{"id":898,"date":"2012-06-25T20:37:42","date_gmt":"2012-06-25T19:37:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=898"},"modified":"2012-06-26T08:35:41","modified_gmt":"2012-06-26T07:35:41","slug":"all-the-world-hates-unionists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=898","title":{"rendered":"ALL THE WORLD HATES UNIONISTS"},"content":{"rendered":"

ALL THE WORLD HATES UNIONISTS<\/p>\n

Robin Aitken, a former BBC journalist has described Ulster\u2019s unionists as one of the \u2018despised tribes\u2019, alongside eurosceptics, Christian fundamentalists and other \u2018right wingers\u2019. He believes we deserve this title because we are \u2018outside the progressive concensus\u2019! Of course, demonising us helps to define that consensus \u2013 it\u2019s a win\/win for the \u2018Unionist bashers\u2019.<\/p>\n

Recently, two unionist figures issued statements which, initially, seemed to be another example of the type of thinking negatively associated with Unionism \u2013 we are sectarian, bigoted, Old Testament burn in hell type of guys who are intolerant of foreigners in general and republicans\/ catholics\/ nationalists in particular.<\/p>\n

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Ken Maginnis, a 74 year old retired army major who now sits in the House of Lords, was introduced into the gay marriage debate on the Stephen Nolan show. Maginnis didn\u2019t disappoint Nolan when he launched into a tirade against \u2018deviant\u2019 and \u2018unnatural\u2019 practices. It was great stuff for the Nolan show \u2013 he was probably smiling that much he couldn\u2019t stuff any more buns into himself. Some political commentators believe Maginnis was using this opportunity to launch an attack on Mike Nesbitt\u2019s stuttering first steps of leadership. That may be true and if it was \u2013 then some opponents of unionism missed the real message of Maginnis\u2019s attack. Even so, the obvious counter attack wasn\u2019t long coming. Criticism from every \u2018liberal, tolerant, progressive consensus\u2019 type zeroed in on Maginnis \u2013 led by the Catholic \u2018tolerant, self-appointed left\u2019. The fact that, fundamentally, Maginnis was preaching Roman Catholic Church doctrine seemed to be forgotten in the frenzied attack on him<\/strong>. This is the belief of the Catholic Church \u2013 its fact, crystal clear, non negotiable, printed in stone.<\/strong> Where then does that leave Maginnis and Unionism \u2013 much maligned, I think. Why? First of all he was stating his opinion, \u2013 he\u2019s allowed that. The fact that it agrees, fundamentally, with the Roman Catholic Church has been totally obscured in the vitriol he has been subject to. Also, during his political life, Ken Maginnis symbolised all things great about being a Unionist \u2013 loyalty, bravery, belief, devotion and faith. He didn\u2019t court favour with the \u2018progressive consensus type\u2019 \u2013 you knew exactly what you were getting with him. He\u2019s obviously still the same and he has to be applauded for that.<\/p>\n

Unionist number two is DUP health minister Edwin Poots. He ruffled a few feathers when he defended the ban on Gays giving blood. He explained that this covered all \u2018high risk sexual activity\u2019 such as \u2018sex with prostitutes\u2019 and \u2018sex with someone in Africa\u2019. Quite predictably, Sinn Fein and the SDLP led the attack on Poots with accusations of \u2018Homophobia\u2019. Sue Ramsey, Sinn Fein\u2019s chairwoman of Stormont\u2019s health committee called for Poots\u2019s resignation \u2013 he was called a bigot and an idiot and mocked for his \u2018creationist beliefs\u2019. What was Poots\u2019s crime? There wasn\u2019t one. He is only bringing Northern Irelandinto line with NHS policy in the UK. The NHS will not accept blood from anyone who has had sex with a person in Africa and it equates this risk specifically with gay sex and sex with prostitutes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last word to the Slugger O\u2019Toole\u2019s website. A contributor contacted Sinn Fein and the SDLP inviting them to condemn the Catholic Church and the NHS. No reply, silence. Says it all, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

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