Comments on: An act of remembrance? http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/an-act-of-rememberance/ Campaigning Journalist | Literary Dissident Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:10:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Steven http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/an-act-of-rememberance/#comment-1721 Steven Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:00:24 +0000 http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/an-act-of-rememberance/#comment-1721 The issues of poppies is being used by both sides. I personally believe that as british citizens we should respect those from Britain who have given their lives, whether we agreed to the war or not. I dont doubt the british army done wrong in NI during the course of the conflict but they did not kill nearly as many people as the IRA for instance, nor did they bomb and booby trap innocent people. The IRA would not have lasted through the 80' and 90's if the army had been allowed to play them at their own game. The issues of poppies is being used by both sides. I personally believe that as british citizens we should respect those from Britain who have given their lives, whether we agreed to the war or not. I dont doubt the british army done wrong in NI during the course of the conflict but they did not kill nearly as many people as the IRA for instance, nor did they bomb and booby trap innocent people. The IRA would not have lasted through the 80′ and 90’s if the army had been allowed to play them at their own game.

]]> By: Mac http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/an-act-of-rememberance/#comment-1469 Mac Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:37:45 +0000 http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/an-act-of-rememberance/#comment-1469 Why is it that the murderous actions of some members of the Parachute Regiment in Derry on Bloody Sunday is routinely used as the yardstick by which, even nearly forty years after the terrible event, the entire British Army and its serving and ex-members are measured? By the same token I could measure every Irish Nationalist by the yardstick of the minority by whose actions many hundreds of British soldiers, members of the RUC/PSNI and civilians both in Northern Ireland and the UK maninland were killed. Why is it that the murderous actions of some members of the Parachute Regiment in Derry on Bloody Sunday is routinely used as the yardstick by which, even nearly forty years after the terrible event, the entire British Army and its serving and ex-members are measured? By the same token I could measure every Irish Nationalist by the yardstick of the minority by whose actions many hundreds of British soldiers, members of the RUC/PSNI and civilians both in Northern Ireland and the UK maninland were killed.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/an-act-of-rememberance/#comment-1455 Ryan Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:26:45 +0000 http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/an-act-of-rememberance/#comment-1455 It can be no coincidence the poppy campaign gained mass exposure, in Scotland and the rest of the UK, last year for 2 reasons:- 1. UK wide, to counterbalance the turning of public opinion with regards to the PR disasters that are Iraq and Afghanistan, to make out that 'Our Boys' are risking their lives in order to save ours. (No they are not - these poor hapless pawns are risking their poorly-equipped lives because of the UK's 'special' relationship with it's master the USA). 2. In Scotland. as a response to the negative publicity (in some quarters anyway) to the famine song. it can be no coincidence that a certain Mr Martin Bain is on the board of directors of PoppyScotland. 2+2=5? Don't think so. This was set up simply in a pathetic attempt to put Celtic in the spotlight. The meeja in Scotland have already started with the negative publicity, with articles stating things like "Cletic fans told to shut up for minute's silence" and "Falkirk refuse to bow to Celtic pressure to have a minute's applause rather than silence" (when no talks have taken place at all!), etc. There is also the popular misconception that the poppy is purely for those that died in the 'great wars'. This is of course pure and utter bunkum. It is to honour all British soldiers from all conflicts, whether noble and just or not. I folk cannot comprehend the fact that those of recent and bygone Irish descent might have an issue with this matter given what has occurred over the years in Ireland then it beggars belief. If the SFA insist (not very democratic is it? What did our forefathers fight for in WW2 if not freedom?) on clubs observing the silence and wearing the blood red poppy on jerseys then I will say that there is a way to do things if you are not willing to participate. Do not enter the ground until it is done. If anyone stands and boos during it they deserve utter scorn that no doubt the Scottish sports meeja are eagerly waiting to pour upon them. People deal with grievance and memory in there own different ways. If folk wish to wear poppies and remember then absolutely fine. I have utter respect for that. However, if someone for whatever personal reasons does not wish to join in, or remember in their own way, then why can't folk respect that too without labelling them as a "sectarian anti-British bigot". Poppy fascism as Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow called it. Incidentally I was in Dublin at this time last year and saw several people wearing poppies. Whether they were English tourists or not I neither knew nor cared. No-one batted an eyelid. It's called RESPECT. Someone's views are sacred to them and if it doesn't descend to hatred and violence then what is the problem for both sides? It can be no coincidence the poppy campaign gained mass exposure, in Scotland and the rest of the UK, last year for 2 reasons:-

