Sabina Higgins Letter to Irish Times calling for ceasefire on Ukraine

jmcc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409641#Comment_119409641

What you are seeing is a damage limitation operation. The damage has to be confined to Sabina Higgins' letter and the possible endorsement of that letter by its publication on the president.ie website has to be downplayed. This is what RTE has been doing with the comment from the Ukranian ambassador. The worst thing now would be for MDH or Sabina Higgins to make any comment.

Regards...jmcc

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409641#Comment_119409641

Completely

https://president.ie/en/media-library/news-releases/statement-by-president-michael-d-higgins-sabina-higgins-following-the-launch-of-who-unicef-on-the-effects-of-marketing-of-infant-formula

’a joint statement’ on another topic from ‘them’…. Why ? The individual has zero mandate to be communicating to the Irish public on the presidential website….

I wouldn’t agree with other nations either doing the same.

beachhead

Don't worry it will go away "to hell or Connacht" possibly.Maybe the greens will help out with a diversionary headline/embarrassment for the gov.

jmcc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409650#Comment_119409650

It is a problem. The publication of the letter on the president.ie website could be considered an endorsement by MDH. That is an endorsement of a policy at odds with the government policy. The way that both the government and the Aras have no comment on the issue and the way that there has been no follow-up comments from MDH or Sabina Higgins is the government reaction. There have been comments from Malcolm Byrne/FF and John McGahon/FG about this. SF realises that it is a problem for the government and will try to keep out of this.

There's blood in the water now and the journos have caught the scent:

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/demands-for-president-michael-d-higgins-to-condemn-russian-war-after-wifes-peace-deal-remarks-41879345.html

Regards...jmcc

kravmaga

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119405227#Comment_119405227

Has been known to be found wandering aimlessly around the Aras grounds with a glass of red in one hand looking at flowers at 4am whilst creating a security alert for GARDAI ., head banger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409549#Comment_119409549

Nobody represents the president other than him/herself.

cuttingtimber22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119408911#Comment_119408911

Not wrong. Sanctions worthless. Better off with war.

Meanwhile, the west and its peoples have been plunged into recession. Leadership has been shaken and insecurity spread in Britain, France, Italy and the US. Gas-starved Germany and Hungary are close to dancing to Putin’s tune. Living costs are escalating everywhere. Yet still no one dares question sanctions. It is sacrilege to admit their failure or conceive retreat. The west has been enticed into the timeless irony of aggression. Eventually its most conspicuous victim is the aggressor. Perhaps, after all, we should stick to war.

touts

This is gathering momentum. I think it is likely he stays on. But it is far from 0% chance of resignation. Right now I think it is closer to 25%

But the longer he remains silent and therefore condones his wife's pro-Putin stance and the use of the presidential website to promote that stance then those odds increase. If he doesn't do something to rectify this come the Sunday papers next week there will be very public demands for his resignation and the odds will at best 50/50.

Beyond that it becomes more likely that he resigns. Higgins is a stubborn man.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409742#Comment_119409742

When his misses is making political statements and comments on the Presidential website and in print media that might be for debate…

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409742#Comment_119409742

His aides have often represented him at functions and funerals. 😊

There needs to be an appropriate cultural response:

There was a lad called Vlad.

As mad as he was bad.

Said Vlad to Mickeldy: "I've committed some crimes,

but none as bad as your rhymes,

Or the missus's letter in the I.T."

Consider your card marked, Ireland.

https://twitter.com/katyayushchenko/status/1553004867660152832?s=21&t=sFum2-25-lglJm7t0QpWXQ

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409760#Comment_119409760

The worst time of year for this to happen too, from MDH perspective. Since there is no other news with the Dail in recess, courts on holidays, news outlets tend to hang onto a story that could have potential to run. We saw that with golfgate, then with zapponegate.

If the story isn't killed off quickly, this could grow legs. The media does love MDH, but the scalp of getting a president would be very appealing to some.

jmcc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409840#Comment_119409840

The story already has legs. It would have gone unnoticed except for it being posted on the president.ie website (arguably a presidential endorsement of the letter) and then being picked up by the Russian ambassador. Then the Indo picked it up. Things got so bad that RTE picked it up. Now the Indo is calling for a statement from MDH and according to the article, senior government sources have described Sabina Higgins' intervention as "bonkers". The spin is aimed at keeping this just a Sabina Higgins problem. If it becomes an MDH problem then the government may find its holidays being interrupted.

Regards...jmcc

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409897#Comment_119409897

The story is just getting going but the brakes could get pulled by MDH before this becomes a runaway train of a story.

If, for example he comes out with a statement that condemns the invasion but says that his wife is entitled to her view as a private citizen, and also explains that the publishing of her statement was inadvertent then he might kill it off. It would also help if some other big story comes up during the week to push this down the agenda.

The Presidency isn't subject to FoI if I recall correctly so the story need only be plausible.

However, the government could be sick of him at this stage - he really pissed them off over his statement on housing, so there will be a few in Merrion St willing to stick the knife in for sure. So the outcome here depends on them too.

jmcc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409950#Comment_119409950

Getting rid of him might even unify FF as it may have to consider and support a presidential candidate. The government and the Aras have not commented on the story. Letting Higgins comment without a script would be stupid. A simple press release would be better but it would be a waste of a good damage limitation effort.

