The peace process needs an Irish Nelson Mandela to guarantee that any current proposals for peace become lasting solutions.
With Mandela buried yesterday, there are fears his legacy of peace and reconciliation will be smeared by a bloodbath among South Africa's many tribes, with all eyes firmly fixed on the fearsome Zulus.
While the Stormont peace process was in turmoil and on the brink of collapse, one of my close relatives happened to visit Mandela in his humble South African home for a chat.
My relative noted:
Mandela was quite genuine; he did a fantastic job in his country. Archbishop Desmond Tutu had a contribution in moving Mandela along the peace path.
Mandela's contribution to peace was huge; he laid the foundation for the modern South Africa, but now that he is dead, will it stay that way?
Although Mandela was a committed opponent of apartheid, he was never overcome with the spin of the anti-apartheid movement. He was not interested in meaningless rhetoric.
Even after 27 years in jail, he did not swallow the global attention of the 'Free Nelson Mandela' choruses made famous in many pop tunes.
An insult to his legacy would be to let South Africa descend into the same tribal slaughter as was witnessed in Rwanda, or go the route of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe.
Among African leaders, Mandela had an even bigger profile than Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of an independent Kenya.
While Mandela never visited the North, his legacy of peace must be extended to the entire Emerald Isle.
We are already witnessing a growing dissident republican threat, with a section of Protestant militants determined to use the Union Jack protest as a launch pad for a dissident loyalist movement.
There are also many warning signs of what failing to implement the 'Mandela Solution' could lead to.
It was the Mandela-supporting ANC which unleashed the insanely brutal torture killing of neck-lacing, where a car tyre filled with petrol was hung around the victim's neck and set on fire, first choking the victim to death, before the body burned.
While Zimbabwean president Mugabe took Mandela as an inspiration, it must never be forgotten that Mugabe's Patriotic Front terrorists butchered, raped and murdered Christian missionaries.
And while Mandela ditched his 'terrorist' past, his co-founder of the ANC terror wing, the white leader of the South African Communist Party, Joe Slovo, did not.
Mandela was sincere in his pursuit of peace. How many of those involved in the Irish peace process are consumed by political spin, a personal agenda, rather than a true desire to see Ireland permanently at peace?
More significantly, if Martin McGuinness is the republican Mandela, who has this title for the Unionists since ex-UVF terrorist and MLA David Ervine died?
dont agree with u this time john. there is a reason why nelson mandela has been feted by the main stream media since his release from prison.If after his release from jail mandela had made any attempt to square up to the international elite who still control that country’s vast mineral resources and improve the lot of his long suffering people (who are in a far worse state now than they were during the apartheid years) his funeral I believe would have resembled that of Ruairi O’Bradaighs instead of the non-stop eulogising celebrity fest it was. You can bet your bottom dollar the globalist toady Bono (the great Dutch singer!) wouldn’t have been there. Gerry Adams wouldn’t have been invited to ‘give a lift’. The corporate owned mainstream media would have shown Mandela the same disrespect they showed to Ruairi O’Bradaigh. One report estimates mandela had amassed a fortune of over ten million since his release from prison. I wonder how much ruairi was worth! To me anyway the dyslexic sign language guy who managed to sneek up on the stage was the only one making sense at that funeral/gig.
ReplyDeleteRuairi didn't need the like of that... He has his reward in Heaven, of that we can be sure
ReplyDeleteJohn
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Jesus? I thought you thought this place needed divine intervention?
"Although Mandela was a committed opponent of apartheid, he was never overcome with the spin of the anti-apartheid movement. He was not interested in meaningless rhetoric"
ReplyDelete"Even after 27 years in jail, he did not swallow the global attention of the 'Free Nelson Mandela' choruses made famous in many pop tunes"
Putting it mildly, the above statements are some of the stupidest things I've ever read.
The origins of the anti-apartheid movement first began in London in 1959 prior to the incarceration of Nelson Mandela which took place in 1962 and it is idiotic to think that Mandela didn’t want the plight of himself and the South African people highlighted and publicised through global awareness, mass protests and in lyrics.
To believe otherwise is like believing Bobby Sands wanted to disassociate himself from the smash H-Block campaign that was raging on the outside.
