http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm)
I have respected him for quite a while but it really must have taken an enormous amount of strength to do what he did in meeting Adams
Quote from: ardmhachaabu on December 08, 2009, 09:51:01 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm)
I have respected him for quite a while but it really must have taken an enormous amount of strength to do what he did in meeting Adams
Wow, that man has more character than the best of men. That would take some courage and he is very inciteful when it comes to how we should be behaving as a community.
A journey of 1000 mikles starts with a first step. A big up to all who have suffered and take that difficuylt first stgep.
Was reading this article yesterday. He certainly has a lot more courage than the people who claim to represent him, or most politicians for that matter.
You do know that Jesus is a goalkeeper?
Funny how a man who lost that which was most precious to him can try to rebuild a life with huge steps of faith and courage and yet we have those on here still crying about how they were once harrassed by the police and how we will never move on with the PSNI.
Some of the people who lost the most during the troubles, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, husbands and wives have stepped up to the plate to try and give this country a chance for generations to come.
For the love of giving peace a chance, would some of you ever get over yourselves (and your hurt).
Quote from: ardmhachaabu on December 08, 2009, 09:51:01 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm)
I have respected him for quite a while but it really must have taken an enormous amount of strength to do what he did in meeting Adams
A man to be admired. The place needs more like him. It's a pity Michelle Williamson etc. wouldn't take a leaf out of his book, but I don't know how I'd react in the same situation. Forgiveness would probably well down the list of emotions.
Quote from: stew on December 08, 2009, 09:55:48 PM
Quote from: ardmhachaabu on December 08, 2009, 09:51:01 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm)
I have respected him for quite a while but it really must have taken an enormous amount of strength to do what he did in meeting Adams
Wow, that man has more character than the best of men. That would take some courage and he is very inciteful when it comes to how we should be behaving as a community.
You mean insightful I hope?!
Paisley was the man to incite things!
Quote from: Puckoon on December 08, 2009, 11:20:17 PM
Funny how a man who lost that which was most precious to him can try to rebuild a life with huge steps of faith and courage and yet we have those on here still crying about how they were once harrassed by the police and how we will never move on with the PSNI.
Some of the people who lost the most during the troubles, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, husbands and wives have stepped up to the plate to try and give this country a chance for generations to come.
For the love of giving peace a chance, would some of you ever get over yourselves (and your hurt).
Maybe when the RUC/PSNI comes as far as Adams has we will.
Quote from: Puckoon on December 08, 2009, 11:20:17 PM
Funny how a man who lost that which was most precious to him can try to rebuild a life with huge steps of faith and courage and yet we have those on here still crying about how they were once harrassed by the police and how we will never move on with the PSNI.
Some of the people who lost the most during the troubles, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, husbands and wives have stepped up to the plate to try and give this country a chance for generations to come.
For the love of giving peace a chance, would some of you ever get over yourselves (and your hurt).
The harassment goes on, and on and on.
We were never a political family, never got involved with anyone or anything detremental to the community, we were harassed, the bastards took me up on false charges once and I won my case, the cop who lied his arse off told me I would be got, he was right, he hounded me for ears until the senior cop in Armagh finally agreed with us and he was told to steer clear, he is still, to this day showing up on my da's door harassing him and my mother.
Puck, when these hold overs that were twisted cnuts move on and when this policing body start policing with an even hand I will of course support them, i find a lot of them to be lazy, disinterested cowards who sit idly by and watch the scum of the earth wreck about the town in the wee hours and they do nothing.
have to admit, i think the fella in the article is a bit of a role model. Dont think i could do what he did.
Remember there was a show on a few years back about people meeting the people who killed family members, friends throughout the troubles. That cnut Michael Stone was on it. But again it took a lot of courage from family members to go through with it.
Stew on your point, couldnt agree more.
A man to be admired. To compare the difference between this man's attitude and Willie Frazer's shows how far things havecome but how far they have to go. Small steps wtc, but McBride will be a happier man in later years for doing this and I hope for his sake he steps backs now to normality because he seems to be an honest, humble man and while there is need for more of these people the situation is not ready for them.
