Category Archives: Current Affairs

THIS WEEK IN THE PAPERS 8

I came across a story this week which, once again, had me thinking about the benefits of living in this ‘wee’ Country as opposed to somewhere else. DC Comics, formed in 1934, and responsible for a lot of ‘Super-Hero’ and ‘Evil-Baddie’ characters, including –Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Lex Luther, The Penguin, etc. has announced that one of it’s ‘Super-Heroes’ is gay and will be ‘Outed’ soon. This has caused out-rage in certain quarters of the ‘good old U S of A’. ‘One Million Moms’, a US Christian Group has called on DC Comics to change their minds immediately with regards this decision. That is a really a lot of people to piss off! Apparently the smart money is on either Batman or Wonder Woman. Makes you wonder (pun intended) what will be the most popular costume at the ‘Gay Pride’ parade next year. I may fly down for a wee look!

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The concept of DDR – Decommissioning, Demilitarisation, Reintegration – is a feature of all countries coming out of conflict.  Throughout the world, attempts have been made, with relative success, to address this.  We have seen the complex attempt the government have made, following the Good Friday Agreement, to dismantle the machinations of the state military.  Following their 2007 ‘Statement of Intent’, the UVF/RHC have a strategic approach to conflict transformation.

Read more in our Transformation page

Alternatives – A community – based Restorative Justice Project

With the ever-increasing rise in paramilitary attacks, in the form of summary justice ‘kneecapping’ in Republican communities, this barbaric phenomenon is relatively a thing of the past in Loyalist communities.  With the PSNI currently exploring new ways to eradicate this, Alternatives have been a leading agency in employing a human rights approach to addressing summary justice in partnership with the community.

Read more in our Transformation page

For Sale:  Broken Record—Some Scratches— But Still Works.

What is it with these guys?  Seriously, if it was your own child rhyming on and continually whinging they would get a right slap around the legs.  In their job description for the House on The Hill there has to be something that states——” must be able to complain bitterly—be able to dig trenches—have double standards—and misrepresent “.  There are quite a few that fall into this category but the two in question here are Jim Allister, who of course will go to great lengths, not only to be offended but to garner some—any—publicity, and Mike Nesbitt, the new darling of the Ulster Unionists who seems to have gained a degree in obstinacy and contrariness.  And what is the problem this time?  Just that old chestnut of Sinn Fein appointing an ex prisoner as a Junior Minister in Stormont.

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The Blue Banner
W.F. Marshall

Marshall penned this stirring poem in 1912 during the time of the Third Home Rule crisis.  He used much of the original Covenant imagery of 1638 as inspiration.  At the time of writing the poem Marshall was assistant minister in First Ballymacarret Church in Paulett Avenue, off the Albertbridge Road.  The poem famously appeared in the Northern Whig on the day the Covenant was signed –28^th September 1912.

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The first in an occasional series looking at some of the more interesting characters in Northern Ireland throughout the years.  These mini biographies will illustrate the vast array of talent at many levels—highlighting those individuals that we can call “ Our Own “.

Rev. W.F.Marshall
The Bard Of Tyrone

William Forbes Marshall was born on 8 May 1888 in Sixmilecross, County Tyrone—his father was the principal teacher in Sixmilecross National School and this is where William was first educated.  From there he moved to Royal School Dungannon and eventually to Queens College Galway.  It was while he attended Royal School, Marshall had the distinction of writing the school song.

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Friday 16^th March 1973
Compound 13 Long Kesh

6 weeks now I’m here—the board papers usually only take about 3 or 4 at the most.

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We Are all Victims of Circumstance

What’s going on over at Commercial Court?  First it was columnist Hugh Jordan and now it’s the turn of his colleague Richard Sullivan.  Is there a wind of change blowing through the corridors of the Sunday World building?  Perhaps underneath all the vitriol and rage we witness each Sabbath there lies a softer well mannered and well meaning heart.

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Dr John Coulter is a former columnist with The Blanket. From a Protestant background, he is a commentator on Unionist and Loyalist politics. He is a member of the NUJ.

If theChristianChurchesacrossIrelandwant to integrate the loyalist working class properly into society, they need to ensure they do not adopt a Biblical-style Pharisee attitude towards such Protestants.

All too often, middle-class, church-attending Unionists have literally ‘turned their noses up’ at working class loyalists who have been jailed or even arrested in connection with the conflict.

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You remember the time–when you were a certain age–collecting for the bonfire was a big thing—every spare moment after school was spent gathering wood–building huts–fighting off rivals—and staying out all night to protect it.  It became your only focus in life for those two weeks after school finished at the end of June until the night the bonfire was lit.  You took a “piece” out of the house rather than leave your post—you became so attached that you didnt want it to be set on fire………………

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