The Man speaks the truth

AircraftTechie

http://www.galwayindependent.com/local-news/local-news/anti%11war-group-is-anti%11galway,-anti%11american-and-anti%11progress,-says-crowe/

Anti-war group is anti-Galway, anti-American and anti-progress, says Crowe
Written by Deirdre O' Shaughnessy
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
A Fianna Fáil city councillor has launched a scathing attack on the Galway Alliance Against War, saying it is "damaging" the city.



The attack comes in the wake of a protest held last Sunday in which the group attempted to dress the Liam Mellows statue in Eyre Square as a Guantanamo Bay prisoner. The group was stopped by gardaí and Community Wardens.

"These people have and continue to do more damage to our city than any other so-called peaceful group in the history of Galway. Simply put, they are anti-Galway, anti-American and anti-progress.

"At Saturday's protest they were insulting to not just political parties but also to the Gardai and constantly tried to provoke a reaction by continuing to give them various jibes, referring to them as 'the boys in blue', 'McDowell's boys' etc," said Cllr Crowe.

However, the anti-war group has responded robustly to Cllr Crowe's comments. Spokesman Niall Farrell told the Galway Independent that he doubted Cllr Crowe knew anything about Liam Mellows, saying, "It would not surprise me if he thinks he was a hurler. Mellows – like the leaders of the Rising in 1916 – opposed Ireland being sucked into imperialist conflicts, such as World War One. He was for an independent Ireland with an independent foreign policy and we have no doubt that he would have been in favour of our event."

Cllr Crowe said he felt the group was not representative of the city as whole. "This group are in my view pushing the boundaries more and more, and I, along with most other people in the city, don't want anything to do with them. By all means let them and any other group protest peacefully but they must, like all others respect the law of the land and if they don't then I would ask them to leave our city."

However, the group reacted angrily to this suggestion, saying it implied racism. "It might be worth informing the Fianna Fáil councillor that Liam Mellows was born in England, should we take the statue with us when he expels us?" added Mr Farrell.


_________________________________________________________________

Cllr. Michael Crowe. Is dead right, these people are indeed Anti everything except for what suits them not what the Majority wants, a right "Rent A Crowd" indeed, well said Sir, well said about time someone stood up and shouted back at them, just as good as FG's Cllr. Pádraig Conneely.

Sherifu

Oohhhhh, I love scathing attacks.
I'm not sure many Galway people care about GAAW, I know I don't. And as for how many people they represent, i'd imagine it's whoever turns up at their events, a group of < 100 peeps.

AircraftTechie

I witnessed them in Salthill one day before the Airshow, they wanted to protest at the US Ambassador, funnily enough there were about 15 of them, adults with children, why bring children, they were of an age that they wouldnt have understood what was going on.

I pray for the day one of those children grows up and says "Dad im off to America to join the United States Marine Corps" Oh happy days.:)

Robbo

Still sore about that Air Show?

Sponge Bob

rkm wrote: »

I'm not sure many Galway people care about GAAW, I know I don't.

And I care even less about Crowe than I do about the GAAW . He stands for ( and equally against) **** all .

AircraftTechie

Robbo wrote: »

Still sore about that Air Show?

The Majority are Sir, its ok though im going to the US for a BIG show.

Zzippy

Do you have to post a new thread every time the GAAW are mentioned in the local paper? Its only Crowe slagging them off, who actually gives a fuck what he says? Not many people in my local area have much time for him, or the GAAW for that matter
The Air Show is not happening this year, get over it :rolleyes:

ronnie3585

AircraftTechie wrote: »

Anti-war group is anti-Galway, anti-American and anti-progress, says Crowe

Anti-soap too.

vulcan57

AircraftTechie wrote: »

I witnessed them in Salthill one day before the Airshow, they wanted to protest at the US Ambassador, funnily enough there were about 15 of them, adults with children, why bring children, they were of an age that they wouldnt have understood what was going on.

I pray for the day one of those children grows up and says "Dad im off to America to join the United States Marine Corps" Oh happy days.:)

But when they were there they were shouting insults and barracking everyone that entered in tux's and totally ruined someones wedding reception and had to be removed because they were so stupid that they were in the wrong hotel!! the ambassador was in a different one!