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on December 09, 2009, 09:52:08 AM
A man to be admired. To compare the difference between this man's attitude and Willie Frazer's shows how far things havecome but how far they have to go. Small steps wtc, but McBride will be a happier man in later years for doing this and I hope for his sake he steps backs now to normality because he seems to be an honest, humble man and while there is need for more of these people the situation is not ready for them.
Unique man who has to be given credit for what he has done so far.
Fair dues to him. Hope he has found solace along the way.
Quote from: orangeman on December 09, 2009, 11:22:48 AM
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on December 09, 2009, 09:52:08 AM
A man to be admired. To compare the difference between this man's attitude and Willie Frazer's shows how far things havecome but how far they have to go. Small steps wtc, but McBride will be a happier man in later years for doing this and I hope for his sake he steps backs now to normality because he seems to be an honest, humble man and while there is need for more of these people the situation is not ready for them.
Unique man who has to be given credit for what he has done so far.
I agree and it understandably took him time to get there. We are all human and he is showing a particularly good aspect of humanity. But we as a society are addicted elevating people to celebrity/role model pedestals where they never live up to our unreasonable expectations.
We need more ordinary people to be like him rather than seeing him as extraordinary.
QuoteFair dues to him. Hope he has found solace along the way.
I couldn't agree more.
People like this should be given more air time than the likes of that Frazer twat, if the media and public ignored him he'd soon go away. When he was issuing slab with his writ i was secretly wishing for slab to appear and have a go at him but alas he was only left standing lookin like a fool...
Quote from: screenmachine on December 09, 2009, 01:20:08 PM
People like this should be given more air time than the likes of that Frazer t**t, if the media and public ignored him he'd soon go away. When he was issuing slab with his writ i was secretly wishing for slab to appear and have a go at him but alas he was only left standing lookin like a fool...
Exactly, Frazer is an embarrassment. This mans compassion is touching given what he has lost.
Nothing but admiration for this man. willie frazer's name should not even be spoken in the same breath.
Quote from: Tony Baloney on December 08, 2009, 11:22:56 PM
Quote from: ardmhachaabu on December 08, 2009, 09:51:01 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm)
I have respected him for quite a while but it really must have taken an enormous amount of strength to do what he did in meeting Adams
A man to be admired. The place needs more like him. It's a pity Michelle Williamson etc. wouldn't take a leaf out of his book, but I don't know how I'd react in the same situation. Forgiveness would probably well down the list of emotions.
I admire Alan McBride for the stance he is taking, and wish him only the best in his search for answers etc. However, I must take exception to your bringing Michelle Williamson into the debate in this manner.
For those unfamiliar with the name, Williamson lost both her parents in the same Shankill bomb atrocity as McBride. Subsequently, she has campaigned prominently against eg the early release of the bomber who survived the explosion, or for 'compensation' [
sic] to be paid eg to the family of the bomber who died in the bombing:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1130113/Families-IRA-victims-confront-Republicans-report-recommends-terrorists-relatives-given-12-000-each.html
Their contrasting reactions raise a very interesting point about forgiveness etc. Clearly, if more people could find it within themselves to react like McBride, it may lead quicker to reconciliation etc. But in the end, why should the onus be on the
victims of terror to put right past wrongs? Why should there be any prescribed reaction to such events? If one victim finds solace from gaining "understanding" (McBride), but another by gaining "justice" (Williamson), why should we applaud one, but deny the other?
If something like that were to be visited upon me, I would hope that my reaction might be nearer that of McBride's than Williamson's - if for no other reason than that by his enormous charity, he may have better chance of finding closure through understanding, than Williamson has via justice.
But if that weren't the case, I'm fucked if, having had my loved ones taken from me through no fault of my own, I also had taken away from me the right to reconcile myself with my loss in the way of my choosing*.
In the end, the onus to find understanding and reconciliation must come initially from the vermin who commit the atrocities, not their victims, if we ever are to find true acceptance and peace.
* - Any choice should, of course, be legal and not designed to encourage reprisals or otherwise protract the conflict etc.
point well made EG
Mr McBride -- a true example to us all. Fair play to him.
Pay nothing to anyone.
