Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Blinded by a plank

  • 30-04-2002 11:05am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,647 ✭✭✭✭


    From the
    Sunday Business Post

    Blinded by a plank

    This week's "Rule Britannia" Award goes to the Financial Times, whose coverage of the shock victory of Jean-Marie Le Pen in France included a half-page illustration involving a map of Europe and pictures of the continent's extreme-right, anti-immigration groups.

    There was Jorg Haider and his far-right Austrian Freedom Party, Pia Kjaersgaard's anti-immigration outfit in Denmark, Umberto Bossi's to-the-right-of-Genghis Khan Northern League, the racist Vlaams Bloc in Belgium, Holland's Pim "No Immigrants" Fortuyn, Germany's Ronald "judge merciless" Schill and Le Pen himself.

    So did Britain have a representative? The British National Party, perhaps, or their buddies in the UDA? Or even Margaret "Rejoice" Thatcher? Not exactly. Instead, the FT included, as Ireland's representative of the far-right racist trend across Europe, a picture of Gerry Adams!
    Of course, from an Irish perspective, one would consider Sinn Féin radical socialists with a liberal streak, balanced only by a 'victim' chip on both shoulders. Then I remembered two words sprayed painted on a wall near home "BIRTS OUT" [sic] [/B][/QUOTE], hardly what you expect from a party with an 'international' view.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,818 ✭✭✭Bateman


    I don't know whether that fair to say. Republicanism is about inclusiveness, loyalism the opposite. The mainstream Republican movement has accepted it has to work with loyalists, loyalists ae the opposite.

    The people who scrawl "Brits Out" on walls and school desks are probably the same who scrawl "MUFC" on walls. Its stating the obvious, but they don't represent Republicanism.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,647 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Originally posted by Bateman
    Republicanism is about inclusiveness
    Unless you are English?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,818 ✭✭✭Bateman


    No. Unless you were born on the island of Ireland and don't consider yourself Irish.
    Either way, I'm not going to argue this point as I am not rabid republican, but suffice to say that SF as the best example of a far right party in the UK is laughable.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Originally posted by Bateman
    Republicanism is about inclusiveness, loyalism the opposite. The mainstream Republican movement has accepted it has to work with loyalists, loyalists ae the opposite.

    Neither of which has much, if anything, to do with the "far-right" or "anti-immigration" issues which is what the original article was about.


    jc


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,818 ✭✭✭Bateman


    True. I made that point above, realising that what I said went away from the original theme.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,647 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Originally posted by bonkey
    Neither of which has much, if anything, to do with the "far-right" or "anti-immigration" issues which is what the original article was about.
    No, I would question the "inclusiveness" polices of said "far-right" parties, so its a fair comment to pass on Sinn féin.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,075 ✭✭✭ReefBreak


    Even if Sinn Fein call themselves inclusive, it's only ever been inclusive on their terms. They may also call themselves left-wing, but in my view, their actions and opinions down the years easily make them as reprehensible, as evil and as fascist as any far-right party in France (or Ireland).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,818 ✭✭✭Bateman


    >>inclusive on their terms

    Yes and no. I mean, there are limits. On their terms, well obviously, I mean democracy is all about elected representatives voting in a way that represents their party/constituency, not their own conscience an/or opinion.


Advertisement