Sinn Fein? They have gone away, you know.

[Main Street]

Going back to the issue at hand before it was side-tracked I don't have a major problem with someone exposing the opinion that McConvilles death is something that happens in war, like Lynchboy or Hardstation. I'd disagree with them but at least their honest and consistent in their opinion.

My problem is with Adams dismissing the McConville affair as same but is then happy to turn around and play the victim card when it suits the Shinners. A few month's ago he gladly reminded all of us what a heartless bitch Thatcher was for all that she was involved in. The "shit that happens in war" excuse wasn't extended to her. Also the Shinners are happy enough to parade about at hunger striker commemorations, name playparks after volunteers and build a museum at long kesh. But mention something like jean mc conville, gerry mc cabe or other members of the disappeared and it's nothing but "stop living in the past/it was 30 years ago/we've moved on with peace".

In short I wouldn't have issue with Adams opinion, Belfast of the 70's was a difficult place to live and defend your existence, it's the pungent hypocrisy that exists since. Telling you they're die-hard republicans whilst administrating British Rule in the North (conveniently being paid to do it by the crown), telling you that they're socialist and working-class and anti-austerity whilst facilitating decimating cuts to the NI departments of health and agriculture on the whim of a Tory government. Baying for blood at the financial irregularities of any politician who strays outside the rules but standing brazenly behind a SF minister still in power, who paid her brother in law 11k to paint her fcking office.

No my problem is with someone who lived their life by a distinctly arbitrary moral code, turning round and telling you what's right and what's wrong with the world today.

Do you only have a problem with Sinn Fein  telling whats right and wrong with the world, but not most other political parties, religions, not forgetting our free state intelligentsia, who know with absolute 20/20 hindsight assisted certainty how a beleaguered minority people should act and react appropriately in an  apartheid, militarised, armed to teeth, unionist statelet

I take it you don't support the GFA as it exists today, in particular the power sharing between the leading unionist and nationalist parties. What do you propose? How should the leading nationalist party in the north engage with the leading unionist party?
They shouldn't engage?

[trileacman]

I take it you don't support the GFA as it exists today, in particular the power sharing between the leading unionist and nationalist parties. What do you propose? How should the leading nationalist party in the north engage with the leading unionist party?
They shouldn't engage?

Accept the past for what it was, warts and all. No more posturing, no more excuses, no more weasel words. Finally do what your telling the world what you've been doing and move on. Leave the past for what it was and let history decide what was wrong and what was right.

[trileacman]

Do you only have a problem with Sinn Fein  telling whats right and wrong with the world, but not most other political parties, religions, not forgetting our free state intelligentsia, who know with absolute 20/20 hindsight assisted certainty how a beleaguered minority people should act and react appropriately in an  apartheid, militarised, armed to teeth, unionist statelet

You've laid out our stall there in no uncertain terms anyway, further discussion won't favour your understanding of what I've said so best to just leave it at that.

If the above is all you draw from what I've said, then so be it.

[muppet]

Going back to the issue at hand before it was side-tracked I don't have a major problem with someone exposing the opinion that McConvilles death is something that happens in war, like Lynchboy or Hardstation. I'd disagree with them but at least their honest and consistent in their opinion.

My problem is with Adams dismissing the McConville affair as same but is then happy to turn around and play the victim card when it suits the Shinners. A few month's ago he gladly reminded all of us what a heartless bitch Thatcher was for all that she was involved in. The "shit that happens in war" excuse wasn't extended to her. Also the Shinners are happy enough to parade about at hunger striker commemorations, name playparks after volunteers and build a museum at long kesh. But mention something like jean mc conville, gerry mc cabe or other members of the disappeared and it's nothing but "stop living in the past/it was 30 years ago/we've moved on with peace".

In short I wouldn't have issue with Adams opinion, Belfast of the 70's was a difficult place to live and defend your existence, it's the pungent hypocrisy that exists since. Telling you they're die-hard republicans whilst administrating British Rule in the North (conveniently being paid to do it by the crown), telling you that they're socialist and working-class and anti-austerity whilst facilitating decimating cuts to the NI departments of health and agriculture on the whim of a Tory government. Baying for blood at the financial irregularities of any politician who strays outside the rules but standing brazenly behind a SF minister still in power, who paid her brother in law 11k to paint her fcking office.

No my problem is with someone who lived their life by a distinctly arbitrary moral code, turning round and telling you what's right and what's wrong with the world today.

Good post.

[Ulick]

Out of curiosity, of all you who have contributed to this discussion on the Adams interview, how many actually watched the whole thing and not just the selected comment?

[Main Street]

I take it you don't support the GFA as it exists today, in particular the power sharing between the leading unionist and nationalist parties. What do you propose? How should the leading nationalist party in the north engage with the leading unionist party?
They shouldn't engage?

Accept the past for what it was, warts and all. No more posturing, no more excuses, no more weasel words. Finally do what your telling the world what you've been doing and move on. Leave the past for what it was and let history decide what was wrong and what was right.

That's not an answer to the question. You expressed misgiving about Sinn Fein's action in the assembly.  How should the  leading nationalist party engage with the leading loyalist party in the power sharing set up?

[Applesisapples]

What happened to Jean McConville is no better or no worse than what happened in the early 1900's and no more or no less worthy of condemnation. 40 years ago or 99 what is the difference? As with all historical atrocities it can not be viewed through the prism of today and must be seen in context. There have been atrocities on all sides, British, Loyalist, Republican, Pro and Anti treaty alike. Time perhaps to stop talking shit about all of this and accept that all sides have things not to be proud of lurking in the past. Ireland is a better place today in terms of the absence of violence, what-a-boutery is not helpful, and all parties North and South need to look at themselves first. On an aside, fellow Northerners referring to "The Free State" should by now know that our Southern fellow countrymen view it as a term of abuse, akin to calling us Nordies and it is partitionist to boot.

[trileacman]

I take it you don't support the GFA as it exists today, in particular the power sharing between the leading unionist and nationalist parties. What do you propose? How should the leading nationalist party in the north engage with the leading unionist party?
They shouldn't engage?

Accept the past for what it was, warts and all. No more posturing, no more excuses, no more weasel words. Finally do what your telling the world what you've been doing and move on. Leave the past for what it was and let history decide what was wrong and what was right.

That's not an answer to the question. You expressed misgiving about Sinn Fein's action in the assembly.  How should the  leading nationalist party engage with the leading loyalist party in the power sharing set up?

Quit with the faux republicanism, it's embarrassing to harp on about "the struggle" for a united Ireland whilst on the other hand posing for a photo shoot with the queen before you receive the golden handshake. Quit with the "Stoop" slur and trying to belittle others whilst portraying yourself as the only true republicans around. The facade of selling Easter lillies at the chapel gates, draping the tricolour over the election office and posters, hijacking the Irish language for political gain may be enough to fool a lot of Northern Catholics but it doesn't wash with me.

By all means work with the Unionists to bring the NI people together and hold onto the fragile peace created. Acknowledge that, which your actions clearly demonstrate, the violence of the troubles could never have solved the problems in NI and engaging and negotiating with the British and Unionist faction is the best policy to adopt.

[Rossfan]

What happened to Jean McConville is no better or no worse than what happened in the early 1900's and no more or no less worthy of condemnation.
There have been atrocities on all sides, British, Loyalist, Republican, Pro and Anti treaty alike. 
all sides have things not to be proud of lurking in the past.
Ireland is a better place today in terms of the absence of violence,
On an aside, fellow Northerners referring to "The Free State" should by now know that our Southern fellow countrymen view it as a term of abuse, akin to calling us Nordies and it is partitionist to boot.

Agree with all that.
Problem is Shinners want ( rightfully in my opinion ) enquiries into a lot of the wrong doings of the Brits and RUC/UDR/UDA/UVF colluders but want their own wrong doings glossed over. Attacking people for pointing this out is not a good way to win friends or influence people.
Then they want the 26 Cos electorate to vote for them in big numbers while calling them partitionist abusive names.
Time to grow up SF lads and lassies

[Bazil Douglas]

Cant say I agree with everything SF say or do, but I would give credit to Adams & Mc Guinness for their ability & leadership in removing the gun & bomb from N. Ireland
And for all you guys pontificating from your ivory towers remember the 5 steps to tyranny.

[Rossfan]

Enlighten us.

[trileacman]

Enlighten us.

1. Sign Cantona

[muppet]

Enlighten us.

1. Sign Cantona

2. Trampoline naked with an animal.

[Wildweasel74]

I ask a better one, what have Sinn Fein done in west Belfast the past 20 years in terms of regeneration. you can only go to the well so often with vote for us on a united ireland front, the school pass rates are no better than they were 15yrs ago, joy riders still reign havoc on and off. suicides seem to have increased. What massive companies have come to the area. I be in west Belfast every week and so many areas still look so run down. Yes the swimming pools and Libraries have been upgraded along with some schools but what has really changed, are the people of west Belfast  better off in terms of works, future for their children?. Sometimes out side the sectarian vote i struggle to understand a party getting it so handy to get voted back in with so little return for the voters!

[Tony Baloney]

I ask a better one, what have Sinn Fein done in west Belfast the past 20 years in terms of regeneration. you can only go to the well so often with vote for us on a united ireland front, the school pass rates are no better than they were 15yrs ago, joy riders still reign havoc on and off. suicides seem to have increased. What massive companies have come to the area. I be in west Belfast every week and so many areas still look so run down. Yes the swimming pools and Libraries have been upgraded along with some schools but what has really changed, are the people of west Belfast  better off in terms of works, future for their children?. Sometimes out side the sectarian vote i struggle to understand a party getting it so handy to get voted back in with so little return for the voters!

They could run a blow up doll in W. Belfast and still be elected. Paul Maskey is a perfect example.