12 years ago this happened:
Young kids were exposed to the worst sort of sectarian bigotry and the virulent underbelly of Loyalism was exposed to the world for what it is.
Since then clearly nothing has been learned within Loyalism but, more importantly, within the wider Unionist fraternity.
I am tempted, as a Nationalist and a Republican to gloat but I am left with an empty as well as angry feeling after the latest lunacy from that quarter.
Today 3 Schools were threatened. Pupils, parents and staff.
From the Irish News:
Now I expect nothing better from these lunatics but I am still waiting on a single comment from any Unionist politician on this. Even one.
Every single person I have spoken to including many of a unionist persuasion are appalled by this. I am certain the unionist inclined readers of this blog will be appalled by it.
(Clarification) I should add I mean that I am appalled by the silence of Politicians, not individual unionists
Why the silence?
"We in coming days may be" 
I dont know if its a credible threat, even allowing for the “password” but I am actually not too bothered about the lack of condemnation from Unionists. The task in hand is not to claim that unionism and nationalism is equal….but rather to have clear blue water between the two. Its our old friends …the letsgetalongerists who peddle the fabrication that both sides are on the same political and moral footing. Each piece of evidence that unionism has an underbelly of Hatred is one thing….but the key thing is that unionists cant bring themselves to distance themselves from it.
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Its absolutely abhorrent and please God will turn out to be just an empty threat. The lack of comment from Unionist politicians is baffling. I would previously have held a more letsgetalongerist viewpoint but the events of the past 12 months have made me more inclined to agree with fitzjameshorse.
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once again great minds think alike!!! I hope you will enjoy my post on the subject which went up a short time ago!!http://eurofree3.wordpress.com/2013/09/07/update-whos-washing-their-hands-of-northern-ireland-nobody/
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I note the same politicians, who were so outspoken about the commemoration in Castlederg, had nothing at all to say about the Brian Robinson memorial parade today. Strange that.
Believe me, if the fascists come good on some of the threats they are making, no-one but themselves and their equally fascistic supporters will be gloating – and even then, that won’t be for long.
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Been away so only picking up on this now. Any word on the three schools, I can think of at least a half-dozen in the greater Belfast area that are in PUL areas. Of course it should be condemned, perhaps not drawing attention to it though is the way to do it – starve loons of the oxygen of publicity?
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I hope you had an enjoyable trip Carrickally although you haven’t been missing quite as long as Peter the Great.
My point in the blog is clearly the silence from Unionist politicians.
Are you suggesting that this is a strategy to deny publicity?
If so, clearly it has backfired. It’s also odd that they decided not to use the same strategy in regards to Castlederg, for example, although they appear to have stuck to it in regard to a particular march through the Shankill in recent days.
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An enjoyable trip was had, I don’t think Mr Punt is ever coming back! You used the words Unionist, politicians and strategy in the one sentence; there has to be plentiful jokes in there!
Silence would be a golden one on this. I think and hope that PSNI and MI5 would have ears to the ground to ensure the schools threatened are protected (I’m presuming the names of the schools haven’t been released so as not to panic parents, and rightly so).
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I don’t think it’s any secret that the three schools involved are Holy Cross Girls’, Mercy Primary on the Crumlin Road and Our Lady of Mercy, Ballysillan.
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There is no word of any incidents as of yet but that is not the point. Even if it was a Flight commander wingnut wombat who happened to know the codewords, there has still not been a single word from a unionist politician on this. Not one. Zilch.
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Unionist leaders are caught in a bind – almost any criticism of unionist behavior or any gestures or overtures to the Nationalist community will cost them in terms of votes lost at the next election. The paradox of course is – as Horseman has excellently documented – that unionists themselves thus ensure that unionists will be a minority in the North very soon, very possibly already by 2020. Every year after that, the Nationalist majority increases – irreversibly. A Nationalist majority in the North will be a major game-changer.
