A "shared future" ? Sinn Fein Lord mayor refuses to present award to Army cadet

[Bingo]

Bingo the camogie association have never been involved in violence, they play sport, the cadets is a military organistion. Is there a semblance of a light on in there man!!! I do enjoy reading the banter on these threads, but I had to respond to that!!!

You not seen some of the camoige matches in Monaghan 

Yes, its a crazy comparison. My point was that if it had happened their would have been huge uproar from the same posters about the disgraceful actions and it could very well have happened given the unionists opinion of the GAA.

Its a ridiculous situation a grown man shunning a 14 year old year. Its as ridiculous as my comparison.

[Trout]

I thought Sinn Fein wanted us all to "move on".

[Nally Stand]

I knew i'd get a post like this. Sometimes you have to think about things first, I'll explain.

Don't bother, Bingo. They've found something they can use to distract from the main issue. Did you know Scientology takes people off drugs?

"THEY"    I hadn't posted on the thread up until this morning because it is a daft thread about a daft story. Storm in a very small little teacup that the usual suspects are using to whinge about SF. Let "THEM" at it. But when somone starts drawing parallels between the British Army Cadets and U14 Camogie palyers, it goes beyond the realms of silly season. As does the subsequent attempt to justify it by saying that Unionist people regard the GAA as being involved in attacks on unionists communities.

[fitzroyalty]

I think it's ridiculous. Who's to say the young girl will go on and pursue a military career anyway?

What's the difference between that and him laying a wreath for British soldiers at the cenotaph anyway?

[shawshank]

Bingo the camogie association have never been involved in violence, they play sport, the cadets is a military organistion. Is there a semblance of a light on in there man!!! I do enjoy reading the banter on these threads, but I had to respond to that!!!

You not seen some of the camoige matches in Monaghan 

Yes, its a crazy comparison. My point was that if it had happened their would have been huge uproar from the same posters about the disgraceful actions and it could very well have happened given the unionists opinion of the GAA.

Its a ridiculous situation a grown man shunning a 14 year old year. Its as ridiculous as my comparison.

Sorry your comaprsion was worst, but the man has shown no diplomacy, he should have been bigger than that, and have completed the presentation. If a Sinn Finn major can attend rememberance sunday, this should have been a walk in the park for him.

[AQMP]

Aye, sure he should present an award to a member of an army that has terrorised this place for years. Dont give a f**k what age they were, they are still part of a force who have no right to be getting awards presented to them by an Irishman. Although I am no fan of Sinn Fein, well done to him

I know it's a small point but members of the ACF are technically not members of the British Army though the organisation is "sponsored" by the British Army, whatever that entails.

[Bingo]

I knew i'd get a post like this. Sometimes you have to think about things first, I'll explain.

Don't bother, Bingo. They've found something they can use to distract from the main issue. Did you know Scientology takes people off drugs?

"THEY"    I hadn't posted on the thread up until this morning because it is a daft thread about a daft story. Storm in a very small little teacup that the usual suspects are using to whinge about SF. Let "THEM" at it. But when somone starts drawing parallels between the British Army Cadets and U14 Camogie palyers, it goes beyond the realms of silly season. As does the subsequent attempt to justify it by saying that Unionist people regard the GAA as being involved in attacks on unionists communities.

Yes, thats why GAA clubhouses have never been burned out or why for years the GAA community suffered about checkpoints delaying them going to games or why GAA members were shot because they were just members of the GAA doing their community roles as GAA officer.

No all these attacks happened because they disagreed with the introduction of the blanket defence   

[Nally Stand]

I knew i'd get a post like this. Sometimes you have to think about things first, I'll explain.

Don't bother, Bingo. They've found something they can use to distract from the main issue. Did you know Scientology takes people off drugs?

"THEY"    I hadn't posted on the thread up until this morning because it is a daft thread about a daft story. Storm in a very small little teacup that the usual suspects are using to whinge about SF. Let "THEM" at it. But when somone starts drawing parallels between the British Army Cadets and U14 Camogie palyers, it goes beyond the realms of silly season. As does the subsequent attempt to justify it by saying that Unionist people regard the GAA as being involved in attacks on unionists communities.

Yes, thats why GAA clubhouses have never been burned out or why for years the GAA community suffered about checkpoints delaying them going to games or why GAA members were shot because they were just members of the GAA doing their community roles as GAA officer.

No all these attacks happened because they disagreed with the introduction of the blanket defence   

No, it's because the media have forever been attempting to portray the GAA as the "Catholic equivilant" of the Orange Order. So as a result of this falacy, when seamus goes out and burns an orange hall, billy goes out and burns a GAA club. Good to see good Monagahan men like yourself keeping such bogus comparisons alive though. Any wonder clubs like Edendork have to rebuild clubrooms. As for british soldiers and ruc men attacking and harrassing people going to training and to matches (I have endured enough of it in my time to have an idea), it wasn't because they believed the GAA were attacking unionist communities, it was because going to a gaa match identified you as a 'fenian'. Plain and simple.

[Applesisapples]

What is it with the British and putting young kids into uniform? I'd be more critical of that than someone sticking to their principles, which is a rare occurrence for the Shinners these days

Being a complete dick isn't a principle, it's more a state of mind.