By the mid and late 1980s widespread solidarity for the anti-apartheid campaign was in fully swing and I can remember back to 1987 when I was working in London were I signed a petition outside the High Commission of South Africa building in Trafalgar Square which demanded the immediate release of Nelson Mandela and an end to the white supremacist regime.
While this all this was going, David Cameron was a student attending the King’s Hall & College of Brasenose in Oxford were he was studying economics, philosophy and politics which he did up until 1988 when he then left after achieving first class honours. Following Nelson Mandela’s death it had been revealed that during Cameron’s time at that university he had a poster hanging on the wall of his living quarters which proclaimed ’Hang Nelson Mandela’.
One of the fundamental differences between the peace process in N. Ireland and in S. Africa is that in S. Africa the native peoples were granted a nationwide all inclusive democratic vote to determine their peoples future and it is this, the all inclusive nationwide election that is missing and still being denied to all the citizens of this island. Until such an event takes place we cannot expect to see ‘the’ real peace process.
As for an Irish Nelson Mandela, Ireland should to be looking for someone who has unselfishly given their existence towards Irish unity and who had suffered greatly throughout his life while trying to achieve it. McGuinness can’t claim the title because he suffered very little during the conflict and it was clear during his presidential campaign that he was trying to make himself out to be someone he’s not, claiming to be a peace seeker since the mid 1980s?, in other words he’s saying he used the lives of young dedicated volunteers as cannon fodder for his job in Stormont.
Personally I believe we've already had our very own Nelson Mandela and the Brits killed him when they shot James Connolly.
Combat Rock I agree a cara James Connolly was a true man of the people he lived and died as one unlike Mandela,Ireland has had its fair share of Mandela,s we dont fucking need any more,the English version of Mandela would perhaps be the grand old duke of York.
ReplyDeleteAdams is the irish mandela. Both are media fabrications. Both gave up their principles long ago. Both support/ed global warlords for fake peace/democracy. Both are/were leaders of corrupt collaborating outfits. Both are/were no threat to elites. Anyone who is feted by the international MSM is a fake, anyone who stands against tyrants ends up slandered by the MSM and is not even allowed a peaceful burial. Lovely photo of david rockefeller on net somewhere, arms linked with mandela. say no more.
ReplyDeleteGrouch a cara I like the cut of your jib your spot on ,
ReplyDeleteCan someone explain why an individual who makes no secret that he’s a radical right wing unionist and who uses his position in the Daily Star to slag off republicans, why is it that his pro-union rhetoric and his irrelevant attempts at TV reviews are frequently being made into headed topics on this blog?
ReplyDeleteForgive me if I’m wrong, but isn't this blog a debating tool for disenchanted republicans over the current political climate?
(John Coulter, Irish Daily Star)
ReplyDeleteThe notorious Ardoyne Dander by dissident republicans over Easter has got to be one of the most embarrassing episodes in nationalist history.
What was supposed to be a dignified commemoration to four dead Fianna members turned into a public relations disaster.
This was NOT because of children on parade in supposed paramilitary gear – it was because republicans proved they physically cannot march.
I am a former staff sergeant in the Christian Boys’ Brigade movement where drill was a compulsory part of parade nights. I passed BB exams in square-bashing and I know how to march.
What we witnessed in the Ardoyne was not competent drilling, but a pathetic dander along the road where many of the so-called marchers were out of step with an inability to use their arms.
With major commemorations this year to mark the centenaries of the founding of both the Irish Citizen Army and Irish Volunteers, republicans will need to get their act together if they are not to look like complete tits on parade.
Some in the DUP got their political knickers in a twist because of the young kids in the Ardoyne parade.
Instead of going yapping to the Children’s Commissioner, the DUP should have just laughed off what was one of the most comical parades of the year.
If I was one of those four Fianna members being supposedly honoured, I’d be spinning in my grave with deep fury at the way my name was being made a fool of.
It is no secret that I am a radical Right-wing Unionist, but as a holder of top BB awards such as the President’s and Queen’s Badges, after watching the Ardoyne shambles even I wanted to offer my drilling services to republicans to show them how to parade properly.
If republicans cannot learn to march in step in public, then they should cancel many commemorations to stop becoming the butt of jokes from loyalists.
The Prod Loyal Orders and blood and thunder loyalist flute bands may stage some contentious parades, but at least they can walk in step. Drill is a major component of the Marching Orders and bands.
Ironically, the main blame for republicans being unable to stage a credible parade in terms of marching lies with the Irish Catholic Church.