1. UK wide, to counterbalance the turning of public opinion with regards to the PR disasters that are Iraq and Afghanistan, to make out that ‘Our Boys’ are risking their lives in order to save ours.

(No they are not – these poor hapless pawns are risking their poorly-equipped lives because of the UK’s ’special’ relationship with it’s master the USA).

2. In Scotland. as a response to the negative publicity (in some quarters anyway) to the famine song. it can be no coincidence that a certain Mr Martin Bain is on the board of directors of PoppyScotland. 2+2=5? Don’t think so. This was set up simply in a pathetic attempt to put Celtic in the spotlight.

The meeja in Scotland have already started with the negative publicity, with articles stating things like “Cletic fans told to shut up for minute’s silence” and “Falkirk refuse to bow to Celtic pressure to have a minute’s applause rather than silence” (when no talks have taken place at all!), etc.

There is also the popular misconception that the poppy is purely for those that died in the ‘great wars’. This is of course pure and utter bunkum. It is to honour all British soldiers from all conflicts, whether noble and just or not.

I folk cannot comprehend the fact that those of recent and bygone Irish descent might have an issue with this matter given what has occurred over the years in Ireland then it beggars belief.

If the SFA insist (not very democratic is it? What did our forefathers fight for in WW2 if not freedom?) on clubs observing the silence and wearing the blood red poppy on jerseys then I will say that there is a way to do things if you are not willing to participate. Do not enter the ground until it is done. If anyone stands and boos during it they deserve utter scorn that no doubt the Scottish sports meeja are eagerly waiting to pour upon them.

People deal with grievance and memory in there own different ways. If folk wish to wear poppies and remember then absolutely fine. I have utter respect for that. However, if someone for whatever personal reasons does not wish to join in, or remember in their own way, then why can’t folk respect that too without labelling them as a “sectarian anti-British bigot”. Poppy fascism as Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow called it.

Incidentally I was in Dublin at this time last year and saw several people wearing poppies. Whether they were English tourists or not I neither knew nor cared. No-one batted an eyelid. It’s called RESPECT. Someone’s views are sacred to them and if it doesn’t descend to hatred and violence then what is the problem for both sides?

]]> By: bhoydavid http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/an-act-of-rememberance/#comment-1452 bhoydavid Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:29:20 +0000 http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/an-act-of-rememberance/#comment-1452 excellent article phil. just a point here,if the person handling rfc`s account is a friend of yours,could you not enlighten him to the thought process of the huns & maybe he would view their PR in a different light? or maybe i`m assuming that the guy isn`t intelligent enough to work it out for himself the dirty tricks campaign that the huns have embarked upon to deflect attention from themselves,then again maybe to him business is business no matter where the money comes from. excellent article phil. just a point here,if the person handling rfc`s account is a friend of yours,could you not enlighten him to the thought process of the huns & maybe he would view their PR in a different light? or maybe i`m assuming that the guy isn`t intelligent enough to work it out for himself the dirty tricks campaign that the huns have embarked upon to deflect attention from themselves,then again maybe to him business is business no matter where the money comes from.

]]> By: jim Harte http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/an-act-of-rememberance/#comment-1441 jim Harte Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:24:57 +0000 http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/an-act-of-rememberance/#comment-1441 Good read Phil. It would be good to think the people who need to rethink their attitudes would learn from your piece but we know they will never see it. Hail Hail Good read Phil. It would be good to think the people who need to rethink their attitudes would learn from your piece but we know they will never see it.
Hail Hail

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