"No Turning Back"- the speeches.

I mentioned briefly in passing the Compass Group's "No Turning Back" conference last week.

You can now listen to the various speeches here.

Technical blip

Blogger is not allowing me to post comments although (obviously!) I can still put up posts.

If anyone has any idea why please let know, but in the meantime if you do make a comment please don't think I'm ignoring you, they'll be answered when I get back to work Monday.

Did you know.....

On quiet blogging days, at least you can always rely on the Agence Bretagne Presse for a decent yarn:

The flying of a European Union Flag on a Government flagpole at a main sea port on the Isle of Man has been ended.

The Isle of Man Department of Transport had been flying a series of flags (Manx, Irish and Union) including the EU flag purportedly to welcome visitors to the Island at the Sea Terminal building, Douglas Harbour.

However the flying of the EU flag was to be the subject of a question at the next sitting of the House of Keys from Keys member, Quentin Gill, who pointed out the Isle of Man is not (and never has been part of the EU).

Bet you didn't know that?!

But bearing in mind the logic mentioned for removing the EU flag, somebody will have to explain to me why they're still continuing to fly the Irish flag...

Apparently, DOT Chiefs bowing to pressure have removed the offending item and the Manx flag now flies, flanked by the flags of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The Unknown Soldier

He is known to the sun-white Majesties
Who stand at the gates of dawn.
He is known to the cloud-borne company
Whose souls but late have gone.
Like wind-flung stars through lattice bars
They throng to greet their own,
With voice of flame they sound his name
Who died to us unknown.

He is hailed by the time-crowned brotherhood,
By the Dauntless of Marathon,
By Raymond, Godfrey and Lion Heart
Whose dreams he carried on.
His name they call through the heavenly hall
Unheard by earthly ear,
He is claimed by the famed in Arcady
Who knew no title here.

Oh faint was the lamp of Sirius
And dim was the Milky Way.
Oh far was the floor of Paradise
From the soil where the soldier lay.
Oh chill and stark was the crimson dark
Where huddled men lay deep;
His comrades all denied his call
Long had they lain in sleep.

Oh strange how the lamp of Sirius
Drops low to the dazzled eyes,
Oh strange how the steel-red battlefields
Are floors of Paradise.
Oh strange how the ground with never a sound
Swings open, tier on tier,
And standing there in the shining air
Are the friends he cherished here.

They are known to the sun-shod sentinels
Who circle the morning's door,
They are led by a cloud-bright company
Through paths unseen before.
Like blossoms blown, their souls have flown
Past war and reeking sod,
In the book unbound their names are found
They are known in the courts of God!

The Unknown Soldier
by Angela Morgan

Normal service will resume...

Just a quick post to confirm that I am still in the land of the living and haven't actually drowned in Lake Bled or dropped down a crevice in the Julian Alps (although both felt quite enticing prospects about 10.30 Saturday night). The bad thing about holidays research projects in that at some stage, you do have to come back and sort out your backlog and Emails. Back soon.

The Man who built (sandcastles in) America

Time for a fortunate break; Ms O’Neill’s attending a conference in New York next week and has decided to smuggle me over in her suitcase. This is my third time over there, so I’ll be leaving the sight-seeing and shopping for a few days and instead will be supping a margarita, picking the sand out of my toes up in Long Island. I know... it’s a hard old life, but someone’s got to live it!

Here’s a tune before I go (especially for Wildgoose) and if you’ve seen the crimes committed against fashion by this lot, you’ll understand why there’s no accompanying video.



Back soon.
(In view of the hassle I’ve had from spam comments previously, moderation is now on)

Don't take our Bushmills away!

More on flags:

Our aim is to get the supermarkets to consistently display the correct nation of origin on their packaging. At the moment they’re actively going out of their way to show Scottish made produce as made in Scotland whilst displaying English, Welsh and Northern Irish produce as British.

OK, fair enough, all they’re after is a bit of consistency...
But let's say a Tescos on the mainland was faced with this item of beauty:


What flag should be displayed on a bottle of finest Irish?