Another thought, I wonder how many of those children have toy soldiers or guns to play with and playstation s with all the latest shoot 'em up games.

vulcan57

Zzippy wrote: »

Do you have to post a new thread every time the GAAW are mentioned in the local paper? Its only Crowe slagging them off, who actually gives a fuck what he says? Not many people in my local area have much time for him, or the GAAW for that matter
The Air Show is not happening this year, get over it :rolleyes:

Weather or not you care what Cllr Crowe says, he is not, by a long shot, the only one with the same feelings, check the letter in Advertiser today, again a great deal of truth! and I don't mean the one from Mr Farrell. To add, yes we do have to post a new thread every time they are mentioned, they are a major thorn in the sides of the vast majority Galway people and this is a forum concerning Galway City.

Bass Cadet

AircraftTechie wrote: »

"At Saturday's protest they were insulting to not just political parties but also to the Gardai and constantly tried to provoke a reaction by continuing to give them various jibes, referring to them as 'the boys in blue', 'McDowell's boys' etc," said Cllr Crowe.

OMG! Burn them, burn them ALL!!! Explains why I saw a few cops still cowering and sobbing in Eyre Sq afterwards, poor guys

:rolleyes:

Bass Cadet

AircraftTechie wrote: »

The Majority are Sir

Anyone I've been talking to couldn't give a rat's ass

AircraftTechie

Bass Cadet wrote: »

Anyone I've been talking to couldn't give a rat's ass

The crowds in Salthill would say otherwise, then again you cant please everybody but the majority do appreciate what came to Salthill and i for one am greatful.

Bass Cadet

AircraftTechie wrote: »

The crowds in Salthill would say otherwise, then again you cant please everybody but the majority do appreciate what came to Salthill and i for one am greatful.

I appreciate that you 'AircraftTechie' love the whole thing and fair play to ya but by and large, Galway doesn't care...Another profitable day for the Races' pickpocketers avoided. Anyway, agree to disagree

Zzippy

vulcan57 wrote: »

Weather or not you care what Cllr Crowe says, he is not, by a long shot, the only one with the same feelings, check the letter in Advertiser today, again a great deal of truth! and I don't mean the one from Mr Farrell. To add, yes we do have to post a new thread every time they are mentioned, they are a major thorn in the sides of the vast majority Galway people and this is a forum concerning Galway City.

No, you don't.
There are already threads on this issue. Add to them if you feel so strongly.
At least then we'll know from the title that its more crap and we won't read it.
Posting multiple threads on the same old topic doesn't win you any friends

vulcan57 wrote: »

a major thorn in the sides of the vast majority

Really? Have you done market research on this? :rolleyes:

PopeBuckfastXVI

Zzippy wrote: »

Really? Have you done market research on this? :rolleyes:

Set up a poll!!! Unscientific but feck it!

galwayrush

I'm shocked that someone from Fianna Fail is speaking the truth.:rolleyes:

Over&Over

Bass Cadet wrote: »

Anyone I've been talking to couldn't give a rat's ass

Ditto. Good riddance sayeth my friends too.

skelliser

the airshow is cancelled this year either cause they couldnt raise the 80 grand needed and/or the city council wouldnt help them financially NOT because of the objections of the GAAW.
since there is no more airshow GAAW are stuck for issues, although they have been silent about a russian battlegroup of over 12 ships including an aircraft carrier and a few nuclear powered submarines which sailed down the west coast last week. this also included two bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons which flew along the same path which where intercepted by the RAF.
alot of people probably didnt hear about this russian battlegroup because maybe it has to do with the fact they were russian, if on the other hand they were american or british i can gaurantee the GAAW would be shouting from the top of there lungs!

Stky10

Zzippy wrote: »

Do you have to post a new thread every time the GAAW are mentioned in the local paper? Its only Crowe slagging them off, who actually gives a fuck what he says? Not many people in my local area have much time for him, or the GAAW for that matter

+1

From what I could see Crowe would do practically anything to get his name in the papers. Anti-galway and anti-progress indeed. Muppet.

I have little time for GAAW, but I've even less for Crowe and his ilk

randylonghorn

Crowe wrote:

anti-American and anti-progress

I love how those two words always get equated when political greenhouse gasses are being pumped into the skies ...

Crowe wrote:

At Saturday's protest they were insulting to not just political parties

Ah, right ... mentioned the most holy and blessed Fianna Fail in the same breath as Shannon again, did they?

vulcan57 wrote: »

... they are a major thorn in the sides of the vast majority Galway people ...

PMSL, TBH!!

Thanks for that, vulcan57!

