Gay Mitchell…….Candidate For Presidency.

Posted on October 20, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

Gay Mitchell is the Dublin based candidate representing the major Government party Fine Gael.

Fine Gael traces its origins back to those who accepted the “partitionist” Treaty and have been involved in a sterile eighty years old feud with Fianna Fáil, the Party which opposed the Treaty. Fianna Fáil was thrown out of Government (and humiliated) in February 2011 over its handling of the economic chaos which has engulfed Ireland over the past three years.

Mitchell’s party Fine Gael is in coalition with the Labour Party. In February 2011, Fine Gael got 36% of the votes cast. Opinion polls suggest that Mitchell will struggle to get 10% of the votes. Why?

Well, in February the Irish Electorate chose a Government. Next week they choose a President. Ceremonial and Totemic. And Mitchell doesnt fit the bill. A surprise choice…and not the choice of Party Leader and Taoiseach (Edna Kenny), Mitchell is a veteran partisan bruiser, who has been out of the Irish scene for a while. He is a Member of the European Parliament. I dont think he fits the non-partisan requirement in a President. And the Irish Public is sick of “jobs for the boys”.

Mitchell is also a bit of a traditional Catholic. Anti-abortion and fairly traditional. Now Abortion is a curious thing in Ireland. It is illegal but there is a neat little compromise where anyone seeking an abortion can simply get on a plane to England. Deep down in Ireland nobody likes Abortion. Most reasonable people think theres a certain amount of hypocrisy in the travelling to England compromise. But there is no appetite to change the Law. It would be divisive. The fact is that anyone taking up a pro or anti abortion stance is engaging in token politics.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Senator David Norris…….Candidate For Presidency

Posted on October 20, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

Let me say something upfront about Senator David Norris, an Independent Candidate for the Presidency of Ireland (the Election is just three weeks away).

I do not like David Norris. I never have liked him. And I never will. David Norris is a member of a minority group. Actually two minority groups. He is a Gay Man and a Protestant living in (the Republic of) Ireland…no big deal in 2011 for the vast majority of people. But of course there was a time when his sexual orientation had to be secret. David Norris deserves a lot of credit for being one of the most prominent homosexuals to bring the plight and distress of Irelands Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered communities to public attention. And public acceptance. Thank God.

There are only a few people who I genuinely dont like. I have never based my (many) likes and (fewer) dislikes on gender, race, creed, nationality or sexual orientation. While I have to say I am not impressed by Norris’ own obsession with his sexuality.

For twenty-one years, Ireland has had two women Presidents. Mary Robinson became President in 1990. The outgoing President, Mary McAleese became President in 1997. Two outstanding women. Ireland has no problem ……rightly…….with a woman President. And nobody seriously would have a problem with an openly gay President. I would actually welcome that as a sign of national acceptance.

But I cant like or support David Norris.

He has been described as a “National Treasure”. Certainly a charming man. A “showman”. An intellectual, a scholar who reveres the works of James Joyce. The Great Test of Intellectualism in Ireland is to think……or at least…..state…..that James Joyce is the greatest writer ever. Most of us have a copy of “Ulysses” lying around. But lets be honest….most people who have bought a copy of “Ulyses” never actually read it. I know that I havent. But Ive read the Wikipedia summary so I feel justified in claiming I am an intellectual.

David Norris is one of the handful of people in Ireland who actually think James Joyce is a genius.

 The statue in Dublin honouring James Joyce is known as “The Prick With The Stick” but every 16th June (Bloomsday), Joyce is honoured in the city he despised. Pompous, pretentious people (some who might have read “Ulyses”) promenade around the City in the footsteps of Leopold Bloom, subjecting innocent passers by and befuddled tourists with quotations from “Ulysses”. To further facilitate the idiocy of it all many dress in Edwardian clothes. Not surprisingly David Norris leads this promenade.

Notwithstanding the contribution that David Norris to Human Rights….especially those of the Gay Community…there is something about him that I just dont like. When a genuine intellectual becomes a showman……its entirely legitimate to show case his talents. But too often the Showman plays to the gallery and is effectively a Buffoon. In that sense, Ive never quite taken to David Norris……Showman or  Buffoon, National Treasure or Intellectual Snob.

Yet earlier this year David Norris was perceived as a likely candidate to be Irelands first gay President. I say again….I dont have a problem with a gay President. Nobody should. But I have a problem with a President of Ireland who could make us a laughing stock.

