I watched with interest as Pat Kenny interviewed Sinn Féin councillor Toireasa Ferris on the Late Late Show.
Clearly she is an intelligent and articulate woman who has a bright future in front of her in the field of elective politics. However, she completely failed to display any ability to think outside the box of provisional dogma. It is this rose-tinted view of the ‘campaign’, combined with their ubiquitous double-speak and self-contradiction which will result in Sinn Féin failing to capture any further gains in terms of electoral percentage. The next election in the south will be as good as it gets for Sinn Féin, and in the north they have already peaked and the only way now is down.
Perhaps the most damning indictment of this pseudo-reformist face of Sinn Féin was the refusal by Miss Ferris to condemn the murder of Garda Jerry McCabe. When challenged by Kenny, she simply lifted the usual meaningless phrases from the ‘Sinn Féin Book of Spin’ such as it was “tragic” and “unfortunate.” These are words you use to describe earthquakes or car accidents- not to describe the cold-blooded murder of a policeman committed in the course of an armed robbery. She then tried to justify it by the usual excuse of “it was part of the conflict.” How exactly was the murder of Garda McCabe part of the ‘conflict’? It was a bunch of
When asked about how she could possibly justify the use of violence during the Troubles, such as the offensive tactics by the IRA of bombing and maiming innocent people, it again became clear that young Ferris had been staying up at night leafing through the aforementioned Sinn Féin Spin Guide. Bizarrely she claimed it was in defence of nationalists (despite the fact that the IRA killed more Catholics than any other group during the Troubles!), and then claimed that she supported Sinn Féin as it had engaged in conflict and had brought peace. Surely if you were peaceful in the first place, there would be no need to ‘deliver peace’.
Kenny nailed her when he pointed out that there was no need for violence, and that John Hume and the SDLP had been right all along in that peaceful agitation was the way to go, not violence and murder. The most telling point came when he added, “It would now seem that the peaceful strategy of the SDLP has won out.” She had no response.
Sinn Féin is clearly trying to move from the image of the balaclava’d roughneck to glamorous young professional politician. But image means nothing if the message means nothing. And by God, does Sinn Féin do a good line in meaningless messages.
Until Sinn Féin as a party matures democratically and recognises that simply because activity was carried out by their holier-than-thou Irish Republican Army does not mean that by definition it was okay, then the people of Ireland will not fully accept them as a bone fide political party truly committed to the democratic future of the island. They must accept that the only army in
There is no reason why Sinn Féin should not be part of the Assembly. They have a mandate to be there. But I think that it is the people of
28 comments:
and in the north they have already peaked and the only way now is down.
You may wish that was the case but we both know otherwise.
South Down will be going to Sinn Féin next time at least. There is also further MLA and council seats to take.
Wishfull thinking
This from a man who told me that South Down was 'tighter than a ducks arse' and that Foyle was 'in the bag' at the last election.
On another note last year I had the pleasure of attending a cross party North South forum. At this event were a number of Sinn Féin members. On the saturday night a number of us were sitting around involved in a political debate. As it continued a member of Finna Fáil asked one of the Sinn Féin members how he justified the murder of Garda Jerry McCabe. His reply shocked me, he said and I quote "Jerry McCabe was an accident. The IRA shot past his ear to scare him but he jumped into the way of the bullet to put pressure on Republicans. He didnt mean to kill himself he only wanted to put pressure on Republicans and it was an unfortunate accident." Not only is the kind of comment disgusting but it is also disrespectful to Garda Jerry McCabe and his family. I understand that this view is probably not shared by the majority within Sinn Féin but the fact that they are willing to send people with views like this to represent them worries me for the future
A couple of days ago I read a story that was headlined "Casey Apologies For "Upset" and I thought "Christ! Another thick journalist who can't come up with any angle more innovative than a manufactured 'Casey Says Sorry' or 'Casey refuses To Say Sorry' story." Why, I wondered, doesn't Casey just say: 'Oh, fuck off, you sanctimonious little prick. I've already apologised and I have no fucking intention of repeating it every time a twat like you comes to my door looking for an easy story to earn his worthless keep from his employers.'"
I have the same reaction to Pat Kenny and his repetitive pursuit of the easy angle to generate a tad of utterly predictable and utterly time wasting TV mock-confrontation with his heard-it-5000-times-before "Do you condemn X. Y, and Z?" Where were Kenny and his RTE ilk when ‘journalists’ were needed to report and condemn the violent abuse and state murders of nationalists in the north? They were busy ignoring it, lest it adversly effect their tawdy little career prospects under Section 31. The sooner RTE is sold off to the private sector, the better.