Zzippy

AircraftTechie wrote: »

Cllr. Michael Crowe. Is dead right, these people are indeed Anti everything except for what suits them not what the Majority wants, a right "Rent A Crowd" indeed, well said Sir, well said about time someone stood up and shouted back at them, just as good as FG's Cllr. Pádraig Conneely.

Did you read yesterday's Advertiser, OP?
This would be the same Councillor Crowe who was rated the lowest of all present and recent councillors for his work as a councillor and contributions to the council meetings, even lower than that other luminary you mention, Padraig Conneely!

Yes, we should really take anything they say seriously... :rolleyes:

tristanc

Given that the majority of Americans are anti-war at this point, I'd say that actually makes them pro-American.

tristanc

AircraftTechie wrote: »

The Majority are Sir, its ok though im going to the US for a BIG show.

Given they had to cancel the show for lack of funds, I'd say the majority didn't care so much about the airshow. Or at least, were not voting with their wallets.

Sponge Bob

tristanc wrote: »

Or at least, were not voting with their wallets.

Or not voting for Crowe who would not shell out the €80k for the Air Show Insurance as a member of that same City Council.

As for the Airshow the GAAW is entitled to protest , I am entitled to attend :cool:

Wompa1

Bass Cadet wrote: »

I appreciate that you 'AircraftTechie' love the whole thing and fair play to ya but by and large, Galway doesn't care...Another profitable day for the Races' pickpocketers avoided. Anyway, agree to disagree

Kinda like The Arts Festival or The Rally...sure if we don't get an Airshow lets get rid of those too..please? GPO should be fun this weekend huh?

tristanc

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Or not voting for Crowe who would not shell out the €80k for the Air Show Insurance as a member of that same City Council.

Hmm, 80k doesn't seem like that much for the organizers to raise independently. Aeronautics and defense industries have pretty deep pockets - I'm surprised they didn't have the connections to pull in a few corporate sponsorships and have that in a heart beat.

toiletduck

tristanc wrote: »

Given that the majority of Americans are anti-war at this point, I'd say that actually makes them pro-American.

No, GAAW aren't anti-war they're anti-war/actions by America, Britain or Isreal. Pretty much anybody else is ok.

vulcan57

toiletduck wrote: »

No, GAAW aren't anti-war they're anti-war/actions by America, Britain or Isreal. Pretty much anybody else is ok.

Too true! You only have to look at the African continent where prctically every second country is either invovled in civil war / ethnic clensing or, at least, on the verge of it, but that is of no concern to the GAAW because there is no UK or US invovlement!

4zn76tysfajdxp

There's no Irish involvement either, didn't stop them.

"But Shannon blah blah blah..."
Couldn't you argue that by refusing to let the Americans use Shannon we're against their actions therefore not being neutral?

vulcan57

This is a world map of on-going conflicts and wars as of January 2008



As can plainly be seen, there are 24 or 25 wars and conflicts going on but the GAAW are only interested in maybe 3 of them which, funnily enough, concern the US, UK or Israel. Also the GAAW fail to recognise all the humanitarian work done by British and American forces in a number of theatres and places like the Balkans.

skelliser

funny how must of these conflicts occur around the equator! where there is constant heat, no seasons and 12 hours day 12 hours night!

randylonghorn

Hmm, I wonder would someone with a more up-to-date knowledge of international current affairs than myself like to analyse how many of those conflicts the US has a hand / vested interest in (even if there are no US troops involved).

That said, I do agree that GAAW couldn't really call itself unbiased in any shape or form.

galwayrush

I wonder what the GAAW think of the Taliban and various other extremists , like the ones who strapped bombs to two downs syndrome women and blew them up by remote control.the 70 + people who died were targeted because they were at a Pet Market, and selling Pets is apparently a serious sin in their eyes.Perhaps the GAAW don't realise what life would be like if the extremists took over and the freedoms we take for granted disappear.

skelliser

randylonghorn wrote: »

Hmm, I wonder would someone with a more up-to-date knowledge of international current affairs than myself like to analyse how many of those conflicts the US has a hand / vested interest in (even if there are no US troops involved).

this is true the vast majority of these conflicts were born out of the cold war pseudo capatilism vs communist, in particular the south american and african "wars" but when the U.S "won" the cold war they were left to there own devices.

imo opinion the GAAW are very selective in the policies, ignoring the wider picture at there own demise.
well an interesting doc i saw called "the power of nightmares" analyses all this, here is a link http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4602171665328041876 its a 3 part doc, its well worth a look.

tristanc

toiletduck wrote: »

No, GAAW aren't anti-war they're anti-war/actions by America, Britain or Isreal. Pretty much anybody else is ok.

