Comments on The Pensive Quill: Battle of the Memoirs

Nuala, the Just War is a challenging theory. Any...

2010-05-09T19:42:57.487+01:00

Nuala,

the Just War is a challenging theory. Anything that has a religious input I am immediately suspicious of, for the type of reasons you have pointed out. War is one of the worst things that can happen to a society and the question has to be asked: how just it is to wage one? If we look back on our own serious questions are posed. Many of us are troubled about the ease with which we went to war and then the ease with which we celebrated our defeat; the total lack of questioning from those sent out to bear the brunt. History is not going to be kind to our struggle. I think that is one reason some of our leaders are intent on denying their role, useless as such denials are. It will be kind to Bobby and the boys who lost their lives but not those who led us into it and then stood shoulder to shoulder with us the way a hangman does to get the noose around the neck

Eileen, hope we do hear more from you whatever y...

2010-05-09T19:32:20.965+01:00

Eileen,

hope we do hear more from you whatever your views. All manner of opinion is welcome here. Censors are not made to feel at home.

Anthony

Beware of the leader, who strikes the war drum in ...

2010-05-08T10:44:32.255+01:00

Beware of the leader, who strikes the war drum in order to transfer the citizens into patriotic glow,patriotism is indeed a double sided sword,it makes the blood so boldly,like it constricts the intellect,and if striking the war drum reached a firebridge height and the blood is choking and hateingand the intellect is dismissed, the leader doesnt need to reject the citizens rights,the citizens caught by anxiety and blinded through patriotism will subordinate all their rights to the leader and this even with happy courage,why do I know that?I know it because this is what I did and I am Gajus Julius Caesar,A change of names and dates and nothing really changes

Strange how the "Just War Theory" Never ...

2010-05-07T23:51:58.175+01:00

Strange how the "Just War Theory" Never seemed to matter, when Christianity was butchering wholesale on a global scale.
They used elements of this theory it to justify the wanton murder and destruction during the Crusades. They used the odd quote from old "Hippo" for their murder and torture campaign during the Inquisitions, and knowing his opinions on women I'm sure they regurged some of his old dogma for the Witch-Hunts.
Hard to believe that people can use this sort of guff as a yardstick to measure the morality of war.

Fionnchu, Yeah he has the same perspective as Daly...

2010-05-06T22:04:02.326+01:00

Fionnchu, Yeah he has the same perspective as Daly but he not only deals with St.Augustine's 'Just War' theory but exhausts all other theories as well which can be used to support or defend armed action. He uses sometimes concrete reasoning to explain why there was an immoral war here by the IRA (he focuses on them) and also uses specious reasoning, often in equal measure. I would recommend it to anyone as the philosophical bases for a moral war which he considers are comprehensive, interesting and intelligently explained. As to his specious interpretation of his well explained philosophies, that only allows you to come to different, obvious conclusions. For example a lot of his arguments for some of the theories could be used to say that any army's actions, anywhere in the past, present or arguably future are essentially immoral. He doesn't say that of course. He assumes that some military campaigns could pass the moral tests. They couldn't possibly escape all of his criticisms for any one of the tests.

Nice circle back to the Cahal Daly piece AM posted...

2010-05-06T00:04:07.175+01:00

Nice circle back to the Cahal Daly piece AM posted, as Daly's 'Price of Peace' argued the same conclusions re: 'just war theory' it seems as Shanahan. Thanks for this, Simon.

Fionnchu, I have read Shanahan's book and if m...

2010-05-05T08:36:42.375+01:00

Fionnchu, I have read Shanahan's book and if my memory serves me correctly he has a similar viewpoint politically to Alonso's. An indepth philosophical debate on the morality of the conflict looking at the IRA's actions alone I think. He goes through a number of possible philosophical theories as to when violence is justified, compares them to the IRA's situation and states that the IRA's situation doesn't come under any of the theories of a moral or just war.

Anybody know of Timothy Shanahan's "PIRA ...

2010-05-05T00:11:41.377+01:00

Anybody know of Timothy Shanahan's "PIRA & the Morality of Terrorism"? Pricy academic book via U of Edinburgh Press 2009, sounds stodgy, but perhaps AM or others read this given Alonso tie-ins here; many thanks for these as I have a photocopy of Alonso (pricy too!) waiting for my study. Suggestions in pursuing the morality angle to RM welcome.

