose to go to to teach, I wish you all the good luck in the world, times are hard throughout the whole of Europe at the moment, and for that matter in the grand old U.S. of A, more homeless there than ever before.

Good Luck Lad, its better than sitting on your ASS all day watching TV and waiting for the club or the bookies to open to spend the Auld Queens Giro. lol

Marty sometimes multiculturalism has real benefits...

2012-12-20T16:03:20.420Z

Marty sometimes multiculturalism has real benefits...

Larry, You will soon be able to read about my exp...

2012-12-20T15:54:00.777Z

Larry,

You will soon be able to read about my experiences in my up and coming best seller...

" From the arsehole of Belfast to the shit hole of Europe (the tales of a Belfast Rockabilly)

Tain Bo The 'piss-process' can leave peop...

2012-12-20T13:12:34.570Z

Tain Bo

The 'piss-process' can leave people feeling a tad schitzo i'll grant you that. I personally can see good as well as bad in the various realities. The loyalists/unionists will morph and invent a new self-interest agenda. And nordy taigs will pamper them for it. The numbers going to UK + Commonwealth nations is not a vote of confidence in mother Ireland whether under British rule or during the 100 years since it. That's just a reality. Nor are people in a hurry back when they get away from the endless 'drag' that is economic life and politics here.

I suspect you are a dissident supporter as they also do seem to have a one tune CD, on 'stuck-mode'.

Life throws challenges at people, some people can make a change whilst still being able to identify faults and blessings. Some people are just natural born bellyachers. It's better than a job I suppose in a lot of cases. It has been identified from pre famine times, anyone with a titter of wit or talent got outa Ireland ASAP and it was bemoaned that the majority left behind were the dregs, wasters, cripples, ass-holes, bellyachers and the mentally sick. (the 'physically' sick got on the boat)Don't take my word for it, read a book on the history of Irish emigration.

In relation to teaching or improving my personal financial position, your attitude reveals a negativity. Perhaps you're just someone who revels in idleness and wants to bellyache and backstab anyone with a different life-plan. Or even 'any' lifeplan. lol You can Blame the Germans for Irelands ills now Tain Bo, that will be a nice change of 'scene' FOR YOU lmao.

Frankie

It is a fact that to learn a second language you are better to be embedded in a community that uses that language. That's why students come here and to the UK to learn english and work here at the same time. It can be a wasted financial exercise trying a few lessons a week and hoping it will do without interaction in a target language environment.

I'm not that motivated to learn another language myself just now to be honest, but when I do get around to it my choice will be Spanish. Perhaps whilst teaching English in Latin America or Spain for a few years.

My wife would go loco and call me cabron grande!! if i even suggested taking breakfasts with strange women. You got me all curious about your own experiences though I must admit. Pray do-tell!

Frankie a cara breakfast sounds a good way to lea...

2012-12-20T10:05:07.191Z

Frankie a cara breakfast sounds a good way to learn the language but bed well now a cara thats the place to make a cultural introduction...

Larry the Zillions of Euro you talk about have gon...

2012-12-20T01:06:51.831Z

Larry the Zillions of Euro you talk about have gone to prop up banks. Not to 'Wee Johnny and Mary' who need it. And who are faced with the stark reality to choose between feeding themselves, heating their homes or paying their rent to keep a roof over their heads..

And your point about Britian being 'silly billies' for not keeping hold of most of the colonies. Incase it escaped your notice, they weren't Britains to keep. They had no right invading, raping etc any country. No country does.

When you said you can't speak French, when I first went to France I couldn't even say Bonjour, if you want to learn a foreign language, best advice I can give is have breakfast with women from what ever country to care to live in (trust me you'll learn more and quicker than you get in books)..

Larry your reason makes you part of your own prob...