They're focused on the one war, presumably because they think it's the one where the participants are closest to home and thus the easiest to influence. That doesn't make them for other wars. Just because you're hitting one girl at the club, doesn't mean you think the rest of them are butt ugly - but you've got to focus your efforts if you want any chance of success.

tristanc

tristanc wrote: »

Just because you're hitting one girl at the club, doesn't mean you think the rest of them are butt ugly - but you've got to focus your efforts if you want any chance of success.

Okay, that was an idjit analogy. If you're for the war in Iraq, and want to argue that the american intervention was warranted/helpful, that's a fair position to take in opposition to the GAAW. If you are actually anti-Iraq war, but want to argue that the GAAW is essentially pissing into the wind, that's likely a defensible position as well. But claiming that they find other wars 'okay' because they aren't focused on them is pretty disingenuous. It would be like you're randomly trolling on message boards or something

Sherifu

tristanc wrote: »

Okay, that was an idjit analogy. If you're for the war in Iraq, and want to argue that the american intervention was warranted/helpful, that's a fair position to take in opposition to the GAAW. If you are actually anti-Iraq war, but want to argue that the GAAW is essentially pissing into the wind, that's likely a defensible position as well. But claiming that they find other wars 'okay' because they aren't focused on them is pretty disingenuous. It would be like you're randomly trolling on message boards or something

schizo much?

padraig71

galwayrush wrote: »

Perhaps the GAAW don't realise what life would be like if the extremists took over and the freedoms we take for granted disappear.

Or perhaps they do realise that US foreign policy during the past few years has effectively encouraged recruitment to the extremist groups you mention. Do you think the citizens of Iraq feel any safer today than under Saddam Hussein? As for extremists taking over and freedoms disappearing, that describes fairly accurately what has happened in the USA since George Bush and his cronies took power. The Patriot Act anyone?

At least with a bit of luck the next US president will be a black man or a woman, so there is some reason to hope for progress there.

@ Skelliser
+1 on 'The Power of Nightmares'. Very good on how both the US neocons and Islamo-fascists garner support by exaggerating the threat of a particular bogieman, whether militant Islamism or US imperialism.

toiletduck

tristanc wrote: »

They're focused on the one war, presumably because they think it's the one where the participants are closest to home and thus the easiest to influence. That doesn't make them for other wars. Just because you're hitting one girl at the club, doesn't mean you think the rest of them are butt ugly - but you've got to focus your efforts if you want any chance of success.

They don't just focus on Iraq, the Israel - Palestian conflict and Afghanistan are also in their focus. A member of Hezbollah was invited by them to give a talk by them in 2006, merely one example of their "neutrality". Read the letters section of the various papers from the past few years and see other glaring hyprocracises. They are not anti-war, unless your Western/Israeli.

vulcan57

toiletduck wrote: »

They don't just focus on Iraq, the Israel - Palestian conflict and Afghanistan are also in their focus. A member of Hezbollah was invited by them to give a talk by them in 2006, merely one example of their "neutrality". Read the letters section of the various papers from the past few years and see other glaring hyprocracises. They are not anti-war, unless your Western/Israeli.

So true. A comment at the Liam Mellows protest by the PRO of GAAW aimed at the Sinn Fien members peacefully preventing them from putting the orange boiler suit on poor old Liam. He said, "why are you not in the North fighting the Brits?", if that does'nt prove the hypocrocy of a group that claim to be anti war and peaceful, I don't know what will!

Zzippy

Just to get back on topic for a bit i.e. "The Man" (lol) speaking the truth (!)...

AircraftTechie wrote: »

A Fianna Fáil city councillor has launched a scathing attack on the Galway Alliance Against War, saying it is "damaging" the city.

Oh really? How is it "damaging" Galway??

"These people have and continue to do more damage to our city than any other so-called peaceful group in the history of Galway. Simply put, they are anti-Galway, anti-American and anti-progress.

Anti-Galway? Huh?
Anti-American? Yes, quite possibly, or maybe more accurately anti-American foreign policy.
Anti-progress? Unless his definition of progress is dropping bombs on innocent civilians, then no...