Regards...jmcc

Pussyhands

I can't believe the reaction to this. Calling for peace and a ceasefire is the actions of an extremist and means you're anti Ukraine?

The Ukraine propaganda is working it seems.

You can't criticise Ukraine for anything now because "they're doing anything they can do keep media attention up".

Ukraine can do no wrong in the eyes of the west.

pjcb

Was it all her idea ? send peace poetry to the media...

https://smashingtimes.ie/anti-war-poetry-collection/

War in Ukraine: a moment of moral choice

Click the link above to read Sabina Higgins’ letter to the Irish Times

 

Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality are delighted to announce a new initiative entitled Poetry for Peace, supported by our patron, Sabina Coyne Higgins. The company have set up an online anti-war, pro-peace site to host a collection of anti-war poetry in written and video format to celebrate peace and non-violence.

At a time when conflicts and war are part of everyday life for communities across the world, it is important to stand up and speak out for peace and against violence. People across the world are speaking out against war. There are always many different sides to war and our call is for ceasefires and negotiations as a pathway to peace.

From July 2022, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality are facilitating an open call for poetry of any length in either written or video format that is linked with or inspired by the theme of anti-war and pro-peace. We are calling on you, members of the public, to find or write a poem that is anti-war and pro-peace to be displayed online in written or video format on the Poetry for Peace original site. People can submit a poem or song.

The world is on fire, our planet burning, our fields flooding. Alongside a call for respecting the earth we live on, we call on governments around the world to stop wars and violence and to advocate for peace. We need to find a way to collectively stop war, aggression and greed and instead focus on ways to nurture the planet we live on.

Send the links for the site to as many people as you know asking them to contribute a song, poem or quote and assist us to publicise the work through social media. To promote this central space for peace we invite you to ring up a local or national radio station asking for poems and songs for peace to be played on the airways. Instead of requesting a love story ask for an anti-war song or request a poem or song for peace. Let everyone know about the site where the poems can be read and viewed.

https://smashingtimes.ie/anti-war-poetry-collection/

We Want Your Poems!

Posted on July 22, 2022

Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality are delighted to announce a new initiative by our patron, Sabina Coyne Higgins: an online collection of anti-war poetry.

We invite you to submit your anti-war, pro-peace poetry for a chance to be featured in our new online collection. All featured poems will be promoted on social media.

Criteria

Poems can be of any length, but must be original.

They can be submitted as written text or as a video reading. 

Each poem should include a title and author’s name.

Authors may submit more than one poem.

Submit by emailing your poems to info@smashingtimes.ie

Closing date for submission is Friday 9 September at 5pm. The online collection will be released on Culture Night, 23 September 2022.

https://smashingtimes.ie/we-want-your-poems/

if she weathers the storm she is getting what she wants.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409982#Comment_119409982

read the letter, she purporting to adjudge blame to both Russia and Ukraine…

Pussyhands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409760#Comment_119409760

Please show me the words she used to make you think she's pro putin?

This is madness. I'm guessing so by your reckoning that Zelenskiy shouldn't have gone to the negotiating table with Russia a few months ago???

Pussyhands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409992#Comment_119409992

I read the letter. It was a few sentences. There was no blame put on Ukraine.

Please quote exactly the words that shows she is pro putin? Wanting a ceasefire? Wasn't there an attempted ceasefire in parts earlier? You're saying this was wrong??

Jinglejangle69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409361#Comment_119409361

You said last night and I quote

”She was bang on IMO”

Pussyhands

The war will end with a peace agreement. Ukraine are not beating Russia in a war.

growleaves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119410023#Comment_119410023

You cad! [slaps Pussyhands with glove]

Jinglejangle69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409982#Comment_119409982

What’s this west you speak of?

West of what?

Russia?

Kerry?

And is it only people from the “west” who disagree with the illegal invasion of a sovereign country????

Jinglejangle69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119410015#Comment_119410015

You’re correct.

There was ceasefire talks.

But once Russia made it clear it wouldn’t back down and give back illegally occupied territory Ukraine pulled out and rightly so.

You obviously think there should be a ceasefire where Ukraine rolls over and let’s Russia take their territory while kidnapping, raping, murdering etc etc their people.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119410013#Comment_119410013

She told Ukraine a sovereign country under illegal attack to “ renegotiate with Russia “… the country attacking them..

what zelenskiy does is his own business

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119410023#Comment_119410023

With continued Western support, Ukraine will beat russia on the battlefield. russia has neither the man power, technology, or intelligence to beat what they're up against.

littlevillage

You can bet the Government spin doctors have been burning the midnight oil trying to figure out how to take the heat out of this.

As some other poster remarked, a simple statement from MDH reiterating Ireland's support for Ukraine and some mention of a technical "error" on the presidential website will probably be enough.

Sabina is going to have to become a "silent" partner in the Aras from now on.

FrancieBrady

I see the President is officially opening the Fleadh today, I wonder will he address the issue?