Proposed twinning of Dublin with Beirut.

Archeron

It has transpired now that Labour are suggesting that the people of Dublin should call for the twinning of Ireland's capital wiht Beirut as a sign of solidarity with those who are suffering in the Lebanese capital.

Story here: http://www.labour.ie/press/listing/20060720122119.html

Do you think this is a feasible idea, or just a bit of bandwagon jumping? I personally think it is a good idea for us to show our support for innocent civilians, but I dont know if this would be a good way to do it.I am sad that so many are dying on both sides of this war. What do you think? If this went ahead, could there be implications for Ireland? How do you think the world would view such an act?

Garibaldi

They'd probably think we were taking the piss.

Dragan

Ireland has always prided ( or hidden behind depending on your world view ) on it's Neutrality.

For my money, tying our capital to another city in such a way, and for such a reason, is basically implying a degree of favour to one side of the conflict.

At least, that would be my opinion on it.

Dragan

Dragan wrote:

Ireland has always prided ( or hidden behind depending on your world view ) on it's Neutrality.

Our neutrality is a big charade. Ireland simply aligns it's self with whoever it serves its purposes best at a particular moment in time. We are like a modern day Constantinople.

I wish dumb hippies would stop harping on about our supposed neutrality while attacking war planes with hammers(the irony).

Dragan

ronoc wrote:

I wish dumb hippies would stop harping on about our supposed neutrality while attacking war planes with hammers(the irony).

Actually, thats not very ironic at all.....now if they were banging on about how we should all be pacifists.....now THAT would be ironic!!!

Collie D

I don't see why we shouldn't be twinned with Beirut. Irish soldiers have served there for decades and I'm sure a lot of them would have an affinity with the Lebanese people. What implications could there be? The citizens of Beirut (like the citizens of Israel) have done nothing wrong. If the Israeli ambassador to Ireland is offended, so what, this is the same guy who tried to justify killing UN peace-keepers and the continued firing on their post while rescue attempts were happening. Apparently the main street in Beirut is called O'Connell Street too, anyone wanna confirm this for me?

Archeron

Collie D wrote:

I don't see why we shouldn't be twinned with Beirut. Irish soldiers have served there for decades and I'm sure a lot of them would have an affinity with the Lebanese people. What implications could there be? The citizens of Beirut (like the citizens of Israel) have done nothing wrong. If the Israeli ambassador to Ireland is offended, so what, this is the same guy who tried to justify killing UN peace-keepers and the continued firing on their post while rescue attempts were happening. Apparently the main street in Beirut is called O'Connell Street too, anyone wanna confirm this for me?

I do agree that there is a history between Ireland and Lebanon, and I think this could be a good gesture, but as another poster above mentioned, do you think the world would laugh at this? (not that I give much of a damn anyway) Without making this thread political, the world is sitting by and watching this happen now, so would a gesture such as this be viewed as a little bit pointless?

Nuttzz

If anywhere they should twin it with Limerick, that way if anyone comes over from Beirut they can feel right at home....

Collie D

Would agree that it is a pointless gesture, Archeron, it's not going to save lives but it is a nice idea to show a bit of solidarity. As for what the world thinks, not sure they'd be bothered to be honest, might offend the Israeli goverment and a few Republicans in washington but that's usually a good thing

HelterSkelter

Ha, what a joke, just a PR stunt. Stop the warplanes landing in Shannon if we are really worried about injustice in the Middle East.

eachtrannach

A PR stunt ...

Now if Belfast had proposed a twinning with Beirut I could understand the reasoning. And if this had been done in a fairly stable political and military climate in Lebanon (no pun intended) I think people would have supported the idea. Hell, two cities torn apart by warring fractions and foreign meddlers, they would have a point.

As to neutrality ... which neutral country, I mean really neutral, would allow the use of its airport(s) as staging areas?

Trode

ronoc wrote:

Our neutrality is a big charade. Ireland simply aligns it's self with whoever it serves its purposes best at a particular moment in time. We are like a modern day Constantinople.

I wish dumb hippies would stop harping on about our supposed neutrality while attacking war planes with hammers(the irony).

I agree about our neutrality, but it just annoys me that Labour are often the first(well, second) to start harping on about it and pretending that Shannon is a vital piece of the US war machine, and then they come out with this. Hope there's a lot of room for hypocracy on that bandwagon they're boarding.

astrofool

A very irish solution, we can do f*ck all else, so lets twin ourselves with the city, then it'll almost be like we're being bombed :rolleyes:

You'd think they'd twin it where somewhere nice. Like San Diego. That would be nice.

Tha Gopher

Dragan wrote:

Ireland has always prided ( or hidden behind depending on your world view ) on it's Neutrality.

For my money, tying our capital to another city in such a way, and for such a reason, is basically implying a degree of favour to one side of the conflict.

But the war is between Israel and Hezbollah, not Israel and Lebanon. However the Israelis have merely chosen to bomb the fcuk out of the entire country because of the activities of an organisation representing one of the many factions in the country.