Cllr Crowe said he felt the group was not representative of the city as whole. "This group are in my view pushing the boundaries more and more, and I, along with most other people in the city, don't want anything to do with them.

I don't want much to do with GAAW myself, but I defend their right to protest, whether they are representative or not. Should you only be allowed to protest if you represent a majority view?
Cllr. Crowe isn't exactly representative of the city as a whole, but he still gets to spout rubbish on lots of issues, and I also defend his right to do so. I also defend my right to laugh heartily at anything he says.

By all means let them and any other group protest peacefully but they must, like all others respect the law of the land and if they don't then I would ask them to leave our city."

LOL. They live here too. Does he want them deported from the city because he doesn't agree with them?

Cllr. Michael Crowe. Is dead right, these people are indeed Anti everything except for what suits them not what the Majority wants, a right "Rent A Crowd" indeed, well said Sir, well said about time someone stood up and shouted back at them, just as good as FG's Cllr. Pádraig Conneely.

If you're going to slate GAAW or anyone else, at least quote a more articulate mouthpiece than Michael Crowe, or Padraig Conneely.

Thanks for the laugh!

boardswalker

galwayrush wrote: »

Perhaps the GAAW don't realise what life would be like if the extremists took over and the freedoms we take for granted disappear.

That's a naive comment. Your doomsday scenario may have already happened.
Many people consider George W. Bush to be an extremist. Bush demonstrates many of the characteristics of an extremist especially when he claims that " God is on their side of an issue and they often use religion as an excuse for acts of violence."
As for personal freedoms - "On December 17 President Bush acknowledged that he repeatedly authorized wiretaps, without obtaining a warrant, of American citizens engaged in international calls. On the face of it, these warrantless wiretaps violate FISA, which requires court approval for national security wiretaps and sets up a special procedure for obtaining it. Violation of the law is a felony." http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060130/holtzman/2

Also, for light reading have a look at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml;jsessionid=K3TKPLILMWNLDQFIQMGSFGGAVCBQWIV0?xml=/arts/2008/02/02/btbushism102.xml

toiletduck

Zzippy wrote:

Anti-progress? Unless his definition of progress is dropping bombs on innocent civilians, then no...

Probably referring to their views of local industries they say are involved in weapons manufacture/development e.g. the HP plant.

randylonghorn

Zzippy wrote: »

I don't want much to do with GAAW myself, but I defend their right to protest, whether they are representative or not. Should you only be allowed to protest if you represent a majority view?
Cllr. Crowe isn't exactly representative of the city as a whole, but he still gets to spout rubbish on lots of issues, and I also defend his right to do so. I also defend my right to laugh heartily at anything he says.

+1

I love when someone saves me typing time ...

Steyr

toiletduck wrote: »

They don't just focus on Iraq, the Israel - Palestian conflict and Afghanistan are also in their focus.

Well said, they support Palestine who are always lobbing those rockets into Israel which is funny as Israel control the power like electrical and water which was mentioned in the news recently when Israel turned it off in response to the Palestinians firing the rockets at them. I believe Israel has a right to defend themselves in any way necessary as its not just Palestine who wants them off the map completely and i dont think id be wrong in saying a certain ME Nation is funding the Palestinians.

vulcan57

vulcan57 wrote: »

So true. A comment at the Liam Mellows protest by the PRO of GAAW aimed at the Sinn Fien members peacefully preventing them from putting the orange boiler suit on poor old Liam. He said, "why are you not in the North fighting the Brits?", if that does'nt prove the hypocrocy of a group that claim to be anti war and peaceful, I don't know what will!

Do these people know their own minds? Now this idiot is in the papers condenming the killings in the north! Not saying he should'nt comdenm them, but what a hypocrit.

bigeasyeah

The two main antagonists,Cllr.Crowe and the G.A.A.W are as bad as each other.Both are equally tiresome.

dloob

bigeasyeah wrote: »

The two main antagonists,Cllr.Crowe and the G.A.A.W are as bad as each other.Both are equally tiresome.

How about we bring back the air show and deport both Crowe and the GAAW?

bigeasyeah

dloob wrote: »

How about we bring back the air show and deport both Crowe and the GAAW?

Sweet.

VanhireBoys

dloob wrote: »

How about we bring back the air show and deport both Crowe and the GAAW?

:D:D:D


These 2 entities have been in my face since I came to Galway - Fed up to the hoosal with their constant 1 upmanship...!