Quote from: Evil Genius on December 09, 2009, 03:49:01 PM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on December 08, 2009, 11:22:56 PM
Quote from: ardmhachaabu on December 08, 2009, 09:51:01 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm)
I have respected him for quite a while but it really must have taken an enormous amount of strength to do what he did in meeting Adams
A man to be admired. The place needs more like him. It's a pity Michelle Williamson etc. wouldn't take a leaf out of his book, but I don't know how I'd react in the same situation. Forgiveness would probably well down the list of emotions.
I admire Alan McBride for the stance he is taking, and wish him only the best in his search for answers etc. However, I must take exception to your bringing Michelle Williamson into the debate in this manner.
For those unfamiliar with the name, Williamson lost both her parents in the same Shankill bomb atrocity as McBride. Subsequently, she has campaigned prominently against eg the early release of the bomber who survived the explosion, or for 'compensation' [sic] to be paid eg to the family of the bomber who died in the bombing:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1130113/Families-IRA-victims-confront-Republicans-report-recommends-terrorists-relatives-given-12-000-each.html
Their contrasting reactions raise a very interesting point about forgiveness etc. Clearly, if more people could find it within themselves to react like McBride, it may lead quicker to reconciliation etc. But in the end, why should the onus be on the victims of terror to put right past wrongs? Why should there be any prescribed reaction to such events? If one victim finds solace from gaining "understanding" (McBride), but another by gaining "justice" (Williamson), why should we applaud one, but deny the other?
If something like that were to be visited upon me, I would hope that my reaction might be nearer that of McBride's than Williamson's - if for no other reason than that by his enormous charity, he may have better chance of finding closure through understanding, than Williamson has via justice.
But if that weren't the case, I'm fucked if, having had my loved ones taken from me through no fault of my own, I also had taken away from me the right to reconcile myself with my loss in the way of my choosing*.
In the end, the onus to find understanding and reconciliation must come initially from the vermin who commit the atrocities, not their victims, if we ever are to find true acceptance and peace.
* - Any choice should, of course, be legal and not designed to encourage reprisals or otherwise protract the conflict etc.
Catch yourself on. Williamson is going through grief and she is being used by certain extreme elements of unionism. Don't kid yourself as to which approach works better for the person. I can guarantee you that McBride's response has done more for him as a person than all the bitterness Williamson comes out with has done for her as a person (her actions have been understandable but not best for her as a person, I hasten to add)
Alan is a beacon of hope in our society in my opinion. I know some former UVF men also have the same sort of ideas as espoused by David Ervine, believe it or not Ervine and McBride weren't that far apart politically by the time Ervine died. He was another man I had a lot of time for and he's the only public PUP figure I haven't met - Billy Hutch is sound as a pound, wee Hughie hasn't a bad bone in his body and Dawn Purvis is a very genuine person altogether.
Anyway, Alan is about the most courageous and committed person I know of when it comes to trying to find reconciliation between the Nationalist and Unionist communities (for want of a better way of explaining the situation)
Sweet Lord, Who the hell is Wee Hughie?
Hugh Smyth, former Lord Mayor of Belfast (a couple of times, I think)
Quote from: Yes I Would on December 09, 2009, 11:07:12 PM
Sweet Lord, Who the hell is Wee Hughie?
Ach sure, do you not know Wee Hughie ???...
He's gone to school, wee Hughie,
An' him not four,
Sure I saw the fright was in him
When he left the door.
I watched him to the cornero' the big turf stack,
An' the more his feet went forrit,
Still his head turned back.
I followed to the turnin
'When they passed it by,
God help him he was cryin',
An' maybe so was I.
Quote from: ardmhachaabu on December 09, 2009, 10:56:42 PM
Quote from: Evil Genius on December 09, 2009, 03:49:01 PM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on December 08, 2009, 11:22:56 PM
Quote from: ardmhachaabu on December 08, 2009, 09:51:01 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8398895.stm)
I have respected him for quite a while but it really must have taken an enormous amount of strength to do what he did in meeting Adams
A man to be admired. The place needs more like him. It's a pity Michelle Williamson etc. wouldn't take a leaf out of his book, but I don't know how I'd react in the same situation. Forgiveness would probably well down the list of emotions.
I admire Alan McBride for the stance he is taking, and wish him only the best in his search for answers etc. However, I must take exception to your bringing Michelle Williamson into the debate in this manner.
For those unfamiliar with the name, Williamson lost both her parents in the same Shankill bomb atrocity as McBride. Subsequently, she has campaigned prominently against eg the early release of the bomber who survived the explosion, or for 'compensation' [sic] to be paid eg to the family of the bomber who died in the bombing:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1130113/Families-IRA-victims-confront-Republicans-report-recommends-terrorists-relatives-given-12-000-each.html
Their contrasting reactions raise a very interesting point about forgiveness etc. Clearly, if more people could find it within themselves to react like McBride, it may lead quicker to reconciliation etc. But in the end, why should the onus be on the victims of terror to put right past wrongs? Why should there be any prescribed reaction to such events? If one victim finds solace from gaining "understanding" (McBride), but another by gaining "justice" (Williamson), why should we applaud one, but deny the other?
If something like that were to be visited upon me, I would hope that my reaction might be nearer that of McBride's than Williamson's - if for no other reason than that by his enormous charity, he may have better chance of finding closure through understanding, than Williamson has via justice.
But if that weren't the case, I'm fucked if, having had my loved ones taken from me through no fault of my own, I also had taken away from me the right to reconcile myself with my loss in the way of my choosing*.
In the end, the onus to find understanding and reconciliation must come initially from the vermin who commit the atrocities, not their victims, if we ever are to find true acceptance and peace.
* - Any choice should, of course, be legal and not designed to encourage reprisals or otherwise protract the conflict etc.
Catch yourself on. Williamson is going through grief and she is being used by certain extreme elements of unionism. Don't kid yourself as to which approach works better for the person. I can guarantee you that McBride's response has done more for him as a person than all the bitterness Williamson comes out with has done for her as a person (her actions have been understandable but not best for her as a person, I hasten to add)
Alan is a beacon of hope in our society in my opinion. I know some former UVF men also have the same sort of ideas as espoused by David Ervine, believe it or not Ervine and McBride weren't that far apart politically by the time Ervine died. He was another man I had a lot of time for and he's the only public PUP figure I haven't met - Billy Hutch is sound as a pound, wee Hughie hasn't a bad bone in his body and Dawn Purvis is a very genuine person altogether.
Anyway, Alan is about the most courageous and committed person I know of when it comes to trying to find reconciliation between the Nationalist and Unionist communities (for want of a better way of explaining the situation)
Oh ffs!
Is it that you cannot understand anything more subtle than a "Sun" headline, or simply that don't bother to read the posts you're replying to?
I did not denigrate or criticise McBride in any way; in fact, I said if I ever found myself in his position, I hoped I might react similarly.
Nor did I commend Williamson for her reaction.
Rather, when TB drew a disparaging comparison between the two, I stated the opinion that this was unfair. For so long as she stays within the law etc (which she has, btw), Williamson has every right to react in whatever way she feels will best reconcile her with her loss.
Otherwise, it only rubs salt into her wounds to deny her the basic human right to react as she has, following the denial of a normal family life.
And as for your "guarantee" that you know better than she does what's right for her, that displays a breathtaking arrogance.
Let both of them - and the others affected - deal with their loss in the way of their choosing; they are after all, the victims in all this and didn't someone famous say that there should be no "hierarchy of victims"? ::)
Quote from: hardstation on December 09, 2009, 11:22:28 PM
Quote from: longrunsthefox on December 09, 2009, 11:14:11 PM
Quote from: Yes I Would on December 09, 2009, 11:07:12 PM
Sweet Lord, Who the hell is Wee Hughie?
Ach sure, do you not know Wee Hughie ???...
He's gone to school, wee Hughie,
An' him not four,
Sure I saw the fright was in him
When he left the door.
I watched him to the cornero' the big turf stack,
An' the more his feet went forrit,
Still his head turned back.
I followed to the turnin
'When they passed it by,
God help him he was cryin',
An' maybe so was I.
Very good. Wee Shughie.
I'm sick to the back teeth of hearing that >:(