OT: Ireland and its terrorists
2001-09-24 by Mark Lennox
Just as an aside... here in Ireland most generally consider that acts perpetrated by those involved in the 1916 rising were patriotic and justified as we now live in a free Ireland.... well. We are about to disinter the coffins of some of these 'heroes' parade them around Dublin and rebury them with full state honours. These men (one of whom was only eighteen at the time) murdered bristish soldiers while they were collecting bread for their battallion. The attackers were caught and hanged... quite rightly. I think it is disgusting that we should consider a parade for these people ( who were murderers from any point of view ) while Ireland is trying to forge a new future and especially in the light of the disaster in NYC. Many would argue that the Irish have had atrocities heaped upon them by the English for centuries and this leads to some sort of justification... We Irish have responded in kind ( through our proxies and through acceptance of the status quo ) - to what end? John Hume, the leader of the SDLP in Northern Ireland was accused of supporting the IRA when he sat down with Gerry Adams to talk him into some sort of movement toward peace talks many years ago. His action lead directly to the peace talks as we know them today.... "I am a politican, politics is about debate. The fact that I sit down and listen to what the IRA has to say does not mean that I support them. Debate is the only means to resolution of the troubles and I will do all in my power to bring about that resolution whatever the professional cost.' - John Hume ( paraphrased ) Certain world leaders right could take a lesson from this man. and the dictionary definition of debate: de\ufffdbate (d-bt) v. de\ufffdbat\ufffded, de\ufffdbat\ufffding, de\ufffdbates v. intr. To consider something; deliberate. To engage in argument by discussing opposing points. To engage in a formal discussion or argument. See Synonyms at discuss. Obsolete. To fight or quarrel. v. tr. To deliberate on; consider. To dispute or argue about. To discuss or argue (a question, for example) formally. Obsolete. To fight or argue for or over. n. A discussion involving opposing points; an argument. Deliberation; consideration: passed the motion with little debate. A formal contest of argumentation in which two opposing teams defend and attack a given proposition. Obsolete. Conflict; strife. the road to peace begins with acceptance of the fact that you MIGHT be wrong peace :) -- Mark Lennox Consultant ENDUSER Guinness Enterprise Centre Taylor's Lane Dublin 8 Ireland -- e-mail : mark@... phone : (+353 1) 4100 665 direct : (+353 1) 4100 707 fax : (+353 1) 4100 985 web : http://www.enduser.ie --