1. The Union flag
2. The Ulster Banner
3. The Cross of St.Patrick or *gulp*
4. The flag of the state generally (although erroneously) considered to be “Ireland”?

(I know someone who'll be having a chuckle at number 4)!)

The Friends of the Union Top 10

In what may or may not (depending on time and quality of material) become a regular occurence, I've collected and posted up my favourite ten articles by pro-Union bloggers and journalists over the last week.

So, in no particular order of quality or merit:

Friends of the Union Top 10

1. An interesting idea from the Half-Welshman

But it did occur to me that the Westminster government could make independence for Scotland automatically harder, should they wish to play silly bugg...people, by insisting that the status of Northern Ireland be included in negotiations as well.

2. Alex Kane rarely gets it wrong; he's happy with the Conservative/UUP developments...

3. ...as is, perhaps surprisingly, someone who I'd have previously described as being one of the Unionist Ultras, The Watchman:

But regardless of immediate paybacks, a coalition with the Tories would allow the UUP, under whatever title, to carve out a role for itself as a distinctively unionist party, in contrast to the latent Ulster nationalism of the DUP.

4. Charles Moore reckons its time to call the SNP's bluff and press hard for that referendum now.

5. Cicero, on the other hand, reckons it may well be indifference rather than outright antipathy which eventually kills off the UK.

6. Two happy posts in the row from Shane Greer and Mick Fealty in the Daily Telegraph's Brassneck blog. Maybe the latter is slightly exaggerating the likely effect of that merger, but hell, we could all do with a dose of unbridalled optimism at the minute...

7. ...in contast to Iain MacWhirter who in the wake of Glasgow-East, reckons we're all doomed, doomed (or at least heading for a federal state, which is basically saying the same thing)


8. Ignited provides an in-depth analysis (here, here and here) of how he sees the three main forces of Northern Irish Unionism developing in the short-term.

9. Iain Martin reckons the Scottish Tories are a pack of inept surrender monkeys.

10. Finally, Chekov's definition of UK Unionism.

With the Glasgow by-election and the UUP/Tory negotiations there is perhaps a Scottish and N.Irish bias there; hopefully you can remedy that in future by sending me your own English and Welsh favourites.
E-mail your choices, or simply put them down in the comments box.

The Witanagemot Awards

The Witanagemot Club is running its annual awards:

Q3: Blogger most likely to vote for a donkey if you slapped the correct colour rosette on it
Q3: Most vindictive political blogger
Q11: Blogger that you never agree with

Please don’t let me influence any of you on those three particular categories;)

(And don't let the daunting number of categories stop you, just vote on whatever ones you want to).

The unity in the Union Jack

The British flag has the Irish Saint's Cross in it! What could be more inclusive of all the Irish people than that! Indeed, without the clever inclusion of the Cross of St Patrick, the Union Jack design is far less dramatic.

Alistair McConnachie on the Union Jack’s cross-community (and border) appeal.

Also on a connected matter, contrary to common belief, Wales is already represented on the Union Jack...now, how? Think about it!

I’ve got to say though, that if it is to be altered, Mr Mc Connachie’s suggestion makes much more sense aesthetically than the Milton Keynes ‘Mare:

The St David's Cross is a gold cross on a black background. Theoretically, this could be incorporated quite attractively into a Union Jack, perhaps for some ceremonial occasions in Wales, by running a gold trim down the sides -- inside or out -- of the red St George's Cross

Mary dances to the King's tune?

Lord Belmont has news of some surprise musical guests at the President of Ireland's annual garden party. Changed times indeed...

The Friday morning provocation

The Sunday Times is looking for a *ahem* regional editor to cover two rather large UK(?) regions:


(via Recess Monkey)

Referendum democracy

This article on Open Democracy is a bit beyond the normal remit of the blog here, but as we are increasingly relying on (and demanding unsuccessfully on certain issues) referenda to directly gauge the opinion of the electorate, I think it is timely to examine closer their pros and cons. Besides, the article also gives us a useful glimpse at how many of the EU Elite view “the people” (i.e. you and me).

