I recently posted a piece about the current Northern Irish riots. Riots perpetrated by the big-wigs at Belfast City Hall, who decided not to fly the national flag, The Union Flag/Jack, other than on 18 days each year.
I quickly removed the piece because I thought maybe I might upset certain Sinn Fein or IRA sympathisers (not that I could really give an effing toss).
The great problem with Northern Ireland is that the majority of its inhabitants wish to remain United Kingdom nationals. Whereas the majority of United Kingdom nationals would be more than happy if they reunited with Éire.
Once we get rid of Scotland, we will be richer, more stable politically, and happier all round. May I suggest that Northern Ireland follows Scotland's example, and considers a similarly liberating move!
A simple union of England and Wales could conquer the world, unless one of Owain Glyndŵr's boys gets uppity.
My dastardly attitude towards Northern Ireland is bound to upset, but I'm fed-up with the whole bloody bunch of them; left, right, catholic, protestant, unionist, or republican. They behave like little children fighting over sweets; and then have the nerve to call it 'the troubles'.
Absolutely agreed. Ireland did get a raw deal in the past, but then ('scuse me) tough titty - everywhere did, times were different and things were done differently. That's why it's called "The past". Move on!
ReplyDeleteIf they can't decide among themselves here and now in the present what they collectively want without violence, then what they need is isolation from the rest of the world until they can and do.
In truth there's very little that is "united" about the United Kingdom. Half of the world says "UK" or "Great Britain" when they are thinking of England, everyone who can lay claim to Cornish/Ire-ish/Welsh/Scots Celt ancestry gleefully does so and the English are kind of fed up of apologising for supposedly constantly spoiling it for the rest of them.
I'd be happy if everyone just went their own way. No big Californian-style divorce, no settlement, no lawyers; just each walk away with our suitcases.
Harrumph!
Oh, and if we are going to keep any vestige of "UK" we might make it that all of those rushing to the "UK" from Eastern Europe via the EU know that once they get here there will be a lottery and they have only a one in four chance of settling in England, and one in four of being sent to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland too ...
ReplyDeleteI did tours of NI with the Bomb Squad and I thought they were all bloody mad. Lovely countryside, though, but for us in green vehicles, a bit scary to drive through.
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy if the BBC would just decide once and for all about how it calls 'Derry/Londonderry', then sticks to it. I would opt for plain 'Derry' myself, otherwise the place will still be referred to by using the names of two separate towns, as opposed to the three by which it is now called.
ReplyDeleteThe British Isles are currently referred to as 'Great Britain and Northern Ireland', as if the 'Great' bit no longer refers to the collection of isles and tribes which were properly unified sometime after the War of the Roses. Right now, referring to 'Northern Ireland' as a separate province seems to imply that it is no longer 'great', thanks to popular misuse of the term.
When Ataturk unified Turkey after the Ottoman Empire, he banned the wearing of Fez hats. Maybe Ireland should ban the wearing of Bowler Hats - it seemed to work in Turkey.
The song, "Danny Boy" used to be called, "A Londonderry Air", but if they called it "A Derry Air", it would be the French for 'arse', so Danny Boy it is.
DeleteMarvellous !!
DeleteHalf the problem seems to be who you work for, where you live, and which shops you frequent. The one side would never cross the thresholds of the other. All bloody bonkers!
ReplyDeleteIf everyone worked and were busy...
ReplyDeleteIf parents kept their kids home at night
And if everyone had a bit of common sense
Then there would be no troubles in ireland
Totally agree. I lived in Eire in the early 70s when 'the troubles' were in their early days but I've never really understood the depth of passion aroused by the whole issue of Northern Ireland.
ReplyDeleteThe immigration issue, btw, could be at least partially solved by making UK/GB/whatever a much less attractive place to flock to with respect to benefits etc. because you can bet your life that, not only will the next wave of Eastern Europeans arrive in their hordes, but they will be accompanied by those currently in other EU countries who see this place as the softest option - as, unfortunately, we are. There, rant over. ;)
I guarantee that most of the Romanian criminal gangs, who are presently here in France, can't wait for 1. 1. 2014.
DeleteThe Tricolour was designed to represent the Green for the Republicans, White for Peace and Orange for the Unionists = a flag of unification, joined by peace. Strange that nobody seems to remember this.
ReplyDeleteComing from a first generation Irish family (grandmother came from County Cork), I can attest that nobody could hate or hold old grudges like the Irish. I was hoping they had finally moved past their "troubles", but I guess not.
ReplyDeleteI think I can see why our Scots ancestors wanted to give the new world a go....
ReplyDeleteI was taught that Great Britain was "great" to distinguish it from Brittany.
ReplyDeleteI never understood the whole N. Ireland thing, either. Then again, i grew up across the Pond, where "the melting pot" has turned more to a tossed salad, with each separate piece thinking, it's the most important item.
sigh
I'm sick of hearing about Northern Ireland. I've met some lovely people from that country only to discover on getting to know them better that they are so hatefully prejudiced against Catholics/Protestants (whatever, don't care)that there is no use even trying to talk to them. The Orangemen from Liverpool come to Southport every year in July to parade and there are drunks (men and women) lying on the pavements out cold celebrating the victory of whatever the hell battle it was hundreds of years ago...
ReplyDeleteAs for the hoards coming to Britain next year -- perhaps if all the British of Norman descent left and went back to France, there would be room for them here!!! (I jest)Of course it may be worth remembering that this country was populated by hoards in the first place ...
I can't understand why the 'fight' continues...how many lives must be lost in this senseless cause. Too common all around the world. We are a strange bunch.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how it is still going on either.Just plain bloody-mindedness I think. The Irish are good at that.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised Cro that you have not mentioned or at least taken into consideration the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 when writing your blog ?
ReplyDelete