"I know what it is like to sit at home and wait," she said.
"Help me celebrate my son coming home from a war zone. No matter what you think about the war, these men are carrying out orders from the Government and deserve to know how proud we are of their achievements, courage, and willingness to keep us safe.
"My son does not worry about religion or nationality, all he cares about is that his comrades are good soldiers and work well together as a team."
And more on the subject from Alliance deputy leader and east Belfast councillor Naomi Long:
"There can be no real justification for arguing against the reception on financial grounds.
A more serious assertion is that you cannot support the homecoming parade and civic reception if you are opposed the war in Iraq. I disagree.
Alliance has been clear and unequivocal in its opposition to the Iraq War, based as it was on false information and entered into without an international mandate, but tonight we intend to support the hosting of a civic reception for those who have served in both Afghanistan and Iraq."
"In my view, precisely because of the widespread opposition to the Iraq War, we can take this opportunity to remind those who have risked their lives in that conflict that our opposition is not directed at them or their families, but at those who sent them into that war in the first place."
"Unfortunately, unlike in other councils such as Castlereagh, where the SDLP supported the homecoming parade motion, and in Ballymena, where reportedly even Sinn Fein did not vote against it, in Belfast the debate has split the council along the usual sectarian lines"
Belfast City Council last night voted for a homecoming parade and civic reception for our local armed forces when they return from Iraq and Afghanistan
5 comments:
They ain't fighting for me or my country. No desire to pay for the celebrations, no desire to have the Union Jack paraded about, no desire to give any support of the institutions they fight for or the wars they are involved in. Nor has nationalism forgot the behaviour of the British Army during the troubles. I have no "duty" toward them. If they want to fight in foreign wars for whatever reason, that's their call. Just spare the bollocks it has anything to do with me.
If Unionists wanted a reception, then they should have arranged a private reception. No one would have cared. Instead they forced it through the council and created very bad blood. The DUP also had a complete fucking cheek to ask for magnanimity from Nationalism after delighting in killing as many nationalist cultural touchstones as it could manage.
They ain't fighting for me or my country.
The point made by Naomi Long and indirectly a DUP councillor.
No desire to pay for the celebrations, no desire to have the Union Jack paraded about, no desire to give any support of the institutions they fight for or the wars they are involved in.
A lot of things Belfast Council get involved in I find distasteful and a waste of my and their money. I take the rough with the smooth. There’s been no mention of Union flags being paraded and you don't have to support the institution or war; again I refer you to Ms Long’s point.
Nor has nationalism forgot the behaviour of the British Army during the troubles.
Yet you would (presumably) ask that I and other Unionists forget about the behaviour of the Republican movement during the Troubles, forget that child killers and pub-bombers are still sanctified by that movement. You expect us to deal with a modicum of respect for your political representatives, many of whom were involved in the most heinous crimes. You’re demanding more of the Unionists,than they’re asking of you in this particular case.
I have no "duty" toward them. If they want to fight in foreign wars for whatever reason, that's their call. Just spare the bollocks it has anything to do with me.
They come from the same island as you and (presumably) you’d regard them as fellow Irishmen. Simple common humanity would dictate that you would rather they were having a safe home-coming to their native soil rather than lying dead in some ditch in Iraq or Afghanistan
If Unionists wanted a reception, then they should have arranged a private reception. No one would have cared. Instead they forced it through the council and created very bad blood.
Nationalist and republican reps on other councils have abstained or even voted in favour without any word of “bad blood”; SF and regretably SDLP decided to play the sectarian card in Belfast.
The DUP also had a complete fucking cheek to ask for magnanimity from Nationalism after delighting in killing as many nationalist cultural touchstones as it could manage.
Adams & Co decided a long time that culture would be the new battlefield. It’s not a very edifying spectacle, but they can hardly now complain if some of their pet projects are given a kicking by another set of ethno-nationalists.
A lot of things Belfast Council get involved in I find distasteful and a waste of my and their money.
Will swallow hard and stump up for the 12TH and the creepy "It's a family day" mantra. Celebrations for an organisation that has a horrific record including murder in Ireland even to recent times, no.
There is always a fight over St Patrick's Day parade, and it usually takes Alliance support and ridiculous hoops to get funding. There as yet, I believe, no progress on Nationalist symbols in Belfast City Hall. Any official Irish signage or the like? Forget it. When Unionists reps start having a track record in backing things they don't like, get back to me.
