What are people's views on this piece from yesterday's Observer? Personally, I think it's beneath contempt.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comme...750081,00.html
KOH
No One Likes Us, We Don't Care
Not suprising view from a British commentator is it?
Personally I would make a far bigger deal out of the War of Independance rather than just the Easter Rising. Can't put my finger on it but I was always a bit uneasy about Padraig Pearse.
It's the War of Independance that won this country it's freedom and did not carry some of the baggage of the Rising, (No mandate from the people arguments etc.)
Cork City FC
Awful article. Surprised the Observer published such misguided rubbish. One of the comments notes the main problem with Wheatcroft's piece...
It is all well and good when the powerful nations of the time wield force in search for their definition of "freedom" but heaven forbid the rise of those who have been oppressed. One example...The current American administration targets countries which pose a threat to them but if this logic is to be used then surely Cuba and Nicaragua would have been justified if they had have bombed central D.C.Originally Posted by Comment
Wheatcroft refers to the exhaltation of the leaders of 1916 being wrong. What about the present monarch's policy of granting OBE's and Knighthoods to the paratroopers involved in Derry in '72.
Should this journo not be writing for the Express?
"The Derry fans were fantastic in both matches. They sang their hearts out all the time and created an even better atmosphere than the Cup Final. They were brilliant. - David Graham, Gretna striker
It's just a myopic attempt to get himself attention. Apparently it worked.
Did you ever notice that in every painting of Adam & Eve, they have belly buttons. Think about that...take as long as you want.
Yes mate all the world's problems stem from the 1916 rising. Unbelievable! And he gets paid for his views.
And you ask me to help you??!! Man is evil!!!! Capable of nothing but destruction!
Doesn't he comment for Today FM or Newstalk evening shows?
Not much to the article & surprising the Observer sunk so low.
Linking Republicanism in the start of the 20th century to present day is far too simplistic.
The Guardian newspaper group is getting schitzo - Guardian is still left of center while the Observer is swinging more and more to the right - not surprised but disappointed TBH.
Todays edition of the Guardian highlighted this Hamish. The paper had a much less opinionated look at the commeroration which was fair and balanced in comparison to that nut.
Last edited by Speranza; 10/04/2006 at 10:42 PM.
"The Derry fans were fantastic in both matches. They sang their hearts out all the time and created an even better atmosphere than the Cup Final. They were brilliant. - David Graham, Gretna striker
Thanks Speranza - bro. in law will be dropping it into me soon and I'll check that out.
Every now and again, the "Grauniad"/Observer throws in the odd nut or two - y'know. the likes of Charles Krauthammer, Tony Blankley (former is on Brit Hume's Fox "News" a lot at 11pm and latter is on the McLoughlin programme on MSNBC).
Good to hear a more balanced view in the Guardian today as it would be most irritiating to think this was the way the group is headed. Well spotted.
Wheatcroft was on Dunphy this morning. Didn't do himself any favours. Bumbled away when Dunphy asked him whether Northern Ireland was a democracy in the 60's and 70's... Also lame arguements about Home Rule, as if proposing and eventually passing them was in some way the same as implementing them.
He should stick to the Tory's as he's clearly of that mindset.
He's really gone down in my estimation, and I did used to enjoy his UK politics stuff. After that piece and this mornings debate, he's Myer's like spoofer...
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
I have to say I think a military parade to commemorate the easter rising is a bad joke. we are supposed to just ignore the last 30 years of bombings/murders just cause fianna fail want to win back a few votes from sinn fein? if people want to celebrate their history they should read a ****ing book about it and educate themselves on it. eradicating ignorance on this subject might be a more fitting legacy than pandering to ignorance which is what this weekend will be about....
It's the Irish Army parading on Easter Sunday, it has nothing to do with the British Army's murderous campaign in the North over the last 30 years. At least that's what I assume you're getting at.
KOH
No One Likes Us, We Don't Care
just armies in general. they are all ****e.
Yep, I'd agree with that about £ianna £ail. Wonder will there be Cuban abd Belorussian representatives at the parade now that Bertie's a Socialist again.
Used to be a Guardian reader (at the LSE you couldn't be seen with anything else!) but it became so PC that its editorial slant seemed to colour its reporting of the news.Guardian is still left of center while the Observer is swinging more and more to the right - not surprised but disappointed TBH.
The Observer always seemed much more centrist, even under Cruise O'Brien
I stick to the Torygraph now, know exactly where it stands so can read everything in light of that. Sunday Torygraph is even more right-wing and where I would have expected to find Wheatcroft's sort of logic.
Denis Skinner says to read the FT, cos the b*****ds don't tell each other lies
Think I'll stick with The Grauniad for a little while longer, Revip, but it has become a bit boring lately. It's sports section can be good at times but some of the "humour" articles - usually on the back of that section are really silly and sleep inducing. I like the Gary Younge articles but the likes of Jackie Ashley and co. bore me to death. George Monbiot is not too bad. The International news section is pretty good but even Simon Hoggart is looking a bit jaded these days.
For the life of me, I cannot see the reason for the diary section and Norman Johnstone is a waste of space. Marina Hyde can be reasonable at times as can Timothy Garton Ash but there are far too many "filler" journalists. Simon Jenkins rises to the occasion at times.
Think it's reigned back its PC too.
Simon Bell's cartoons also are getting more bizzare by the day but he has his moments.
The papers new Berliner format is nice but the paper needs a a new editor and generally, a good kick up the ass, it doesn't seem to be focusing much on investigative stuff these days like The Independent does now and again. Hard to put my finger on it but I suppose "jaded" is the closest I can get.
The paper needs more from Gary Younge and a few more journos of the calibre of Robert Fisk.
Can't argue with that.
As for the Granuaid and the Observer, well The Observer has been slowly lurching to the right for a while and is pro-Iraq war for instance. That said, Henry Porter is the best columnist currently scribbling and Nick Cohen still rocks (despite his pro-war views). I just wish they hadn't got rid of Richard Ingrams. The Guardian's still good though, despite some stupid changes with the new format.
KOH
No One Likes Us, We Don't Care
The guy seems to have a problem distinguishing between morality and legality. The British were indeed the lawful government of Ireland at the time, but only because of an immoral invasion. The Easter Rising was an attempt to remove a lawful, but immoral occupation.
Pearse is an easy target though. I too always felt a bit uncomfortable with his talk of blood sacrifices and facile acceptance of killing the wrong people.
interesting the same logic want applied to his own side, blaming mrs windsor for the shankill butchers. it was done in her name after all.
am i not right to say that pearse mentioned the immortal phrase 'blood sacrifice' once in an early poem and the revisionists blew it out of all proportion?
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