Dubliner-
You make a fair point about censorship, but do you not think that by virtue of the fact that Kenny got her into a position whereby she, as a democratically elected representative, refused to condemn the murder of a policeman in the course of an armed robbery, he is doing his job. It may be simple and it may be crude, but if it highlights the hypocrisy of Sinn Féin. Can you imagine a Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael councillor coming on and justifying a murder? Say what you like about them, but they're about sixty years ahead of the provos when it comes to the acceptance of democratic norms. If Sinn Féin want a level playing field and want to be considered a fully democratic organisation, then they must operate like one, and adhere to the basic rules of democracy. It has nothing to do with the IMC, nothing to do with securocrats- it is simply a case of the party accepting the democratic role of government, and stopping the presumption that it has or had a right to act as a self-appointed military force.
A well written blog El Matador. I like your analysis of Sinn Fein portraying the IRA as angels. Not only in the Murder of Garda McCabe but the denial of murder of thousands of Innocent people who were going about their Legal and Lawful way of life when they were either killed, injured or maimed in an IRA attack. Just look at the excuses the provisionals used to cover these especially the murder of Jean McConville. Republicans are up to their necks in the blood of innocents but their rhetoric will never change. God help us all if Sinn Fein are ever in control either in the North or the South. It is unfortunate thast Sinn Fein have to deny, lie and justify the mirderous campaign of the IRA, This must be a very heavey burden on Sinn Fein, but then Sinn Fein will always defend what was carried out for the sake of a Unted Ireland. Not a bit of wonder that the other democratic parties don't trust them. Would you?
They must accept that the only army in Ireland that has the authority to act militarily is the true Óglaigh na hÉireann, i.e. the forces of the Irish state.
I should point out that the UK forces have the authority to act militarily in Ireland too, or are you of the view that Ireland stops at the border?
You're right about the immorality of it all, but I'm not so convinced you're right about Sinn Fein having peaked. It seems increasing numbers of nationalist voters don't want anyone to represent them or their interests, nor to advance the peace process - they just want someone who will argue more with the other side; essentially they don't want to just end the war, they want to win it.
Beano-
The feedback I am getting would suggest the contrary. The SDLP has been on a roll lately, and the nationalist people are with it.
People are realising that voting for the DUP and Sinn Féin has got us nowhere. They are two sdies of the same coin, and whilst they shout insults across the fence, the rest of us are mismanaged by remote control ministers at Westminster.
"You make a fair point about censorship, but do you not think that by virtue of the fact that Kenny got her into a position whereby she, as a democratically elected representative, refused to condemn the murder of a policeman in the course of an armed robbery, he is doing his job." - El Matador
If you ask a Sinn Fein to condemn the IRA, you know exactly the response that you are going to get. Does it serve any purpose beyond allowing the timid Pat Kenny to pose falsely as Jeremy Paxman probing Ehud Barak on a matter of importance to Isreal post-Sharon? No, it produces a stupid little dance of pompous interviewer and interviewee that most of us know the tiresome moves of by heart. Why doesn't RTE ask Ian Paisely to condemn the actions of his beloved British Army on Bloody Sunday since it will produce the exact same result as asking Sinn Fein to condemn the IRA, so the rationale is equally valid for both parties, but applied by RTE only to one, thereby revealing its particular bias. Why don't they ask Tony Blair to condemn the actions of the FRU in facilitating the state murder of Pat Finucane, and possibly hundreds of other Catholics? Why? Because the latter would be good journalism and the former is merely good television - and the former is much prefered by RTE than threading into the unsafe waters of condemning political murder in the north from any quarter other than the IRA.
"Can you imagine a Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael councillor coming on and justifying a murder?" - El Matador
Yes, have you asked them about the civil war? None of them (bar the revisionists) would condemn the killings by whichever side they supported - beyond diplomatic expressions of "regret." There is a major difference between a civil murder with a politically-motivated killing. All parties would condemn civil murder without qualification.
"Say what you like about them, but they're about sixty years ahead of the provos when it comes to the acceptance of democratic norms." - El Matador
They're are also about sixty years ahead of the provos when it comes to having obtained their inalienable right to national self-determination. Alas, 60-years and rising. What "democratic norms" were there to accept during the last 60 years of Northern Ireland? Gerrymandering? One house, one vote? A protestant parliament for a protestant people? Internment without trial? State murder? Unequal civil rights? Second-class citizenship? Disenfranchisement of the republican electorate by denying their representatives the option of representing them? Torture? A denial of national identity? A sectarian police force? Democratic norms...surely, you jest?