The only source of increasing unionist market share is by trying to tap into the Nationalist community – but the internal dynamic within unionism itself prevents that.
Doomed indeed – as Horseman has correctly predicted.
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Worse, BD – Unionists and Loyalists, in any reference to it online, have proclaimed it as a cunning Republican plot to take attention from the ‘success’ of the ‘civil rights’ camp’ and because (wait to you hear this)… they are trying to discredit the PUL community.
As if they were not doing a sterling job at discrediting themselves daily for around a year now.
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Thanks for that FF, I didn’t know.
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All previous actions in this area have been UVF. RHD is a euphemism for the UDA (who’ve been conspicuous by their absence from the fleg protesters and much else anti peace process).
According to the BelTel: “The UDA and UVF have united to condemn a loyalist threat to use violence against children at three Catholic schools.”
I’ve no idea who made these threats, or whether or not they are real, or just part of the big fat mind games that have been going on since the year dot. The PSNI appeared not to take them seriously until the Education Minister made his statement.
Sometimes it pays to keep schtum until it becomes clearer what may (or may not) be going on. Unending cycles of ‘fury’ quickly become exhausting. When people are exhausted, poor judgement is likely to follow.
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Are you seriously trying to pretend that the UDA were not the driving force behind the original Holy Cross protest!? And that John O’Dowd is really the one to blame here!? Cos that would be playing fast and loose with the truth, Mick.
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Not sure how you could leap to either of those conclusions from what I’ve written above. Like I say, endless fury can end up impairing judgement, so maybe that’s it?
UDA spawned a lot of ugly stuff, including Johnny Adair. But they have been marked mostly by their absence in recent years. I sincerely hope it’s bogus.
The Minister has a duty of care to the kids at the school. ALL I am saying is that the PSNI did not appear to be taking the threat seriously until his statement was made.
Silence in the face of uncertainty can sometimes be the best policy.
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Well you started off by saying “all previous actions in this area have been the UVF”, which is plain untrue.
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Well I hope I’ve clarified to your satisfaction now.
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Mick,
‘Keeping Schtum’ is only a good strategy for the victimised, if those who have influence on the bully’s/ terrorisers, speak out and send them back under their stones.
Otherwise it is the policy of perpetual victimhood and I don’t think N. Belfast CNR’s are going to tolerate that.
Still waiting for those Unionist and Local Protestant voices or reason to differentiate themselves from the child abusing bigots.
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Mick: “I’ve no idea who made these threats, or whether or not they are real, or just part of the big fat mind games that have been going on since the year dot.”
Not a lot to argue with in that sentence, Mick. Indeed it is difficult to know.
However, do you not think that your next sentence : “The PSNI appeared not to take them seriously until the Education Minister made his statement.” sort of undermines that initial point you made?
How? The first sentence stands on its own i.e. open minded about what may have happened and why.
The second sentence then suggests that it is all a nonsense and the PSNI only entertained the idea because John O’Dowd condemned it.
Your ambiguity can be maddening sometimes, Mick.
I have to say, you do make some interesting and thought provoking comments sometimes. However, you do tend to undermine them with “digs”. That is the perception I have – I’m sure I am not alone in thinking this.
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Silence says so much. Yes Mick, your silence on certain embarassing events this summer has been duly noted. You can dress Orangefest up all you want – you won’t find many takers. Not ‘furious’ little me and not Belfast City Centre Management either.
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What have BCCM said, FF?
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BCCM Reports may be downloaded here: http://www.belfastcentre.com/publications/event-reports/
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An interesting Article by a Unionist regarding recent and not so recent events: http://eamonnmallie.com/2013/09/when-a-chinese-man-an-italian-an-indian-and-a-paddy-meet-at-a-funeral-by-glenn-bradley/
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Perhaps if they were given gainful employment abroad for a few years, they might return with a different world view and the whole community would benefit. They say that you can take the man out of the bog but you cant take out of the bog out of the man but I’m sure that this isn’t true.
