Category Archives: Current Affairs

THE CONFLICT’S FIFTH BUSINESS: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF BILLY MITCHELL

1 The Conflict’s Fifth Business:

A brief biography of Billy Mitchell Kate Fearon February 2, 2002 “Those roles which, being neither those of Hero nor Heroine, Confidante nor Villain, but which were nonetheless essential to bring about the Recognition or the denouement were called the Fifth Business in drama and opera companies organised according to the old style; the player who acted these parts was often referred to as Fifth Business.”1 1 Thomas Overskou, Den Danske Skkeueplads, from Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business, Penguin, 1970

THE CONFLICT’S FIFTH BUSINESS: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF BILLY MITCHELL

2 Contents

1. Introduction
2. Sinning and being Saved – life as a young Belfast Baptist
3. Politicising Protestantism: marches, rallies and the UVF
4. Prisoner’s Dilemma
5. Internal Debate – a maze of religion and politics
6. Change on the inside; change on the outside
7. Politics proper, and community development – back on the outside
8. Personal and Practical Peace building: restorative justice and the conflict transformation project
9. Conclusion
10. Select bibliography

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                               THE  ALLIANCE SUPPORTING BELFAST TELEGRAPH STRUCK DUMB.  

The results of the BBC opinion polls, with regard to the overwhelming support for the Union and for the all year flying of the National Standard, on Belfast City Hall, was so news worthy that it was even commented on by the Prime minister at Westminster. It was the banner headline in the Belfast Newsletter, it was the constantly repeated all day long leading news report on both the BBC and UTV.

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I have been fortunate as to not have spent any time incarcerated in either of the prison camps in Northern Ireland. However, many of my friends have had the experiences. I was reading an article “The Negotiation of Identity at Shared Sites: Long Kesh/Maze Prison Site, Northern Ireland

 by  Laura McAtackney  2005”. The article was very interesting but leaned a little towards Republicans. I would be keen to hear from those ex prisoners as to whether or not this article highlights the Loyalist identity with Long Kesh/Maze Prisons.  Its very important that Loyalists replace negative propaganda with a more positive approach to our culture and identity in particular with the system that held many of our volunteers.  I am attaching 2 parts of the article which focus on the Loyalist relationship/identity. The full article can be read using the title and author in an internet search.

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This article first appeared in The Rangers Standard.

Are Rangers Learning the PR Lesson?

With today’s front page news that an Asian finance firm were considering seeking a winding-up order against the club for non-payment of alleged services, the recurring debate about Rangers’ PR performance has again raised its somewhat ugly head.

Most of our online communities were aware of the rumour surrounding the court petition which had started on one of the more popular Celtic-supporting blogs.  However, it wasn’t until the always mischief-making Alex Thomson ran with the story that the club took the issue seriously enough to warrant comment.  They reacted yesterday afternoon with a typically bullish statement that suggested the sums sought were ‘insignificant’ and agreement had been reached with Orlit Financial Services ‘subject to the necessary paperwork’.

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Jimmy Campbell, third from left in this photograph taken in Compound 21 in 1987 was buried today after a long illness.  Tribute to follow. Read more »

THE GERRYMANDERING ALLIANCE PARTY.

On the 18th may 2011, Belfast City Council agreed to a 16 week public consultation, with regard to their policy of flying the National Standard of the United Kingdom 365 days a year at Belfast City Hall. This situation arose due to a complaint made to the EQIA, by the IRA representatives on Belfast City Council.

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