"If Sinn Féin want a level playing field and want to be considered a fully democratic organisation, then they must operate like one, and adhere to the basic rules of democracy." - El Matador
No, they must simply put candidates forward for election and the people decide whether or not they wish to elect them. That, in short, is the simple essence of democracy. Seeking to disenfranchise the electorate by rendering null and void their democratic choices is a complete and utter perversion of democracy - and a perversion that has become the institutionalised "democratic norm" in the north.
"It has nothing to do with the IMC, nothing to do with securocrats- it is simply a case of the party accepting the democratic role of government, and stopping the presumption that it has or had a right to act as a self-appointed military force." - El Matador
It has everything to do with the IMC (which effectively has a veto over the democratic process (show me one example anywhere else in the world where that is a democratic norm) and everything to do with the securocrats collapsing of the last executive and their endless planting of stories to unionists sympathizers and apologists in the national media.
Now, every person has an inalienable right to national self-determination - and to use force to assert that right. Naturally, peace is always preached to the conquered by the conquerors and their apologists and agencies. The question of whether or not that right should be subject to majority approval or exercised as inalienable is irrelevant in actuality, since occupying forces tend not to allow referendum to decide the question (oddly enough).
Dubliner-
Congratulations- you have won the award for Best Use of Whataboutery 2006. You manage to turn a thread about provo refusal to condemn Jerry McCabe's murder and the other crimes committed at the hands of the IRA, to one about Paisley and Bloody Sunday (I didn't realise the DUP had killed anyone on Bloody Sunday), gerrymandering, and the murder of Pat Finucane. All extremely important events, but nothing to do with holding SF to account. On another point, Paisley and Blair aren't seeking election to the Dáil- SF are. Perhaps that would explain why it is important for RTÉ interviwers to challenge the provos on these issues.
The raison d'etre of Paisley et al is to subdue nationalism and prevent a united Ireland. Of course they're unashamedly going to say this. However, SF purport to be 'republican' with allegiance to Ireland, yet refuse to accept the laws of the land by failing to categorise IRA activity as a crime, despite the fact it contravenes Irish law, and see Dáil Éireann as being not the true governing body of Ireland, but rather the IRA Army Council by virtue of inherited power from the 2nd Dáil.
The DUP are unreprentant bigots, but they do exactly as it says on the tin. However, SF claim one thing but their actions say another- they are arguably a greater threat to Irish democracy than the DUP ever could be.
The fact that defenders of Sinn Féin have to mention just about everything committed against nationalists in the past half century, but fail to actaully address the valid accusations laid against them simply proves my point.
"Congratulations- you have won the award for Best Use of Whataboutery 2006." - El Matador
I didn't see this category in the Irish Blog Awards. *suspicious look*
"You manage to turn a thread about provo refusal to condemn Jerry McCabe's murder and the other crimes committed at the hands of the IRA, to one about Paisley and Bloody Sunday (I didn't realise the DUP had killed anyone on Bloody Sunday), gerrymandering, and the murder of Pat Finucane. All extremely important events, but nothing to do with holding SF to account." - El Matador
Unfair comment. Below is [b]your[/b] point that I was directly replying to. Ergo, it is wrong to allege that I strayed off topic, when it is you that introduced the additional topic, and directly asked me to reply to it ("...but do you not think that..."):
"You make a fair point about censorship, but do you not think that by virtue of the fact that Kenny got her into a position whereby she, as a democratically elected representative, refused to condemn the murder of a policeman in the course of an armed robbery, he is doing his job." - El Matador
Now, Miss Ferris did not kill Jerry McCabe, just as you correctly pointed out that DUP "had [not] killed anyone on Bloody Sunday." The DUP did, however, form Ulster Resistance, and is associated with many killings through the actions of its sister organisation's members. The British Prime Minister is directly responsible for the murderous actions of the FRU. Since your question stated that "that Kenny got her into a position whereby she, as a democratically elected representative, refused to condemn the murder..." and condoned Kenny's performance on that basis, my comment was "the rationale is equally valid for both parties, but applied by RTE only to one, thereby revealing its particular bias." Why is it acceptable for "a democratically elected representative" such as Ian Paisley or Tony Blair to refuse to condemn killings, but it is unacceptable for Sinn Fein to do so? There is a very definite double standard here... and good journalism should expose it by posing the question to the leader of the largest so-called democratic party in the north, the DUP: "Do you unequivocally condemn the murders of 14 innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday, or the British state's murders of the Gibraltar Three (as convicted by The European Court of Human Rights in March, 1988)?" Isn't the reason the question is not posed to Ian Paisley simply because his refusal to condemn the murders would lead directly to a situation where "a democratically elected representative" refused to condemn murder, thereby exposing the hypocrisy of that party's condemnation of Sinn Fein for refusing to condemn killings? Remember, the question was "Do you condemn X killing?" and not "Do you condemn X killing from entity Y, which you support?" But whichever question you ask of the largest so-called democratic party in the north or of the British Prime Minister, you will get the same refusal to condemn killings from organisations that they support.