Earlier this summer, the Norris campaign was de-railed by a scandal. I think thats unfortunate. Norris decided not to run. And although he reversed his decision and is on the ballot paper (with much less support) he is fatally wounded. To his closest supporters, he is the victim of a homophobic witch hunt. Undoubtedly Homophobia has played a part but it would be wrong to let this overshadow the very real question marks over the lack of judgement shown by David Norris.

Norris had a partner Ezra Nawi, an Israeli Civil Rights activist who returned to Israel and had a relationship with a 15 year old Palestinian boy. The key things here are “age differential” and “power”……not sexual orientation. Under Israeli law Norris’ ex-partner was charged and convicted of statutory rape…in 1992. This came to light….(and frankly the circumstances of it coming to light might involve Israeli Intelligence discrediting two advocates of Palestinian rights)……because of letters written by Norris to the Israeli courts pleading clemency for his former partner.

It is understandable and humane for a person to plead clemency for a former lover.But it is probably unwise for a politician to write a letter pleading clemency for a man (gay or straight) who has been convicted of statutory rape. Even more unwise to write it on Oireachtas (Parliamentary notepaper) and risible and pompous to declare himself to be “a man of some substance in Ireland”. And Elitist to compare (unfavourably) modern Societys intolerance of Man-Boy relationships to Pederasty (the acceptance of Man-Boy relationships)  in Ancient Greece.

Having stood down from the Presidential Race, because of the controversy, Norris re-entered but with much lower levels of support. His campaign has not recovered. It does not deserve to recover.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Jacobite Restoration Petition

Posted on October 9, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

An e-petition in support of restoring the House of Sturat to the Throne of the United Kingdom (sic) has been submitted to the British Government.

Under new legislation, if the petition gets 100,000 signatures before 5th October 2012, it can be debated in the (British) House of Commons. So far it only has one signature but actually it is quite interesting. And perhaps English, Welsh and Scottish “republicans” might see some potential for mischief.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/18558

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Commission For Victims And Survivors

Posted on October 8, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

In a speech to the McCluskey Civil Rights Seminar in County Louth, Brendan McAllister, a Commissioner at the Commission For Victims and Survivors went public with some figures that I posted in a blog recently.

There are 1.7 million people living in Norn Iron. Of these about 500,000 consider themselves (actually “ourselves”) to have been affected. Clearly I was 17 in August 1969 and 46 at Good Friday 1998. And for the first ten years (1969-79) lived in West Belfast. I have been “affected”.

I am among the 81% (CVSNI figures) that consider I do not need any help “just now”. Although I have known several people who have been killed, I am not among the 10% who can say that they were bereaved (lost a relative). On the other hand my wife lost two cousins. Ironically long before I even met my wife, I was at the funeral of one of these cousins.

There are about 100,000 people who are either getting help to deal with the Past or “would like to access help of some kind”.

I think its fair to say that I have often taunted people in the Conflict Resolution Industry that the victims of the Troubles are much less enthused about “dealing with the Past” than those academics and others who are pressing for the Truth (sic). Indeed the Truth is a middle class obsession. People who yelled and screamed the Truth about Bloody Sunday (an attrocity committed by the British Army), McGurks Bar (an attrocity committed by loyalists)  and Claudy (an attrocity committed by the Irish Republican Army) for forty years. The Middle Class Academics were ignored. Now the Middle Class Academics want to listen (occasionally for a price and occasionally for the purpose of their academic career) but mostly its…………….a kinda yearning that THEY want to part of the narrative that they themselves had avoided for decades. Now the only way that they can feel validated is to LISTEN. And they can only get their fantasy of retrospective involvement if the Victims SPEAK to them.

Let there be doubt that the Conflict Resolution “industry” exists for its own good. Not for the Common Good. Not for the Victims or Survivors. REAL PEOPLE are opposed to…..or (at best) indifferent to “The Truth”. The Eames-Bradley proposals for dealing with the Past were howled down to the consternation of the Conflict Resolutionists. Their proposal of a one-off payment of £12,000 to every victims next of kin was particuarly ridiculed……for different reasons.