Its like the British launching airstrikes on Dublin and all our other major towns and cities back in the day in revenge for, lets say, the Brighton bombing.

InFront

Collie D wrote:

What implications could there be?

I agree with this, but not in the context I think you mean it in.
What good would this be? Shouldnt the government's energy be better employed in other ways to bring the conflict to some resolve. I think it is a very very nice gesture, but gestures are the stuff of peace, and there are more immediate concerns.

Like Shannon.

Terry

Tha Gopher wrote:

But the war is between Israel and Hezbollah, not Israel and Lebanon. However the Israelis have merely chosen to bomb the fcuk out of the entire country because of the activities of an organisation representing one of the many factions in the country.

Its like the British launching airstrikes on Dublin and all our other major towns and cities back in the day in revenge for, lets say, the Brighton bombing.

or america invading afghanistan under the guise of looking for al-qaeda.

isn't pat rabitte jewish?
i would have thought his affinities would lie with israel.
live and learn.

InFront

julep wrote:

or america invading afghanistan under the guise of looking for al-qaeda.

isn't pat rabitte jewish?
i would have thought his affinities would lie with israel.
live and learn.

You sure you're not thinking of Michael Howard? They are... vaguely... similiar

Terry

i'm about 99% certain.
there's always room for error though.

stevenmu

Yes, great idea. Let's make some absolutley pointless gesture to make the bleeding-hearts feel better about themselves. That'd be much better than sending supplies or aid.

monkeyfudge

Deleted User wrote:

You'd think they'd twin it where somewhere nice. Like San Diego. That would be nice.

Dublin is twinned with San Jose, that's pretty nice.

Liverpool and Barcelona too.

Manic Moran

Does that mean that we're twinned with Barcelona and Liverpool, once removed? And thus Beiruit?

Besides, everyone knows that this twinning business is just an excuse for politicians to have a paid vacation at our expense. "We must visit our twinned cities every year or two". You'll never see them twin with someplace potentially unpleasant.

NTM

Collie D

Manic Moran wrote:

You'll never see them twin with someplace potentially unpleasant.

NTM

You've obviously never been to Liverpool

HelterSkelter

Manic Moran wrote:

Does that mean that we're twinned with Barcelona and Liverpool, once removed? And thus Beiruit?

Besides, everyone knows that this twinning business is just an excuse for politicians to have a paid vacation at our expense. "We must visit our twinned cities every year or two". You'll never see them twin with someplace potentially unpleasant.

NTM

Well, if this happens hopefully we can send some of our politicians on a one way vacation to Beirut

antSionnach

What a strange suggestion for them to make.

Surely there are more meaningful ways to express our solidarity with all people, and especially the Lebanese at this time.
Apart from tourism and cultural benefits, twinning is not something that should be entered into for diplomatic or policy reasons. Surely there are better ways to do so.

Now if they had suggested setting up some sort of Ireland-Beirut committee to further Ireland's interests in maintaining the peace in Lebanon and organising and centralising an aid campaign, it would be much more welcomed and worthwhile.

mike65

I don't recall any suggestion "we" twin with New York after Sept 11 or London after 7-7 or Madrid after 3-11 or could this be the typical stunt of identifing with the supposely oppressed and dirt poor? So Irish, but so last century.

Mike.

zuma

Madrid after 3-11

I would have assumed that this would have become 11/3 or something similar that is how we represent dates in numerical format.

mike65

You are correct, I got that date off a US site, God I hate Amercians.

Mike.

InFront

mike65 wrote:

You are correct, I got that date off a US site, God I hate Amercians.

Mike.

shhhh not so loud

Lirange

Collie D wrote:

You've obviously never been to Liverpool

Erm the skangers surpassed the scousers long ago for twattery. These days the new and improved Liverpool is on an upswing. Now'days it's an improvement over much of Dubs.

darkman2

Archeron wrote:

It has transpired now that Labour are suggesting that the people of Dublin should call for the twinning of Ireland's capital wiht Beirut as a sign of solidarity with those who are suffering in the Lebanese capital.

Story here: http://www.labour.ie/press/listing/20060720122119.html

Do you think this is a feasible idea, or just a bit of bandwagon jumping? I personally think it is a good idea for us to show our support for innocent civilians, but I dont know if this would be a good way to do it.I am sad that so many are dying on both sides of this war. What do you think? If this went ahead, could there be implications for Ireland? How do you think the world would view such an act?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA:D The only reason cities in Ireland are twinned with elsewhere is so councillors can go on junkets (hence why its always only nice places they are twinned with). Its a con job......

abetarrush

stevenmu wrote:

Yes, great idea. Let's make some absolutley pointless gesture to make the bleeding-hearts feel better about themselves. That'd be much better than sending supplies or aid.

We shud just chill and let the rest of the world blow eachother up

fxckin muppets

Terry

i've been saying that for years, but nobody listens.