"On another point, Paisley and Blair aren't seeking election to the Dáil- SF are. Perhaps that would explain why it is important for RTÉ interviwers to challenge the provos on these issues." - El Matador
Is RTE exclusively a Dial candidate vetting committee now? Since when was that role written into its charter? I thought its role was to report the news, nationally and internationally without political bias.
"The raison d'etre of Paisley et al is to subdue nationalism and prevent a united Ireland." - El Matador
Agreed. But it is also raison d'etre of a large section of the Irish-owned but British-controlled media.
"However, SF purport to be 'republican' with allegiance to Ireland, yet refuse to accept the laws of the land by failing to categorise IRA activity as a crime, despite the fact it contravenes Irish law, and see Dáil Éireann as being not the true governing body of Ireland, but rather the IRA Army Council by virtue of inherited power from the 2nd Dáil." - El Matador
Okay, doesn't everybody know this history lesson? It tends to be the way of revolutionary movements, strangely enough. However, the IMC itself (three spooks and a Lord, as some wit termed it) has concluded that the IRA is now committed to exclusively and democratic means. In effect, it is no longer a revolutionary movement, but a political party. Even the IMC and the Cheif Constable of the PSNI pointed out that the transition is a slow and painful one, but that the IRA have made remarkable strides toward it - and indeed they have. Truly remarkable, but its not there yet – it all takes time. Whether or not the north could become even 'semi-normalised' through politics remains to be seen, but I doubt it. I suspect that it is failed entity (through any political expediency designed to administrate it) and that it can only be normalized when reintegrated into a united Ireland.
"The DUP are unreprentant bigots, but they do exactly as it says on the tin. However, SF claim one thing but their actions say another- they are arguably a greater threat to Irish democracy than the DUP ever could be." - El Matador
Nobody buys the 32-county socialist republic shit - do Sinn Fein themselves really believe that anymore? Socialism is dead - in any form. I suspect it will realign its policies as needs must. As regards being a threat to democracy: how so? It has driven the peace process forward (along with the SDLP - before Durkan got hold of the reins and galloped off in all directions) since the early days of it, despite the malicious venom spat upon both Hume and Adams by the Irish and British media when they first initiated the process back in the early 90s. Never take morality or political progress lessons from the media, kid.
"The fact that defenders of Sinn Féin have to mention just about everything committed against nationalists in the past half century, but fail to actaully address the valid accusations laid against them simply proves my point." - El Matador
The fact that you think that proves your point simply proves a flaw in your reasoning. ;)
dubliner: What point are you trying, unsuccessfully, to drive home?
Dubliner-
"Agreed. But it is also raison d'etre of a large section of the Irish-owned but British-controlled media."
What exactly do you mean by this? This is one of those throwaway commets used by 'republicans' but not backed up by any evidence.
What do you mean by Irish owned but British controlled. Clearly you have a conspiracy theory, but is all all it is- a theory? Or have you facts you can present?
As regards socialism, are SF therefore lying to the electorate when they describe themselves as 'socialist'?
You commend SF for 'driving the peace process forward'- in case you forgot, it was the single biggest combatant during the Troubles. A simple analogy: If Joe Bloggs formed a gang that went out and raped more people than anyone else on this island, but then started a new strategy whereby they scaled down raping (but in the background always maintained a threat to return to raping if they didn't get their way)do you believe that Joe bloggs et al should be commended? Yeah right- they should get a slap to the face and get told that it was about time. Any group of murderers could claim to be 'driving peace forward' just by deciding to stop killing people. It's nothing to be particurly proud of.
BTW, when I said "in case you forgot, it was the single biggest combatant during the Troubles," by that I meant the provisional movement, as opposed to Sinn Féin specifically. Although there was/ is clearly a blurring of the edges- the old talking to yourself in the mirror syndrome.
