In a bid to deprive Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party of yet another Excuse for refusing to join in a coalition government, Gerry Adams’s Sinn Fein has voted to Support its Local Peelers ;} ~
DUBLIN (Reuters) - London and Dublin will push this week to revive power-sharing between Northern Irish Catholics and Protestants after Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein reversed decades of opposition to the province’s law and order system.
Sinn Fein’s mostly Catholic membership voted on Sunday to back a policing and justice system in Northern Ireland that it has long viewed as biased in favour of the majority Protestants.
The landmark vote removed a key obstacle to the restoration of a Belfast-based regional power-sharing government by a March 26 deadline set by the British and Irish governments.
…The IRA killed nearly 300 police officers during the conflict and was responsible for nearly half the 3,600 deaths in its struggle to unite the northern province with Ireland.
While London and Dublin may yet achieve their goal of restoring a regional government in time for Blair’s departure from office and an Irish election, both later this year, the DUP is still far from being on board.
Party leader Ian Paisley has yet to overcome years of vociferous opposition to Irish nationalists on his own part* and signs of serious resistance from hardliners within his party.
“Dr. Paisley’s authority and political direction is under assault within the DUP,” the Irish Times said in an editorial.
However, it noted he had said repeatedly he would “not be found wanting” if Sinn Fein moved to support the police.
[*Let us pray that Dr. Paisley finds the strength to Overcome at least his Own vociferousness :>. ~ the guestblogger]
“Yesterday we did see a piece of history being made,” political analyst Harry McGee wrote in the Irish Examiner.
“With it came an acceptance that it was all over as far as the IRA was concerned, bar the shouting, of course. And be assured, with Ian Paisley and the DUP involved, there will be plenty of that over the next few months.”
Read the whole thing. Also here are two takes, Jan. 28 and Jan. 29, from Radio TelefÃÂs Éireann.
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Categories: Ireland & the U.K.
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January 29th, 2007 at 4:56:43 pm
Here is a book you need to read:
http://www.amazon.com/Irish-Became-White-Noel-Ignatiev/dp/0415918251
January 29th, 2007 at 5:43:02 pm
It should be OK as long as the Orange Order doesn’t become the Paisley Order …
(innocent smile)
January 29th, 2007 at 9:37:22 pm
Thanks, Tom. I might read it but I did read the linked editorial reviews and I think I get the general idea ;}. No question that anti-Black racism was, or became, rampant among the Irish immigrants to America in the 19th century. Hell, the New York City “draft riots” of 1863 were a virtual Paddy’s Pogrom against the Negroes.
Alasdair, hee hee :) and better that the institutionalized Muscle department of the Orange Order ~ that esteemed ;> state organisation formerly known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary ~ should get Greened :}. And now that Monsignor Gerry :] has proclaimed the ould nihil obstat, the ranks of the Police Service of Northern Ireland should indeed acquire a bit more of a greentint :>. See, it’s all just a matter of Diversity. You want yer peeler patrolling the Falls Road to be able to Relate to the Community, and the cop in the Ardoyne willing to Walk the Beat without Inflicting the Beatdown :). [Also recruitment of republican police officers should ease urban Unemployment. ;]
January 30th, 2007 at 12:55:22 pm
The book helps one understand the law school parties where people dress up to mock African-Americans such as the “bullets and bubbly” party held by uconn law students.
Irish-American working-class did same thing in 19th century much to the chagrin of Daniel O’Connell who said they should stand together against their Anglo-Saxon ruling class oppressors.
Some of these law students are probably thinking (in the back of their mind) b/c of Affirm. Action I did not get into “prestigious law school x”…yeah that party sounds good. So they are getting their symbolic revenge on MLK and Affirm. Action policies by mocking people of African-descent.