I take the rough with the smooth. There’s been no mention of Union flags being paraded and you don't have to support the institution or war; again I refer you to Ms Long’s point.
And she's full of shit. Having a parade for an organisation is an implicit endorsement. What exactly are we having it for then? No. They do not fight for me, I do not owe them anything and do not want to give them a homecoming.
Yet you would (presumably) ask that I and other Unionists forget about the behaviour of the Republican movement during the Troubles, forget that child killers and pub-bombers are still sanctified by that movement.
No, I expect precisely nothing from you. Make your own decisions.
You expect us to deal with a modicum of respect for your political representatives, many of whom were involved in the most heinous crimes.
I demand you respect democracy, the representatives selected by the people and the structures they endorsed. No more, no less. Hate the people if you like, oppose them any way you want, just respect their mandate. But then, I'm a Republican and actually respect democracy.
You’re demanding more of the Unionists,than they’re asking of you in this particular case.
I'm demanding squat from you.
They come from the same island as you and (presumably) you’d regard them as fellow Irishmen.
Lots of people come from the same island as me. I'm not required to like all of them, nor I should I be required to pay for celebrations for Irish Man Boy Love Association.
Simple common humanity would dictate that you would rather they were having a safe home-coming to their native soil rather than lying dead in some ditch in Iraq or Afghanistan
I don't wish anyone dead. I'd quite happily wish the US soldiers back alive, that the Iraqi soldiers live through it, and anyone else involved. That's common humanity.
But the people involved knew the risks when they took them. Their motives are unlikely to be related to anything to care for. I have no desire to celebrate it.
Let#'s be clear about this -- this is a thing pushed by Unionists, for Unionists, so they can run around and pretend it's Finchley. Fine in itslef, I just simply have no desire to pay for any of it, or pretend I give two hoots about it.
Nationalist and republican reps on other councils have abstained or even voted in favour without any word of “bad blood”; SF and regretably SDLP decided to play the sectarian card in Belfast.
No, they could have, but they made the right decision. Unionism has no right to ask for magnanimity when it has shown literally none. If people were open and giving back, I'd probably say bite hard and take it. But in absence of that, it's simply a recipe to be walked on. Tired of it. Nationalism should challenge it on equality grounds just to get the point across.
Adams & Co decided a long time that culture would be the new battlefield. It’s not a very edifying spectacle, but they can hardly now complain if some of their pet projects are given a kicking by another set of ethno-nationalists.
Fine, run with that assumption. Those other "ethno-nationalists" can hardly complain when a fuck you response is elicted when they want something.
I demand you respect democracy, the representatives selected by the people and the structures they endorsed. No more, no less. Hate the people if you like, oppose them any way you want, just respect their mandate. But then, I'm a Republican and actually respect democracy.
I don't hate the people who I work with who vote SF anymore than I hated the people who I used to work with in England who voted for the BNP; in both cases I have a deep contempt for their choice of political party which is something very different. But yes, you're right in both cases we must respect their democratic right and what choice democracy throws up- and if that includes a vote for the homecoming parade (or the banning of Princess Di mugs), then it must be respected.
Fine, run with that assumption. Those other "ethno-nationalists" can hardly complain when a fuck you response is elicted when they want something.
I told you a longtime ago that the concept of the "Shared Future" is dead and buried, looks like you've now reconciled yourself to that fact.
I don't hate the people who I work with who vote SF anymore than I hated the people who I used to work with in England who voted for the BNP; in both cases I have a deep contempt for their choice of political party which is something very different.
Yeah SF=BNP. Thanks for that. Hard not to colour your view of them, though. I have no idea who any of the people I work with vote for, much less care.
I told you a longtime ago that the concept of the "Shared Future" is dead and buried, looks like you've now reconciled yourself to that fact
We have a Shared Future. We are all living here. It is a meaningless term in itself. the DUP is very keen on a Shared Future. It wants a shared football team by banning the choice of choosing the Republic. It wants a shared future in education by removing the CCMS schools. It wants a shared flag by getting rid of the Tricolour everywhere. And so on.
The DUP need to learn it. So if they want something, they'll ahve to change their stance on other things.
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