Ever anxious to appear relevant, the Commission for Victims and Survivors has identified new areas of victimhood, needing its healing hands. Victims of “ordinary crime”, victims of Institutional and Church abuse……and the bizarre “manipulative and exploitative bankers, financial speculators and property developers”…….all identified as a growing constituency. In the rush to appear relevant to those 400,000 non-compliant victims and survivors, the Commission deals with the problem by extending its remit.

Its pathetic.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Trouble With Twibbons

Posted on October 3, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

Ah the trouble with Twibbons……….Conall McDevitt has launched a Twibbon. A Twibbon is a “ribbon-type graphic” and people who want Conall to win the SDLP Leadership contest can show their support on their Twitter account.
Obviously a bit silly. Juvenile even.
Conall also has a  Facebook “Conall McDevitt….Real Change” Campaign.
80 plus people “like” it……..but maybe the SDLP members should be asking why people who are members of other parties (eg Brian Wilson of the Green Party) are so supportive of him becoming Leader of SDLP. Wilson is not the only non-SDLP or anti-SDLP person who “like” it.

“The Real Change” that the SDLP should be looking for is a Leader who prioritises SDLP voters, members and voices. Basically if your Leader is popular in other parties…its not a very good sign.

I daresay that making a Twibbon is a skill…….but more suited to somebody attending an audition to present childrens cartoons on the Disney Channel rather.than contesting the leadership of the SDLP.
I am a bit skeptical about new media and politics…..but I just cant see how making a Twibbon is cutting edge use of Technology.
All this might get Brian Wilsons 4th preference vote (behind himself, Green and Alliance) in Bangor West DEA but it wont win Liam Logan of the SDLP a seat on North Down Council.
The bigger priority is a couple of hundred first preference votes in Fermanagh-South Tyrone.
Conall has set himself on the wild goose chase of getting votes from those who would not pis……er call the Fire Brigade if the SDLP was on fire.
The better option would be to start asking itself questions about why the SDLP has lost “core” votes rather than having its head petted by pretentious people who are much too “sophisticated” to ever vote for SDLP..
I am all for Respect and Discretion when debating the SDLP Leadership. But Margaret Ritchie is the elephant in this particular room. The plain fact is that there is a certain amount of Denial going on also……..about the past eighteen months.

Alasdair McDonnell and Patsy McGlone can claim to have opposed and exposed the nightmare.
Conall McDevitt and running mate Alex Attwood can claim no such credit. They facilitated and were promoted during the nightmare.
Distancing themselves from the nightmare (but getting the rump votes of people who still think it wasnt a nightmare) and making overtures to the broader SDLP about “listening”, “re-organising” and all that good stuff has no real credibility.
Unfortunately it might work.

I was watching an episode of the satire “The Thick of It” at the weekend. A satire set in the office of a British (Labour) Cabinet Minister who is on the receiving end of “advice” from her advisors including the Chief Spin Doctor, Malcolm Tucker. In this episode Nicola Murray the beleaguered Minister, fears being sacked after just one week…….and is advised that getting the sack after a year would be confirmation that she had screwed up …….but getting the sack after just a week is proof that the Prime Minister who appointed her screwed up.

In February 2010, the SDLP elected Margaret Ritchie as Party Leader. By 222 votes to 187. Her unceremonial dumping  (oops I mean her resignation) after just eighteen months is proof that 222 people screwed up. They need to face that reality.

Twibbons and Facebook. Yet another triumph of Image over Substance.
The SDLP members need to look past the Twibbons.

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Viva Los San Patricios!

Posted on September 30, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

Interesting half hour documentary (English subtitles) on Gaelic language channel TG4 on Wednesday night. Los San Patricios, the regiment of largely Irish soldiers in Mexican Army 1846-48. A story that was largely unknown in Ireland until 1997 (the issue of a joint postage stamp with Mexico) or 1999 (the movie “One Mans Hero”).

 BMC Alamo Mexicans (as San Patricios)

The San Patricio Battalion was a regiment of foreigners who fought on the side of Mexico during the 1846-48 War with the United States of America. Although the regiment had Germans, Scots and other European nationalities in their ranks, the majority of the soldiers were Irish born.Many were deserters from the American army. The reasons for desertion included ill treatment of Irish Catholics by American officers, attrocities committed against Mexican civilians and promises of land grants by the Mexican government. Many also felt that the war against Mexico was unjust.