Anon-
Your comment has been deleted. apart from being defamatory, it was also tasteless and irrelevant. Go elsewhere if you wish to slag dead people and their relatives.
why was it deleted
If this family want to jeprodise the peace in the north then they can expect people to look into them---Iam not fooled by this myth of Saint Jerry Mc Cabe nor are the people of Limerick---what I said about him was all true and remember the truth will always out---If you aren't prepared to have an open discussion about Mc Cabe without sensorship---then stop publishing articles about him trying to play to people sympathies---pathetic use of a dead man to try and score brownie points against Sinn Fein---tasteless was how he chose to ''settle'' the womans Drunken driving charge and the records of the Adoo Ryan hotel and their CCTV tapes are there for all to see,Would you like a copy sent on to you.
And C
instead of s for censorship
Anon-
We do not censor on El Blogador, as our Sinn Féin, unionist, and other commenters will verify. However, if a commenter breaches civil law (as you did) their comments will be deleted. Full stop.
I have not deleted your second comment, as a) it is not actionable, and b) it says more about you than anything else. Do you not realise that such vitriolic bile in response to criticism of the provisionals simply helps prove their detractors right? You do your cause more harm than good with such comments.
Anyone else care to comment on young 'anon' here? Am I right or am I wrong?
Again I have had to delete a comment from 'anon'. Kindly leave the building and shut the door behind you. Thank you.
I noticed that comment earlier; it was ridiculous. Completely missed the point of what is being discussed in this issue. Good to see it deleted.
can anyone clarify whether ms ferris was wearing any underwear or not?
I don't see what that has to do with anything. Ferris is an elected representative, and we should be discussing her comments, not her clothing.
Her comments were much more offensive than clothing could ever be!
"What exactly do you mean by this? This is one of those throwaway commets used by 'republicans' but not backed up by any evidence." - El Fuming
Are you calling Ed Moloney a Republican? I'm sure that description would amuse him - and a few others.
http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/media/moloney.htm
The Irish Independent Newspaper group copies its editorial agenda directly from the NIO - so was your former party leader, John Hume, mistaken when he said that is the impression that he got?
Incidently, I recall using a term "uppity white nigger" on this site to the amusement of Parnell. Perhaps he will be less amused to learn where the term came from:
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=64231
"Irish Times Chief Executive asks British Government for help in stamping out "unauthorised" material appearing in the paper. "Secret and personal" letter from the British Ambassador details contacts and refers to then Irish Times Editor Douglas Gageby, a Protestant like Major McDowell, as a "renegade white nigger"."
"As regards socialism, are SF therefore lying to the electorate when they describe themselves as 'socialist'?" - El Matador
Have you tried Lie Detector tests to determine the question? It's either that or mind-reading to determine the intent, isn't it?
"You commend SF for 'driving the peace process forward'- in case you forgot, it was the single biggest combatant during the Troubles. A simple analogy: If Joe Bloggs formed a gang that went out and raped more people than anyone else on this island, but then started a new strategy whereby they scaled down raping (but in the background always maintained a threat to return to raping if they didn't get their way)do you believe that Joe bloggs et al should be commended? Yeah right- they should get a slap to the face and get told that it was about time. Any group of murderers could claim to be 'driving peace forward' just by deciding to stop killing people. It's nothing to be particurly proud of."- El Matador
You've lost the plot. Rapists? Slap in the face? That demented rant would be laughabe if it wasn't borderine psychotic.
So, El Matador, what exactly are your thoughts about proprietor of the Irish Times asking the British government about "how to control news on Britain’s actions and role in the North of Ireland."
You have your proof about the actuality of "Irish-owned but British-controlled media." What do you make of it? Would you rather that you didn't have the proof that The Irish Times (Irelan's most 'respected' newspaper) asked the British how best they could run an Irish paper in Britain's interest, so that you could continue to bury your head in the sand about such matters? ;)
"You've lost the plot. Rapists? Slap in the face? That demented rant would be laughabe if it wasn't borderine psychotic."
Sorry, you are absolutely right- it was wrong of me to use the rape analogy- by doing so, I was suggesting that rape is as bad as the murders committed by the provisionals. I should have used an analogy whereby Joe Bloggs set up a travelling band of genocidal maniacs. Apologies.
I note that you have ignored the proof about the actuality of "Irish-owned but British-controlled media."
I hurts when you are proven 100% wrong in your bogus denials, doesn't it? Your silence speaks volumes about your merits. ;)
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