George Schőpflin, a Hungarian MEP, believes that the referendum is an unsafe tool in any democratic system for four main reasons:

1."First, in complex modern societies there is no such thing as "the people"

"In too many cases - European integration among them - referenda function as an instrument not of democracy, but of populism."

Following that logic, then we don’t even need elections, never mind referenda full-stop any more- "the people"... sorry, the electorate can’t obviously be trusted to make a rational decision on such matters as the Lisbon Treaty.

2."Second, referenda are profoundly unsuitable ways of addressing complex issues, because they offer the illusion of a simple answer to complexity."

By its very nature, a referendum tends only to address one subject at a time- that should make it easier for those on both sides of the argument to present their case in a more detail. If they don’t, then that is not the fault of the concept of the referendum per se- but of the media and the electorate who should be challenging rigorously those who are trying to "sell" their point of view

3."Third, referenda reintroduce the tyranny of the majority, the very thing that modern democracies have sought to dilute by, for example, upgrading the role of civil society."

Ah, that "Tyranny of the majority"... isn't "the tyranny of the majority" the very basis of Western democracy? Should we instead be leaving decisions on such matters as Lisbon and the constitutional future of Scotland to some hand-picked minority or elite?

4."Fourth, referenda offer power without responsibility, in that voters can confront elites without having to face the consequences of their action"

What a bizarre comment! If the Scottish electorate votes for separation in 2010, they won’t face "the consequences of their action"? The electorate of the Irish Republic voted against ratifying the Lisbon Treaty; yes, they have confronted the EU-Elite, but they also will have to face up to whatever punishment Brussels imposes on them for their disobedience.

Referenda are not applicable in every case, they should be a tool of last resort; I’m content to leave it up to my local councilor to decide what’s the best day for collecting the bins. The truth, however, is that on matters of constitutional significance, we cannot trust our politicians to reflect the majority opinion of the people, or even to act on how their conscience as opposed to their party tells them.

Finally, and rather ironically, as I mentioned before, George Schőpflin is a Hungarian MEP representing the Fidesz (“Young Democrats”) party. Ironic, because earlier this year a Fidesz-sponsored referendum was successful- the Hungarian electorate basically voted on the rather populist question:
”Do you want to be forced to pay for your medical care and further education?”
Not surprisingly they voted “No”, and not surprisingly, to date, Fidesz haven’t come up with an alternative means of financing both systems. But presumably Mr Schőpflin was happy enough to bend with the rest of his party to the “tyranny of the majority” on that particular occasion.

"Stop me, stop me, stop me if you think you've heard this one before"

OK, as threatened earlier, The Smiths in all their glory:


Normal (political) service will (probably) be resumed as soon as possible.

*Bonus point if you spot one of my literary heros in the video.

Service Announcement

Due to a spammer attack, I've temporarily put on Comment Moderation.

All comments (as long as I agree with them;))will still be posted, it'll just obviously now take a bit longer for them to appear.

Anti-devolutionists stand by your beds...

...or at least your keyboards!

I'm looking for anyone (not necessarily Unionist), fed-up with the Devolution Experiment and who'd like to contribute a post or article on here. You can be from any part of the UK and your piece can be on any related topic, general or specific and as short or as long as you like; the only two restrictions are no naughty words or libels. Pop it to my email address on the right-hand side and tell me what name you want it printed under.

I'd also welcome advice, suggestions, volunteers about how we would go about setting up an effective, focussed online anti-devolution campaign- again pop your thoughts to the email address.

OK, you can stand at ease now!

Gerry da Brit!

If you're in Dublin today keep an eye open for this:

Details
Date: Tuesday, June 10 2008
Time: 1.30pm
Location: Merrion Street entrance to Leinster House.

Photo Opp: Two male YFG (Young Fine Gael) members wearing lifelike face masks will dress as Mary Lou McDonald (in a Spice Girls Union Jack dress) and Gerry Adams in a Union Jack Tuxedo. They will hold a 6X4 foot sign emblazoned with “No EU = Britain Runs Our Economy”.

