tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post4717253940033910426..comments2023-11-03T08:40:03.424+00:00Comments on Jude Collins: A night with Young Unionists: one reason to be cheerful and seven not.Jude Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02255073034338282041noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-86725559958867681252013-09-01T21:57:19.809+01:002013-09-01T21:57:19.809+01:00Hi Jude,
I've written an account of the debat...Hi Jude,<br /><br />I've written an account of the debate I'm my blog. Would welcome any comments and if I've misrepresented your views I'm willing to correct the article.<br /><br />http://rjamesni.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/desperate-cases-and-lost-causes/<br /><br />RichardRichard Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04521173088089695559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-35068406370215523282013-08-25T12:43:31.879+01:002013-08-25T12:43:31.879+01:00That's not abuse. It's observation.That's not abuse. It's observation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-43519774379911047872013-08-25T12:27:14.447+01:002013-08-25T12:27:14.447+01:00I know how the IRA should be dealt with because I ...I know how the IRA should be dealt with because I was a terrorist myself once’ - Airey Neave, quoted in Public Servant, Secret Agent from the Irish Times, 31 March 1979.<br /><br />Do you support the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, proxy-wars like Libya, Syria and Egypt?<br /><br />War funded and continues to fund the British Empire; I suggest you read ‘In the Public Interest’ by Gerald James. The UK is built on the bodies of soldiers; soldiers kill people, that’s what they do!<br /><br />So how can you love Great Britain and Britishness and not support violence in any form? <br /><br />The cognitive dissonance in Northern Ireland is crippling, both sides up to their necks in innocent blood, both sides claiming to want peace and unable to let go of the past. Sad!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-56334861849702452912013-08-25T03:19:49.485+01:002013-08-25T03:19:49.485+01:00I wasn't there on the evening itself but as a ...I wasn't there on the evening itself but as a long time active member of the YU I can assure you that I have never heard praise for any paramilitaries on either side of the troubles. I hold the belief that terrorism is wrong, no matter what its form. As a unionist I don't see the difference of someone being convicted in London for "glorifying terrorism" and the recent parade in Castlederg held to commemorate and praise the 2 IRA men who were killed by their own bomb on the way to kill innocent others. SF supported the parade 100%. In your own words,<br />"Sinn Féin have a policy of outreach to unionism. Judging from Thursday night, lads, you have your work cut out for you." <br /><br />Sir, taking Castlederg as an example were was the policy of outreach to Unionism there? Where was the remorse for the murder of innocent people, both Catholic and Protestant. Any "outreach" to Unionism is token as long as they continue to justify and indefensible. So yes, I agree, they do have their work cut out to come across to unionism as sincere. <br /><br />"The conditionality (yes, I hate the word too) of republicans in saying that violence should be suspended now but leaving open the possibility of its resumption in the future was outrageous." <br /><br />The above statement you said makes you uncheerful. I'm not really sure what part of that depresses you. Surely if SF were completely committed to making Northern Ireland a peaceful country, a successful country and one that does not tolerate sectarianism why would they continuously leave the threat of returning to murder on the peripheral to those with opposing views? Surely you see how the threat of violence is completely unacceptable? Where is the shared future in that? <br /><br />I do not apologise for believing that violence in any form is completely unacceptable. I certainly do not apologise for believing that victims of terrorism should have answers from those involved in murder, but most of all I do not apologise for believing that commemorations of terrorists should be banned. How would New Yorkers feel if there was a commemoration every year to celebrate 9/11? <br /><br />I think it is unfortunate that the Young Unionists disappointed you, indeed I wish I could have made it. The SPAD bill was a great moment for victims. Look at the strength of Ann Travers who lost her family in a matter of minutes. Surely it's only right that those who actively rebelled against law and order in our wee country should not be allowed to advise those in charge if making it. I'm not going to stop believing in the rights of victims or the right of justice. Magarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14441538165525527854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-42735368392497082412013-08-24T21:08:28.674+01:002013-08-24T21:08:28.674+01:00No no no - just having a small chuckle. Little amu...No no no - just having a small chuckle. Little amuses the innocent, Anon...Jude Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02255073034338282041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-51082871821225067422013-08-24T21:07:35.891+01:002013-08-24T21:07:35.891+01:00Anon 20:54 - I always think abuse is a very unconv...Anon 20:54 - I always think abuse is a very unconvincing form of argumentJude Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02255073034338282041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-10015232921265959332013-08-24T20:54:33.738+01:002013-08-24T20:54:33.738+01:00Jude excusing PIRA terrorism again?
And misrepres...Jude excusing PIRA terrorism again?<br /><br />And misrepresenting those who oppose it?<br /><br />No surpriseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-48403051279965389232013-08-24T20:36:36.858+01:002013-08-24T20:36:36.858+01:00Re your reply to Anon17 56;Do you always insist on...Re your reply to Anon17 56;Do you always insist on being addressed as Dr? Were you trying to make a particular point?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-1491200732419342882013-08-24T20:01:36.204+01:002013-08-24T20:01:36.204+01:00Anon 16:58 - as you 'll note from the dazzling...Anon 16:58 - as you 'll note from the dazzlingly handsome pic above, Mike Nesbitt was present - although he arrived quite late, he contributed considerably to the discussion. I detected no difference between the views he expressed and those of the YUs. But as I say, they have the recording so they may be able to prove my memory defective. I doubt it, though.Jude Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02255073034338282041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-12954304950420652302013-08-24T19:58:09.364+01:002013-08-24T19:58:09.364+01:00Anon 17:56 - that'd be Dr you're looking f...Anon 17:56 - that'd be Dr you're looking for....:)(never could do those bloody things)<br />You have the recording so I'm subject to correction indeed.But I got the distinct impression that the Troubles were the result of unnecessary violent action by a small number of violent republicans, with the state playing no part in that.As to violent loyalists, these were indeed condemned for their actions by the YUs and the panel- but while I can't give the exact wording, I had a very clear impression that there was nothing that could not have been righted peacefully but that a cadre of violent republicans embarked on a killing spree that lasted several decades.Jude Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02255073034338282041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-76208968696972804962013-08-24T17:56:19.442+01:002013-08-24T17:56:19.442+01:00''The Troubles were the fault of a small g...''The Troubles were the fault of a small group of violent republican criminals who murdered ruthlessly for several decades. ''<br /><br />Respectfully Mr Collins, as a member of the audience on Thursday night I take exception to the claim that any member of the YUs suggested that The Troubles were started wholly by 'violent republican criminals' in isolation of any wider political context. <br />Nor did - or would - any member seek to justify loyalist paramilitary violence - OR that of rogue members of the state forces. Indeed such actions by such actors were condemned on a par with their republican equivalent.<br />Truthfully, such an unnecessary distortion does a great disservice to what was - as you yourself acknowledge - a very cordial and respectful evening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5965333981619997978.post-67622479287066958372013-08-24T16:58:13.256+01:002013-08-24T16:58:13.256+01:00And these were presumably the "educated,artic...And these were presumably the "educated,articulate" wing of the Young Unionists.Did you get the impression that they were more right wing than Mike Nesbitt?Maybe the youth section of most parties is always a bit more "extreme" than the parent party.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com