en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/5173985 Comments by aunt_agonist http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/dissident-republicans-blamed-for-wave-of-parcel-bombs-posted-to-army-careers-offices-across-england-30008960.html#IDComment794771091 So what if people from NI weren't conscripted? What does that have to do with anything? I think the point being made by yer man is that fascists are fascists and those who use violence and coercion are fascists by default. Therefore like Hitler - a man who lost. Not really rocket science. Even if more men and women from the south fought against Hitler - Northern Irish people weren't neutral, didn't send condolences to the German's on Hitler's death, didn't send more men to fight for Franco in Spain than went to the International Brigades (the war that was a prelude to ww2). Hell, the Norn Irish are pretty bad off when looking at ww2. We were offered up as booty to the Republic if only they would renege on neutrality and actually join the war. But still, for all that historical need for a united Ireland, the Irish didn't want to fight fascists enough that it wanted Northern Ireland back too. Fri, 14 Feb 2014 13:19:32 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/dissident-republicans-blamed-for-wave-of-parcel-bombs-posted-to-army-careers-offices-across-england-30008960.html#IDComment794771091 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/sinn-fein-will-foot-650-bill-for-christmas-party-toilet-damage-at-city-hall-bash-29976631.html#IDComment791616742 Very droll. Very good. I hear the SF council leader told the person responsible: "Ur-in-a-lot of bother" Tue, 4 Feb 2014 12:47:06 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/sinn-fein-will-foot-650-bill-for-christmas-party-toilet-damage-at-city-hall-bash-29976631.html#IDComment791616742 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/storm-of-protest-sinks-plan-to-hold-rave-nights-aboard-titanics-little-sister-ss-nomadic-29976666.html#IDComment791615113 I heard there were a plague of giant cannibal rats on the ship and that was the reason it was actually cancelled. Tue, 4 Feb 2014 12:38:44 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/storm-of-protest-sinks-plan-to-hold-rave-nights-aboard-titanics-little-sister-ss-nomadic-29976666.html#IDComment791615113 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/sinn-fein-will-foot-650-bill-for-christmas-party-toilet-damage-at-city-hall-bash-29976631.html#IDComment791612389 Politicians pissing more money away. Least it wasn't a dirty protest I guess. Pretty funny for the DUP to criticise. I mean, it's not like there have been masked rioters running about Belfast tearing shit up ever in the recent past. What was the policing cost of this incident that's what I want to know. And was the plumber Protestant or Catholic? Isn't that what all our news seems to boil down to? Tue, 4 Feb 2014 12:23:51 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/sinn-fein-will-foot-650-bill-for-christmas-party-toilet-damage-at-city-hall-bash-29976631.html#IDComment791612389 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/neknomination-girl-who-swallowed-goldfish-receives-death-threats-facebook-axes-site-29976642.html#IDComment791610079 Yes, justifying your own wicked behavior by pointing out the unjustifiable behaviour of someone else. And this girl's apparently a trainee solicitor? She'll go far. But your Lordliness, my client didn't behead their victim, they just swallowed them whole after quickly poisoning them. Have you not seen what some people do to other people in other countries? It's, like, not that bad when you think about it your wig-ship. And now that people have told my client how absolutely heinous their action was they now feel depressed! The humanity! Having to feel bad for doing something wrong is just not on your holiness. My client should receive ample compensation and be allowed to change their name. Your majesty my client may have been wearing a hat at the time that said they "heart haters" but in actual fact they don't really love people hating them, and it was just a fashion statement and they shouldn't be judged as hypocritical for being a hypocrite. I rest my case. Buuuuuurrrrpp. My client should not be fed to the sharks. Chippie anyone? Tue, 4 Feb 2014 12:11:42 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/neknomination-girl-who-swallowed-goldfish-receives-death-threats-facebook-axes-site-29976642.html#IDComment791610079 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/psni-chief-constable-matt-baggott-to-retire-29940422.html#IDComment787669643 You can see other police forces doing the same? And, start calling themselves services? Fair enough. I'm not disagreeing with that, I'm disagreeing with the fact you can't put police force in print. I just don't see what the major issue with a sentence written by someone in the Press Association (probably) who used the word force instead of service. I know what they mean. Maybe in a century the word force will ever be heard again. Unless someone watches Dirty Harry or reads a historical document about police forces. But I'd hardly put it up there with all the other words we don't say now. I have an American Newspaper dated August 