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Perhaps if more PUL’s from working class P/Loyalist areas, speak out like Glenn, the Fleggers, the Camp Twaddlers and the Orange Stormtroopers who like to bully primary schoolgirls, will begin to realise their moral compass is way off the homosapian norm.
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BD,
I see you got carded over on Slugger. What heinous crime against Letsgetalongerism did you commit, to warrant that ?
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PaulG,
I did indeed!
I believe it was because I was “playing the Man” as Mick calls it. (Perhaps Mick could confirm?)
What I was actually doing was calling into question the motives of the person who posted the blog. He is a Fianna Fail supporter and was posting in regard to the SDLP.
My comment was “Charles,
“Why do you think it would be a “surprise” if he performed well? Why would the SDLP elect someone who is not expected to perform well?”
Well spotted and taken together with the “Calm Down” instruction to FJH, well, there is a word to describe it.
My own term would be one associated with FF over the past few years but it would be impolite to use it.”
Needless to say the word I had in mind was “Arrogance”
The full context is here: http://sluggerotoole.com/2013/09/13/successful-mckinney-co-option-suggests-the-sdlp-leader-is-slowly-getting-a-grip/
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That seems very harsh indeed. Wooly liberal ideology is seemingly not incompatible with a running strict and punitive regime!
Perhaps if you get a Red card, some Holywood heavies will cycle to Bangor to knock on your door!
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Woolly pro-Orange Order, pro-DUP, I didn’t see the democratically-elected mayor being attacked in the park, liberal ideology I think you mean, Paul.
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Thanks for filling in with the adjectives Fear F, I was afraid if I started, that I might not be able to stop.
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Slugger and the rest of the letsgetalongerists are increasingly starting to look like yesterday’s news.
Did anyone see the front page photo The Irish News ran of the Twaddlers yesterday? ‘Cross eyed toothless simpletons’ were the words that sprang to mind. The press can still be a very powerful tool. Which kind of brings us back to this
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I would consider myself, well, not the rudest or most confrontational of commenters, it’s interesting when compared to what some others have got away with. Anyone read some of “Ulster Press Centres” output?
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I would say UPC and Blues Jazz are by far, the most offensive contributers to SO’T. Leagues below anyone else.
I haven’t seen any Nationalists or Republicans come anywhere near their level of abuse, so until now (and I still don’t see the justification) it’s been hard to guage any pro-Unionist bias in that regard.
The only other explanation I can see, is that the man has indeed been played, but you are the man and SO’T has done the playing.
Have you been spotted, not inviting Alliance Party canvassers in for tea, lately ?
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I was sure that UPC was some Republican troll. Or possibly yer man Bryson. Hard to believe that anyone could be so wilfully pig headed. Although this is loyalists we’re talking about…
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I would absolutely enjoy Alliance canvassers to call to my door, particularly if it was Comrade Stalin in person. However CS is clear about his allegience. I must say I had suspicions that UPC was Bryson myself
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Mr Dub…the first time I ever got into trouble on Slugger was early 2010… Before the yellow card symbol…I committed the cardinal sin on SOT….point out who is saying something. Its basic HISTORY source stuff and is not playing the man. Micks declared intent of having more SDLP voices….seemingly they dont play ball with him….is maybe related to the fact that he gives more latitude to rarely heard opinions (his own choices) than oft heard opinions…..this accounts for the excessive tolerance of opinions from Blue Jazz, UPC and others and Micks limited tolerance of Mr Dub.
As to the alleged threats on Catholic schools…well again Mick is at heart a letsgetalongerist. My problem with Letsgetalongerists is that they assume the “middle ground” but when the chips are down ….the unionist position is the chosen one. The UDA were more than “ugly”.
They are more than capable of threats.
It was perfectly legit of Mr Dub to point out that David McCann is FF member. Mr McCanns own profile on Slugger merely stated “Phd Student”. This alone gave weight to his Slugger post …previewing the South Belfast selection. The assertion that Claire had edged ahead and Fearghal needed a late surge to win….was something that other people with an ear to the ground were not actually finding.