Having fought with Mexicos Foreign Legion in earlier battles, the San
Patricios first fought under their own name at the Battle of Monterrey (September
1846) as an artillary unit which broke up several American assaults., although the
Americans won the battle eventually. They also fought at Buena Vista (February
1847) where they suffered heavy casualties.

In 1847 the San Patricios became an Infantry Batallion under Mexican command
(Col Moreno) and the two companies were led by John Riley and Santiago O’Leary.
The first engagement as an infantry unit was at Cerro Gordo (April 1847). Their
final battle was at Churubusco Convent (20th August 1847). As they could not
expect to be treated as prisoners of war, the San Patricios fought until their
ammunition was totally exhausted. In the battle 35 were killed, 85 taken prisoner
and another 80 managed to retreat with the Mexican army.

Two seperate military trials were convened  and 50 San Patricios were
sentenced to flogging and death by hanging by the Americans. Around 30 (including
John Riley the commander) were flogged and branded with the letter
“D” (deserter) on their faces. Only two were found not guilty on the basis that they had
never joined the American army.

Thirty of the executions took place on 13th September 1846 at the Battle of Chapultepec at the precise moment the American flag replaced the Mexican flag on the Mexican headquarters.

The  street in front of the Santa Maria Convent in Churubusco is named
Mártires Irlandeses (Irish Martyrs). The San Patricios are regarded as
national heroes in Mexico. They were largely unknown in Ireland until 1997 when the
Irish and Mexican governments recognised them by jointly issuing a postage stamp
to commemorate them. In John Rileys home town (Clifden, County Galway) the
Mexican flag flies every day and in 2004, a statue dedicated to Riley and the San
Patricios was unveiled in Clifden.

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

SDLP Leadership Candidates Hustings

Posted on September 29, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

A photograph from SDLP Leadership Hustings (Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast….22nd September 2011). Hosted by SDLP Youth.

 Left to Right…..Seamas de Faoite (SDLP Youth Vice Chair), Alex Attwood MLA  West Belfast & Minister for Environment), Conall McDevitt MLA South Belfast, Daniel Hendrie (who chaired the Hustings) Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP & MLA South Belfast and Patsy McGlone MLA Mid Ulster.

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Platform For Change Is Bad News For Conall McDevitt.

Posted on September 29, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

Platform For Change is a Norn Iron based pressure/lobby group which “is a voice for citizens of Norn Iron who believe that now is the time for a new politics focussed on the common good. It is the place for people who feel there is more to be gained from positive politics and want to be involved”.

The quote above is taken from its own website. It looks extremely benign. Many of the signatories  to the programme are political figures in the “middle ground” parties (UUP, SDLP and Alliance). Some more are “celebrities” of sorts but many are academics, especially liberal dissidents.

Although not actively engaged in party politics, it would be wrong to suggest that these people are apolitical. Indeed the quote above indicates that they “want” to be involved……if the politics change. This suggests a laudable move away from the tribal politics of the two tribes……Unionism and Nationalism.

A seductive notion. The notion that Norn Iron can move away from tribal politics and embrace “mainland” British politics of conservatism, socialism and liberalism (as represented by the three British parties … Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat) is a long held liberal dissident policy. Liberal Dissidents are those that believe they are much too intelligent to engage in Norn Iron politics.

Unfortunately for them, the middle of the road parties DO have connexions to the British parties. But thats not good enough. The Ulster Unionist Party is conservative in outlook and occasionally has ties to the British Conservative Party of David Cameron. Unfortunately the sectarian nature of the UUP underbelly and its tendency to be more right wing than mainstream British Conservatism means its a bit of an embarrassment in London. But as recently as 2010, the UUP fought the Westminster Election as a fully fledged component of the British Conservative Party. That of course went very sour very quickly.

The SDLP (Social Democratic and Labour Party) is centre-left, just like the mainstream British Labour Party. And the Irish Labour Party. And indeed has fraternal ties to European socialist and world socialist parties.

The Alliance Party has links with the British Liberal Democrats. Centrist itself, its sole MP, Naomi Long does not actually take the Lib Dem “whip” at Westminster. Previous Leader “Lord” John Alderdice, a member of the House of Lords, does take the “whip”.

All of this is not good enough for Platform for Change. The reality is that voting for a “conservative” Party (UUP) in Norn Iron means an endorsement of unionism. And voting for a “socialist” Party (SDLP) means an endorsement of nationalism.