The sentiments are all a bit Little-Irelander, but so what, it'll be worth it to see Lord Adams of Ballymurphy revealed in his true partitionist glory!!

The Seven Rules of Ethno-Nationalism

You may heard one or two of these arguments before...

1.If an area was ours for 500 years and yours for 50, it should belong to us – you are merely an occupier.

2.If an area was yours for 500 years and ours for 50, it should belong to us – borders must not be changed.

3.If an area belonged to us 500 years ago but never since then, it should belong to us – it is the Cradle of our Nation.

4.If a majority of our people live there, it must belong to us – they must enjoy the right to self-determination.

5.If a minority of our people live there, it must belong to us – they must be protected against your oppression.

6.All of the above rules apply to us but not to you.

7.Our dream of greatness is Historical Necessity, yours is Fascism.

Author Unknown

Quote of the Day

Today is not only St George's Day, but also the birthdate of the greatest dramatist the British Isles ever produced, William Shakespeare:

My words fly up, my thoughts remain below:
Words without thoughts never to heaven go.

Some useful advice there for all bloggers, but originally from "Hamlet", Act Three Scene Three.

Yet more "Hard Times of Old England"

After Tam Lyn and Cold, Haily, Rainy Nights, this is the last in the trilogy of tunes that I’m reviewing from "The Imagined Village" CD. It features this blog’s unofficial mascot, Billy Bragg, in his finest whingiest form covering a song which is over three hundred years old.

Both the original and Bill’s 2007 version speak of the hardness and suffering of rural life and in that there lies a paradox- Bragg’s version looks back with affection to an earlier innocent countrified England, which if you read the lyrics of the 18th century predecessor and historical records of the time you soon realise has only ever existed in his own imagination.

Whilst it’s all very well, Bragg reminiscing from the rural idyll of Barking about the times when folk had to get up at 4 in the morning and walk 10 miles to plough one acre, to be rewarded at the end of the day with a hamshank, a mug of ale and very little else- he should try asking some of those who actually had to do the dirty work, I really don’t think you’ll get much nostalgia or looking back with affection to those halcyon old times.

Similarly, the whole concept of “The Imagined Village”, the fusion of the old and the modern, a celebration of the mixture of cultures and people in the England of the 21st Century, would never have arisen if there had been none of Bill’s other bugbear, globalisation- it’s sometimes conveniently forgotten that it has brought, not only McDonalds, but also the sitar and the constant upgrading of technology which allows music like this to be listened to by an hitherto unimagined number of people. Also, the same Tesco’s Bill is pissed off with for preventing him from selling his carrots, allows him and I to sit down and sample our fellow Brits' cuisine from all over the world and (while I’m on the rant) those nasty folk from the city who buy up all that rundown village property for holiday homes, well, who exactly is it selling them all this property then?

To put it all into an urban and more personal context, if you were to ask me personally, would I like to have followed my great-grandfather, grandfather and father (until Maggie sacked him) and sign up for 40 years honest and honourable toil in the shipyard, rather than sitting behind my present desk and computer, with my white collar, picking my nose, pumping out sarky posts, then I would really have to think about my answer- for all of probably 10 seconds. Those who eulogise most over the good ol’ times tend to be those who see them in the comfort of their armchair and from a very safe distance.

Now, admitedly I do remember fondly the times before places like the Castlereagh Hills were colonised by "education professionals", social workers and assorted quangoists sitting in their customized rabbit-hutches- but even then, when I was walking there regularly with my father, we would very, very rarely see anyone (apart from the odd paramilitary out on shooting practice from Braniel or wherever), enjoying the cleanish air and greenery. If more people care about keeping the past than paving and building it over with the future, then things stay the same, if they don’t- then, they don’t, simple as that.

Anyone back to Poor Old England; despite all the prior reservations, anyone who has a go at the w*nkers of Countryside Alliance ("They said not a word, when our post-office closed") has to have their heart in the right place and for that reason alone, the video is still well worth the watch.
But Billy should really think about giving up on the dancing.