15, 1945 in my room. The abbreviation of Japanese is there in print. But that's newspapers. They use words that are of the time. Police force is still a phrase used today. So what if someone uses it? The funny thing I think about Patten (yeah) is that where it says "To a fresh start". The Royal Irish Constabulary was essentially the genesis of all modern policing. Taking practice from elsewhere essentially leads straight back to this island, historically. Wed, 22 Jan 2014 22:50:46 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/psni-chief-constable-matt-baggott-to-retire-29940422.html#IDComment787669643 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/psni-chief-constable-matt-baggott-to-retire-29940422.html#IDComment787601301 I think you could safely put a bet on that that isn't what's going to happen, given the rules involved in who can and cannot become a chief constable under UK rules. Is the North/South ministerial council anti-Irish? Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:40:52 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/psni-chief-constable-matt-baggott-to-retire-29940422.html#IDComment787601301 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/psni-chief-constable-matt-baggott-to-retire-29940422.html#IDComment787600249 I would posit that the word force, which appears once as far as I can tell, is more useful in the sentence compared to service. His force, or his service. Also, if you read the bottom of the piece it says additional reporting by PA. I'd suggest that anything below the first bold header is from the Press Association. I don't believe it is "pre-patton". The Garda are called a force as well, the Met are, and the term police force is a well known phrase. I think your picking holes in something that doesn't really matter in the slightest. As I write I just heard a BBC reporter say "any other police force outside of northern Ireland". You might want to write to Points of View as well. Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:37:11 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/psni-chief-constable-matt-baggott-to-retire-29940422.html#IDComment787600249 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/stop-unholy-play-that-mocks-bible-dup-man-billy-ball-urges-29901228.html#IDComment781684360 Ha ha! So we can't agree. Class. Well, I'm an atheist (probably an anti-theist) myself and I have only respect for individuals religious beliefs and not the religions themselves. I like studying them but I think they've caused numerous problems for humanity. I don't think I was whatabouterying much. I'm not picking out one side, I'm just pointing out they're all at it. Have a nice day. Thu, 9 Jan 2014 08:56:17 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/stop-unholy-play-that-mocks-bible-dup-man-billy-ball-urges-29901228.html#IDComment781684360 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/richard-haass-northern-irelands-politicians-should-be-realistic-and-implement-my-proposals-29901189.html#IDComment781678321 What about compromise from a party that's name means "Ourselves Alone"? I think SF are playing a smarter game than the DUP but that doesn't take away from the fact that it's a game they're playing to help out their own single-minded agenda. If you take anything any political party does at face-value, you're pretty naive in my book. Thu, 9 Jan 2014 08:39:42 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/richard-haass-northern-irelands-politicians-should-be-realistic-and-implement-my-proposals-29901189.html#IDComment781678321 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/richard-haass-northern-irelands-politicians-should-be-realistic-and-implement-my-proposals-29901189.html#IDComment781677028 What about peace walls? The fact there are still Republican and Loyalist areas? Or the fact our judiciary is a joke that doesn't incarcerate actual terrorists? I don't like the fact there's been no compromise on these issues (That I don't really give a **** about, except for dealing with the past) but I see the whole thing as a smokescreen. How anyone thought there would be compromise from two extremist groups with diametrically opposed and equally fictional views about life is beyond me. Thu, 9 Jan 2014 08:35:45 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/richard-haass-northern-irelands-politicians-should-be-realistic-and-implement-my-proposals-29901189.html#IDComment781677028 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/porn-trends-pornhub-reveals-how-long-northern-ireland-users-spend-on-the-site-and-what-they-search-for-29901027.html#IDComment781673743 There's a ten second disparity? So The Scots clean up after themselves then. Sorry everyone. Thu, 9 Jan 2014 08:26:09 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/porn-trends-pornhub-reveals-how-long-northern-ireland-users-spend-on-the-site-and-what-they-search-for-29901027.html#IDComment781673743 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/belfast-wish-artwork-in-titanic-quarter-voted-a-top-satellite-image-29901238.html#IDComment781672320 It's really good that we've done something artistic and awesome in Belfast. Funny thing though is that it's something you can only see if you're far, far away from the city. Ironical as per