Its attractive to talk about non-sectarian politics but the point is that embracing mainstream British politics is merely a faux neutral stance. Embracing British politics is……….unionism.

As I have mentioned above, the signatories to the Paltform for Change agenda include members of the UUP, Alliance and SDLP. It is of course entirely honourable that they forge friendships with people outside their own Parties….but they pay a price………Suspicion within their own Parties. Basil McCrea, one of the leading liberal unionists and a signatory to Platform for Change will never lead the UUP. The leading SDLP signatory to Platform for Change (Conall McDevitt) will not lead the SDLP. Thinking “outside the box” is a good thing for politicians but the requirement for leading a Party is to be mainstream……….and to think firmly WITHIN the box. To be “safe”.

Platform for Change in Norn Iron politics is in some ways similar to The Tea Party in American politics. The difference is that Platform for Change wants to work thru (at least) three parties while The Tea Party only want to subvert one party (the Republican Party). Entry-ism similar to Militant Tendency’s infiltration into the British Labour Party in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Now….the SDLP needs to re-group and re-organise. Not mess about with “outreach”.

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Gusty Spence (UVF Terrorist) Dies Aged 78.

Posted on September 25, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

June 1966. I was 14 years old. It was still three years to the outbreak of the Troubles, although one man had been killed a few weeks prieviously..

On a Sunday morning, news started to spread around the Falls Road in Belfast that a young Catholic man, drinking with friends in an after hours drinking session in a pub called the Malvern Arms on the Shankill Road had been shot dead. And two others (Catholics) injured.

Peter Ward, the 18 year old who had been killed lived a few doors from my aunt in Beechmount. I heard the news on a minibus to go on a (junior) Legion of Mary outing to Bray in County Wicklow. Later that day, I recall buying a headscarf for my mother from a street trader and he sympathised with us…. coming from Belfast.

Peter Ward is wrongly described as the first victim of the Troubles. That distinction goes to John Scullion who was shot dead in the Clonard area. He was shot dead as the intended target, a known Republican, Leo Martin who had been involved in the 1966 Fiftieth Anniversary Commemorations in (West Belfast) was not spotted by the Ulster Volunteer Force Murder Gang. Although Gusty Spence was not actually involved directly, he ordered Leo Martins killing. Curiously and ghoulishly the police and pathologists never even noticed that Mr Scullion had been shot. It was only noticed when his body was exhumed some weeks later. Spence had also led a petrol bomb attack on a Catholic owned bar in the Shankill area which killed a 77 year old Protestant woman.

The 1966 UVF Campaign was an odd thing. Four years after the risible IRA “border campaign” (Operation Harvest) and three years before the start of the Troubles in 1969……a Prequel to the latter…..but set in the context of tensions within unionism at the “liberal” unionism of Norn Irons Prime Minister Terence O’Neill. The UVF was reformed probably in 1961 and it is known that a unionist politician was involved in its reformation. Gusty Spence was the Leader on the Shankill Road.

To the credit of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the UVF gang responsible. Spence and his associates were jailed for a long time. Spence himself served 18 years in prison. Although he missed most of The Troubles, he was something of a guru to the young UVF men who came into prison. And he was the UVFs commanding officer. Oddly credited with being the man who led fellow prisoners, David Ervine, William Smith and , Billy Hutchinson to embrace a political philosophy of sorts…the actual UVF campaign of the 1970s and 198s was nakedly sectarian.

When the UVF and UDA announced their ceasefires, Spence was the spokesperson. And essentially this is his second reputation…..the image presented on a TV screen as I write this……rather than the murder of Peter Ward in 1966.

The reaction to his death is interesting….
the tributes from other paramilitaries of a republican nature refer to him as a soldier……..and indeed he was among those to recognise the “soldier” in them.
Of course it was all a bit self-serving as both these kinds of “soldiers” need to recognise the “soldiery” in the other side to validate their self image (fantasy) as soldiers.

Paramilitaries are I suppose the underbelly of two honourabe philosophies (nationalism and unionism) so a particular venom is reserved for them by those who are “constitutional”. Obviously this is dependent on how valid a constitution is deemed to be and to some extent constitutional nationalists have validated republican paramiliarism in a way that constitutional unionism has not done. Nationalists have always accepted that the IRA had a “cause” even if violence was (at best) misguided.