The justification….he was hearing this in conversation and Claire was he better candidate (remember he is FF) is as baffling as the original post.
In that context Mr Dub was perfectly entitled to point up the FF connexion. There is no evidence that Mr McCanns post had any “academic” value but quite a lot of circumstantial evidence that it was based on “political” considerations.
The net result must be that Mr McCanns future posts are treated with a measure of skepticism.
Mr Dub….your yellow card….you took one for the team.
We salute you sir.
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I am very grateful for the support from all here. I do try to enable views of all colours and the rules here are generally looser to enable that.
Thanks to all
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Might add that I am by nature a pessimist…and I like the fact Mick has set out a list of achievements under Dr Als Leadership of SDLP. He describes them as small but significant facts…and Im OK with that because I actually prefer things to be downplayed. There is of course a degree of begrudgery which comes thru. But contrast that with treatment of Alliance. What exactly was the figure that Mick thought Alliance in Mid Ulster…would be happy to be “north of” (sic)? Was it 2% …3%….I recall the actual figure was 1.5%…..did Mick describe it as a “f@@@ing disaster….pardon my French…..and how long after that 79% favour integrated schools poll (two weeks??) was Mid Ulster? Which percentage got more prominence?
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Like …I just watched a fella and girl winding up the judges on the X Factor.
And I sign into Slugger and D avid McCann …PhD student is writing an analysis… The decline of the UUP….the grand old party of the North.
OK…..I cant risk a yellow card on SOT (despite Mick wanting SDLP voices) pointing out that the author is a member of Fianna Fail….decline of grand old party of the South.
Its a wind up. It must be a wind up.
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Lol, my thoughts exactly!
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I see David McCann, a PhD student at Univ of Ulster has a new thread there, where Professor Henry Patterson also of University of Ulster is quoted.
Not sure what yer man Dave McCann (from the banks of the Bann?) is doing for the Slugger brand.
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Consider yourselves lucky, lads. I have yet to say anything remotely “controversial” on SOT and, as such, have never received a card yet. (Though I did admit I was a Republican – and acted as a go between with LAD and DC – hmmm).
Instead, I merely have to use a proxy to visit the site because it appears my IP is blocked. No matter which device I use from this address, I cannot view the site. I was informed it was ‘maintenance’. That was about two months ago.
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Ceannarie,
That’s a tech problem which I think a recent upgrade should have sorted (my apologies).
Here’s the simple facts of the facts of the case, and I guess I ought to know (name that pome?):
BD, after all these years of sin free commenting you got one yellow after a verbal warning for the same offence: (http://goo.gl/nNvDQ) using the ‘don’t listen to him, he’s a bollix’ line in order to neutralise an opponent.
FJH is right. It is cardinal sin. And in that particular regard in Sluggerworld, I run a vengeful and unforgiving pontificate. It’s the opposite of controversial. It’s cheap, nasty and will be dropped on from a great height.
I know you hold FF responsible for what it has done to the Republic. I don’t have a problem with that if you can work it into the argument. But I have pinged people for similar man playing of Chris and John, and dozen other politico bloggers on the site.
For the record, UPC had three Reds and a Black Spot. Blues Jazz has three Reds and is for the drop if he goes back there.
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Cheers Mick for responding.
In fairness I didn’t throw a hissy fit or even complain. In fact it was PaulG above who brought up the subject and I provided some context. I even figured out why I’d been given the old card. 😉
Naturally you’re the ref but we all love to give out about some decisions during the game – BD
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Mick, thank you for sorting out the old IP thingy. At last I can view the site again. Cheers.
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To be fair to Mick its probably pretty hard to run a site like Slugger and just like any refereeing process, mistakes are made.
As is generally the case on the internet, on the whole its best just to read the blog pieces and not look at the comments.
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