This guy is not a dick, far from it. Lets's look at the facts. He agreed to present Duke of Edinburgh Awards to my mind a step forward. During the course of the organisation some one pointed out that one of the award winners was in the Army Cadets. Given his constituency and the still raw sensitivities in some nationalist areas regarding the behaviour of the army during the conflict he quietly arranged for the presentation to be shared with the Chairman of the organisers. The girl was unaware that this was not the original intention. The real dick here is Mike Nesbitt and the UUP who brought this to the media's attention thus singling this girl out. Now personally it wouldn't bother me if he had presented her with her award but it does to the people he represents and would give further ammo if you'll pardon the pun to the dissidents. I have watched this guy closely and he is continuously stretching out the hand of friendship... what do the Unionist's do? they attack him disingeniously. He recent visited the cenotaph with a VIP, I can't remember the exact circumstances, the response from unionists was to pillory him for not attending remembrance Sunday. The Unionist parties only want a shared future on their terms...no Irish need apply, croppies lie down, take your pick.

[Myles Na G.]

Bingo the camogie association have never been involved in violence, they play sport, the cadets is a military organistion. Is there a semblance of a light on in there man!!! I do enjoy reading the banter on these threads, but I had to respond to that!!!

You not seen some of the camoige matches in Monaghan 

Yes, its a crazy comparison. My point was that if it had happened their would have been huge uproar from the same posters about the disgraceful actions and it could very well have happened given the unionists opinion of the GAA.

Its a ridiculous situation a grown man shunning a 14 year old year. Its as ridiculous as my comparison.

Sorry your comaprsion was worst, but the man has shown no diplomacy, he should have been bigger than that, and have completed the presentation. If a Sinn Finn major can attend rememberance sunday, this should have been a walk in the park for him.

If a member of a party which is currently administering British rule in Ireland can hand out Duke of Edinburgh (google him: he's the old guy wearing any one of a number of British Army or Royal Navy outfits) award certificates to a group of proud and excited kids...ah feck it. It's too obvious even to spell out.

[Applesisapples]

To some of my nationalist brethren on here, it is one thing being aware of the sensitivities of a constituency to the British Army, but some of the comparisons with atrocities committed during the conflict and a 14 yo girl cadet don't stack up...they are ridiculous.

There is a tradition within unionism to cling to anything that sets them apart as British, the Cadets, BB,GB, Scouts Junior OO etc. It's their culture, one I don't understand but surely it is their right to express it provided it doesn't offend. Just as it is the Mayor's right to dissent.

[Myles Na G.]

What is it with the British and putting young kids into uniform? I'd be more critical of that than someone sticking to their principles, which is a rare occurrence for the Shinners these days

Being a complete dick isn't a principle, it's more a state of mind.

This guy is not a dick, far from it. Lets's look at the facts. He agreed to present Duke of Edinburgh Awards to my mind a step forward. During the course of the organisation some one pointed out that one of the award winners was in the Army Cadets. Given his constituency and the still raw sensitivities in some nationalist areas regarding the behaviour of the army during the conflict he quietly arranged for the presentation to be shared with the Chairman of the organisers. The girl was unaware that this was not the original intention. The real dick here is Mike Nesbitt and the UUP who brought this to the media's attention thus singling this girl out. Now personally it wouldn't bother me if he had presented her with her award but it does to the people he represents and would give further ammo if you'll pardon the pun to the dissidents. I have watched this guy closely and he is continuously stretching out the hand of friendship... what do the Unionist's do? they attack him disingeniously. He recent visited the cenotaph with a VIP, I can't remember the exact circumstances, the response from unionists was to pillory him for not attending remembrance Sunday. The Unionist parties only want a shared future on their terms...no Irish need apply, croppies lie down, take your pick.

Okay, I'll  grant you that his record until this event was pretty promising. On this occasion, he was thrown a surprise, had to think on his feet, and made completely the wrong decision. I will therefore withdraw my statement that he is a complete dick and say, merely, that on this occasion, he acted like a complete dick.

[nifan]

There is a tradition within unionism to cling to anything that sets them apart as British, the Cadets, BB,GB, Scouts Junior OO etc.

When I was in the scouts i didn't realise that I was simply clinging to being british - in fact that didnt really play much into it at all.
Mostly I went hiking, played sports etc.

[Applesisapples]

There is a tradition within unionism to cling to anything that sets them apart as British, the Cadets, BB,GB, Scouts Junior OO etc.

When I was in the scouts i didn't realise that I was simply clinging to being british - in fact that didnt really play much into it at all.
Mostly I went hiking, played sports etc.

So you prove the rule, the point I'm making is that there isn't anything wrong with this, whatever your reasons for participating. Perhaps the scouts are not as obvious an example but BB,GB and Cadets are organised along military lines.

[Hardy]

What is it with the British and putting young kids into uniform?

a member of an army that has terrorised this place for years. 

A 14 year old girl? Don't think she has done much in the way of terrorising. He was it seems doing a good job untill this. He was wrong, no excuses.

She is a  still a member of the British Army who are responsible for terrorising this country and whose country continue to occupy it. Why should he be giving an award to the army that a lot of his colleagues fought against?

Because the "war" is over?

I think it's ridiculous. Who's to say the young girl will go on and pursue a military career anyway?

What's the difference between that and him laying a wreath for British soldiers at the cenotaph anyway?

This one is alive and dangerous!