usual Belfast. Well done. Thu, 9 Jan 2014 08:21:53 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/belfast-wish-artwork-in-titanic-quarter-voted-a-top-satellite-image-29901238.html#IDComment781672320 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/stop-unholy-play-that-mocks-bible-dup-man-billy-ball-urges-29901228.html#IDComment781671130 Goodness Upload. You and I agree on something. I'd assume you'd automatically bring this back to Republican/Loyalist tensions but that's a fair point about the effigies. Didn't you know it was youths from republican/nationalist areas who put them there though (I'm not being serious - just in case). The only thing I disagree with (I have to disagree with something I suppose) is that it's not just the unionists who are trying to bring people back to the dark ages. Judges, bombers, and politicians from a number of parties are having a good go at it too. Isn't one of the tenets of Christianity the fact that Christians (no matter how fundi) are meant to turn the other cheek, or forgive the trespasses of others? Take the log from your own eye before taking the speck form others? Something like that. Thu, 9 Jan 2014 08:18:40 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/stop-unholy-play-that-mocks-bible-dup-man-billy-ball-urges-29901228.html#IDComment781671130 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/smalling-apologises-for-fancy-dress-29901418.html#IDComment781669169 It's hardly an elaborate pun. It's just a pun. Droll, very droll, I'd admit. Hardly world ending news. People dress up in fancy dress that represent killers and march about the streets of Norn Iron all the time. Hell, actual terrorists don't even go to jail. I feel for the families of victims of bombings but this was at a private house party and the only people who can really be offended would have been people at the party. And well, anyone with taste i suppose. Pretty lame costume in my view. All a jagerbomb has ever given me is a headache and a heartbeat that goes through the roof. Thu, 9 Jan 2014 08:12:32 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/smalling-apologises-for-fancy-dress-29901418.html#IDComment781669169 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/marian-mcglinchey-she-aided-terrorist-killers-but-walked-free-from-court-29897473.html#IDComment781379001 Ruth Patterson gets off. Gerry Kelly gets off. This psycho basically gets off. It's not even that she's not behind bars that turns me. It's the fact that whatever **** hole she goes back to she'll be patted on the back by a bunch of extremists for fighting a conflict that ought to be over. And go back to helping out on killing someone else whose a "legitimate target". I think "normal" criminals get jailed because judges don't fear personal reprisals. Nothing but a bunch of pussies in awful hats. Well done Gordon Kerr you're nought but another spineless, useless, public servant. There's a difference between "political activity" and "terrorist activity" you moron. Wed, 8 Jan 2014 18:44:29 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/marian-mcglinchey-she-aided-terrorist-killers-but-walked-free-from-court-29897473.html#IDComment781379001 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/decision-not-to-prosecute-gerry-kelly-over-psni-land-rover-incident-will-damage-loyalist-faith-in-policing-warns-nigel-dodds-29893838.html#IDComment780629207 what about a diplock? That's a joke, I swear. Tue, 7 Jan 2014 10:04:58 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/decision-not-to-prosecute-gerry-kelly-over-psni-land-rover-incident-will-damage-loyalist-faith-in-policing-warns-nigel-dodds-29893838.html#IDComment780629207 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/decision-not-to-prosecute-gerry-kelly-over-psni-land-rover-incident-will-damage-loyalist-faith-in-policing-warns-nigel-dodds-29893838.html#IDComment780622942 Love and marriage, love and marriage. Go together like Kelly being carriaged. This I tell you brother, terrorists are sleeping with the Coppers. Everyone! Tue, 7 Jan 2014 09:47:46 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/decision-not-to-prosecute-gerry-kelly-over-psni-land-rover-incident-will-damage-loyalist-faith-in-policing-warns-nigel-dodds-29893838.html#IDComment780622942 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/decision-not-to-prosecute-gerry-kelly-over-psni-land-rover-incident-will-damage-loyalist-faith-in-policing-warns-nigel-dodds-29893838.html#IDComment780619156 Or where it goes. Tue, 7 Jan 2014 09:37:24 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/decision-not-to-prosecute-gerry-kelly-over-psni-land-rover-incident-will-damage-loyalist-faith-in-policing-warns-nigel-dodds-29893838.html#IDComment780619156 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/decision-not-to-prosecute-gerry-kelly-over-psni-land-rover-incident-will-damage-loyalist-faith-in-policing-warns-nigel-dodds-29893838.html#IDComment780614734 Good point. I presume he was saying to her: "Do you want to take the soup too?" Tue, 7 Jan 2014 09:27:45 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/decision-not-to-prosecute-gerry-kelly-over-psni-land-rover-incident-will-damage-loyalist-faith-in-policing-warns-nigel-dodds-29893838.html#IDComment780614734