Liam32c- for all my opinion is worth, I thought Al...

2010-05-04T20:38:00.781+01:00

Liam32c- for all my opinion is worth, I thought Alonso's book was an intelligent and well argued case but you're right he is very pro-state, authoritarian and reactionary. The book was an interesting read in that it had a large number of interviews with republicans and he interpreted and analysed them in his own anti-republican way. He got quite fervent and vitriolic in his rubbishing of republican ideology and methods but it provoked a lot of thought on my part. I played a game trying to see if I could come up with a decent counter-argument to all his opinions (he obviously portrays them as very sound and concrete opinions) and although it wasn't impossible it provoked a lot of thought. But although I am only a layman I would say, political slants aside, he is quite astute. An interesting read. Hopefully you can find a better, more coherent review than mine before you get the book.

Liam32c, it is a very good book by a penetrating a...

2010-05-04T20:23:55.282+01:00

Liam32c, it is a very good book by a penetrating analyst. His arguments and conclusions may rub many of us up the wrong way but we don't have a monopoly on interpretation. A few friends interviewed for the book were irritated by his conclusions. But he never pulled his punches and was always straight about his view of things. Didn't think anybody other than Shinners believed in securocrats!!

Kathy, good to see your post. You did right to a...

2010-05-04T20:20:07.552+01:00

Kathy,

good to see your post. You did right to ask the awkward questions. They can only deal with blind adherence not vision. You are as well out of the place. So glad to be out of it myself. Small wonder it is one of the most deprived areas within any British administered area.

Eileen, feel free. I hope we do here from you. All...

2010-05-04T20:16:22.671+01:00

Eileen, feel free. I hope we do here from you. All opinion is welcome

Hi, I don't know if Alonso's book on IRA i...

2010-05-04T16:21:15.934+01:00

Hi, I don't know if Alonso's book on IRA is good, but his articles on spanish papers about irish conflict (and basque conflict) are extremely reactionary and pro-State propaganda. I cannot imagine a man with his securocrat approach making an honest and insightful essay on IRA and the political conflict in Northern ireland, when he basically denies it's mere existence.

Gonzo, just read this after you sent your comment...

2010-05-04T08:14:47.245+01:00

Gonzo,

just read this after you sent your comment through. Was not aware of it until then. That said I am of the opinion that it means absolutely nothing.

I'm sure it's been noted that the day afte...

2010-05-04T03:09:24.118+01:00

I'm sure it's been noted that the day after this post appeared, Fulton clearly implied that Bradley was an informer - or at least loose-lipped - on his own blog.

http://stakeknife.blogspot.com/2010/04/insider-by-gerry-bradley-brian-feeney.html

Just before I go Nuala re your comments about the ...

2010-05-02T17:39:57.210+01:00

Just before I go Nuala re your comments about the boyos striding about in funny clothes, Hermann Goreing was fond of wearing funny clothes and look how he ended up, now where the hell did I leave my tights

Tut tut Nuala its not often you make a mistake ho...

2010-05-02T17:29:25.447+01:00

Tut tut Nuala its not often you make a mistake hon ,but your last post should have read" mainland republican movement"I,m away to find our Albert and he can join with me in that old Irish tradition of giving the walls a talkin Slainte

Mackers, can I just correct my own mistake before ...

2010-05-02T16:27:48.225+01:00

Mackers, can I just correct my own mistake before Marty spots it.
I actually meant to say that they had been swimming around the "Dark"
like piranhas for years.
None of them can be classed as pariahs. No social outcasts amongst that lot, you tow the line and your part of Gerry's big melting pot, speak out and you are more likely to find yourself in it.

Kathy, hope you find happiness and prosperity in y...

2010-05-02T13:54:04.603+01:00

Kathy, hope you find happiness and prosperity in your knew home, as it is highly unlikely that you would have ever found it here, unless you could have maybe gotten yourself into the higher echelons of the "mainstream republican movement"

A sad reality of peoples' lives here is, they now have to watch former so called "revolutionaries"
stride about in the clothes of the emperor.(Not just Big G in the Caesar gear) Some of the them are millionaires and the stiil have the sheer audacity to come to our homes at election time and peddle the some old shit.

It must have been absolute torture for people like Brendan Hughes to have had to watch this day and daily. Is it any wonder his physical health degenerated to the extent it did.
Someone like the "Dark" could now be sitting wealthy with his own housing portfolio. Heroes are still big business for Sinn Fein. They can still be rolled out like the red carpet for the odd prestigious occassion.

Anyone who honestly believes that they can ever speak out, really speak out and get away with it are either demented or getting there.

Gerry Bradley had to upsticks and leave when his book was published.
Brendan Hughes's fate I dare say would have been a damn sight worse.
Considering they had already been swimming around him like pariahs for years.

Recently Gerry Adams advocated if you are going to speak out!
At least do it when you are alive,
clearly he was thinking, "We can't kill you if you are already dead"

ffs get on to Brian Mor Nuala grab as many cases o...

2010-04-30T22:47:44.707+01:00

ffs get on to Brian Mor Nuala grab as many cases of the stuff as you can get,Maskey thinks the Falls can become the new west bank eh, could be true hon all the psf shite artists are called toloose

Having just finished ready "Voices from the G...

2010-04-30T22:42:26.894+01:00

Having just finished ready "Voices from the Grave", I can only come to the conclusion that a book can only be considered contriversial, if one doesn't agree with the conclusions being drawn. To me there was nothing particularly revealing in The Darks portion, only confirmation of opinions which I already held. And to be honest I was a bit disappointed in the David Ervine portion as I did not think that he was particularly forthcoming. But I think that Gerry and Co. need to remember that the truth sometimes hurts. In reading about the upcoming elections, it makes me glad to be well out of it!! The behaviour of so called Republicans in West Belfast only helped to copper fasten our decision to move to the States. Now it brings me great joy to turn up to events here where Big G's sycophants think they have an audience that doesn't know any better and ask them them the questions that need to be asked. Most recently me and my other half made Bobby Lavery and Terry Kirby just a tad uncomfortable, but I just can't stand people spouting nonsense. Besides their big boys, they'll get over it.

Marty, very impressive! Big Julius was up in Clona...

2010-04-30T20:59:58.133+01:00

Marty, very impressive!
Big Julius was up in Clonard today on the quest for votes.
Apparently Paul Maskey thinks (well he doesn't, but) the Falls Road could mimic the "Cafe Culture of Paris" do you think it's the Traitorade thats the cause of all this?

Ah Nuala me darling girl, dont let that egomaniac ...

2010-04-30T19:56:35.835+01:00

Ah Nuala me darling girl, dont let that egomaniac annoy you rise up mo cara, Adams sould have listened to Shakespear.When that the poor have cried,Caesar hath wept,ambition should have been made of sterner stuff,Julius Caesar, though I think Adams probably loves the quote ,As he was valiant,Ihonour him,but as he was ambitious ,I slew him. again from Caesar.I like If you prick us do we not bleed?if you tickle us ,do we not laugh?if you poison us do we not die?and if you wrong us.Shall we not revenge.and finally a warning for all those in psf, All that glitters is not gold . merchant of venice

Marty, Barred from Gerry's blog won't let ...

2010-04-30T18:33:06.885+01:00

Marty, Barred from Gerry's blog won't let me utter a word.
No free speech!!!!
Very touching piece though "His Ides Of March" If you are slightly touched yourself.
Talk about egomania, this man who not so long ago advocated we all should inform on our own people, portrays and equates himself with the downfall of Caesar. (stabbed in the back )
Personally I think he has more in common with the Macbeth type character.Someone who destroys all in his path for greed and ambition.(Gerry doth murder free speech)

I'm glad I found your website. I just finishe...

2010-04-29T21:33:58.805+01:00

I'm glad I found your website. I just finished reading "Voices from the Grave". I'm Irish American and have always had an interest in Irish Republicanism. I certainly am old enough to remember the early years of the Troubles and the prison protests and hunger strike. It was difficult getting the information here in the States. I have done a lot of catching up on the history through books and internet reading.
You'll be hearing from me. Thanks.