While the Protestant Churches have the BB and the Girls’ Brigade, both of which major in drill, what youth organisations does Irish Catholicism promote which have an emphasis on square bashing?
Watching the Ardoyne debacle was worse than getting a filling without an anaesthetic. I really felt so sorry for those wee kids. No one seemed to show them how to march.
Maybe the Fianna should be revamped with a serious emphasis on drill. What is certain is that republicans cannot continue making laughing stocks of themselves.
Some of the most embarrassing footage is off the so-called IRA and INLA colour parties at the 1981 funerals of the hunger strikers.
Especially at Bobby Sands’ funeral. Whoever selected the Provo guard of honour to accompany the dead MP’s coffin needed a spell in the BB. Their so-called slow march was diabolical. Some republicans march as if they are stamping on flies.
Unfortunately for republicans, the Sands’ colour party’s antics set the tone for many republican events since.
Love or loathe the late Iron Lady Maggie Thatcher, at least the hundreds of parading Brits could march in step.
I scored 90% in my last drill exam, so do me a favour republicans, if you can’t walk in step, at least hold your shoulders properly. Drill staff sergeant Coulter at the ready to show you how!
This article appeared in the April 22, 2013 edition of the Irish Daily Star.
he's on the TPQ because he loves going on about drill exams and square bashing
ReplyDeleteCombat,
ReplyDeleteJohn Coulter said the same and more here on TPQ last year. And the points he made about the dander through Ardoyne was smack on the button. Have a look yourself.
One can guarantee he has his monarch(s) hanging on his walls at home and proudly next to his royal BB medal which is entirely his business, but what I don't understand is, if he doesn't have a thread of republicanism running through his unionist body then why’s he frequently heading topics on this site?
ReplyDeleteI hope someone can come up with the answer because i can't work it out.
Does he get a perverted thrill from it? is that it?
Frankie
ReplyDeleteHis ‘dander’ comment is justified after looking at that but I don’t think republican marching skills should be compared to orange marches as they’re not in the same league. We all know the British army are renowned throughout the world for their highly skilled coordinated parades and this has been passed onto orange marches for generations. JC brags about how good he and loyalists are at marching, well they should be shouldn't they? they've been trained by the best parading instructors in the world, even his Buggered Brigade had army drill instructors.
As for what he wrote last year, fuck it I didn't read it and wont be reading anymore of his philosophical drab.
I think he has a want in him for republicans.
Combat Rock I can say with hand on heart that those comments by John Coulter re,. marching out of step could in no way be directed at quisling $inn £eind,if there is any group here deserving of the queens medal for marching in step its that bunch of quisling bastards, they never put a foot forward until their their drill sargents in her majesty,s nio tell them, indeed they have stolen the march on their partners in the dup as expert marchers just a fucking pity its backwards...
ReplyDeleteCombat Rock its impossible to get a perverted thrill from the QUILL a cara, have you ever seen some of the posters? anyway its impossible to wank and type at the same time I,m trying it right now.
ReplyDeleteCombat Rock,
ReplyDeleteAs much as I disagree with Dr. Coulter’s views it is wiser to look at him as hypocrite and wind up merchant.
All that bile directed against children what lunatic parent would want their kids to march like wee infantry machines.
All that shite about the Boys Brigade and medals is Dr. Coulter telling us that he is a lost cause and didn’t serve in the Military and if he didn’t why not?
It is just his true Christian nature to chastise children when he is not raving on about shite TV.
Better to know that type of venom is out there and coming from the so called educated.
Dr. Coulter wise up you ignoramus Bible thumping buck eejit and let kids enjoy being kids instead of demanding they be forced marched like your daft childhood was.
Better to walk as a rabble than to not walk at all the only enjoyment of that is it got up your snotty pretentious nostrils enough for you to prove sweet F A like you are some local hero.
tain bo, he does come out with the odd good one though - some republicans march as if they are stamping on flies - must admit i had a giggle
ReplyDeleteGrouch,
ReplyDeleteI am just rattling his cage in hope of getting the Gobshite of the year award.
He does have a sense of humour but having a go at kids is lunatic talk.
Nothing wrong with a good giggle and nothing wrong with laughing at ourselves.
Personally nothing against him or anyone here.
thats more like it, all the terroristts to the left
ReplyDelete