2012-12-19T23:08:59.882Z

Larry

your reason makes you part of your own problem as you have an issue with migration but it is noble in your case as you want to teach not that bettering yourself financially would cross your mind or remotely persuade you as you bemoan almost everything north and south and abroad at times.
You make about as much sense as our loyalist/ unionist brethren with their we want nationalists to be part of Northern Ireland’s democracy as long as nationalists do as unionists say and do not practice democracy.
You claim you are an Irish nationalist yet you manage to come across as an ultra conservative Irish unionist.
I will give you credit you are consistent in your babbling and over exaggeration. Perhaps you should consider migrating south and teaching the Irish Republic the proper way to run a country from the book of Larry.
My offer still stands I will be happy to pay your fare, as it would be interesting to hear you complain about whatever host country you settle in.

This article is thought provoking. I aint a big f...

2012-12-19T21:17:19.772Z

This article is thought provoking. I aint a big fan of him mind, but the article is just about spot on. Give it a read.

http://eamonnmallie.com/2012/12/the-working-class-can-kiss-my-ass/

The only way to get the southern cute hoors in agr...

2012-12-19T20:22:32.025Z

The only way to get the southern cute hoors in agreement on a new form of politics would be to offer to distribute future EEC zillions equally amongst the population and run the national lottery on the basis of half towards public services and half towards creating a set number of different 100,000 euro winners each week working its way through the population.

Socialism doesn't interest nor even register among the southern population. It's a dead duck. Sad for the few genuine quality activists in the dissidents that they continue with farce. Who are they setting free??? I believe it is now a personal vendetta or they just bugger-all else to do.

Sectarianism has been carefully nurtured and dressed as loyalty by an ugly group of foreigners who have no desire to be Irish for centuries. It's a smokescrene for theft and evil. Pandering to it just put a knowing smirk on the face of orangeism as far as i'm concerned. But the future decades may finally see an end to them.

John whats you take on the susposed UK wide flag p...

2012-12-19T20:15:50.859Z

John whats you take on the susposed UK wide flag protest planned for this Friday. According to todays Newsletter there is one planned.

But listening to British radio stations and the press no one on the UK mainland (outside of the BNP & EDL) could give two hoots about their protest. In fact they think they are (loyalists, Unionist's) still living in the dark ages.

James little ever changes for the poor and workin...

2012-12-19T19:34:49.366Z

James

little ever changes for the poor and working class the taig and prod mentality will infect generations to come sectarianism is an accepted well defined way of life we are nuts as we accept the Peace Walls hardly anything peaceful about walls that clearly define the separation of communities.

Niall I do not know what his doctorate credential...

2012-12-19T19:33:40.612Z

Niall

I do not know what his doctorate credentials are I enjoy reading his articles, as his political imagination always seems to describe his perfect unionist world he does invent some fantastic scenarios at times comical. In fairness all things are possible offering the Irish a financial harbour in the commonwealth sounds like triumphalism expanding the lost empire.
Nothing insulting in the unionist book about buying the Irish and that is his polite offer I doubt the Irish Republic would give up independence and gamble on a temporary financial fix one that would ultimately fan the nationalist pride and undoubtedly lead to armed resistance as history would repeat itself.

A quote by Nicollo Machiavelli would sum it up.

There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.

Frankie The USA was the place of choice for most ...

2012-12-19T10:42:03.734Z

Frankie

The USA was the place of choice for most Irish in the day when it was still a land of equal-'ish' opportunity. Whilst watching the Queen and O'Bama's visits recently I was personally struck by O'Bama standing a round of drink in a boozer and sinking a pint where-as her Maj' couldn't possibly do such a thing. It placed in a nutshell for me what America used to be all about and it has to be said, the U.S. of A. managed to upstage a royal visit which I had doubted was possible at the time. They sure put on a great show.

America now (USA) is NOT where I would want to migrate to. Even the afluent 'nice' middle class areas seem to have been squeezed and bled almost out of existence. I'm no expert, but maybe it's like the bubble and bust economy, the 'dream' has long since reached saturation point....pop!

As I say, the Brits cerainly didn't do themselves any favours wherever they went. That's why they lost their colonies...silly billies. But in an ugly world, their systems that evolved through economic and political trial and error are preferable to any others I see. Although I do hear the French have a fantastic attitude to work and leisure time not to mention health and services. Unfortunately I don't speak any language other than ingerlish.

sacre blue!! how sad for me.