And yet the Golden Rule for getting a “tribute” is not to be successful. David Ervine, the verbose leader of the PUP (the political party associated with the UVF) led a one man party and in the eyes of the Great and the Good in the Media……he is safe to laud because he was marginalised and no threat to the status quo.
Had Mr Spence or Mr Ervine led a bloc of say ten, twenty or thirty MLAs in the Assembly, the reaction would have been different.
Men of War (like Spence and Ervine) becoming Men of Peace and becoming marginalised and ineffective where real power resides is somehow acceptable to our Journalists.

On the other hand….a Man of War (Martin McGuinness) becoming a Man of Peace is not accepted because he is not a marginalised figure. As the saying goes “old soldiers simply fade away” and Martin McGuinness has not gone along with that. To the annoyance of the liberal dissdents.

The alternative to be lionised is to be demonised.

Gusty Spence wasn’t even a Terrorist. His crimes came at a time when Murder was simply Murder. He was a ….pre-Terrorist.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Irish Journalism And Ethics (Please Dont Laugh!)

Posted on September 24, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

Angst-ridden Journalists are worked up about Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin  standing for the Irish Presidential Election. The problem is that they dont like him very much because he might have some “Baggage”. Indeed he has admitted as much and even said so under oath at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. The Irish Police and indeed no other Police force is at all interested in questioning him about anything in his Past.

When the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998, it was of course a victory for Creative Ambiguity. Nobody or organisation signed up to the Peace Process was ever going to be charged with any offence. Nor was anyone going to get an official “amnesty”. It was just one of those areas where nobody was going to shine a light.

Of course the problem for many journalists and liberal dissidents is that within a few years of its signing, the Peace Process had gone down a different route than the one they triumphantly wrote about. Rather than placing the SDLP and UUP at the head of nationalism and unionism, the electorate (remember them?) chose Sinn Fein and the DUP. In an atmosphere of “compromise”, the two tribes turned to their extremes.

Martin McGuinness now sits alongside DUPs Peter Robinson in the First Ministers Office at Stormont and the problem for liberal dissidents is that this is likely to be the case for an entire generation.

McGuinness probably wont win the Election. But in standing he makes Sinn Féin even more acceptable to mainstream politics in the Republic of Ireland. In the views of many, “northern politics” is toxic and the poison will spread. Mainstream politics has been already undermined by the failure of Governments to deal with the excesses of the Irish bankers who have crippled the Irish economy and put the nations well-being in the hands of “Europe” and the International Monetary Fund.

Of course another pillar of Irish Society …the Catholic Church is in turmoil. There is a raging anti-clericalism, which has been caused by paedophilia and a poor response to it by the Church. The seal of the confessional is a target. Priests, we are told, must report paedophilia declared in Confession to the Police. …the campaign is being led by……..journalists.

Priests have been told things (indeed about the Troubles) under the seal of the confessional. Understandably the Church resists any attack on their “rights” as an attack on Freedom of Religion. Journalists have been told things (about the Troubles) in off the record interviews ith “terrorists”. And Journalists resist any law which obliges them to disclose their sources.
I see a clear parallel. Yet anti-Sinn Féin journalists are now agonising about why Martin McGuinness wont answer their searching questions and suggesting that his role in the Troubles needs to be exposed for the benefit of the Irish Electorate.

But surely any anti-Sinn Féin journalist can walk into a police station north and south and hand ver the evidence they have collated over the years. Can they expect Mr McGuinness to incriminate himself in front of TV cameras.

It is hypocrisy of Journalists to claim that Catholic priests have a duty to wider Society and not protect penitents and to claim that journalists have no duty to wider society and must protect their sources. As always Journalists want it both ways.

Either way resonable people would not argue FOR one position and AGAINST the other position.

Are priests and journalists entitled to same levels of “protection”?
Or required to give the same levels of disclosure?
Or is there a different standard?

But rather like a priest going into a police station to report a serious crime discovered via confession would find himself discharged from the priesthood…..a journo going into a police station to hand over the notes of his interview with Whoever in 1973 would quickly find himself/herself drummed out of Journalism.

Neither Priest or Journalist feels they owe something to broader “society”. I make no judgement but rather say many reasonable people think that they do owe such a duty. Perhaps other reasonable people think that they dont.
But Id be surprised if a reasonable person made a distinction……..between priestly goose and journalistic gander.

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment