Solving the Irish Problem

Turgon

2011-09-06T01:10:00.001-07:00

Turgon
I whole-heartedly endorse the tenor of your article that the Provisional I R A campaign wasn’t left wing inspired but was a sectarian struggle between protestant loyalist British Ireland and Republican catholic Irish Ireland. However the story of this historic sectarian conflict doesn’t begin with the Provisionals who claimed they were acting in the tradition of Tone and Pearse but goes back to the 1790ties and continues thereafter in the 19th and 20th centuries. The best definition of the nature of this sectarian conflict can be found in the Dungannon Resolution of July 12th 1796. The caption of the resolution was as follows: -
“Association of the inhabitants of the town of Dungannon to support and defend the King and Constitution to preserve the peace of their town and its neighbourhood and to discourage and resist all endeavours to excite sedition and rebellion.”
The content of the resolution can be paraphrased as the intention of the association to defend the country against the French and put down Republican insurrection. This resolution was signed by 12 protestant Justices of the peace in Tyrone. Out of this association thus defined there emerged the Protestant/orange yeomanry organised by the Dungannon man and MP John Knox. John Knox set up the yeomanry brigade system and this brigade system proved crucial in the defeat of the United Irishmen. At this time the leadership of the mainly catholic United Irishmen fatally underestimated the organisational skill and ingenuity of protestant loyalist Ireland. The yeomen were victorious because they were better organised (due to the organisational genius of John Knox) than the United Irishmen. The strong Dungannon resolution is historically more important than Pearse’s weak Proclamation but the resolution and with it John Knox has been airbrushed out of history by Republicans.
The sectarian saga continues in 1916. This was a catholic Republican rebellion to overthrow the constitution and depose the Crown and set up a Republic of Ireland. The response to this rebellion is defined in the Dungannon resolution. The British protestant establishment put down the rebellion and maintained the Crown and Constitution and 1916 was as futile and sectarian as 1798.
There followed the so called war of independence. This was a conflict between IRA rebels who tried to overthrow the constitution and the Crown by armed force and were opposed by the Black and Tans, deployed and supported by the British Protestant establishment to defend and maintain the Crown and Constitution. So again the Dungannon Resolution defines the nature of this sectarian conflict which partitioned the country into two sectarian statelets, a protestant north and a catholic south.
IN our own time there was the brute force attempt by the Provisional IRA to overthrow the constitution depose the Queen and set up an all Ireland Republic in the tradition of Tone and Pearse. This conflict was localised with the setting up of the UDR, a protestant loyalist British force deployed an d supported by the Protestant British establishment in their role of defending the Crown and Constitution. All of this is defined in the Dungannon Resolution 1796. This conflict ended with the defeat of the Provisional’s campaign of violence and with the GFA, Sinn Fein have recognised UK constitution and sit at Stormont as crypto-unionists propping up a right wing Union Jack Unionist statelet in the pay of the British Exchequer.
The root cause of this historic sectarian conflict is constitutional. This is evident in the sectarian head count at elections, in the peace walls that divide cities into sectarian ghettoes and in the protestant orange/ catholic republican riots that follow the twelfth of July demonstrations. Since the UK constitution is the rotten apple the intelligent thing to do is replace it with a sound ---Federal Kingdom apple-- which can be made as palatable to the Catholics of Kerry as to the Protestants of Derry. It is not beyond the wit of man to do this—c.f. www.authorhouse.co.uk

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

Scotland and Ireland within a Federal Kingdom

2011-09-06T01:06:00.000-07:00

Scotland and Ireland within a Federal Kingdom.
It is clear from comments in Slugger that British Identity is being re-examined and questioned. But if Britishness is to fade away what will replace it? British Identity underpins and unifies UK constitution but with the devolution of governments to Scotland Wales and N. Ireland and the resurgence of Scottish nationalism the question now is to what extent is the United Kingdom still united? Devolution may prove to be the endgame for the UK and British Identity.
The key player in this is the SNP. A referendum for Scottish independence is now on the cards but the issue of a referendum is muddled by commentators. Alex Salmond is clear on the meaning of independence when h e said on a TV interview that he envisaged the Crown as Head of State in an independent Scotland like many other independent nations in the modern world. In this Alex is steering in the direction of a Federal Kingdom and away from a United Kingdom or a Republic. This would be a radical change in British constitution, a change to a federation which has been canvassed by Rodney Frazier in the book –Constitutional Reform – Reshaping the British political System--. To have Scotland part of a Federal Kingdom would require The Scotland Act similar in nature to the Australia Act 1986 and Trudeau’s Canada Act (patriation) 1982 which made these countries sovereign independent nations but with the Crown as Head of State. The Governments o f these countries are now in control of the police, the army, the navy, the air force and the civil service and have a distinct flag, anthem and Identity defined in Australian and Canadian passports. Since Australia and Canada now control their own constitutions they are in control of their own destinies. Scotland and Ireland should follow suit and take constitutional control of their own destinies within a Federal Kingdom with the Crown as Head of State the Irish being reconciled to a Crown reformed in the National Government of Ireland Act.
The Canada Act was pioneered by Pierre Trudeau but was opposed by eight provinces including Quebec led by Rene Levesque. These provinces feared a loss of provincial legislative power but they acquiesced to the Act after the supreme Canadian Court ruled against them (Quebec the exception). Prior to the Act the UK government at Westminster held the constitutional whip hand in the enactment of legislation for Canada. The Act removed the whip hand from Westminster and placed the whip in the hands of the central government in Ottawa. Legislation passed at Westminster in relation to Canada even with the Royal Assent is now as meaningless as legislation passed by Portugal. On signing the Act into law in Canada the Queen expressed regret at Quebec’s non-inclusion in the Act.
The notion of a federal Kingdom has profound implications for all Ireland. To have a Federal Kingdom of Great Britain and the Sovereign Nation of Ireland would require the passing at Westminster of the National Government of Ireland Act giving Ireland a written constitution making the country an independent sovereign nation within a Federal Kingdom with an elected Crown as Head of State in all Ireland the Irish being reconciled to an elected reformed Crown. The full nuts and bolts of a suggested National Government of Ireland Act can be found at www.authorhouse.co.uk What Scotland and N. Ireland needs is a Campaign for Constitutional Change CCC. The campaign should work to wards the removal of the constitutional whip hand from Westminster in enacting legislation for Scotland and Ireland so that Scotland and Ireland can be in control of their own destinies within a Federal Kingdom with the Crown as Head of State as is the case in the Sovereign Nations of Australia and Canada. Michael Gillespie

A Federal Kingdom

2011-09-06T01:01:00.001-07:00

A Federal Kingdom is the best way forward.

During the 19th and most of the 20th centuries it was an axiom of British politics that UK constitution was perfect sacred and immutable. This axiom was a major factor in the defeat of Gladstone’s Home Rule Bill.

In the late 20th century in the Blair administration it was accepted that UK constitution was in need of reform. Of these reforms what is pertinent to N Ireland is the devolution of administrations to Scotland Wales and N Ireland. But this constitutional reform calls into question in what way is the United Kingdom still united? It is canvassed in current constitutional literature that UK constitution needs further reform as a federation because it is in that direction that the Kingdom is now heading. The Liberals advocate a federal United Kingdom with a written constitution reducing the powers of the monarch but a federal United Kingdom is a contradiction in terms because a federal Kingdom is no longer united. Scotland is central to the federalist case. Alex Salmond has stated that he wants an independent Scotland with the Crown as head of state. This demand will need a Federal Kingdom with Scotland having its own written constitution.

Since this is the direction the Kingdom is now headed the federal Kingdom call should be taken up in N Ireland and a case for a Federal Kingdom (not a federal united Kingdom) made with the ultimate goal of a united Ireland with a reformed Crown as Head of State in Ireland giving Ireland its own unique written constitution expressed in The National Government of Ireland Act. A suggested Act can be found at www.authorhouse.co.uk.

A

Michael Gillespie Derry

Did Moses get it wrong

2011-08-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

Did Moses get it wrong?

Humanists say that morality and religion should be kept apart and shouldn’t be linked. They should be reminded of the moral code of the Ten Commandments where the first three state man’s duty to God (religion) and are linked with the other seven that state man’s duty to mankind (secular). This link of religion with the secular morality was first made by Moses and this has survived for a long time. There were secular codes that were forerunners of the Ten Commandments drawn up in ancient dynasties in the Middle East but these vanished with the dynasties. Moses commandments have survived over time. Humanists claim that in linking religion with morality Moses got it wrong but did he? I reckon Moses got it right and humanists have got it wrong.
I have a teenage granddaughter who goes to school in London. She says her favourite subject is—Religious Studies--.She has already done a course in Hinduism and is doing a course in Sikhism and will do a course in Islam. She will eventually do a course in Christianity. I don’t know what the moral basis of Hinduism and Sikhism is but no doubt there is such. But the moral basis of Christianity and Judaism is the Commandments and a variation o f the ten is the moral basis of Islam. In schools in England Christianity is presented to teenagers as one course among many but in India is Hinduism and Sikhism presented to teenagers (and is Islam in Iran presented to teenagers) as one course among many? I doubt it. The people o f these countries value their religion more highly than that. Christianity in England is on the decline and with it there is the demise of morality such as---Thou shalt not steal (a moral injunction that should have been taught to MPs and rioters alike) and this demise is a strong contributory factor to a broken English society.

Michael Gillespie
4 Rotherwood Drive
KIlfennan
Derry
Tel 71 285 807

Scotland and Ireland within a Federal Kingdom

2011-08-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Federal Unionism-EArly Sinn Fein

2011-07-01T03:04:00.000-07:00

Fresh Thoughts on the Union a la Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein.

What is Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein?

Arthur Griffiths founded Sinn Fein in 1904. He envisaged a new Ireland with a dual monarchy for the Kingdom. In its early days Sinn Fein ended its Ard Fheis with –God Save the Queen---. Griffiths initially wanted Sinn Fein to be a party for all, Catholic and Protestant alike. In 1917 De Valera ousted Griffiths from the leadership of Sinn Fein and made the party Republican and supportive of violence. Crewed now by Republicans the Irish ship of state was lost at sea and ended up on the rocks of partition. Initially Griffiths didn’t think the idea of a dual monarchy through for if he had he would have found that a dual monarchy requires a Federal Kingdom. So in the 21st century Federal Unionism and Early Sinn Fein are one and the same thing. Hence the new concept of Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein

What is UK constitution?

“The constitution of the United Kingdom is a set of laws and principles under which the United Kingdom is governed.
Unlike many other nations the United Kingdom has no core constitutional document. In this sense it is said not to have a written constitution but much of British constitution is embodied in written documents with statutes court judgements and treaties. Other unwritten sources are parliamentary constitutional conventions and royal prerogatives.
Since the English Civil War the bed rock of British constitution has been the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty according to which statutes passed by parliament are the UK’s supreme and final source of law. It follows that parliament can change the constitution by passing new acts of parliament “

This description of U K constitution is taken from the Internet but it is dated. It is doubtful that the principle of Parliamentary sovereignty remains valid to day since the U K joined the E U and is subject to European law. Furthermore the sovereignty of Parliament is also diminished in the devolution of legislative power to Scotland Wales and N. Ireland. The parliamentary loss of sovereignty to Europe is a cause celebre with U K I P and with assemblies in Scotland Wales and N Ireland the union is no longer united but is quasi-federal. Hence a possible future for the union is outright federation. This will depend on the constitutional future of an independent Scotland. Alex Salmond has said on T V that in an independent Scotland he intends to retain the Crown as Head o f State like many other nations in the world that have the Crown as Head of State. This is a recipe for the complete federation of the union. The United States of America is a federated union with the American president as head of state for all American states, the states being of equal status, the one to the other. Such a federation could be appropriate for England Scotland Wales and Ireland with the Crown as Head of State for each of these states and the four nation states being of equal status within a Federal Kingdom.

The Constitution and Identity.

What is best understood about the constitution by the ordinary person is the Head of State, the Flag, the Anthem, and a Passport. Each one of these epitomizes the identity of each person collectively and individually. When a person in the U S A applauds the President or waves the Stars and Stripes or sings the Star Spangled Banner or holds an American Passport he or she is saying ---“I’m an American and I belong to the United States”---. While there are many cultures in America – Irish American, Spanish American, Italian American etc there is only one American identity the melting pot ensures that. Up to the late 20th century there was only one identity in the U K namely British but this unity is breaking down with the assertion of Scottish and Welsh identity in our time. In N. Ireland there are two identities being asserted by those in one community who recognise a Republican president as head of state, the Republican Tricolour as the national flag, Amhran na bhFianian as the Republican national anthem and hold a Republican Passport such a person is saying --- “ I’m an Irish Republican who belongs in the Republic of Ireland”---. On the other hand there are those who recognise the British Crown as head of state, the Union Flag as the British flag, God Save the Queen as the British national anthem, and hold a British passport as British identity. This person is saying—“I’m British and I belong to the United Kingdom”---. This division is fraught with the potential for violence. This violent division is clearly evident in Celtic/Rangers matches but further a field there is a history of violence in divided countries like the Tamils/ Sinhalese. Greek and Turkish Cypriots and between the Serbs and the Bosnians These people with a split identity are flash points for violence and communal division and the division is further complicated with difference in religious affiliation. N. Ireland is a clear example of this and if a genuine peace is to be found a common identity for the people of Ireland is essential. It is contended in this article that a common identity acceptable to all be it the Catholics of Kerry or the Protestants of Derry is feasible in the National Government of Ireland Act.

The Constitution and Culture.

Culture is a slippery concept which has taxed the minds of eminent scholars for centuries. Culture is all pervasive in society and Chairman Mao caught this when he wrote: - “ The people move in culture as fish move in water”.

To avoid its complexities only Irish and British culture will be considered in this article. Irish Culture is taken to be: - Language both Irish and English, literature both Irish and English, song and ballad both Irish and English Irish music Irish dance Irish Art, parades( St Patrick’s) Irish Legend and Mythology and Leinster House in Dublin.

British culture is not straight forward as it isn’t clear whether there is a distinct British culture or not. Poetry is a prime expression of culture and the difficulty with British Culture can be examined in English Poetry. Take these lines: -
“ Oh to be in England now that April’s there.”
“ Till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land”
“ Scotland the Brave”.
Let Erin Remember the days of old”

In these lines if the words England Scotland and Erin are replaced with the word Britain the lines become phoney In Masefield’s poem “Cargoes” the word British is used to mean something inferior and second rate and has to do with trade. It would seem that Britain and British is apart from culture and is bound up with an identity concomitant with political power and economic strength A peoples’ identity symbol can change but that does not imply a change of culture. The American president can change but American culture remains the same. England/English Ireland/Irish Scotland/Scottish Wales/Welsh can be staked out with symbols of identity but in the last analysis this nomenclature is cultural. In N. Ireland there is an ungodly mix of culture identity and religion. There is a move afoot by Ulster nationalists to assert an Ulster culture as distinct from Irish culture. Ulster Scots is asserted as the language of Ulster. This is controversial but has Ulster Scots got a significant indigenous Ulster literature? Scottish dance has been adopted as the “national” dance of Ulster but there is no indigenous Ulster dance. There is the” folk” art of murals painted on gable walls but “ high” art such as the work of O Connor is usually classified as Irish art. Seamus Heaney has an Ulster background but is described as an Irish poet. If Michael Longley is an Irish Poet, a Northern Irish poet, an Ulster Poet or a British poet that is something he will have to work out for himself.

Orange parades have donned the cloak of culture in Orangefests but in reality these parades area toxic mix of culture identity and religion. If Orangefest parades are to be purely cultural then the display of the British Identity symbol, the Union flag should be discontinued and the Order’s membership should be open to Catholics. But the Order’s claim to culture is weak in that it hasn’t a literature other than the bible and has only a handful of sectarian orange songs. Ulster songs such as My Lagan Love, The Star of the County Down Kitty of Colerain and The Bard of Armagh etc are classified as Irish songs. A protestant Orange culture is as bogus as is British culture. If this crazy constitutional mix-up of identity culture and religion is to be sorted out, this can only be done in The National Government of Ireland Act, extracts of which will be given in following articles.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

stian democracy within a

Extracts from the National Government of Ireland Act which gives a suggested constitution for an Irish Liberal Christian Federal Kingdom.
The full constitution can be found at"
www.authorhouse.co.uk

and the full Act runs to over 20,000 words.

Article Two

Extracts

• The Act should state that on coronation the Crown is Head Of State of the Great Britain And The Sovereign Nation of Ireland
• The Act should state that when the Crown is on Irish territory the Crown is known in Ireland as the Crown Irish and is head of state of The Sovereign Nation of Ireland.
• The Act should state that when the Crown is on Irish Territory the Crown is recognised as being Christian in belief in religious practice in moral outlook in behaviour and in speech.
• The Act should advise the Crown Irish not to confer any British Title or Honour on any Irish Citizen
• The Act should recommend that the Crown Irish to confer the honour of The Cross of St Patrick for men and The Cross of St Brigit on women for outstanding service to community or the Cross of St Columcille for outstanding valour in military or civilian service.
• The Act should advise the Crown Irish to restore the Irish Crown Jewels to Dublin Castle.
• The Act should state that the Crown Irish and spouse and the Heir to the throne and spouse can enter and reside in Dublin Castle but this freedom doesn’t extend to any other member of the Royal family.

Rights .

• The Act should confer on all Irish Citizens the Crown Irish right of prompt access to excellent health care both physical and mental.
• The Act should confer on all Irish citizens the Crown Irish right of access to a well disciplined creative imaginative education from infancy to old age.
• The Act should confer on all Irish Citizens the Crown Irish right of access to an environment that is clean healthy life promoting and pleasant.
• The Act should confer on all Irish citizens the Crown Irish right of access to a prompt fair trial based on evidence.
• The Act should confer on all Irish citizens the Crown Irish right of access to a nutritional diet.
• The Act should confer on all Irish Citizens the Crown Irish right of access to affordable local housing go good quality.
• The Act should confer on all Irish citizens the Crown Irish right of access to gainful employment.
• The Act should recognise the Crown Irish right to life from conception to the time of natural death
• The Act should recognise the Crown Irish Right of the individual to marry and raise a family.
• The Act should confer on the travelling people of Ireland all rights as those set out for Irish citizens.
• The Act should confer on all Irish disabled citizens the Crown Irish right of access to Irish territory in all its aspects.
• The Act should recognise the rights of animals.

Freedoms

• The Act should recognise two sets of freedoms
(1) Individual freedoms of freedom from, freedom to become and freedom to be.
(2) State freedoms such as freedom of thought mind and expression etc. The exercise of state freedom should be subject to Irish state law.

The Judiciary

• The Act should make provision for the Supreme Council of Irish Jurists to be elected by the members of the legal profession by means of a postal ballot.
• The council should consist of a judge who is representative of Ireland along with four judges representative of each of the four provinces.
• The Act should specify the duties of the Supreme Council.

The Government and Politics

• The Act should define Irish territory and Irish citizenship.
• The Act should state that the Irish state political Parties consist of: -
(a) The Irish Christian Democrats
(b) The Irish Liberal Democrats
© The Irish Social Democrats
• The Act should state that the state parties are funded by the state. Other parties are permissible but such parties must state publicly whether they are pro or anti the constitution.
• The Act should state that the National Central Government in Dublin is called Dail Éireann with constitutional powers devolved to the four provinces. The Houses of Representatives in the four provincial capitals should be known as: -
1. The Connaugh House of Representatives
2. The Leinster House of Representatives
3. The Munster House of Representatives
4. The Ulster House of Representatives
• The Act should state that Dail Éireann is separate from but co-equal to Westminster within the Federal Kingdom.
• The Act should prohibit the display of the Union Flag, the Irish Tricolour or the Starry Plough or the playing of the anthems—God Save the Queen or Amhran Na bhFiain on Irish territory.
• The Act should recommend that the Irish Tricolour be redesigned as The Royal Flag of Ireland and that the Irish National Anthem is A Nation Once Again.
• The Taoiseach should appoint a T D to be Secretary of State for Ireland with an office in Dublin Castle.

Further extracts from the National Government of Ireland will follow.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein.

Further extracts from the National Government of Ireland Act giving a constitution for an Irish liberal Christian democracy within a Federal Kingdom. The full written codified constitution is published at
www.authorhouse.co.uk
Article Three

Religion

• The Act should state that Church and State are separate the Church having no authority over the state and the State having no authority over the Church except that the clergy must abide by Irish state law.
• The Act should state that the official religion of the Irish state is Christian Ecumenism
• The Act should recognise the following denominations as Christian.
1. The Methodist Church
2. The Presbyterian Church
3. The Church of Ireland
4. The Roman Catholic Church
• The Act should state that these denominations are Christian in belief, religious practice, in moral outlook, in behaviour and in speech.
• The Act should state that these denominations are of equal status the one to the other.
• Since the Crown Irish is recognised in Ireland as Christian and Head of State hence the Crown Irish is head of Christian Ecumenism in Ireland.

Policing.

• The Act should make provision for the setting up of a two tier policing service in Ireland: -
1. The National police Service--- The Garda Siochana.
2. Four provincial police services: -
(a) The Royal Connaugh Constabulary
(b) The Royal Leinster Constabulary
© The Royal Munster Constabulary
(d) The Royal Ulster Constabulary
• The Act should
state that the Garda Siochana is under the control of the minister for justice in Dail Éireann and the four provincial police services are under the control of the representative for justice in each of the provincial Houses of Representatives.

The Army the Navy and the Air Force.

• The Act should define the territories known as the British Isles as The Isles of the North Atlantic.
• The Act should define the Army acting in defence of the territory IONA and of democracy as the Federal Kingdom Army.
• The Act should divide the Federal Kingdom Army into two commands which are separate and apart –
• The Royal Army whose personnel are Irish and whose maintenance strength and deployment is the responsibility of the Taoiseach.
• The British Army whose personnel are British and whose maintenance strength and deployment is the responsibility of the British Prime Minister.
• The Act should state that it is a constitutional imperative under the Act that personnel of the British Army leave Ireland and go to barracks in Great Britain with the Royal Irish Regiment becoming part of the Royal Irish Army.
• The Act should recommend that personnel of the Royal Irish and British Armies carry out short term joint training and military exercises on both British and Irish territories.
• The Act should state that when British Army Personnel are on Irish territory they are there as guests of the Irish people and in no other capacity.
• The Act should describe the Royal Flag of Ireland, the flag of the Royal Irish Army thus:-
• It is the existing tricolour with the Red Cross of St Patrick imposed on the white central panel. This divides the central panel into four parts. On the top part there is a simple Crown symbol in neutral colour. In the parts to the right and left there are Crown symbols in blue. In the bottom part there is the outline of a shamrock.
• The Act should state that the Royal Flag of Ireland is the National flag of Ireland and a symbol of the Federal Kingdom of The Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain. The Union Flag is the National Flag of Great Britain and is a symbol of the Federal Kingdom of Great Britain and the Sovereign Nation of Ireland. The Union Flag cannot be displayed in Ireland except when the British Army is present in Ireland on short term training exercises with the Royal Irish Army at the discretion and with the authorization of the British and Irish O.C.s.
• The constitutional arrangements for The Federal Kingdom Navy and Air Force is ditto for that of the Federal Kingdom Army.

The Orange Order

• IT is understood in the Act that in an Irish Christian Democracy Church and State are separate. On that understanding the Orange Order has two options –
• The Orange can declare its membership to be restricted to Protestants. In that case the Orange Order is defined in the Act as church and can therefore hold its parades on church territory only. The Order will be restricted to parade with protestant emblems only but not with state emblems. In the Act King William is defined as state and Christian. In that case the Orange Order should be forbidden to parade banners of King William on Protestant Church territory.
• IF the Orange Order declares itself to be State and Christian then: -
• The Order would be defined in the Act as The Royal Orange Order of Ireland.
• The 12th July would be declared a National holiday in Ireland
• Church services attended by members acting in an official capacity as Orange men and women should ecumenical in nature.
• The Orange Order should be free to parade anywhere on Irish Territory.
• Member ship of the Order should be open to all Christians.
• The Act should state that the Solemn Orange Promise be made thus: -
“I solemnly promise to be loyal to the Crown Irish and to promote such loyalty in the Community and Irish Nation
(Note Loyalty is a praiseworthy human attribute be it Loyalty to a spouse, family organization, Church, country or the Crown. The expression of loyalty is a human right which cannot be suppressed as it would be in a Republic)
I solemnly promise to uphold civil and religious liberty and promote such liberty in the community and in the Irish nation.
I solemnly promise to be law abiding peaceful and sober and to promote law fullness peace and sobriety in the community and in the Irish Nation.
I solemnly promise to be Christian in belief, religious practice, moral outlook, behaviour and n speech and to promote Christianity in the Community and Irish Nation.”

Schooling

• The Act should state that the official religion of Irish State Schools is Christian Ecumenism and the ethos of the schools is Christian.
• The Act should recommend that the curricula of Irish State Schools is: -
1. A National Curriculum in Christian Studies
2. A National Curriculum in Secular Studies.

Marriage

• Since Church and State are separate this raises difficulty with the enactment to divorce legislation in Ireland. To get around this the Act should state that marriage in Ireland is two fold: -
• An Irish State marriage contracted in a solicitor’s office.
• A religious marriage contracted in a Church Mosque Synagogue or Temple
• The State Marriage should be a legal binding contract drawn up by the Supreme Council of Irish Jurists. The State can dissolve an Irish State Marriage but not a religious marriage.
• The Act should state that the Crown Irish and Heir to the Throne are free to marry a spouse of personal choice but the spouse must be Christian in belief, religious practice, moral outlook behaviour and in speech.

The Family

• The Act should recognise the Family as the building brick of society and that a stable family leads to social stability. The Act should state that it upholds traditional Irish Christian family values.

Culture
• All cultures should be free to enter Irish Territory within Irish law. All cultures should be free to express their cultures in performance, entertainment, book or magazine, film or T V program, in song, in dance, in parade in dress in artistic display, in custom, in ritual, in religious practice and in speech.
• Irish Culture holds a special position in Ireland and the Act should recognise that Irish culture consists of the Irish and English language, Irish and English literature, Irish and English ballad and song, Irish dance, Irish music, Irish art. Irish mythology, legend, and folklore.
• The Act should state that in Ireland the Irish and English languages are of equal status.
• The Act should recommend that the Crown Irish and The Heir to the Throne’s immediate retinue in Dublin Castle be fluent in Irish and that the majority of the Secretary of State’s staff in Dublin Castle be fluent in Irish.
• The Act should recommend that the Heir to the Throne be introduced to the Irish Language from an early age so that he/she requires a working knowledge of the language. This is not a constitutional innovation but follows on from the established constitutional practice whereby the Prince of Wales has studied Welsh.

A further extract from the National Government of Ireland will follow.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

Further extracts from the National Government of Ireland Act giving a written codified constitution for an Irish Christian Liberal Democracy within the Federal Kingdom The Full constitution is published at

www.authorhouse.co.uk
Article Four

The Period of Remembrance.

• The Period of Remembrance should be of the same duration as that in England. Those Irish Citizens who lost their lives in armed conflict either on Irish territory or abroad should be remembered with an appropriate ceremony.
• In Ireland the recognised remembrance emblem should be a white dove of peace.

Sport

• The Act should permit the playing of all sporting activities, athletic activities, games and Pastimes which are recognised internationally as being such.
• The Act should give special recognition to the Gaelic Athletic Association.

The National Graves of Ireland

• The Act should deem it appropriate to honour the dead in Ireland. For that reason a National Graves Honours List by the Supreme Council of Irish Jurists accepting suggestions from the general public. The Jurists should include in the National Graves Honours List the names of those who are dead but in their lives have excelled in specific walks of life.
• The maintenance of the National Graves is the duty of the Irish Guards stationed at Dublin Castle.

Visiting Heads of State and Foreign Dignitaries.

• The Act should make provision for visit by Foreign Heads of State and foreign Dignitaries.
• ON this understanding the Pope could make a state visit to Ireland.
• The Act should state that a foreign Head of state or Foreign dignitary can only be invited by the Secretary of State for Ireland. If the Secretary of State is to invite the Pope to Ireland the request for such a visit should be made formally by the Heads of the four Christian Churches to the Secretary of State in writing.

Christian Reconciliation Forgiveness and Peace.

• The Act should make provision for the setting up of Crown Irish State Christian Chapel of Forgiveness Reconciliation and Peace in Kilmainim Jail in Dublin This Chapel should be used for ecumenical services.

The Media
• The Act should recognise Radio Televis Éireann as the National television service for Ireland. Independent Television services can also be set up. Radio broadcasting should also be allowed nationally provincially and locally.

The Universities
• The Act should recognise the existing universities as the National Universities of Ireland.

The Unions
• The Act should recognise the Irish Congress of Trades Unions as the representative trades union body in Ireland. The Act should stipulate that all trades unions in Ireland affiliate to ICTU.

The Mail Service
• The Act should state that the mail service in Ireland be known as The Crown Irish Mail and that mail vans be coloured green

The Holding of Referenda in Ireland.

• The Act should make provision for the holding of 32 county referenda in Ireland. In such referenda the votes should be counted separately in the 6 and 26 counties. Under this provision a referendum would have three possible outcomes: -
1. Where there is a majority in favour of the referendum in both territories the referendum is carried.
2. Where there is a majority against the referendum in both territories the referendum is defeated.
3. Where the referendum is carried by a majority in one territory but defeated by a majority in the other the referendum is inconclusive.
• An Irish State referendum should be drawn up as follows: -
Do you wish Ireland to be: -
(a) A Sovereign Nation within a Federal Kingdom with the National Government of Ireland Act as its constitution?
(b) A Republic with the 1937 Republican constitution as its constitution?

• This referendum would have three outcomes namely: -
If (a) is carried in both territories Ireland is united as a Sovereign Nation within a Federal Kingdom.
If (b) is carried in both territories Ireland is united as a Republic.
If (a) is carried in one territory and (b) is carried in the other the outcome is inconclusive and Ireland remains partitioned with The National Government being the constitution of N. Ireland.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

Article Five

The Implementation of The National Government of Ireland Act in N. Ireland/Ireland

To bring the Act into existence a moderate central voluntary alliance would need to come together at Stormont drawn from the UUP the SDLP and Alliance to act under the banner of Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein. The Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein alliance should become the official opposition at the Assembly. Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein should take as its political platform the reunification of Ireland by reforming UK constitution to the Federal Kingdom Constitution as stated in the National Government of Ireland Act. In this way Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein would strive to eradicate sectarianism in Ireland.

Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein wholly understands the importance of the economy to the ordinary person. In recognition of that the opposition party in the Assembly should enunciate a workable program of economic proposals on health, education, job creation, wealth creation, inward investment in manufacturing and in economic growth whilst criticising the administration of the block grant by the DUP?Late Sinn Fein mandatory coalition. The raison d’etre of the opposition at Stormont should be the replacement of the Sectarian clique in the Assembly with a non-sectarian government. What the Assembly badly needs is a determined opposition to oppose and get rid of the ultra-conservative sectarian OFMDFM by the use of liberal new thinking on the constitution to make a better future for all in Ireland

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist -Early Sinn Fein

PAGE

New Thinking

2011-06-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

Ireland needs new thinking and a new constitution.
In his pep talk to the assembly David Cameron said nothing new. He told us yet again that the constitutional issue is settled. David should try selling that to the dissidents or if Sinn Fein members were surveyed on the matter how many would agree with the Prime Minster? But the constitutional issue is alive and active in Limavady. Boyd Douglas displayed a Union Jack in the council chamber and setting the cat among the constitutional pigeons reduced the chamber to disarray. The Assembly functions on the fallacy that the constitutional issue has gone away in the GFA. This agreement joins at the hip left wing Marxist Republicans with right wing Monarchists. This toxic constitutional cocktail would be poured down the sink in any other democracy but here a hoodwinked people have to drink it because our numbskull sectarian politicians can’t serve anything more palatable.

What is missing in Ireland is new thinking about the country. We have Republicans flogging the dead horse of an all Ireland Republic while Union Jack Unionists flog the dead horse of a United Kingdom. Both have been doing this for over 200 years. Isn’t it time the beasts were declared dead and buried? We now find that a young Sinn Fein Mayor of Belfast is displaying in the City Hall the failed Republicanism of the United Irishmen along with the failed 1916 Proclamation that partitioned the island. This young man is an arch Irish conservative without a new thought in his head. There is unashamed new thinking which sees the sectarian British/Irish problem as constitutional, the constitution needing reform in a new constitution expressed in The National Government of Ireland Act modernising the Kingdom as a Federal Kingdom for all. Where there is no new thinking the people perish. In the deadwood of old conservative thinking, people like Ronan Kerr perish.

Michael Gillespie

Socialism

2011-06-13T03:59:00.000-07:00

Socialism and Ireland.

There are those in Sinn Fein who dream of a Socialist Republic in Ireland but the track record of Socialist Republics in the world isn’t good. At one time there was the USSR and there remains North Korea and Cuba. Those who dream of a Socialist Republic for Ireland are Sinn Fein conservatives. These people may say they are Marxist not conservatives but one can be a Marxist and a conservative. Stalin was a Marxist and a conservative who would countenance nothing other than the control of the USSR by the politburo of the communist party. How ever change came to the Soviet Union in Gorbachev’s new ideas of glasnost and perestroika. Democracy followed but this democracy is now corrupted with criminality. Change always needs new ideas. Change came to the Church in Luther’s new ideas on Christianity. Sinn Fein is devoid of new ideas.

This is not a rebuttal of Socialism but questions the package in which socialism is delivered. For those in Sinn Fein who dream of Ireland as an off shore Cuba in relation to Europe such a package would not be acceptable to the Irish people. Socialism in the package of a liberal democracy would be acceptable. The constitutional monarchy of Sweden is a prime example. Sweden is the wealthiest and most egalitarian country in the world due to the progressive insightful policies of successive socialist governments. Ireland as a liberal democracy within a Federal Kingdom constitutional monarchy could emulate Sweden and become a wealthy egalitarian society to be cherished by the people.

Michael Gillespie

Change

2011-06-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

To find true peace the Irish will have to change.

Sinn Fein is now considering having the franchise extended to N. Ireland for the election of a Republican President. The party should first take on board the constitutional realities of Ireland. With the GFA which Sinn Fein signed up to, Ireland is divided into two statelets the one foreign to the other. In light of that the proposal for a form of joint sovereignty for Ireland is as nonsensical as proposing a joint sovereignty for the Iberian Peninsula with a joint Portuguese Republican president and a Spanish monarch. Had articles 2 and 3 of the Republic’s constitution not been withdrawn a rational case could have been made for joint sovereignty and the extension of the franchise for the election of a Republican President to N Ireland but since the crafty British aided by woolly headed politicians in Dublin had the articles removed the two statelets in Ireland are now clearly foreign to each other. This constitutional mess has been created by Tricolour Republicans and Union Jack Unionists.

To clear up the mess will require new thought and an acceptance that the traditional conservative thinking in both communities will have to change. It is said that the Irish are a very conservative people but to have change both communities will have to become receptive to new ideas and be open minded. Tricolour Republicanism and Union Jack Unionism will have to accept the necessity for the change of U.K. constitution to a Federal Kingdom constitution giving a new constitution for An Éire Nua peopled by Na Gaeil Nua who accept the Crown as Head of State. Clinging to traditional conservative thought on both sides leads only to intercommunal conflict and sectarian division.

Michael Gillespie

2011-06-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

The Constitution still rules the election roost.

During the campaigning stage of the election there was the spin that politics here are now about bread and butter issues. This was poppycock. There was a nationalist/Republican green sectarian constitutional vote along with a unionist orange
sectarian constitutional vote. The sectarian constitutional nature of the campaign came to the fore with Tom Elliot’s outburst about a foreign nation when in Omagh. Legal purists may argue using the British Nationality Act1948 and the Irish Act 1949 that Tom is wrong but these acts simply bring the law into line with the reality that the Irish and British people don’t regard each other as alien. But Tom was simply expressing the popular loyalist perception that the Republican Tricolour is the flag of a foreign nation. The Acts noted do nothing to dispel that popular loyalist perception and the Irish Tricolour is as foreign for them as the French and Italian tricolours. Once I had to post a parcel to Dublin and I expressed surprise at the cost. The clerk explained that Dublin is in a foreign country and that was the reason. It costs the same to post a letter to Donegal as to Germany or Moscow so if the Post Office treats the Republic as foreign why shouldn’t Loyalists? The culprits in dividing Ireland into two separate foreign statelets are Republicans not Loyalists. I know Republicans who regard the Queen as foreign and if Martin Maguinness doesn’t why won’t he meet her? All in all the constitutional conflict still rules the roost in Omagh. Tom Elliot has a low opinion of Sinn Fein. There are many like Tom in both communities. In a free country why can’t such people express their opinion? The British/Irish problem is deeply rooted in the Constitution and can only be resolved in a full-blooded reform of U.K. Constitution to a Federal Kingdom Constitution.

Michael Gillespie Derry Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

Loyalist Ireland

2011-06-12T06:26:00.000-07:00

Lets Include Protestant Loyalist Ireland.

In the letter 5th March J A Barnwell Dublin quotes Parnell thus: -

“No man has the right to fix the boundaries to the march of a nation.”

History in Ireland has demonstrated these words to be rhetorical bombast. Ireland as it is now constituted is not a nation (and isn’t likely to be) but is comprised of two statelets a 26 county statelet constituted as a Republic and a 6 county statelet constituted as being under the Crown. In this quote from Parnell J A Barnwell is trotting out the outworn shibboleth that Parnell was a Republican. Parnell was a Home Rule constitutional nationalist and if he had been offered a government for Ireland under the Crown he would have grabbed it with both hands. The same could be said of Pearse prior to the lunacy of 1916.

J A Barnwell favours self determination (so do I) but which self is to determine the destiny of Ireland? Is it to be a Catholic Republican self alone? Like all Republicans J A Barnwell has a blind spot when it comes to Protestant Loyalist Ireland. They don’t seem to exist but they do. Has that community not got the same right to determine the destiny of Ireland equal to Catholic Republicans? A hard-nosed politician would concede that they do. Since the Protestant Loyalist community in Ireland should have equal rights in determining the destiny of the nation then the reformed Crown will have to be part of it as Head of State of the Sovereign Nation of all Ireland within a Federal Kingdom. That is pragmatic realism far removed from the Republican dreamland of J A Barnwell in Dublin.

Michael Gillespie

A Refferendum

2011-06-12T06:08:00.000-07:00

Ireland should follow Scotland’s constitutional Path.

In a T.V. interview Alex Salmond stated categorically that he envisaged an independent Scotland with the Crown as head of state like those other independent nations in the modern world that have the Crown as head of state. In this Alex Salmond is stating clearly that he is a constitutional nationalist not a Republican. With that distinction a suggested referendum for Scotland’s independence should take the following form: -

Do you wish Scotland to be a sovereign independent nation with
(a) The Scotland Constitution Act as its constitution making the Crown Scotland’s head of state?
(b) A Republican Constitution with a president as head of state?

For a nation to be a nation it must have an agreed constitution. The Irish have been in conflict over the constitution for centuries. In a referendum for all Ireland identical to the suggested Scotland’s referendum Ireland should replace Scotland and The National Government of Ireland Act should replace the Scotland Constitution Act. The referendum should be counted separately in the 6 and 26 counties. The Queen’s state visit to the Republic is a step in the right direction but to unite and stabilise Ireland an agreed constitution will require the acceptance of a reformed elected Crown as head of state in an all Ireland within a Federal Kingdom. There is more on a Federal Kingdom at www.authorhouse.co.uk by typing my name into search.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein Derry

New Thinking

2011-06-12T05:52:00.000-07:00

Ireland Needs a closer Link with the Crown than a one-off Visit

2011-06-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

Ireland needs a closer link with the Crown than a one off visit.

It will come as a relief to a partitionist Dail Eireann and a partitionist Dublin that the Royal visit seemingly gives the Royal assent to the border. But the assent will only be partial for as long as there remains no-go areas for her Majesty in the districts of the Falls in Belfast and the Bogside in Derry within the Kingdom. Should the day come when Her Majesty does a walk about in these districts with the people waving Union Jacks and proffering red white and blue posies to the Royal person with the blessing of Martin Magennis and Katrina Anderson while the cathedral choirs of St Peter’s and St Eugene’s chorus-- Rule Britannia-- in the background then partition in Ireland is there for keeps.

That of course is a ridiculous scenario but it isn’t ridiculous to say that the Catholic community in Ireland is brainwashed with Tricolour Republicanism and the Protestant community in Ireland is brainwashed with Union Jack Unionism and as long as that is the case the border will be a bone of contention on the island. When the day comes when both communities are freed from the mental shackles of this sectarianism and thus freed both communities accept a reformed Crown as Head of State of the Sovereign Nation of all Ireland within a Federal Kingdom then and only then will the border be obsolete and the sickness of sectarianism be eradicated from the Island. To achieve this Ireland needs a closer link with the Crown than a one off visit to Dublin.
In having the Republic join the Commonwealth is insufficient and will do nothing to eradicate sectarianism.

Michael Gillespie

The City of Derry Drama Festival

2011-03-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

The City of Derry Drama Festival.

The 31st City of Derry Drama Festival held in March in the Waterside Theatre is now over and what a splendid season of theatre it was. There was a wide ranging choice of plays by playwrights from Ireland England and America so that on the menu there was something to satisfy all tastes. While the production and acting was by amateur groups the standard of work was on a par with professional companies. The productions were well attended.

IN my opinion the only downside to the festival was the play – Kings of the Kilburn High Road by Jimmy Murphy and presented by Droicead Nua from Co Kildare. The characters in this play were stereotype drunken foul-mouthed stage Irish. These were men who had left the West of Ireland in the seventies dreaming of making their fortune in London and returning home as “kings”. Twenty years later, still in London, they gather in a Kilburn pub to wake one of their number who will return home in a coffin. Over the course of the play with raucous singing and foul language they reflect on their lives and their place in an English society that no longer needs them.

To what extent these characters represent the tens of thousands of immigrant Irish workers to England in the 60ties and 70 ties is questionable. The vast majority of these immigrants integrated into English society and they and their descendants became successful and did well in England. The tragedy of these Irishmen is that they never integrated into English society but lived as self imposed exiles, bodily in England but in spirit and mind still in Ireland. The stance of these men to be apart in England reflects the problem of new wave Muslim immigrants in England who will have to integrate into English society or opt to live apart and become a social problem. Despite the flawed nature of the script the actors from Droicead Nua did their best with it and acquitted themselves well.

The cup for best production and the cup for best acting went to the Bangor Drama Club for the play –A View from the Bridge by the American playwright Arthur Miller--. The standard of production and acting by this group was of an unbelievably high order.

The festival adjudicator was a Derry man, Michael O’ Hara, a guru of the theatre who gave an interesting introduction to each play and an insightful constructive evaluation of each play at the end of each performance.

At the end of last year’s festival 2010 the president Maureen Gallagher had doubts that the festival could continue due to a dearth of funds. However this year the festival was assisted by the Derry City Council but even so the festival’s difficulty remains. Maureen said that currently there are 60 season ticket holders but for the festival to be financially viable this figure would need to increase to 200.This Drama Festival is a credit to the city an is a showcase for theatrical talent from all over Ireland .It would be a sad loss to the City if this drama festival were to fail due to alack of funds and support in the city. It behoves all those who have the cultural interests of the City at heart to turn out in strength holding season tickets for next year’s festival in March 2012.
Michael Gillespie Derry

An Irish Flag acceptable to all is a highly Complex Constitutional Matter

2011-03-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

An Irish flag for all is a highly complex constitutional matter.

Seosamh O Hoctain Newry March 23rd wants Martin Mc Guinness and Peter Robinson to design a flag that is acceptable to all. Such a task is not within the remit of the Assembly or Dail Éireann but is within the remit of Westminster. A new flag for Ireland would need to be ratified by Westminster first and then approved by the Irish people in a referendum.

IN my published writing on the British/Irish problem I’ve taken it upon myself to design a flag that could be flown on St Patrick’s Day or the Twelfth of July. In my suggested National Government of Ireland Act there is a redesign of the existing Tricolour in which the red Irish saltire is imposed on the white central panel of the Tricolour along with the Kingdom emblems of the crown (newly designed) harp and shamrock. In the Act the flag would be defined as The Royal Flag of Ireland which is the National flag of Ireland and a symbol of the Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain. A new flag on its own will not solve the historic British/Irish problem, that will require a new constitution for Ireland expressed in the National Government of Ireland Act giving a reformed Crown as Head of State to be democratically elected in Ireland. That is the crux issue in the resolution of the British Irish problem. In my published writing I’ve put forward a suggested National Government of Ireland Act that runs to over 20,000 words.

If Seosamh wises to look into this further a trilogy of works on the British /Irish problem is available from my publisher Authorhouse. The trilogy can be found by using www.authorhouse.co.uk and then by typing my name into the search engine.

Michael Gillespie Derry

Keep Politics and Irish Culture apart

2011-03-29T14:29:00.001-07:00

Keep Politics and Irish Culture apart.

I got an invite recently from Comhaltas Dhoire to attend a meeting in Culturlann Derry to promote the city as host to Fleadh Cheoil Na hÉireann. While this would benefit the city culturally and economically I was amazed to read that Martin Magennis would be the guest speaker at the meeting and not the Minister for Culture. It’s a principle of mine that politics and culture be kept apart but in Culturlann culture and politics were being brought together. I am not alone in this principle of separation.

Douglas Hyde the founder of Conradh na Gaeilge insisted that culture and politics be kept apart. Despite this the Gaelic League was infiltrated by Republicans. In protest Douglas Hyde resigned as head of Conradh na Gaeilge and his place was taken by the Republican Eoin O Neill. In this way Irish culture became synonymous with Republicanism and so it remains. In keeping with the principle of Douglas Hyde I declined the invite from Comhaltas Dhoire giving my reasons for doing so.

Michael Gillespie Derry

Ireland Needs a closer Link with the Crown than a one-off Visit

2011-03-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

A Partitioned England

2011-02-06T06:18:00.000-08:00

A Partitioned England.

DAVID Cameron is right to be concerned that the policy of multiculturalism (live and let live) isn’t working. There are now in G.B. new wave immigrants with a different language, religion, culture, custom and dress, and identity and with their own Sharia Law. David Cameron seems to sense that such a set up is detrimental and if trouble is to be avoided the new wave immigrants will have to be integrated wholly into British society. Already a policy of the new wave immigrant population being apart is in operation in that Islamic laws have been officially adopted in Britain with Sharia courts given powers to rule in Muslim civil courts.

Without being parochial the scale of the immigration problem in G.B. can be paralleled in Ireland. A wave of immigrants came to Ireland in the plantation of Ulster with a different language, religion, culture, customs, dress and identity and with different laws to the Irish Brehon laws. These immigrants lived apart from the native Irish in defiance of all things Irish and were a law unto themselves. (The Normans came to Ireland but integrated with the Irish in marriage and became more Irish than the Irish so they weren’t a problem). Because of the refusal of the Planters to integrate Ireland became an unstable country and ended up partitioned. Just as multiculturalism is failing in G.B. so too the British/Irish biculturalism (live and let live) will fail in N. Ireland. Just as a single identity is needed in G.B. for stability so too a single identity is needed here for stability in Ireland but it must be an identity that is acceptable to all on the island. To find such an identity will require constitutional reform. If a single identity cannot be found in G.B. who knows at some time in the distant future England may end up partitioned.

Michael Gillespie

The Irish should take a leaf out of the Australian Constitution

2011-02-06T06:13:00.000-08:00

The Irish should take a leaf out of the Australian Constitution.

Australia like Ireland was once a British colony. The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 changed that and gave Australia a measure of independent government. The Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 made Australia a de jure independent nation and the Australia Act 1986 severed the last remaining links between Australia and the United Kingdom with the same person Queen Elisabeth II as the monarch of both nations the monarch treating each nation as separate and apart. In the 21st century Australia is a sovereign nation with its own federal government, its own distinct flag, anthem and passport, its own Australian citizenship and the Australian government is in control of the Australian army, navy and air force and is represented at the U.N. Australia retains the option of becoming a Republic by democratic means. The constitution of Canada is similar to that of Australia.

A Constitution for Ireland similar to the Australian is feasible if the political will can be found to change the U.K. constitution to the Federal Kingdom constitution of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain or vice versa with a reformed elected Crown as Head of State for all Ireland, the Crown treating the sovereign nations of Ireland and Great Britain as separate and apart. The option of a democratically agreed Republic of Ireland can be included in the National Government of Ireland Act. This would be a welcome change from those lunatics who would ram an Irish Republic down the throats of those who reject it, by murder and by blowing the place up.

Michael Gillespie Derry

Whither Constitutional Nationalism

2011-02-06T05:59:00.000-08:00

Whither Constitutional Nationalism?

Daniel O Connell can be taken as the founder of constitutional nationalism in that he campaigned for the return of a national government to Ireland but under the Crown. O Connell pursued this goal by peaceful means and rejected the Republican violence of ‘ 98.

“ The altar of liberty totters when it is cemented only by blood”

Because of his adherence to the golden link of the Crown with Ireland the Young Irelanders left his party but the Young Irelanders only notable contribution to Ireland is the song – A Nation Once Again--.

The Republican Fenians followed who are remembered for a pathetic violent schemozzle known as The Battle of Widow Mc Cormack’s Cabbage Patch, the Tricolour and the song-- God Save Ireland.

The Fenians culminated in the Republican violence of 1916 which put a Catholic Parliament in the 26 counties and a border on the island

I wrote an article in this vein for the blog Slugger O Toole only to be lambasted by Republicans. Because of this article I was debarred from further contributions to the blog by the editor. I sent him an email asking for a reason for the censorship but got no reply.

An angry member of the SDLP wrote saying that O Connell was now obsolete in Ireland and all members of the SDLP were now Republican. If that is so then the SDLP should shut up shop and go into business with the constitutional Republican extremists Sinn Fein.

But there is still hope for constitutional nationalism in the person of Margaret Ritchie. She takes her seat at Westminster with out complaint an oath of allegiance without protest and has worn a poppy on Remembrance Sunday. Margaret should now go all the way in the spirit of O Connell and in the 21st century press for the reform of a U.K. constitution to a Federal Kingdom constitution expressed in the National Government of Ireland Act making a reformed Crown Head of State in all Ireland. Such an Ireland would be in keeping with the moderate peaceful constitution of O Connell so the SDLP should make that Ireland its raison d’etre

Michael Gillespie Derry

L’Derry

Hi TOMMY

2010-10-25T13:26:00.001-07:00

Hi Tommy, thanks for your interesting reply.

You ask whether or not I support the concept of children from different religions growing up together in shared educational institutions. It is clear in my previous article to Listenderry that the worthwhile ideal of an integrated education isn’t new in Ireland and the stated purpose of integrated education in the 1832 Education Bill was that catholic and protestant children be educated together so that they will form friendships that will last throughout life. This cannot be faulted and was intended to eradicate sectarianism in Ireland which was as prevalent in Ireland in 1832 as it is today.

A heavy weight of history has intervened and sectarianism in Ireland won the day. Protestant Ulster violently opposed the 1832 Bill and established the principle that the individual be educated according to personal conscience in state schools. This principle is the foundation of faith schools in the U.K. and was put into Canon Law by Cardinal Cullen after the Irish famine. Are the integrationists in N. Ireland now saying that the individual should not be educated according to conscience in a state school? Surely not!

Nowadays the adherents of integrated education see it as a cure-all of the sectarian sickness that infects N. Ireland/Ireland but this theory could be flawed. Integrated education didn’t cure sectarianism in 19th century Ireland nor will it eradicate sectarianism in 21st century Ireland. The flaw in this theory is that it places too much emphasis on the importance of schooling in the formation of character out look and attitude of the individual. In the formation of these educationalists give weightings of 60 to the home, 30 to the community and 10 to schooling so if the sickness of sectarianism is to be eradicated in N. Ireland/Ireland one should look first at the primary educators, the home and community. To change outlook and attitude which are forged mainly in the home and community will require governmental intervention. The Government of Ireland Act condoned and enshrined sectarian division in Ireland and David Cameron still does. Just as government can change outlook and attitude to smoking through legislation it will take government legislation to change out look and attitude to sectarianism in this country. Integrated education will prove to be a weak blunt tool to achieve this. What is needed now from Westminster is The National Government of Ireland Act

It is my thesis that what divides the people of Derry and creates sectarian discord is the constitution. In Protestant Derry Queen Elisabeth is welcome but in Catholic Derry it is President Mc Aleese. The Union Jack is flown in Protestant Derry while the Irish Tricolour is flown by Catholics. In the city ---God Save the Queen –is the national anthem of Protestants but Amhran Na bhFiain is the national anthem of Catholics. Generally Catholics travel on an Irish Passport but Protestants on a British one The Protestant loyalist Union Jack waving Apprentice Boys parade the streets eyed by a resentful contingent of Nationalist / Republican Tricolour supporters from the Catholic community. For as long as that constitutional set-up continues for that long will there be violence and sectarian discord in Derry and N. Ireland. in this sectarian constitutional set-up integrated schooling will not help as the constitutional root cause of sectarianism begins in the home and is reinforced by the adult community. To claim that sectarianism can be eradicated by engineering innocent children at school is a cowardly abdication by the adult population of their moral duty to resolve sectarianism in this, our own adult generation.

Changing the mindset of the people in Ireland requires action from Westminster by drawing up a written constitution for all Ireland expressed in The National Government of Ireland Act in a Federal Kingdom Context, the written constitution being made as acceptable to the Catholics of Kerry as to the Protestants of Derry. A full in-depth account of this can be found in the trilogy: -

(a) The Way Ireland Ought To Be ISBN 978-1-4295-5013-2
(b) The Rape of Virgin Munchindun ISBN 978-1-4490-4383-4
© Size Matters ISBN 978-1-4520-6860-2

These are available from Amazon, from the publisher Authorhouse or through any bookstore

Michael Gillespie Derry/Londonderry

Integrate N. Ireland from the Top Down

2010-10-17T09:55:00.001-07:00

Integrate the People from the Top Down Not from the Bottom Up.

IN his call for integrated education Mr Robinson has found another stick to beat the Catholic community with.

Integration isn’t new in Ireland and is fine in principle. In 1832 a liberal government at Westminster introduced a bill for the purpose of educating Catholic and Protestant children together so that “they form friendships that would last throughout life” This laudable ideal was violently opposed by the Protestant community in Ulster who objected to their children being brought into contact with Roman Priests. The Catholic bishops of the time backed the integrated ideal but in the Protestant defeat of the ideal the principle was established in British education that the individual can be educated according to personal conscience, apart in a state school. This principle still stands and after the Famine this principle, established by Protestant Ulster, was put into Canon Law by Cardinal Cullen.

Mt Robinson claims it would be ludicrous if Protestants and Catholics were educated in different universities. He has never heard of Maynooth and seems oblivious to the historic fact that U.C.D. was set up as a Catholic university when Catholics were denied access to the then Protestant Trinity. It is also true that until relatively recent times Catholics were denied access to the then Protestant Oxford. There are Catholic universities in America and on the continent so Mr Robinson is talking through his hat.

Why not integrate the people of N.Ireland from the top down by having an integrated Orange Order which accepts Catholics into its ranks? Mr Robinson should call for the abolition of divisive religion in schools to be replaced by unifying Christian ecumenism. He should also devise a politics which is acceptable to all on this Island and abandon a politics for protestant unionists and rid Ireland of sectarianism. He should rid N. Ireland of sectarian ghettoes. Perhaps if the full story were known maybe Mr Robinson sees in integrated education a mechanism whereby a future Catholic population will be converted to unionism and the border copper-fastened.

Derry/Londonderry

N. Ireland can't be sold

2010-09-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

N. Ireland can’t be sold.

With Mary Dejevsky’s article --- Now its time to sell Ulster to the Republic. ---- i t is the silly season in the Belfast Telegraph. The Louisiana Purchase and the purchase of Alaska by America aren’t comparable with the sale of Ulster. Like Gibraltar and the Falklands the territory of N. Ireland is bound up with the deep- seated constitutional beliefs of the inhabitants so Ulster can’t be sold any more than can Gibraltar or the Falklands. If the home of N. Ireland were sold over the heads and heritage of protestant Ireland a disgruntled aggressive protestant minority would be sold down the river into a Republic against their wishes just as a disgruntled aggressive catholic minority were sold down the river into N. Ireland in 1921. IN such a Republic sectarianism and communal conflict would be inbuilt into the state as is now the case in N. Ireland

A more realistic and sensible approach to the resolution of Ireland’s historic problem can be found in the blogs www.sluggerotoole.com---in www.listenderry.org --- and in www.solvingthetheirishproblem.blogspot.com. A further in-depth analysis of the historic problem is given in the trilogy ---THE WAY IRELAND OUGHTO BE – and in ---THE RAPE OF VIRGIN MUNCHINDUN---and in SIZE MATTERS (out shortly) available from Amazon where the reform of U.K. Constitution to a Federal Kingdom Constitution in the National Government of Ireland Act will establish a stable unified Ireland constitutionally acceptable to both the Protestants of Derry and to the Catholics of Kerry.

Derry/Londonderry

Treat the Disease not the Symptoms

2010-08-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

TREAT TH E DISEASE NOT THE SYMPTOMS.

COMMENT Page 30 in the Belfast Telegraph July 29 states: -

“The pledge by the first and deputy first ministers to lead to efforts to tear down the walls is a welcome one-----they cannot b e allowed to continue as symbols of a riven society”

In this proposition the symptoms of the sickness of sectarianism are being treated but the root cause of the illness is ignored. Tear down the walls and what does that change? There will still be two conflicting heads of state involved in Ireland, two conflicting national flags being flown, two conflicting national anthems being sung, with two conflicting national pass ports being travelled on. Even if the walls are down the people will skulk in sectarian ghettoes with the kerbstones painted red white and blue in one ghetto and green white and orange in the other. A right wing Protestant Union Jack Unionist First Minister voted in by Protestants and a left wing Catholic Irish tricolour Republican Deputy First Minister voted in by Catholics are in themselves symbols of a sick Irish society riven with sectarianism. COMMENT and the ministers have nothing to say about the tearing down of a sectarian border that scars the face of this island.

If the scars of sectarian walls and a sectarian border are to be removed radical corrective surgery will be necessary not the cosmetic of the G.F.A. Such surgery will require the change of U.K. constitution to a Federal Kingdom constitution to give a healthy non- sectarian written democratic constitution that is as acceptable to all. The procedure for such radical face transplant surgery to the face of Kathleen Ni Houlihan and my Dark Rosaleen is given in the trilogy –The Way Ireland Ought to Be – The Rape of Virgin Munchindun-- and in-- Size Matters (out in September) available from Amazon.

Derry/Londonderry

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME

2010-08-12T02:55:00.000-07:00

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SMELL AS SWEET.

What’s in a name? Derry? --- Londonderry?---Which? It has to be conceded that Londonderry is the constitutionally correct name for the city but equally this constitutional name is rejected by the vast majority of the citizens along with U.K. constitution.

This constitutional dichotomy has bedevilled Ireland for centuries. After Republicans made a brute force futile attempt to overthrow the constitution and depose the Crown in ’98 the 1801 Act of union was imposed undemocratically in Ireland. This Union was opposed by O’ Connell who pressed for a return of government to Dublin under the Crown. O’ Connell’s stance would have been acceptable to Butt, Parnell and Griffiths in Early Sinn Fein but another futile brute force Catholic sectarian attempt to overthrow U.K. constitution was made in 1916 which ended in partition. The Provisional I.R.A. made a further Catholic sectarian brute force attempt to overthrow the constitution in the late 20th century but this was defeated. This attempt was laced with atrocity. A Republican constitution wounds the historic cultural psyche of Loyalist Ireland which is loyalty to the Crown so the Crown will have to be a constitutional part of Ireland (all of it).

In this thumb-nail sketch of history the U.K. has been a bone of contention in Ireland for centuries. The sensible intelligent thing to do in the 21st century is to change it to a Federal Kingdom constitution expressed democratically in the written Government of Ireland Act which can be made acceptable to all in Ireland. The ways and means of doing this are spelt out in the trilogy--- The Way Ireland Ought to Be(2007)---The Rape of Virgin Munchindun(2010)---Size Matters(Out in September 2010) available from Amazon.

Derry/Londonderry

Bloody Sunday and a Perceived Constitution

2010-07-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

Bloody Sunday, and a Perceived Constitution.

Nothing in this article gainsays the unjust and unjustifiable murder of innocent civilians and the enormity of that crime carried out by the Parachute Regiment in Derry on Bloody Sunday. This article attempts to explore how the U.K. constitution is perceived in Northern Ireland. In what follows perception is used in the dictionary sense of: -

“ The awareness of the external world or some aspect of it through physical sensations and the interpretation of these by the mind.”

The primary and ultimate role of the president of the U.S.A. is to support maintain and defend the constitution ultimately with the army. Apart from 9/11 the American constitution isn’t under threat. Here in N. Ireland the situation is different because the constitution is perceived to be under threat and has to be supported maintained and defended by the British Army and by an armed P.S.N.I.

Protestant Loyalist Ireland perceives Catholic Nationalist Ireland as a constitutional threat and perceives Catholic Nationalist Ireland as ambivalent about U.K. constitution and cannot be trusted. This is nothing new but stretches back in History.
Protestant Loyalist Ireland perceived Home Rule as Rome Rule. Home Rule in the fledgling Free State proved to be Rome Rule. This is evidenced in the Eucharistic Congress 1932 with a triumphant parading of Catholicism in Ireland. There was the enforced resignation of Dr Noel Browne by the Catholic hierarchy over Dr Brown’s mother and child scheme in 1948. There is also the case of Catholic Clergy intolerance of Protestant freedom of conscience of Sheila Cloney in Fethard on Sea over Ne Temere in 1957. In current times there was the turning of the blind eye by Dail Eireann to clerical child abuse in state institutions. So the perception by Protestant Loyalist Ireland that Home Rule would be something other than U.K. constitutional rule wasn’t wide of the mark.

The mistrust of Catholic Nationalists by Protestant Loyalists blighted the Civil Rights Association. Protestants Loyalists perceived the hidden agenda of Nationalists in the C.R.A. was to put them into a hated Republic by stealth. Ian Paisley captured this mistrust by calling the C.R.A. the I.R.A. and this misnomer was not without substance. The initial aims o f John Hume and the C.R.A. was to win equality of citizen ship for Catholics and this aim was laudable and needed. However the C.R.A. was infiltrated by Republicans whose constitutional agenda stretched far beyond the winning of equality for Catholics in N. Ireland to the over throw of the state’s constitution by violence. In Lord Saville’s report ~Republicans were a part of the Bloody Sunday march in the violent presence of Martin Magennis allegedly with a machine gun. So Ian Paisley’s naming of the C.R.A. as the I.R.A. has substance and Loyalist mistrust justified.

In N. Ireland the constitution is ultimately imposed by military might. This was the constitutional role adopted by the Paras on Bloody Sunday. The regiment perceived the marchers as a constitutional threat and a gut reaction of military fire- power followed. That doesn’t condone the murder of innocent people but illustrates the amorality and constitutional degeneracy of the soldiers involved. In this action the Paras drove the constitutional nationalism of John Hume’s C.R.A. off the streets of Derry and drove violent Republicanism onto the streets in strength. In a counter campaign of terror the Provisional I.R.A. attempted to impose a Republic on Loyalist Ireland by brute force and that campaign was as amoral, constitutionally degenerate and futile as was the murderous assault on marchers by the Paras.

U.K. constitution being unwritten relies on the ground on perception for interpretation. What Ireland now needs is a written constitution which goes beyond perception but is interpreted rationally. The written Republican constitution of the 26 counties won’t do as Republicanism is rejected by Loyalist Ireland whose historic psyche is Loyalty to the Crown, the free expression of which is a human right. By the same token the unwritten militarily imposed U.K. constitution is rejected by the vast majority of the people of Ireland. In the thesis put forward in Slugger the rejected U.K. constitution needs to be replaced with a Federal Kingdom Constitution expressed in the National Government of Ireland Act. This is a position central to U.K. constitution and Republicanism. This Act can be made as acceptable to the Catholics of Kerry as to the Protestants of Derry. The Government of Ireland Act partitioned the Island only the National Government of Ireland Act can unite it.

Protestant Church men have called on the people of Derry to unite but that begs the question ---Unite as what? As Union Jack Unionists? Surely not. As Irish Republicans? No way will they do that. But the people of Derry could unite under the National Government of Ireland Act. That is possible feasible and doable.

Michael Gillespie

The Pitfall of a Dual Identity

2010-07-21T02:41:00.000-07:00

The Pit-fall of a Dual Identity.

The Reverend Stanley Gamble at the Orange demonstrations in Rossnowlagh in Donegal has called for a dual British/Irish identity to be recognised in the Republic just as a dual British/Irish identity is recognised in N. Ireland.

What the Reverend Gamble fails to understand is that the dual British/Irish identity in N. Ireland is a prime factor in the instability of the N. Ireland state and its proclivity to violence. A stable peaceful state should have only one citizen identity. In the United States of America the melting pot ensures that there is only one identity –American. It’s true there are Irish Americans, Italian American etc but when the chips are down these groups are first and foremost American who accept and abide by the American constitution. In N. Ireland one identity of citizens accept the constitution while another group rejects it. In such a socio- constitutional set up violence is the outcome as is obvious in recent rioting in Belfast.

In Great Britain there ought to be one identity i.e. British. If however a new wave immigrant population insists on retaining a different Moslem/Arab identity, inter- communal strife will be the future in Britain just as inter-communal strife has been the past and present in N. Ireland. The Republic would be well advised to retain a single Irish Identity and the Reverend Gamble should think again.

Derry/Londonderry

How Free is Free Derry?

2010-07-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

How Free is Free Derry?

The statement --- You are now entering free Derry—came into existence with the violent disturbances in the Bogside in the late sixties. Protestant Derry in the Fountain and Waterside don’t identify with the statement so it has a sectarian connotation. The statement could mean that British/Unionist rule is at an end in Derry but it is indubitable that British/Unionist rule still holds in Derry as is clear in the title of the city ---Derry U.K. city of culture.

The statement throws up the question what does “Free Derry” really mean? In the novel ---THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE--- ( Amazon Books) freedom is examined in depth. In this analysis freedom is classified as: -

(a) Individual Freedom
(b) State Freedom

Freedom in the Bogside statement is really about individual freedom. Individual freedom consists of a hierarchy of freedoms: -

(1) Freedom from—such as freedom from unemployment poverty and ignorance et al.
(2) Freedom to become—in this sense the individual is free to become what the individual aspires to become according to age ability and aptitude. This freedom implies the individual has the right of access to an education of excellence.
(3) Freedom to be --- This freedom is realized when the individual is free to be that which the person has aspired to be. This implies the individual lives in a state that is economically strong with a multiplicity of job opportunities for the person.

In a free Derry in the Bogside or Fountain or in a free Falls Road in Belfast or in a free Shankill or Sandy Row in Belfast does these criteria of freedom hold? Certainly not. There is the tyranny of unemployment, poverty and low standards of educational attainment in an economy that is weak in the private wealth creating sector and top heavy in the non-productive public sector.

The Protestant Orange tradition in Ireland has its own sense of freedom bound up with a U.K. constitution. This tradition takes as freedom the right to maintain and impose the U.K. constitution by publicly posturing on the 12th of July through Catholic districts where a U.K. constitution is rejected. In this way a disputed U.K. is rammed by Orangemen along with an armed P.S.N.I. down the throats of those who object. Hence the recent riots in Belfast. However in this the Orange Order has the human right in state freedom to freely express loyalty to the Crown. This human right and state freedom of expression would be suppressed in a Republic of Ireland. For this reason the Orange Order is implacably opposed to a united Ireland. Recognising the free expression of this human right of loyalty to the Crown in Ireland, the Crown would have to be a part of a united Ireland.

It is recognised that U.K. constitution is rejected by the vast majority in Ireland but the state freedom to express Loyalty to the Crown is retained by a significant minority. To make Ireland a truly free democratic country will entail the reform of U.K. constitution in The National Government of Ireland Act to set up [U1] a Federal Kingdom for the Isles of the North Atlantic in which the state freedom of the expression of loyalty to the Crown would be recognised. The nuts and bolts of doing this are given in the Novel ---THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE--- (Amazon Books). If free Derry is to become truly free it will have to be freed from the shackles of unemployment, poverty and educational under achievement. This will require economic growth and extensive wealth creation throughout Ireland. This is freedom in its true sense and this true sense of freedom is missing in the working class Bogside, the Fountain and in working class inner city districts of Belfast. This true freedom can only be attained in an all Ireland setting with a constitution for all in the National Government of Ireland Act giving unity in a Federal Kingdom context.

Michael Gillespie

[U1]A Federtal

When Will the Queen Visit U.K. Derry

2010-07-15T02:30:00.000-07:00

When will the Queen visit the U.K. Bogside and the U.K.Falls Road?.

Since it is in order to call Derry the U. K. city it should also be in order to call the Bogside the U. K. Bogside and the Falls in Belfast the U.K. Falls. What brings this to mind is the proposed visit of the Queen to Dublin. It would be generally agreed that the Bogside and the Falls are no-go areas for a Royal visit and a heavy bitter history underlies that. In the early 20th century the relationship between the Crown and Ireland became ruptured. This rupture is aptly put in the ballad Kevin Barry: -

Another martyr for old Ireland
Another murder for the Crown
Whose cruel laws can kill the Irish
But cannot keep their spirit down

If the Queen’s visit is to repair the rupture and re-establish a new, close, permanent, working relationship between the Crown and the Irish that would be to the benefit of both but the visit could be about something else.

According to the Taoiseach the visit is to normalise an harmonious relationship between the two countries but that begs the question what exactly is being normalised. First of all a sectarian border is being normalized and with the Queen’s visit this sectarian border will be given the royal assent. Secondly the sectarian ghettoes in the 6 counties are being normalised and a Royal visit to Dublin will do nothing to eradicate this scandal but will perpetuate it. Thirdly the Royal visit will give the Royal assent to the constitutional mess the country is in. Two Heads of state in Ireland will be the established norm as will two conflicting national flags, two conflicting national anthems, along with two conflicting national passports. All of that will be reinforced by the Queen’s visit to Dublin and [U1] that reinforcement is perfectly acceptable to and condoned by a partitionist Dail Eireann, a Partitionist Westminster, a partitionist Irish President and now joining the partitionist ranks is a partitionist Queen.

Before the Queen visits Republican Dublin she should first visit the no-go areas in her own constitutionally dysfunctional disunited Kingdom in Northern Ireland. To date the Queen hasn’t made a Royal visit to the Bogside the Falls or Crossmaglen nor is it likely she will ever do so. It is hard to envisage the Queen doing a walk about in these districts with Martin Magennis waving a Union Jack and Martina Anderson presenting a red white and blue posy with a dutiful curtsy while Gerry Adams Peter Robinson Reg Empey and David Ford croon –God Save Our Queen—in four part harmony. But all of that is the real constitutional difficulty in Northern Ireland and Dublin and Westminster have washed their hands of that and now operate on the fallacy of a bogus G.F.A. constitutional settlement that cements sectarian division in Ireland and doesn’t bring peace.

While Dail Eireann Westminster the Irish President and now the Queen may be content to live with the constitutional mess Ireland is in, there must be those who see the mess as objectionable. Dr Hamilton has expressed concern about sectarianism but he sees the eradication of this as taking place in a U.K. constitutional frame work in N. Ireland. Archbishop Eames is of a similar outlook as is the Belfast Telegraph.. These people fail to realise that the border on the island is due to a sectarian mentality in Ireland North and South and if sectarianism is eradicated the border will be eradicated with it. To effectively combat sectarianism in Ireland it will have to be dealt with on an all Ireland basis since there is a sectarian mentality throughout Ireland. For those who are genuinely concerned about the eradication of this social disease an all Ireland approach is needed such as-- The National Government of Ireland Act---to give a written constitution for a Federal Kingdom. This Act is given in detail in the novel published by Authorhouse titled--- The Way Ireland Ought To Be and is available from Amazon Books In this approach the Crown would be constitutionally involved in a united all Ireland and would be constitutional Head of State of the Isles of the North Atlantic. If the visit of the Queen to Dublin were to be a step in that direction that would be welcome but if her visit is to ratify a sectarian border in Ireland Her Majesty would be well advised to stay put in Buckingham Palace and not become involved in Dublin in the historic constitutional mess Ireland is in. In the 21st century the rupture that happened between the Crown and the Irish in the early 20th century is repairable in a Federal Kingdom expressed in a written National Government of Ireland Act. The rupture repaired, Irish unity will follow. Why not do that?

Michael Gillespie

[U1]this

Which Flag at the Derry Cenotaph

2010-07-15T02:24:00.000-07:00

Which Flag at the Derry/Londonderry Cenotaph?

It is known that the Irish Republican Tricolour and the Union Jack were flown at the Derry/Londonderry cenotaph together to commemorate the Irish fallen in W.W.1 The historical poppy cock that lies at the heart of this display should be examined.

The Flying of the Irish Tricolour on such an occasion implies that the Irish men who fought in France in W.W.1 were republicans. Nothing could be further from the truth. What motivated Irish men to fight and die in France is a complex matter and there are probably as many motives as there were individual soldiers. This can be considered by looking at the Irish Guards in W.W.1. The Irish Guards Regiment consisted of three battalions that fought with honour and distinction in all major engagements in the Great War. The Regiment won 406 medals including four V.C.s An expression of their motivation can be found in Rudyard Kipling’s poem –The Irish Guards---. Kipling wrote this poem as his son fell with the Irish Guards in France in 1915. To quote an extract: -

We’re not so old in the army list
But we’re not so new in the ring.
For we carried our packs with Marshal Saxe
When Louis was our king.
But Douglas Haig’s our marshal now
And we’re King George’s men
After one hundred and seventy years
We’re fighting for France again

Old days! The wild geese are ranging
Head to the storm as they faced it before
For where there’s Irish their hearts are unchanging
And where they are changed it’s Ireland no more.

Marshal Saxe refer to the battle o f Fontenoy 1745; in this battle the French army of LouisXV lead by Marshal Saxe and supported by the Irish Brigade defeated the British and Hanoverian forces at Fontenoy. The final attack by Dillon’s Irish Brigade foot soldiers was decisive in the battle. This poem was taught to recruits to the Irish Guards until after W.W.2. It is still part of the regiment’s history.

It is clear in this poem that the Irish Guards in W.W.1 had a keen sense of Irishness and were fighting for King and Country but the country wasn’t England or Britain but France and Ireland. This makes the Irish soldiers Constitutional nationalists but not Republicans since their flag was the Union Jack and their loyalty was to the Crown King George. This constitutional Nationalism of the soldiers is further revealed in the honorary discharge certificate issued to the Irish soldiers after the Great War, the certificate shows a armour clad Britannia holding a shield and sword of state in her left hand and a Union Jack in her right. To fly an Irish Tricolour at the cenotaph in Derry/Londonderry is to misrepresent the Irish Guards in W.W.1 along with all other Irish men who fought and died in France at that time.

The historical balderdash under scrutiny is an example of the Republican subterfuge to hijack constitutional nationalism and take it over. There is a crude attempt by Republicans to revise history and make nationalism republican. In a response to the article--- Whither Nationalism?—Stephen claims that now a days all Nationalists are Republicans, if they are that is to be regretted but perhaps a residual spark of constitutional nationalism still lives in the person of Margaret Ritchie. In a letter to the press written by her some time ago she complains that Sinn Fein has stolen the nationalist clothes of the S.D.L.P. It would seem that Sinn Fein is now ravening Republican wolves masquerading in constitutional nationalist sheep’s clothing. The reality is Sinn Fein are Republican in theory only but sit in a Unionist Union Jack assembly as crypto-unionists and with the withdrawal of articles 2 and 3 from the southern Republican Constitution the Irish tricolour in N. Ireland meaningless. TH Irish Tricolour has a place on the G.P.O. in Dublin where it represents a futile Catholic sectarian uprising to overthrow the U.K. constitution and the crown and set up a republic The Irish men who fought in France stood full square with the U.K. constitution and the crown so the Irish tricolour isn’t their flag no does it represent them. In more recent times the Irish Tricolour has been defiled by the Provisional I.R.A. to bomb and gun Protestant Loyalist Ireland in to a republic against their democratic wish.

The debased Irish Tricolour needs to be remade again in a new design as the Royal Flag Of Ireland that is representative of the history of both communities and can be recognised by all at the Cenotaph in Derry/Londonderry or any where else. The definition and design of such a flag is given in the published National Government of Ireland Act article 9 page 224. . For as long as there is a flag for Catholic Republicans and another for Protestant Loyalists for so long will the people of the city be divided and sectarianism and strife will thrive.

Michael Gillespie

Furter Ideas

2010-07-15T02:18:00.000-07:00

Further Ideas on the Thesis of a Federal Kingdom

These ideas are put forward under freedom of mind thought and expression. The purpose is to shed new light on the highly complex constitutional realities involved in a new British /Irish relationship in a Federal Kingdom.

In a comment on a Federal Kingdom John O Neill raised two salient issues: -
(1) Will the Crown be democratically elected?
(2) How will all members of the Royal Family be constituted?
Both of these are dealt with in the published National Government of Ireland Act. Arthur Griffiths worked on the worthwhile thesis of a dual monarchy. In the 21st century a dual monarchy requires a dual constitution for the Isles of the North Atlantic. One part of this duality is a constitution for Great Britain where the current unwritten constitution is retained and the second part of the duality is a new written constitution for Ireland in the National Government of Ireland Act. Further a dual constitution will require a dual definition of the Crown. The following definitions are covered in the published Act, Article 3 The Crown Irish Page 192

Definition 1

ON British Territory the Crown is defined as the British Crown that is the constitutional Head of State of Great Britain and is Head of the Church of England. The British Crown is also Head of the Commonwealth and is Head of State of Canada Australia and New Zealand. The British Crown fulfils these constitutional roles by right of birth.

Definition 2

On Irish Territory The Crown is defined as the Crown Irish and fulfils the constitutional role of Irish Head of State by democratic election in Ireland.

The procedure for electing the Crown Irish is covered in Article 22 of the published Act pages 266/7/8/9
Two options are put to the Irish People in a 32 county referendum: -
(a) Ireland as a Republic.
(b) Ireland as a Sovereign Nation with the National Government of Ireland Act as its constitution.
The votes would be counted separately in the 6 and 26 counties. If option (a) carries a significant majority in favour in both territories Ireland is united as a Republic. If option (b) carries a significant majority in both territories Ireland is united as a Sovereign Nation within a Federal Kingdom. If option (a) carries a significant majority in the 26 counties and option (b) carries a significant majority in the 6 counties Ireland remains partitioned.

The constitutional role of all members of the Royal Family are dealt with in Article 3 Page 196 of the published Act The only members the Royal Family granted constitutional status in relation to Ireland under the Act are the Crown Irish and spouse and the Heir to the throne and spouse. No other member of the Royal Family would be granted constitutional status in Ireland and as far as the Irish state is concerned are private citizens. However all members of the Royal Family would retain their traditional constitutional role in Great Britain

For Catholic Republicans a further stumbling block could be the religion of the Crown Irish. In article 3 page 196 of the published Act the Crown Irish is defined as Christian when on Irish territory. IN this article 3 the state religion of Ireland is defined as Christian Ecumenism The Crown Irish being defined as Christian and Irish Head of State the Crown Irish is Head of Christian ecumenism in Ireland. Article 3 page 197 forbids the Crown Irish to attend any denominational act of worship when on Irish territory. When the Crown Irish intends to worship on Irish territory the act of worship must be Christian ecumenical as specified in the Act.

A further bone of contention with catholic Republicans is –Who can the Crown Irish or Heir to the Throne marry? In Article 12 page 245 the Act states that the Crown Irish Or Heir to the Throne are free to marry a spouse of personal choice but the spouse must be Christian.

This article is intended to give an insight into the immense constitutional complexities in the British/Irish relationship; the motive is to be of help in improving that relationship. There is no ulterior motive. The complexities are immense but even so since the Government of Ireland Act partitioned Ireland only the National Government of Ireland Act can unite it. But the Irish may be a thrawn people who prefer to argue and squabble over contradictory irreconcilable constitutional positions in a sectarian manner rather than reach an amicable and reasonable settlement of the dispute. This is possible feasible and doable in the National Government of Ireland Act if the will can be found to do it.

Michael Gillespie

Is the Overthrow Of The Constitution and Deposing the Head of State True Democracy

2010-07-15T02:02:00.000-07:00

s the overthrow of the constitution and deposing the Head of State true democracy?

I got an interesting comment to my article on--- Whither Nationalism—from Stephen who seems to have inside knowledge of the S.D.L.P. He assured me that all nationalists are nowadays Republicans and that the S.D.L.P. has been Republican since its inception. Stephen wrote of the S.D.L.P. desire for an all Ireland Republic to be arrived at democratically. In my understanding of Republicanism its aim is the overthrow of U.K. constitution and the deposing of the U.K. head of state with the setting up of a Republic with a President as Head of State in the case of the S.D.L.P. to be done democratically. The Republican Provisionals attempted to over throw the constitution by brute force but this effort failed. A defeated Sinn Fein now sit in the assembly with the same aim of overthrowing the constitution and deposing the Head Of State but now democratic means are to be used. Since the Republican S.D.L.P. and Sinn Fein have the same aim as parties they are indistinguishable. According to Stephen the parties can’t agree who was first with the G.F.A. but that difference seems academic.

But is the aim of Republicans as understood, true democracy? To look a t the matter further a field suppose in America a communist party was set up with the aim of overthrowing the American Constitution and reconstitute America as the United Socialist States of America with President Obama being replaced by a communist president and if all of that were to be done democratically would that be true democracy? Would that not be an abuse of democracy and such a party would be vigorously opposed in America. By the same token the aim of Republicans to over throw the U.K, constitution here by democratic means is an abuse of democracy also. This may have the support of Catholic Republican Ireland but it is vigorously opposed by Protestant Loyalist Ireland hence the sectarian constitutional dichotomy on the island and a border.

To change the constitution democratically is perfectly in order. The American constitution can be changed democratically with an amendment. U.K. constitution can be changed democratically with an Act of Parliament. UK Constitution was changed democratically when governments were devolved to Scotland and Wales. What is of interest now in Scotland is the S.N.P. If these nationalists are Republican they haven’t said so. If the S.N.P. were to declare openly that they are Republican with the aim of abolishing the U.K. constitution and the Head of State and establish a Republic of Scotland with a Scottish President S.N.P. fortunes in Scotland could collapse. They seem to be opting for independence as a Scottish Nation within the existing constitutional set up; that is realistic strategy.

The S.N.P. strategy is similar to the strategy put forward in the thesis of a Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain with a reformed Crown as Head of State. I know this thesis drives Republicans up the walls but it is a central constitutional position between the extremes of Tricolour Republicanism and Union Jack Unionism. A Federal Kingdom is a change of constitution and would require The National Government of Ireland Act to synthesise Nationalism and Unionism. This has been set out in a published version of the Act that runs to 20,000 words so the task is immense. Union Jack Unionism and Tricolour are divisive so the intelligent thing to do is to scrap both and replace them with a central constitution acceptable in both communities; this is possible feasible and doable in the Act under consideration to give a win-win out come to Nationalists and Loyalists What is needed is the will to do it with a voluntary political centre in N. Ireland

Michael Gillespie

Bloody Sunday and a Perceived Constitution

2010-07-15T01:58:00.000-07:00

The Rape of Virgin Munchindun

2010-07-08T05:32:00.000-07:00

The Rape of Virgin Munchindun

2010-07-08T05:23:00.000-07:00

Title:
The Rape of Virgin Munchindun
Sub Title:
Pen Name:
Michael Gillespie
Book ID:
66828
Author ID:
456041
Book Status
Sales Info
About the Book, About the Author, Free Preview

The Rape of Virgin Munchindun

2010-07-08T01:25:00.000-07:00

Munchindun is a fictional district in Co Tyrone N. Ireland

This topical novel deals with th e difficulties that exist between the communities in N. Ireland at the present time in a new interesting way

The novel tells a fascinating love story with a difference.

The book has been given a positive write up in the press.

The book--- THE RAPE OF VIRGIN MUNCHINDUN--- is available from Amazon Books on the Internet or through any book store.

Michael Gillespie Author

The Rape of Virgiv Munchindun

2010-07-08T01:24:00.001-07:00

Bloody Sunday and a Perceived Constitution

2010-07-07T23:09:00.000-07:00

A Federal Kingdom Fits the Bill

2009-11-21T05:26:00.000-08:00

A Federal Kingdom Fits the Bill

Fair Deal writing about the D.U.P. 20TH Nov writes: -
“ It will seek to shape the union by campaigning for a new constitutional settlement based on our cherished values of equal citizenship- a Federal U.K. with a written constitution and a Bill of Rights.”

What Fair Deal has in mind in a Federal U.K. is the constitutional set up in the Federal United States of America. In the United States there is a powerful central government ruling over subservient states with residual governmental powers. But would that model satisfy the people here. In Fair Deal’s Federal U.K. a powerful central government at Westminster would rule over a subservient N. Ireland with only residual powers. In that model the flag in N. Ireland would be the Union Jack but would that flag be acceptable on the Falls and Bogside? Again the anthem would b e –God Save the Queen—but would that be sung in the Nationalist community? In Fair Deal’s Federal U.K. the people would still be divided along sectarian lines.

There is however another Federal model. That is where a treaty or compact is entered into between two equal states. This model would yield a Federal Kingdom for these islands. The canvass to be worked on in this context is an all Ireland canvass. In this there would be a dual constitution, an unwritten constitution for G.B. as of now with a new written constitution for the nation of Ireland expressed in The National Government of Ireland Act. The Act would give among much else a flag, an anthem, a passport and a statement of rights as acceptable to the Catholics of Kerry as to the Protestants of Derry in a non-sectarian Ireland. Fair Deal should think again.

Michael Gillespie Derry

Racism in These Islands

2009-10-29T04:54:00.000-07:00

Racism in These Islands.

It could be that the British National Party has touched a raw nerve in the body of British and Irish politics. It is reckoned that the B.N.P. could obtain a vote of 22% in a British election. This issue has to do with a wide spread concern in working class areas due to an influx of new wave immigrants into their midst. There are those in Belfast and Derry who have been out protesting about the racism of the B.N.P. Such protestors should look at racism on their own Ulster doorstep first.

Is such fear of new wave immigration real or imaginary? The reality of the concern can be paralleled at home in Irish history. In the 16th century a people of different race, culture, religion and language came to Ireland in the plantation of Ulster. The whirlwind of this was reaped in the 20th century in a partitioned island, over 30 years of intercommunal (racist) violence and in the racist sectarian ghettoes of Belfast and Derry and elsewhere. This is the historic fruit of introducing an immigrant population into a country. But Irish history has another parallel. The Normans came to Ireland uninvited and settled here but in that case all was well in the long term because the Normans integrated with the native Irish and became “more Irish than the Irish themselves” This immigration was to the benefit of Ireland.

If the new wave immigrants to G.B. and Ireland become as British as the British themselves and as Irish as the Irish themselves then the migration will be of benefit to all. It would seem that the majority of new wave immigrants see themselves in that way. If however there are some who wish to live apart and separate from the indigenous people, as the Ulster planters opted to do, for the future health of these islands such people should be excluded.

Michael Gillespie. Derry

Sir Reg/Mr Durkan

2009-09-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

4 Rotherwood Drive Tel 028 71 285 807 Email macgil@hotmail.co.uk

Killfennan

L’Derry

N. Ireland

BT47 5SY

13/July/ 09

Dear Mr Durkan

I have taken courage and am making bold to write to you on a complex political theme; the theme is the reform of the United Kingdom Constitution as the only route out of the inherent violence of N. Ireland. The violence of this 12th prompts this.

I was formerly a teacher but I retired from that to devote my energies to work on the Irish problem and its solution. On that theme I have published a novel with Authorhouse titled THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE. I have a second novel coming out shortly on the same theme titled THE RAPE OF VIRGIN MUNCHINDUN where Munchindun is a fictional district in Tyrone. I also maintain an extensive blog on this theme on: -
www.blogstoday.co.uk/irishproblemsolved.blog
This blog is read as far afield as California. My version of the National Government of Ireland Act, which is central to this letter, can be found in the novel THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE.

My political views in this writing are personal but the views are sincerely held. In terms of the politics of this island I am not a Nationalist, Republican or Union Jack Unionist. These are now past their use by date and should be disposed of, and replaced by the new improved concept of Federal Unionism-Early Sinn. In my reading of Irish political history initially Arthur Griffiths who founded Sinn Fein in 1904, wanted a government for Ireland with a dual monarchy. When this is examined in depth Early Sinn Fein was federal unionist and if Griffith’s initial ideas had been developed with patience and hadn’t been swept away by the sectarian violence of 1916 Ireland today would be united under the Crown, a nation similar to Canada. But that, I admit is an “if only” of Irish history. 1916 changed things but the changes were for the worse.

Two things have prompted me to write to you. As noted there is the upsurge in violence during the current 12th demonstrations. Windbags on the media and in the press have roundly condemned this but that is a waste of time. Violence is endemic in Northern Ireland. Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein can ask and answer the question ---“Why is this?”

My second reason for writing has to do with a quote of Sir Reg Empey taken from the Belfast Telegraph, which goes like this: -

“My parties role in the Belfast Agreement is to free this country from the shackles that tied us all to sectarian based head counts and mutual distrust.”

The sentiment is fine and is to be applauded but he doesn’t say how to achieve this. Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein can supply the know-how in freeing us from the shackles of sectarianism and mutual mistrust.

To grasp the know-how one must understand Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein’s analysis of the problem. That concept identifies sectarianism as the sickness of Ireland (all of it) and the cause of the sickness can be traced to the U.K. constitution. This constitution is flawed in that it is undemocratic and unwritten and because it lacks the support of all of the people of N. Ireland it is imposed militarily on those who object to it. A purpose of the 12th demonstrations is to ram the constitution down the throats of those who object to it and a significant body of people find U.K. constitution objectionable, to wit the De Brun vote in the recent European election. The Orange Order can throw up a smoke screen of Protestant cultural expression (whatever protestant culture is) but the people aren’t fooled. The flaunting of Union Jacks on the streets and the making of union speeches at the field demonstrate that Orange Parades are about the imposition of the U.K. constitution on those who object to it.

Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein rejects dogma in politics and embraces secularism, which replaces political dogma with reason, logic and observation. The adoption of secularism and the rejection of political dogma in Ireland is another prerequisite in finding a solution to the Irish Problem.

Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein puts forward as basic to the solution of the Irish Problem, the reform of U.K. constitution in the written National Government of Ireland Act. In this way the existing unwritten undemocratic constitution can be changed from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain or vice versa. As it is now constituted N. Ireland is unstable and prone to communal violence. It is observable that there are two heads of state involved, two conflicting national flags being flown, two conflicting national anthems being sung and two conflicting national passports being travelled on. The state thus constituted is a state at war with itself and in such a state violence is endemic. Such a state requires a new written constitution expressed in the National Government of Ireland Act as follows: -

(a) One head of state: the reformed Crown whose constitutional duties in all Ireland are defined and clearly stated in writing in the Act.
(b) One National Flag. In the case of the National Government of Ireland Act the national flag would be The Royal Flag of Ireland. This flag should be the existing Tricolour with the Red Cross of St Patrick imposed on the white central panel of the tricolour along with the Crown and harp symbols in blue and with a shamrock symbol. This flag should be defined in the Act as The Royal Flag of Ireland which is at one and the same time, the National Flag of Ireland and the symbol of the Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain or vice versa. The Union Jack should remain as the National Flag of Great Britain and be the symbol of The Federal Kingdom of Great Britain and the Sovereign Nation of Ireland. in Great Britain. Joining the two national flags together as one, is more sensible than trying to join Martin Mc Guinness and Peter Robinson together at the hip in the Assembly. These men symbolize irreconcilable constitutional positions and conflict. This is only one piece of the constitutional jigsaw. The version of the Act given in THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE runs to 20,000 words and attempts to deal with all aspects of life on this island.
©One National Anthem, which can be sung by all. There are many good songs in Ireland that would suit this.
(d)One National Passport written in Irish and English showing a picture of the Crown as head of state
(e) One central government in Dublin named Dail Eireann with legislative powers devolved to four Provincial Houses: -
The Ulster House
The Munster House
The Leinster House
The Connaugh House

All of that is part of the know-how of Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein and in the National Government of Ireland Act a written constitution can be designed for Ireland that should be as acceptable to the Catholics of Kerry as to the Protestants of Derry. This is possible feasible and doable but to do it will require the restructuring of the political centre in Northern Ireland. In N. Ireland the political centre is fractured in three between the U.U.P. the S.D.L.P. and the Alliance Party. A single central party should be set up under the banner of Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein. Such a party should take as its platform the reform of the U.K. constitution as outlined in this letter and have as its flag The Royal flag of Ireland. The party should make clear to all that it is united Ireland friendly, union friendly and Crown friendly. In that way the party is for all, is non-sectarian and crosses the communal divide.

I have also written to Ms Ruane minister for education not about politics: we are poles apart on politics but about education where we can communicate. The good lady gave me a written reply that was positive, well informed and at length In general she said her views on selection in education were not incompatible with mine. A copy of this article can be found at the blog address given at the beginning of this letter by scrolling down to page 3 to Selection at Eleven.

I would be most grateful if you would reply to this letter either by letter or by email in a positive informed and significant way. The views in this letter are sincerely put forward as the only way to a genuine peace in Ireland. The current so called peace is a bogus peace. You can show this letter to your colleagues in the party.
Yours Sincerely

Michael Gillespie B.Ed B.Sc(Econ) DipEd D.A.S.E. M.A.(Ed)
Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

Religion, Culture and the Constitution

2009-08-31T05:59:00.000-07:00

Religion Culture and the Constitution.

It is clear that Orange parades are contentious in parts of the six counties/ N. Ireland. In catholic areas these parades are at least protested against and at most opposed with violence. Why is this? Is the root cause religion or culture or the constitution. Which?

Religion

If the Orange parades were simply about Protestantism and those taking part paraded with bibles alone then in such circumstances an eyebrow wouldn’t be raised. If the parades ended solely in the preaching of sermons full of biblical quotes and in the singing of robust revivalist hymns, the parades would go unnoticed. So since the parades are opposed sometimes with spitting, sometimes with violence, some thing more than Protestantism is being put on display.

Culture

It is currently fashionable for the Orange Order to claim that the parades are about the expression of Protestant culture. So what is culture and more especially Protestant culture? Culture is a slippery concept. Chairman Mao said the people move in culture as fish move in water. According to the dictionary culture in the broadest sense is the totality of socially transmitted behaviour patterns arts, beliefs, institutions and all other works of human thought characteristic of a community or a people. If however Orange Parades were simply socially transmitted behaviour patterns and seen as artistic expressions on banners and the upholding of beliefs and institutions Protestant culture would pass unnoticed. More particularly the popular view of culture is that it has to do with literature, art works, music, language, dance, folklore and legend. In all of that in what sense are Orange parades an expression of all works of thought in the Protestant community? What is Protestant literature? All there is, are the Weaver poets but for those who take poetry seriously those are local doggerel pieces and express a weak culture. So the Orangemen aren’t being stoned over poetry. Of course Ulster Scots claim Robert Burns as part of their culture but the culture expressed by Burns is not indigenous to Ulster but is apart from it. What then are the art works of the protestant community? There are folk murals painted on gable walls by folk artists. Again this art is the expression of a weak culture. What of music? There’s a slim volume of Orange songs but the songs are characteristic of Irish culture. What of language? Some Protestants claim they have a native tongue in Ulster Scots. This is part of the claim that N. Ireland is a nation but the people are split over both claims. A referendum to sort out whether Ulster Scots is a language or not would be useful. What of dance? Some Protestants adopt Scottish dance as their culture but if the Orangemen were dancing strath-speys on Royal Avenue in Belfast and if the Apprentice Boys were doing Highland Flings on Derry’s walls no one would give a damn The Orange Order demonstrations are about much more than that. What of folklore and mythology? There’s Irish folklore but no Ulster Scots folklore. There are those who connect N. Ireland with the legendary Finn Mc Cool but Finn belongs to Irish legend. The upshot of this evaluation of protestant culture is that it is weak in nature but if the Orange parades were solely about culture no hair would be turned on anyone’s head. So why the violent bitter reaction connected with such parades?

The Constitution.

To get to the root of this question one must examine U.K. constitution. The problem here is that Protestantism and the constitution have been intertwined since the battle of the Boyne. The U.K. constitution is unwritten and proceeds by historic precedent, historic practice and convention. The battle of the Boyne is part of the historic precedent of U.K. constitution and from that has arisen the notion of a protestant ascendancy and protestant ruling class. In that way church and state in U.K. constitution isn’t separate and apart but are closely interwoven so in effect U.K. constitution gives a protestant state for a protestant people. While U.K. constitution may be no longer be seen that way in secular Great Britain this view of the constitution is alive and seen as valid in Protestant Ireland. While this is unwritten it is intuitively felt in Ireland. For that reason U.K. constitution has understandably been rejected by Catholic Ireland and clung to by Protestant Ireland. Because of this U.K. constitution has a violent history in Ireland. This constitutional conflict is still observable today in the streets of Belfast and Derry Orange parades nowadays are an assertion of the Protestant ascendancy mentality built into U.K. constitution. The Protestant ascendancy notion was copper fastened in Ireland in the1801 Act of Union. Thereafter protestant Ireland hijacked the protestant Crown so that in Ireland the Crown is seen as a Crown for Protestants. This is the situation in present day N. Ireland where the Queen on state visits to N. Ireland is confined to protestant districts. Catholic districts are no-go areas for the Queen but on state occasions a handful of tame Catholics are brought into the Queen’s presence to gloss the matter over.

To resolve this deep-seated problem of the U.K. constitution in Ireland church and state will have to be separated. While the intertwining of church and state in Great Britain doesn’t present a problem because there church and state go hand in glove in the established Protestant church (the Church of England is the Tory party at prayer); in Ireland it does present a serious problem in that the vast majority of the people are Catholic. In Ireland in U.K. constitution church and state will have to separate. This can be done in a specific written Irish constitution for Ireland, namely The National Government of Ireland Act. In this Act the Crown should be defined as Christian as far as Ireland is concerned and neutral in relation to the denominational churches. In doing this the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland would need to change to The Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain or vice versa depending upon ones perception of these islands.

The National Government of Ireland would require much more and should cover life in Ireland and the history thereof. A version of the national Government of Ireland can be found in the book THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE---published by Authorhouse and it will give a good idea of what the Act would require. In the Act the battle of the Boyne and the Orange Order would still remain as a centrepiece of the new Federal Kingdom Constitution. The Orange Order would need reform in this manner: -
(1) The Order should become the Royal Orange Order of Ireland.
(2) Each member would take an oath to be loyal to the Crown, to uphold civil and religious liberty, to be Christian in belief, religious practice, moral outlook, behaviour and in speech.
(3)The expectation that each member would adopt an ecumenical spirit.
(4)The 12th July t o be declared a National Holiday in Ireland.
(5)Freedom of access to Irish territory in all its aspects.

A detailed development of this reform can be found in the book –THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE—article 10 The Orange Order Page 231

Mark Durkan and a United Ireland

2009-08-31T05:53:00.000-07:00

4 Rotherwood Drive Tel 71285807 Email macgil@hotmail.co.uk

Kilfennan

L’Derry

BT47 5SY

13/08/09

Dear Mr Durkan

I thank you for your reply to my letter and for bringing to my attention your policy document A United Ireland and the Agreement, which I have read carefully. M y first impression of the document is that it bears no relationship to the Ireland in which I live. The document says that the S.D.L.P. is 100% for a United Ireland and is 100% for the Good Friday Agreement. These are fine words but they spring from Republican dogma about a united Ireland but Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein disavows dogma as the curse of Irish Politics and puts in its place secularism, which operates on reason logic and observation.

On observation what has followed from the Good Friday Agreement? There is now a Right Wing Union Jack Unionist Assembly at Stormont propped up by Republican/Nationalist people. Sectarianism is now institutionalized and partition copper fastened. In Belfast and Derry the people sulk behind peace walls flying a sectarian Union Jack on the one hand and flying a sectarian Irish Tricolour on the other. Kerbs are painted red white and blue by some and green white and orange by others. This actual world is absent from the S.D.L.P. document on a United Ireland. For Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein this observed world is irrational and illogical and needs change. These circumstances in the cities can only be changed with a new genuinely Irish constitution expressed in the National Government of Ireland Act which will give symbols and emblems acceptable to all, namely loyalists and others. That vision of unity is clear. The S.D.L.P. see unity in Ireland through a glass darkly.

You highlight the following: -

We seek a united Ireland that is confident pluralist and non-sectarian. One that can find the magnanimity to offer a home to those who are Irish but also to those among us who are British. One that is not afraid of differing identities and allegiances. One that will respect and protect them all.

And Also

The right to identify ones self as British or Irish

I say with respect that all of this is dangerous nonsense The S.D.L.P. and many others misunderstand pluralism Correctly understood a pluralist society or state is one made up of many religions. There is no difficulty with that. America is a prime example, so is Germany but I can’t think of any stable democracy in the world that is made up of many identities. From the melting pot in America the citizen emerges with a single identity American. The S.D.L.P. recognition of a spurious right to recognise oneself as either British or Irish would perpetuate sectarianism in Ireland and would build instability into the country just as the six counties /N. Ireland is now unstable with a dual identity.

In this the S.D.L.P. lacks insight into the nature and sensitivity of being British just as Right Wing Union Jack Unionism lacks insight into the nature and sensitivity of being Irish. In your document you say the S.D.L.P is the party of true Republicanism. In that statement is written the death sentence of an S.D.L.P. UNITED Ireland. The sap of being British is the right to be loyal to the Crown so how can that right be recognised in an S.D.L.P. Republic? Loyalty to the Crown is the sine qua non of being a unionist as well so how can a unionist exist in a United Ireland proposed by a Republican S.D.L.P.? In a Republic the right to be loyal to the Crown would be suppressed just as loyalty to the Crown has been suppressed in the 26 county Republic. Because of that loyalist Ireland in the South voted against the state with their feet by walking out until Protestant loyalists on the banks of the Shannon are nowadays as scarce and rare as Sioux Indians are on the banks of the Mississippi. On the other hand Catholics in the six counties increased and multiplied under the Crown.

Unlike the S.D.L. P. Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein has a vision of a new united Ireland in which there is no inconsistency in being loyal to the reformed Crown and in being Irish. In Ireland the right of loyalty to the reformed Crown would be freely expressed in a Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland And Great Britain. It should be noted that loyalty would be to a reformed Crown not a BRITISH Crown. To ask the Irish to be loyal to a British Crown would be an historic inconsistency. The necessary reforms of the Crown are examined in the novel THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE (Authorhouse). In the National Government of Ireland Act all on the Island would be defined as Irish citizens but the sap of loyalty would still rise in the historic trunk of loyalist Ireland and surge into its traditional branches so that in a united Ireland, Loyalist Ireland would flourish increase and multiply.

To look at loyalty in a human way as a secularist using reason logic and observation, it can be observed that loyalty is a praiseworthy worthwhile human attribute be it loyalty to wife, husband, family, friend, company, church, country, or the Crown. Because loyalty is a human attribute its free expression is a human right. Loyalty to the Crown goes with out mention in the S.D.L.P. document a United Ireland and because of that the document is seriously flawed. This blind spot in the vision of the S.D.L.P. wounds the historic psyche of Protestant Ireland and thus wounded, Protestant Ireland will avoid unity.

The S.D.L.P. document talks of an Irish constitution. What does an Irish constitution mean to the S.D.L.P.? Is it a code for a Republican constitution in which Irishness and Republicanism are intertwined and loyalism is excluded like the 1937 constitution? The National Government of Ireland Act is a genuinely written Irish Constitution giving equal recognition to both Irish Ireland and Loyalist Ireland. Its full content can be found in the novel mentioned previously.

The S.D.L.P. states that in their United Ireland there would still be Unionists. These unionists Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein calls Right Wing Union Jack Unionists to distinguish them from Royal Flag of Ireland unionists, as is Federal Unionism. So in a S.D.L.P. united Ireland these union Jack Unionists would fly the Union Jack while others would fly the Republican Irish Tricolour. In such a United Ireland sectarianism would be writ large and civil strife would be endemic. Has the S.D.L.P. got s policy document on the eradication of sectarianism? In a United Ireland with the Irish constitution, The National Government of Ireland Act, sectarianism would wither away and die out.

Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein states clearly it is union friendly. In principle there is no objection to a union between these islands just as there can be no objection in principle to a union between European Nations. What can be objected to is the implementation and maintenance of such a union? If the 1801 Act of Union had been implemented democratically according to the wishes of the Irish People there would never have been a problem with the union. It is recognised that democracy wasn’t in place in the Ireland of the time. Instead the Union was implemented by chicanery deceit and corruption and imposed and maintained militarily. Such a union is unacceptable and was right fully opposed. In 1922 the Act of Union was again imposed militarily on those who didn’t want it and objected to it. The Union was challenged in the Civil Rights Movement and that movement altered the nature of Union Jack Unionism but Civil Rights became infected with the dogma of sectarian catholic 1916 uprising. This dogma infects the thinking of The S.D.L.P. The secularist Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein maintains and rightly so that the U.K. constitution which has been rejected by the vast majority of the people of this Island and by a significant body of people in the six counties/N. Ireland, needs to be replaced by the Federal Kingdom expressed in the Irish constitution, The National Government of Ireland Act, which will give an Irish Constitution acceptable to the Catholics of Kerry and to the Protestants of Derry.

The S.D.L.P. also lay great stress on a majority in the six counties/N Ireland. It is accepted by the S.D.L.P. that N. Ireland can remain within the U.K .for as long as the Majority so wish. When analysed that means that the U.K. constitution will remain for as long as the majority so wish. But this deception should be nailed in Ireland. For a constitution to be democratic it has to enjoy the support of the overwhelming majority of the people not a marginal majority, as is the case in N. Ireland. Suppose in the U.S.A. the constitution was supported by the white community but was opposed by the black community. Suppose this set-up resulted in the flying of the Stars and Stripes for whites and The Hammer and the Sickle for blacks with an Anthem for whites and an anthem for blacks, with a passport for whites and a passport for blacks, with a first president for whites in the Oval Office and a deputy first President for blacks also in the Oval Office, the U.S.A. would be torn with civil strife and the United States would fall apart. But that constitutional set-up is in place in the Six counties so it is small wonder there are walls in the cities and sectarian strife in the streets despite the Good Friday Agreement.

It is also mentioned in the S.D.L.P. document that Late Sinn Fein accepts Union Jack Unionism’s consent and assent to a United Ireland. That day will only come when Right Wing Union Jack Unionism converts en masse to Republicanism and does an historic volte-face and disavows the Crown.

A regional Parliament is also recognised at Stormont. Why should Ulster be given special treatment in Ireland? Why not devolve power from the central government in Dublin to assemblies in the capitals of the four Irish provinces and bring the democratic legislative process as close to the grass roots as possible.

Finally the S.D.L.P. makes no mention of the presence of a British garrison in Ireland That presence is now accepted by the S.D.L.P. and Late Sinn Fein. The presence is not acceptable to Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein but it has the Know-how to deal with the problem. If the National Government of Ireland Act were in place in Ireland then it would be a Constitutional Imperative that the British garrison leave Ireland and take the Union Jack with them, the Union Jack being replaced by The Royal Flag of Ireland the design of the flag being described in my original letter. This is a complex military matter; the full complexity is dealt with in THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE (Authorhouse) and can be found in article 9 page 223

All of this requires that the U.U.P., The S.D.L.P. and the Alliance Party form a central coalition as Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein. In that way these three parties would cease to be small fish in three small ponds but would become large fish in one large United Ireland pond. In such a United Ireland, Irish Ireland and Loyalist Ireland would live happily together with a single Irish identity and with the children of each tradition cherished equally in a Federal Kingdom where Catholic Protestant and Dissenter are united in the name of Irishman under the Crown. . The Government of Ireland Act partitioned the island only the National Government of Ireland Act can unite it
With Regards Michael Gillespie

Blame the Constitution not the Rioters

2009-07-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

Blame the Constitution not the Rioters

IN his letter July 18 Mr Stevenson adopts the blinkered viewpoint that for him and people in general all that matters in a country is the bread and butter economy, to paraphrase his position. As a Christian economist I would bring this quote to Mr Stevenson’s attention: -

Not by bread alone does man live but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

This suggests to me there is higher spiritual order in the life of the individual than bread and butter economics. An individual’s belly isn’t the whole person, as the adherents of a consumer, debt driven, obesity ridden, socio-economy would have us believe.

With that in mind I would point out to Mr Stevenson that in any state there is a higher order than the economy. It is the constitution. A state constitution that has the support of all of the people is a pre-condition for a stable peaceful state that will enjoy vital economic growth and wealth creation. This is missing in the six county/ N. Ireland state. There the state constitution has only the support of some of the people but not all. There are two conflicting heads of state involved two conflicting national flags and anthems, with two conflicting national passports. Such a state is constituted, as being at war with itself so it is not surprising that hotheaded youths in Ardoyne will resort to warlike acts. For Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein these misguided individuals cannot be written off as mindless thugs as the press does but are seen as the tragic victims of an unwritten, undemocratic, imposed and indefensible six county/ N. Ireland state constitution. Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein can supply an answer. It is the reform of the United Kingdom constitution to the written Federal Kingdom constitution. The know-how for this is set out in the Blog: -

www.blogstoday.co.uk/irishproblemsolved.blog

The know-how to change the United Kingdom to a Federal Kingdom will require the political centre in N. Ireland to unite into a single central party under the banner of Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein. The political centre in N. Ireland is fractured in three into the U.U.P., the S.D.L.P. and the Alliance Party. These three parties should form a single party as indicated. This new central party should take as its platform the reform of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland into the Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain or vice versa depending on whether one is speaking from an Irish or British perspective. This reform should be expressed in the National Government of Ireland Act. The central party should make clear to all that it is United Ireland friendly, Union and Crown friendly. In this way the new central party Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein will be a party for all and is non-sectarian.

In such a reformed Federal kingdom in relation to Ireland expressed in the National Government of Ireland Act there would be: -
(a) One Head of State – a reformed Crown whose constitutional duties in all Ireland would be defined and stated clearly in writing in the Act.
(b) One national flag in Ireland---the Royal Flag of Ireland. This should be a redesign of the existing tricolour with the Red Cross of St Patrick imposed on the white central panel of the Tricolour along with a Crown and harp emblems in blue. At the bottom of the central panel there should be a shamrock in outline. This flag should be defined in the Act as being, at one and the same time, the National flag of Ireland and the symbol of the Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain. The Union Jack would be defined in the Act as the national flag of Great Britain and the symbol of Great Britain and the Sovereign Nation of Ireland. This is only a small piece in the jigsaw of the Act. A fully developed version of the Act can be found in the novel ---THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE--- Published by Authorhouse and available at Amazon Books. This version of the Act runs to over 20,000 words and is an attempt to cover all aspects of life in Ireland Joining the flags together as a composite is more sensible than attempting to join Peter Robinson and Martin Mc Guinness at the hip at Stormont; these men stand for division and violence in Ireland and their coalition at Stormont is a constitutional absurdity.

© One National Anthem, which can be sung by all. There are many fine songs in Ireland, any one of which would suit this.

(d) One National passport written in Irish and English showing a picture of the Crown as Head of State.

(e) One National Central Government in Dublin called Dail Eireann with legislative power devolved to four Provincial Houses: -
(1) The House of Ulster.
(2) The House of Munster.
(3) The House of Leinster.
(4) The House of Connaugh.

The main problem to be faced in all of this is the reality that Ireland is bedevilled with rigid political doctrinal mindsets. If a Federal Kingdom is to be put in place these doctrinal mindsets will have to be replaced with secular politics. Secular politics are grounded in reason, logic and observation. To eradicate rigid mindsets that are frozen in belief about personalities of bygone times will be a difficult uphill struggle. Mind sets that embody Tone and Pearse on the one hand and King William at the Boyne, the U.V.F. at the Somme and Craig, Carson and the Ulster Covenant on the other,. are deeply embedded in the Irish psyche and will be difficult to uproot but this will have to be undertaken if a Federal Kingdom of peace harmony and reconciliation is to be realized. This rigid doctrinaire belief can be a preamble to violence.

But even so it is still possible to design a Federal Kingdom constitution for all Ireland, which should be as acceptable to the Catholics of Kerry as to the Protestants of Derry and in that way a peaceful stable United Ireland arrived at in which Catholic Protestant and Dissenter are united as Irishmen. The Government of Ireland Act partitioned the Island only the National Government of Ireland Act can reunite the island

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

The Orangefest on the Shankill

2009-07-10T05:53:00.000-07:00

The Orangefest on the Shankill

Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein has read in the press that the purpose of the Orangefest on the Shankill is to make the 12th of July parades more inclusive. What does inclusive mean? Inclusive of what? Does it mean in the future Catholics will be out on the Twelfth waving Union Jacks and singing—God Save the Queen? Or could it mean the Orangemen will be out waving Tricolours and singing Amhran na bhFiain. Any one with half a brain knows that neither scenario will ever happen so what does Inclusive mean?

Federal Unionism-Early Sinn sees clearly that the sectarian problem typified by the Twelfth demonstrations springs from the nature of the U.K. constitution. This constitution is unwritten undemocratic and imposed and the Orange marches are part of the imposition of this constitution on those who don’t want it. That is how this unwritten constitution works. Hence the inherent violence connected with Orange parades. The Orangefest fools no one. Those who object to the U.K. constitution are having it rammed down their throats by the Orange Order.

The only way the Orange Parades can be made genuinely inclusive and peaceful and acceptable to all is by reforming the U.K. constitution in relation to Ireland as envisaged in the Blog: -
www.blogstoday.co.uk/irishproblemsolved.blog

Scroll down to page 2 of-- Martin and the Orange Order-- and also c.f. the version of the National Government of Ireland Act given in the novel THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE, published by Authorhouse in Article 10 the Orange Order page 231

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein Derry

Mr Doibhilin is Dispirited

2009-07-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

Mr O Doibhilin is dispirited.

Mr O Doibhilin in his letter to the press feels that since Nelson Mc Causland(the culture minister in the assembly) is Oxford educated he should be open minded, free from prejudice and bias when it comes to Irish culture. Mr O Doibhilin fails to understand the weighting educationalists give to schooling in the formation of person, character, attitude and mentality in the individual.

According to the thinking of educationists, in the formation of the individual, family background is given a weighting of 60, the community background is given a weighting of 30 and education and schooling are weighted as 10. So Mr Mc Causland’s Oxford education is neither here nor there. It is his family and community background that matters in the formation of Mr Mc Causland’s mentality.

These weightings are borne out in my own experience. Many years ago when I was a student in Belfast students came up to Queens from Republican/ Nationalist backgrounds carrying with them a baggage of prejudice and bias. In Queen’s they joined Republican/Nationalist clubs and societies and had their bias and prejudice reinforced. They went down from Queens with their family and communal prejudice intact and strengthened. On the other hand students from a Union Jack Unionist family and community background went up to Queen’s with a different baggage of bias and prejudice joined Union Jack Unionist clubs and societies and went down from the university with their bias and prejudice intact and reinforced This is the only realistic verdict to be passed on education in the six counties/N. Ireland. Change will only come from the new unbiased thinking of Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein not from Oxford or Q.U.B. Ireland needs new thinking, which can be found in the blog www.blogstoday.co.uk/irishproblemsolved.blog

Mi9chael Gillespie B.Ed B.Sc(Econ) Dip.Ed D.A.S.E. M.A.(Ed)

Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

The Ascendancy

2009-07-06T23:44:00.000-07:00

The Ascendancy

Reflecting on the Irish problem as I often do, it seems to me that the existence of the protestant ascendancy in Ireland is at the root of this historic problem. The protestant ascendancy in Ireland rose to prominence and power in Ireland at the battle of the Boyne where the protestant King William defeated the catholic King James. In Ireland the protestant minority community became the ruling class as of right and ruled a defeated penalized catholic majority. This convention was retained in the 1801 Act of Union and thereafter the will of the protestant minority was what mattered while the will of the catholic majority was of little consequence.

With the setting up of the Northern Ireland six county statelet whose constitution was the unwritten imposed 1801 constitution, protestant ascendancy rule continued in the six counties and the state was kept constitutionally stable by the suppression of the catholic minority identity. I can recall living in West Belfast prior to the upsurge of the civil rights campaign in a new housing development whose inhabitants were 50/50 catholic/protestant. Relationships in the estate were excellent even though a few Union Jacks appeared on the Twelfth of July at the marching season but a display of the Irish Tricolour couldn’t be considered, as the police wouldn’t tolerate it. Indeed there are those who date the beginning of the troubles to a protestant protest led by Ian Paisley, against the display of an Irish Tricolour in a shop window in the catholic Lower Falls. My reading of the civil Rights Movement is that historically it mounted a challenge to Protestant ascendancy rule in the six counties and had the reforms envisaged by Terence O Neill been implemented with the backing of Ian Paisley there wouldn’t have been violence in the six county state. In later times Ian has made the magnanimous concession that in Northern Ireland Catholics can have anything they want and so they can, provided they don’t want rid of an unwritten imposed undemocratic U.K. constitution and don’t demand a catholic as first minister. However The Civil Rights Movement was hijacked by Republicans and corrupted by Republican violence and atrocity.

While there is now a bogus peace in the six counties since the Assembly was set up yet there remains an under-belly of violent discord in sectarian clashes in the streets of Derry between Catholic and Protestant youths, in the defacing of Orange and G.A.A. halls and in the continued existence of dissident Republican groups, namely the Real and Continuity I.R.A. to say northing of the peace walls in Belfast. Still in this analysis, this violence and discord will persist as long as an imposed unwritten undemocratic constitution remains in place in the six counties. The impact of this constitutional set-up is a clash of wills between the marginal Protestant majority and a significant Catholic minority. This clash of wills is expressed in the painting of kerbstones red, white and blue, and green, white and orange and in the flying of disparate conflicting flags. In this dichotomy the two communities sulk in mutual resentment behind peace walls in Belfast and in Derry in a bogus peace.. In the Assembly defeated Republicans sit in collaboration with a diametrically opposed Party, Right Wing Union Jack Unionism who have still to come to terms with the new reality that the days of the ascendancy are now over, but these are being propped up by Late Sinn Fein who are the arch enemies of and the implacable foes of the Union and are out to destroy it. Late Sinn Fein first used brute force but that effort was defeated; now they resort to political stealth but the destruction of the union remains their sole aim. But Late Sinn Fein must accept the cold reality that the only strategic rout to an all Ireland Republic is by the Protestant minority in Ireland converting en masse to Republicanism, a conversion that will not happen now or never since the central plank of Protestant culture is loyalty to the Crown. That said the Protestant loyalist community must also face the cold reality that since the days of the protestant ascendancy are over, the unwritten imposed U.K. constitution that goes with the ascendancy notion, has collapsed and is finished. There was a strong whiff of ascendancy rule about Ian Paisley and this whiff lingers with the D.U.P. and as long as this remains there will be Republicans to oppose it. There is also a strong whiff of ascendancy in the mentality of the Orange Order in the clash of communal wills at Garvaghey Road. The British cut the Provisional head off the I.R.A. monster but like the Lernean Hydra of old, the decapitated I.R.A. monster sprouted two new heads, The Real and Continuity I.R.A.

If this horror scenario is to be avoided in the six county state, then the people there will have to think again and anew about their constitutional future. New thinking will need a new party, which should be a united Ireland friendly, and the union and Kingdom friendly party. Such a party can be Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein, which should promote a new concept of a Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain in a National Government of Ireland Act. This Act should synthesise Unionism and Nationalism and in so doing draw up institutions and symbols, in a written constitution, which is acceptable to all, be they Catholic Protestant or Dissenter. In this way a genuinely peaceful united Ireland can be realized within a Federal Kingdom dimension.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

When is a war over?

2009-07-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

When is a War over?

Federal Unionism reads with scepticism the current hype in the press about arm’s decommissioning and the peace process. For the unionist establishment parties and the press, everything in the garden is now rosy because the war is over but when is a war over?

Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein obstinately maintains that the historic roots of discord and violence in Ireland past and present, lie in the constitution. If correctly observed, the six-counties/ N. Ireland is now constituted as being at war. There are two heads of state involved, two national flags being flown, two national anthems being sung and two national conflicting passports being travelled on. As well, the citizens of Belfast and Derry have barricaded themselves behind walls with kerbs painted in conflicting national colours. The war mentality persists in the constitution and is expressed in the murders at Mazareen and in Craigavon and in other diverse sectarian killings. The peace processes is phoney and fake.

Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein holds that a true genuine peace can only be found in a united Ireland context. To achieve this the U.K. constitution, which is undemocratic unwritten and imposed militarily, will have to be changed and replaced by a written democratic constitution which is acceptable to all on the Island. In this way the Island can be democratically constituted as united within a Federal Kingdom context as the Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain or vice versa. That is the only way Ireland can be made constitutionally stable, united and genuinely at peace. C.F. www.blogstoday.co.uk/irishproblemsolved.blog

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein Derry

Is Esther Rantzen anti-Irish

2009-07-03T05:47:00.000-07:00

Is the English woman Esther Rantzen anti-Irish?

The English woman Esther Rantzen is of the opinion that the people here are addicted to violence. This is a new variation by Esther on the old stage–Irish image of the fighting Irish. But do we deserve this image?

It is true the people here fought each other to a standstill over a period of 34 years. During that time there was an element in England who wrote that off, as characteristic of the Irish and these English would say they expected nothing else from the Irish but fighting.

It is indubitable that if the English had stayed out of Ireland violence on the island would have been at a minimum but if the English were at loggerheads over the constitution as the people here are, there would be wide spread violence in England as in the English Civil War. Our violence isn’t addictive; it is a product of our history of which the English are a part and carry much of the blame, past and present.A So Esther a more charitable and understanding view of the Irish would be in order.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

Adams and a United Ireland

2009-07-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

Adams and a United Ireland

The correspondent Jane Enwright writes with an air of pique about Mr Adams’ assertion that Irish America holds the key to a united Ireland. Ms Enwright fails to understand politics in general and Irish politics in particular. The curse of Irish politics is that it is dogma-driven but Ms Enwright should note that President Bush was a dogma-driven American politician so dogmatic politics is not unique to Ireland. The dogmatic politics of Mr Adams relies on the use of hurrah words and statements and boo words and statements. For an audience of Irish Republican Americans a united Ireland is an hurrah term which Mr Adams hasn’t thought through but when repeated often enough it will draw in sectarian votes in support. On the other hand if the boo term a United Kingdom is repeated often enough with derision in Republican circles sectarian votes will roll in in support. To look at the unionist side The United Kingdom is an hurrah term and if repeated often by Peter Robinson sectarian votes will be cast in abundance. However if the boo term a United Ireland is repeated often with derision in unionist ranks, a rich reward of sectarian votes will follow.

Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein yearns for the day in Ireland when secular politics relying on reason logic and observation will replace this form of dogmatic politics. Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein sees clearly that the only way Republicans can bring about a united Ireland is by having Protestant Ireland convert en masse to Republicanism but such a volte face is highly unlikely seeing that the central aspect of the Irish protestant psyche is loyalty to the Crown. But to look at the other side of the coin for as long as there is a military imposed U.K constitution in the six counties for so long will the peace process be phoney and a violent opposition will remain.

Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein is loyalist and Crown friendly and is also a united Ireland friendly for no other reason than that that approach to Ireland is morally right. To maintain division in Ireland is morally wrong. Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein points to a new united Ireland in a Federal Kingdom context in the blog –

www.blogstoday.co.uk/irishproblemsolved.blog

It is of special importance that this blog be brought to the attention of Jane Enwright, as she should find it instructive about Ireland.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein Derry

Adams and a United Ireland

Jane Enwright takes exception to Mr Adams’ assertion that Irish America holds the key to a united Ireland. A united Ireland is a complex constitutional matter but a united Ireland in a Federal Kingdom context is developed in full in the blog: -

www.blogstoday.co.uk/irishproblemsolved.blog

This blog should be brought to the attention of Jane Enwright.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein Derry

Are the Six Counties a Nation?

2009-06-28T13:28:00.001-07:00

Are the six counties / N. Ireland a nation?

According to current unionist political dogma the U.K. is made up of four nations, England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland. But does the dogma that N. Ireland is a nation stand-up to secularist scrutiny. This dogma is passionately held in some quarters but passionately disputed in others. A secular defence can be made for England, ~Scotland and Wales being nations even if Scotland seems to be taking the path to Independence. A secularist may ask what does independence mean for the Scots and in what form will it take. Will the form be a Republic of Scotland?

A secularist disavows dogma especially political dogma but sees reason logic and observation as the basis of political analysis and discussion. For a secularist, nationhood has nothing to do with ethnicity, genes, religion, skin colour, language o r territory but is bound up with the constitution of the place which the people adhere to. What makes Germany, France, Spain Italy and the U.S.A. et al nations, is that these places have a constitution accepted by the overwhelming mass of the people. For Europe to become a nation will require a European constitution. This has been attempted democratically but the constitution was democratically defeated. Currently the Lisbon Treaty is being smuggled in by an undemocratic back door.

For a secularist who relies on reason logic and observation a case for N. Ireland being a nation cannot be made. It has an unwritten imposed undemocratic constitution, which doesn’t enjoy the overwhelming support of the people of the place. It is observable in post civil rights N. Ireland that there are two heads of state involved, two national flags been flown, two national anthems being sung with two national passports being travelled on while in Derry and Belfast the two communities sulk behind peace walls with kerbs painted red white and blue on the one hand and green white and orange on the other. So the six county/ N. Ireland place is not a nation as on observation the people are in deep disagreement over the constitution.

But if N. Ireland as a nation falls down on observation does it stand up in logic? It is fashionable by some in the six counties to call themselves Northern Irish. Since I live in Derry I could call myself Northern Irish but if I do what does that make the people of Inisowen and Malin Town? Are they not Northern Irish as well? So the constitutional name of the six counties-- Northern Ireland--- doesn’t stand up in logic thus for a secularist the constitutional name of the six counties has to be rejected. In logic the six counties can only be called the six counties So N. Ireland isn’t a nation either in observation or in logic. The only conclusion a secularist can arrive at is that U.K. constitution is unreasonable in Ireland in that it is imposed militarily on a part of the island against the majority wishes of the entire island inhabitants and against the wishes of a significant sector of the population in that part of the island in which U.K. constitution is militarily imposed. For a secularist the constitutional set up here is unreasonable, illogical and is rejected on the grounds of observation but on top of all that U.K. constitution has been discredited when dogma-driven Right Wing Union Jack Unionism set up shop with dogma-driven Republican terrorists of Neo-Marxist Late Sinn Fein.

At this juncture this analysis might sound like a gift to dogma-driven Republican terrorists. This is not so. Secularists recognise Loyalty to the Crown as reasonable, logical and observable. Loyalty is a praiseworthy laudable human attribute be it loyalty to Crown, country, church, organization, or friend. Because of this loyalty is acceptable as logical and reasonable. Loyalty to the Crown is also observable as a reality in Ireland. It can be seen when expressed on the streets of the six counties; thus loyalty to the Crown should be seen being freely expressed in Ireland (in all of it not a bit of it) and should not be repressed and trampled underfoot as it would be in a Republic. So a secularist is loyalist and Crown friendly. What this analysis points to irrefutably is the need of U.K. Constitutional reform in relation to Ireland. . Secular Federal; Unionism –Early Sinn Fein sees this as achievable in the National Government of Ireland Act which will define a new relationship between Ireland and Great Britain as the Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland Great Britain or vice versa.

If the version of THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT given in the novel THE WAY IRELASND OUGHT TO BE published by Authorhouse, is looked at it will be found in Article 22 Page 266 of the novel that the people of this island should be given the opportunity of voting in a referendum to decide on the future of Ireland either as: -

(a) A Sovereign Nation of Ireland within a Federal Kingdom.
Or
(b) A Republic of Ireland with the 1937 constitution.

The votes in the 6 and 26 counties should be counted separately. If a significant majority in both territories vote for a Sovereign Nation then the island is united as a Sovereign Nation within a Federal Kingdom If a significant majority vote for a Republic in both territories then the island is united as a Republic. If a significant majority in the 6 counties vote for a Sovereign Nation and a significant majority in the 26 counties vote for a Republic then the island will remain partitioned. In that case Westminster should pass a bill defining the Federal Kingdom as the Federal Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland whose written constitution is the NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT That is the closest the six counties can be brought to as a nation constitutionally.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

The Loyalist Village and the Romanians

2009-06-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

The Loyalist Village and the Romanians

The intimidation of the Romanian migrant workers out of the Village in South Belfast has been widely reported on the media. Hands are now being thrown up in horror at the thought. Such hypocrisy! What would be the fate of an Irish speaking family, were they to set up house in the Village, the Sandy Row, or the Shankill? I leave the reader to answer the question. By the same token what would the fate of an Ulster Scots speaking family wearing a sash were they to set-up home in the Falls or in the Bogside.I leave the question unanswered.

While hands are being thrown up in horror about Romanians, the above is taken as the norm in Ireland because the Irish are sectarian. Since it is now being said that Romanians should be free to live in the Village, it should also be said that Irish Catholics should be free to live in the Village The Sandy Row or the Shankill and as well, why shouldn’t loyalists be free to live in the Falls or in the Bogside. That is the logic of the situation but that logic doesn’t hold in the six counties/ N.Ireland as is evident in the peace walls in Derry and Belfast.

However the issue of Romanians living in Belfast has a wider European dimension. This has to do with the unregulated movement of workers across Europe. The movement of workers is subject to a free laizze faire market where demand for labour sucks in an unregulated supply of labour and in this free-for-all the weak are pushed to the wall. This should be replaced by a managed demand and supply of labour. This should be replaced with managed labour market. It should be the function of a European government to classify where and by how much labour is in demand due to labour scarcity in the host country Based on these facts the government should recruit labour from Europe by issuing work permits to European workers ensuring there is adequate acceptable housing in supply along with adequate provision of social services in the host country. If the labour market is managed in this way a loyalist Village debacle in Belfast can be avoided and the sale of the Big Issue will be made obsolete.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

2009-06-25T06:19:00.000-07:00

Martin and the Orange Order

Recently I read a piece in the Belfast Telegraph where Martin Magennis called on the Orange Order to stop parading through Catholic areas. The Orange in response said it was their intention to make their parades family friendly outings and that Martin’s comments were unhelpful.

And so this dreary old argument goes on and on into the 21st century and the Telegraph is still making a story out of it. Churchill wrote about the dreary steeples of Fermanagh and Tyrone rising from the deluge and Churchill is disgusted that the integrity of the quarrel is still maintained in spite of the cataclysm that has swept the world.

More recently I heard a report on the radio of a man travelling abroad who was asked
“ Where are you from?”
“ Ireland”
“ North or South?”
“ North”
“ Ah! You’re a protestant”
The ancient quarrel is no longer just dreary it is now a sick joke internationally. It is true to say sectarianism is the mental sickness of the Irish.

But is there no way out of all of that? Federal Unionism-Early Sinn maintains sincerely that there is. In that analysis the nature of this Ancient dispute is bound up with the U.K. Constitution which now needs reform in The National Government of Ireland Act which in turn will transform the United Kingdom of Great Britain and N. Ireland into the Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain or vice versa. If the National Government of Ireland Act were in place in the whole of Ireland then the Orange Order could parade up the Falls, into the Bogside and Crossmaglen but also they could parade down O’ Connell Street in Dublin, in Cork and in Galway and in Times Square on St Patrick’s Day displaying the picture of the Queen on a banner and flying not the Union Jack but the Federal Kingdom symbol –the Royal Flag of Ireland. An impossibility you might exclaim! Not at all. With the National Government of Ireland Act all things are possible and nothing is impossible, see the novel –THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE—Article Ten page 231 published by Authorhouse

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

Constitutional Decay in the Six Counties

2009-06-12T23:23:00.000-07:00

Evidence of Constitutional Decay in the Six Counties/ Northern Ireland

From the evidence of the recent European elections it is clear that Right Wing Union Jack Unionism is in disarray due to the decay of the constitution in this part of the country. Constitutionally there are two heads of State involved, two flags being flown, two national anthems being sung and two conflicting passports travelled on. A state thus constituted is in decay, is inherently unstable, is prone to strife and will not endure.

There is a myopic longing in same quarters of Right Wing Union Jack Unionism for a return to traditional unionism---“the good old days of unionism”—when there was one head of state, The Crown, one flag, The Union Jack, a protestant parliament for a protestant people, and one anthem, God Save the Queen. In those days the Nationalist community was kept down and in place by an armed B-Specials and R.U.C. In this way the unwritten undemocratic constitution was kept stable by being imposed but it has to be recognised that traditional unionism and its unwritten imposed U.K. constitution were shattered with the rise of Civil Rights. The—“good old days”—are gone forever

The route is now open for a late Sinn Fein first minister to emerge at Stormont. However is such a constitutional outcome acceptable to that majority in the six-counties/Northern Ireland who have any sense of morality in their being? Late Sinn Fein condoned and connived at the attempted overthrow of the U.K. constitution here by the obscenity of violence, by brute force and atrocity. That attempt was rightly defeated.

Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein points to a better way. That political concept is Ireland and Irish friendly, Irish unity friendly, democracy friendly, union friendly and Crown friendly. That concept advocates that the decayed U.K. constitution be replaced by a new written constitution of the reformed union of the Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain realized in the National Government of Ireland Act. In this way from Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein, a new Irish friendly Unionism along with a new union friendly Irish Nationalism will emerge, and from this will sprout the green shoots of new Ireland out of the decayed, remains of Right Wing Union Jack Unionism and its discredited U.K. Constitution.

Michael Gillespie Derry
Federal Unionist-Early Sinn Fein

The Ascendancy

2009-05-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

Introducing Irish Unionism

2009-05-16T07:34:00.000-07:00

Introducing Irish Unionism

It has been a long-standing tradition in Ireland that to be a Unionist one had to be British. This notion has bedevilled relations between these two Islands for centuries. It is the contention of Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein that to resolve the Irish problem unionism will have to change from Britishness to Irishness.

For this change to be realized the Crown would have to be reformed in relation to Ireland. The Irish will never do a U –turn in their history and revert to loyalty to a British Crown. However Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein contends that the Irish can return to loyalty to a reformed Crown with out doing an historical U-turn.

In principle a union between these islands is acceptable since the islands have a close historical connection especially having to do with the Crown, provided that such a union is democratically acceptable to the people. Had such a union been established in 1801 the history of the United Kingdom would have been a happy one free from discord, but being imposed and favouring the protestant ascendancy the United Kingdom was doomed to violence discord and failure. The United Kingdom remains military imposed in the six counties and has engendered violence and will end in failure. Right Wing Union Jack Unionism have betrayed the idea of the union in their collaboration in the Assembly with Late Sinn Fein who are the arch enemies and implacable foes of the Union and are out to destroy it. Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein holds that the idea of a new union is good in principle but that such a new unionism can only be realized in Irishness not in Britishness. Irish Unionism can be accepted by those in Ireland who are Irish to the core but who find no inconsistency in being loyal to a reformed Crown. For those Protestants in Ireland who cling to Britishness in the forlorn hope that the ascendancy can be preserved need to wake up to the cold fact that while the day of the ascendancy is now over, the notion of the union can be retained in the concept of a Federal Kingdom.

To establish a Federal Kingdom in these islands will require a written constitution for Ireland. This will require that the National Government of Ireland Act be written. This Act should give a written democratically acceptable constitution for the Federal Kingdom of The Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain. For a constitution to be democratic it must enjoy the overwhelming support of all of the people. This overwhelming support for the constitution is absent in the six counties. There the constitution has only the support of a marginal majority. In effect the six county constitution is imposed by a marginal majority on a resentful minority and maintained by an armed militarily garrison. This unwritten undemocratic constitution is then rammed down the throats of the minority by a public posturing by the Orange Order on the Twelfth of July and by the Apprentice Boys in Derry in August. That is how an unwritten constitution operates. Were such demonstrations solely religious in Nature they would be acceptable but since they are the expression of an imposed constitution they should not be found in a democratic state. This constitutional conflict is evident on the Garvaghy Road. The resolution of this historic conflict lies in the promotion of the Irish Unionism of Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein with a written constitution for all Ireland in a Federal Kingdom context, the constitution being acceptable to all, be it the Catholics of Kerry or the Protestants of Derry. Irish Unionism in the National Government of Ireland Act can remove the walls of sectarian division in Belfast and make the painting of kerbstones red white and blue or green white and orange a thing of the past. It can transform fortress police stations into freely accessible democratic buildings open to an accepting population but above all else Irish Unionism can rid all of Ireland of its national sickness, sectarianism In all of this neither Catholic or Protestant have anything to fear but fear itself.

It was the constitutional claim of the late Brian Faulkner that Northern Ireland is the same as Yorkshire. There is an attempt by the British Establishment to treat the six counties, as the same as Yorkshire, since the Assembly was put in place but the dogs in the street know that to be a fallacy. The people of Yorkshire aren’t disputing the constitution and that dispute makes the six counties different and unique in these Islands but the Irish Unionism of Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein recognises the unique nature of the six counties and knows how to resolve it.

Michael Gillespie B.Ed BSc ( Econ) Dip. Ed D.A.S.E. M.A.(Ed)

A Cairde

2009-05-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

A Chairde

Ta athas mor orm a bheith ag an posadh Orlagh agus Ronan. Is mian liom adh mor a bheith orthu i rith a saol le cheile. Ba mhaith liom failte a chur riomh Orlagh anois a dtainig si isteach an clann Mac Giolla Easbuig. Ta me ag suil gurb cuma le Orlagh an t-anim, Bean Mac Giolla Easbuig. Is bean og gleoithe i agus bhi adh mor ar Ronan ar an la a bhuail se leithe.

Cuirfidh me comhairle ar mo mhac Ronan faoi posadh. Fuair me seanfhocail Gaelach faoi posadh i leabhar Gaelach. Is mian liom Ronan cluas gear a thabhairt le seo. I dtus baire:-

On la a bposfaid tu, beidh do croi i do bheal agus do lamh i do phoca.

Agus annsin:-

Bionn a dteanga in a bpoca ag na mna go bposann siad.

Dearfainn go ndearfaid Orlagh ---Nil ann ach amaidi.
Leabroaidh me daoibh in mBearla anios

Flags Shit On

2009-03-10T10:10:00.001-07:00

Flags Shit On

Sir Hugh Orde has caused a stir recently in deploying under cover British military on the streets of Ulster to counteract the threat of violence from Republican dissidents. In doing so the British Sir Hugh has learnt nothing or forgotten nothing about Ireland. For 800 years the British, especially the English, have employed a brute force military solution to the Irish problem. Sir Hugh continues unabated in that tradition knowing full well that the brute force British / English solution has achieved nothing in Ireland except to rouse anti- British / English sentiment and hatred among the Irish.

That is of course half of the story. The other half of the story is the use of brute force violence by Republicans to over throw the U.K. constitution, which is imposed and undemocratic. The brute force of the Republican PI.R.A. failed to achieve this and ended in a constitutionally obscene Assembly constituted as joint rule by a neo- Marxist Late Sinn Fein and by an extremist Right Wing Union Jack Unionism. A state thus constituted cannot stand.

The constitutionally obscenity of the assembly can be examined in the defilement of the flags associated with Stormont. There is the Irish Tricolour. That flag has been shit upon by P.I.R.A. in the atrocities and criminality of Enniskillen, La Môn, Omagh, the disappeared, and the unnamed who have been dumped on roadsides after being shot in the head. But the Irish Tricolour was further defiled by being urinated on by Late Sinn Fein in their political support of the atrocities and criminality of P.I.R.A. After having defiled the Irish tricolour Late Sinn Fein, having been defeated militarily in their attempt overthrow the U.K. constitution by force, now sit in government at Stormont grinning from ear to ear as they feel their wallets saying they have now wiped their arse clean and are as fresh and clean as a daisy and the defilement of the national flag can be forgotten. But since the tricolour has been shit on in one part of the island it has been shit on in the whole island and is now unclean everywhere. As this is being written the Tricolour is shit upon once again at Mazarine in Antrim in the murder of unarmed soldiers and civilians, the soldiers being shot as they lay wounded on the ground

That is only half the story. The Union Jack has also been shit upon in its history. The parachute regiment shit on the flag on Bloody Sunday in Derry when they gunned down unarmed civilians and the British Establishment colluded in the defilement of their flag by not having the soldiers who carried out the Derry atrocity court marshalled. The Union Jack was also shit upon by the R.U.C. when they battoned a legitimate Civil Rights march off the streets and into the ground in Derry. Furthermore the Union Jack was shit upon and defiled by the U.D.A./U.V.F in their murder of innocent Catholic civilians. The Right Wing Unionist Establishment also relieved themselves on the Union Jack in their silence in condemning U.D.A./U.V.F. atrocities and the criminality of the Parachute Regiment in Derry. Since the Union Jack has been defiled in one part of the U.K. it is defiled dishonoured and shit on in every part of the U.K.

While one can describe the defilement that the U.K. and the Irish constitution are now in, it begs the desperate question---What can be done about all of that? To get at a starting point it has to be realized that that an imposed unwritten undemocratic U.K. constitution is in place in the six counties and is the root cause of unrest and violence in a part of Ireland. The current U.K. constitution was imposed undemocratically on all the Irish in 1801 and despite consistent efforts to have something done about it in the 19th century it remained imposed undemocratic and in place. This situation of frustration erupted in the violence of 1916 by misguided sectarian Republican zealots. There followed a bloody feud between the I.R.A. and the Black Tans. In this feud the I.R.A. in atrocity outrage and criminality shit upon the Irish Tricolour. Ultimately Republicans shit upon the Tricolour in the murder of Michael Collins. The other half of the story was of atrocity out rage and criminality carried out by the Black and Tans and again in this campaign the Union Jack was shit upon.

Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein points to a route out of all of this constitutional mess. Since the two existing national flags are no longer worthy to be touched by human hand. Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein has created a new national flag for Ireland, which is at one and the same time the national flag of Ireland and the symbol of the Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain. It should be called The Royal Flag of Ireland. To make that flag a reality in Ireland will require the enactment of the National Government of Ireland Act. This Act would become the written constitution of all Ireland within a Federal Kingdom context. . The Irish problem would then be resolved and the Island reunited.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist –Early Sinn Fein

2009-03-07T10:47:00.000-08:00

VSelection at Eleven

Explanatory Note

In this article the following terms are used: -
(1) Neo-Marxist Late Sinn Fein. This is the political party led by Gerry Adams.
(2) Right Wing Union Jack Unionism. This is an umbrella term covering The Official Unionist Party The Democratic Party and The Alliance Party.

In my reading of Irish political history the only political movement that catches my imagination and takes my fancy is Early Sinn Fein. This Sinn Fein espoused a government for Ireland with a dual monarchy. Regrettably that worthwhile idea was swept aside by the violence of Republican 1916. In my opinion if the early ideas of Griffiths had been worked upon, developed and thought through, Ireland today would be a Sovereign United Nation under the Crown a nation like Canada. For that reason I belong to, or support no Political party in Ireland but adhere to my own private personal politics of Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein. A development of this can be found in my novel ---THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE – Published by Authorhouse and in my blog www.solvingtheirishproblem.blogspot.com.

Selection

I first met up with selection at eleven in an official capacity during the Harold Wilson administration in the seventies when the British Government was proposing the abolition of selection at eleven. At that time I was president of the Irish National Teacher’s Organisation in Belfast and dealing with selection at eleven became part of my union remit. At that time I maintained, as I do now, that selection is a sine qua non of the educational process but what remains to be decided is, at what age should selection take place, how should selection be carried out and who should do the selecting.

The age of eleven for selection is quite arbitrary. Following the 1948 Education Act the age for selection was taken to be eleven At that time school leaving age was 14 so it was decided that the duration of education in the new secondary modern schools should be three years so the age of transfer was taken to be eleven. While this age of transfer is quite arbitrary it is now taken as sacred and is carved in stone by the backwoodsmen and women in Right Wing Union Jack Unionism. At the time of the Wilson government I maintained then as I do now, that children shouldn’t be divided into sheep and goats by the state but should be free to select themselves as pupils are capable of doing given they are being educated within an educational system which allows this freedom.

At the time of the Wilson administration there were two options on the table for the reform of education and the abolition of the eleven plus: -

(1) Neighbourhood Comprehensive Schools.

(2) A three-tier system of schools made up of Primary Schools, Middle schools and sixth Form Departments.

I backed the abolition of the eleven plus but at he same time I was sceptical of neighbourhood comprehensives and in stead I backed the introduction of a three tier system of schooling. However in Northern Ireland selection was maintained
due to the strength of a powerful grammar school lobby but even so the three tier non selective system of education was adopted in Craigavon where it still remains and works successfully.

In hindsight it is clear that the choice of neighbourhood comprehensives by Old Labour was a mistake. Old Labour was incensed by the social inequalities of the system where children from working class backgrounds fared poorly in the eleven plus and children from middle class backgrounds did well. Looked at in a shallow way by Old Labour it seemed that this educational anomaly could be resolved by having all children educated under the one roof. This shallow thinking proved false. Since some comprehensives were situated in working class districts in time these comprehensives became known as bog standard with low standards of educational attainment along with acute disciplinary problems. On the other hand comprehensives in the leafy suburbs did well the school population being middleclass and maintained high standards of academic excellence with a good disciplinary code. In those neighbourhood comprehensives where the school population is of mixed class, pupils from middleclass backgrounds carry off the prizes on prize giving day.. The reason for all of this is due to the relative value of importance which middleclass and working families give to education.

Selection at eleven is still going strong in London. I have three grandchildren growing up in London and they don’t go to the neighbourhood comprehensive as it is reputed to have syringes in the playground and condoms in the corridor along with low academic standards. Instead my grandchildren go to a school, which their parents consider to have high academic standards and a healthy moral code. But to get into these schools my grandchildren had to sit an entrance examination and a place in the school is in high demand and difficult to obtain.

I am giving this thumbnail sketch of education in England to emphasise that in my thinking the decision by Old Labour to introduce neighbourhood comprehensives was a mistake, and a disaster and has done nothing eliminate the social inequality in schooling it intended to eliminate. My impression of the thinking of Neo-Marxist Late Sinn Fein is that these backwoodsmen and women are back in the days of Old Labour and are hell-bent on introducing some thing into the six counties, which has been demonstrated to be an unmitigated disaster in England.

The problem of selection in education is complex and complicated. I cannot give an off-the-peg solution, ready made, to the problem where one size fits all which seems to be the claim coming from Neo-Marxist Late Sinn Fein. What I can do is to draw up and ideal system of education in which teachers and educationists would be in a position to tackle the attainment inequalities that exist on the ground.

I have already noted and I repeat that selection is a sine qua non of education and what remain at issue is who should do the selecting, how it should be done and at what age. In my opinion pupils should be allowed to select themselves with out the interference of the state. Margaret Thatcher took as her campaign slogan that the Tories would roll back the state. The backwoods men and women of Right Wing Union Jack Unionism should take a leaf out of Margaret’s book and roll back the state out of the lives of children and set them free to select themselves which they are perfectly capable of doing, given the are educated in a schooling system that allows such freedom.

I can attempt to give an educational system, which allows such freedom, but to do so I must return to the second option placed on the table at the time of Harold Wilson’s Government. This is a three tier system of schooling comprising a primary sector, a middle school sector and a sixth form sector. In such a system there would be no selection by the state but the primary school sector would transfer unselected to the local community middle school at eleven, which in practical terms would be the existing secondary or grammar school. In these schools the middle school; would be divided into a junior middle school for pupils under the age of 14 and a senior middle school for pupils b between the ages of 14 to16 In the junior school the management of class room learning should be the same as that which now exists in the primary school where the classes are divided into class settings to cater for slow and fast learners, the settings selection being made according to the teacher’s perceived educational needs of the individual pupil. So the same style of teaching would be practiced in both the primary and junior middle school.

Selection in the middle school would occur at the age of 14 and the school population would be selected into three streams or three houses.
(a) Pupils with strong academic potential
(b) Pupils with less academic potential.
(c) Pupils with the least academic potential.
This selection would be decided by an individual educational profile of educational attainment beginning early in primary education, the assessment being continuous up to the end of Junior Middle School. Using this criteria the individual pupil would encouraged to make a career choice assisted by the careers teaching staff in consultation with the parents and each pupil should be allotted a particular house appropriate to his/her individual needs, in the perception of the teaching staff in consultation with the parents.

It should be noted that the structure of the senior middle school is similar to the schooling structure in Germany. In Germany there is a triple school structure: -
(1) The Gymnasium leading to a university education.
(2) The Realschule leading to a technical or business education.
(3)The Hauptscule for the least academically able leading to vocational education

In Germany these three structures of education take place in separate schools. In the model under consideration for Northern Ireland, the three structures of education would take place in the same school under the one roof. The pupils would be free to select themselves in the school they attend and wouldn’t be selected into sheep and goats by the state at too early an age. In this way each pupil would get an education that is appropriate to his/her individual and career needs.

The top department in the school would be the sixth form department. Those who wish to remain at school after Senior. Middle School would do so depending upon their performance in a state examination such as the G.C.S E.

A Curriculum for the School Outlined

The aim and purpose of the curriculum should be, to have teachers teach and have pupils acquire useful knowledge. This can be achieved through the teaching of: -
(a) Know- that knowledge.
(b) Know-how knowledge

The difference between the two can be illustrated in this way. Know-that knowledge about a car would be that a car has at least three wheels, is a certain colour, needs to be taxed and insured. Know-how about a car is knowing how to drive it, or knowing how to fix it when it breaks down. Know-that learning, particularly at school, is acquired by rote learning. It is the know-that learning of the three Rs where the number facts, spelling and the rules of grammar are committed to memory. Traditionally schools have taught know-that knowledge exclusively but this form of knowledge has only limited use such as in memory recall in Pub and T.V. quizzes like Master Mind and University Challenge or The Weakest Link There was movement in education to stop the teaching of know-that knowledge completely as it was claimed it stifled creativity in the pupils. Head bangers in education expounded this. There was a reaction to this by employers who complained they were taking on new young staff that couldn’t add, read a simple note or write a simple note.

Know-how learning is acquired by being taught by person with expert knowledge and is internalized by practice. As noted learning how to drive a car is know-how knowledge and the knowledge is acquired by being taught by a person with expertise and internalized by practice. Know-how is also bound up with learning procedures. When a learner driver knows how to proceed along a highway without making mistakes then that person is educated as far as driving is concerned. When a surgeon knows how to proceed in doing an operation without making mistakes such a surgeon is educated as far as surgery is concerned. When a bricklayer knows how to proceed without mistakes in building a wall that doesn’t fall down, such a bricklayer is educated as far as building a wall is concerned.

The learning of know-how knowledge is strongly recommended by present day educationalists because this knowledge, unlike know-that, is useful. This form of knowledge should begin in the primary school and develop in an ever-widening spiral u p through the middle school to the sixth form. Know-how can begin in primary school by having the pupil investigate-- how to send an email, how to write a letter of thanks to grandmother for a birthday gift, how to do a classroom project on the old ruins of an old workhouse in the vicinity, how does a nail rust in water As noted know-how should be taught in an ever widening spiral up the school to sixth form with know-that still being taught in the middle school where this teaching is deemed necessary in the perception of the class room teacher At the end of compulsory schooling at sixteen the school should turn out a population that is literate, numerate and with sense of know-howness. At the sixth form learning should be d exclusively about know- how, the pupils learning how to proceed in the traditional disciplines of the curriculum under expert tuition and with an abundance of practice. Sport is a curricular underlier in that this discipline should be enjoyed and shared by all and played collectively, irrespective of academic talent.

All of this may sound somewhat up in the air so I will try to bring this matter to bring this matter to earth by looking schooling in Belfast. When I was president of the I.N.T.O. in Belfast at the time of Harold Wilson when the abolition of the eleven plus was first muted I was doing research at the Faculty of Education in Queen’s into numeracy level in the Belfast Inner city schools at the end of Primary schooling. To do that pupils were set a test of know-that knowledge and know-how knowledge in Mathematics which was completed by a ll final year pupils in the following schools: -
(a) The Shankill controlled schools
(b)The Lower Falls maintained schools
(c)The Donegall Pass controlled schools.
(d)The Markets maintained schools

The pupils were evaluated for
(1) Basic numeracy
(2) Overall numeracy

The criteria for evaluating basic numeracy was pupil ability to do very simple know-that in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It was found that over one third of the final year school population could not do these basic mathematical operations and were rated innumerate. When these findings were rigorously tested for statistical significance it was found there was no significant difference between the four school populations. I have heard Neo-Marxist Late Sinn Fein make the nonsensical claim on the T.V that the poor educational standards on the Shankill can be improved by the introduction of Comprehensives but why single out the Shankill when the standards of education are equally poor in both the Controlled and Maintained sector? In singling out the Shankill Neo-Marxist Late Sinn Fein is blatantly sectarian.

The finding for overall numeracy in this research demonstrated that in a test of overall numeracy know-how, pupils in the Inner City attending Controlled Schools significantly out performed pupils in the Inner City attending Maintained Schools. There is other research at The Faculty of Education Q.U.B, which supports that. How ever there are swings and roundabouts in all of this. There is other research at Queen’s, which demonstrates that pupils in Maintained Schools out perform pupils in Controlled Schools in verbal ability.

Had this research had been carried out in the leafy suburbs of Malone in Belfast it would have been found that the pupils there would have outperformed the pupils in the Inner-City in attainment in mathematical knowledge. This is not unique to Belfast. This educational anomaly is found in every city in Ireland, in Great Britain, in European Cities and in the cities of North America. This problem faced Old Labour and they opted for Neighbourhood Comprehensives as a solution but the Comprehensive option has failed in Great Britain. This educational problem is now being faced in the Assembly at Stormont and now the cowboys and cowgirls of Neo-Marxist Late Sinn Fein are propounding a failed Old Labour solution to the problem while the cowboys and cowgirls of right Wing Union Jack Unionism are hell bent in retaining the anomaly by the use of the obsolete philosophy of Old Toryism. Tony Blair recognised the defective nature of education in Great Britain in his slogan Education, Education, Education and New Labour tried to rectify the matter by having the state invade the classroom by telling the teachers what to teach and how to teach it and by over testing pupils throughout their school career. This has backfired and made matters worse In recent survey of Primary Schooling in England carried out by Cambridge, the effects of New Labour reforms is to drive the primary schools back to the teaching of the three Rs i.e. know-that, to the exclusion of know-how.
Know-how, Economic Growth and the Creation of Wealth

In the 20th century Milton Freidman the American Laizze Faire economist put forward the philosophy that wealth can be created by freeing up the money market and let it rip without restraint; in this way wealth will grow forever. Ronald Regan in the Reaganomics of a trickle down economy adopted this philosophy. This influenced the free marketer Margaret Thatcher --- (You can’t buck the market) and the Friedman philosophy was taken up in turn by Tony Blair’s New Labour ---- New Labour is the best party the Conservatives have ever had--- (Margaret Thatcher). Finally Friedman’s philosophy influenced Fianna Fail and a free money market was let rip in the Celtic Tiger. Friedman’s monetarism has proved to be a tragic disaster worldwide. With the collapse of Friedman economic philosophy the right wing in America has collapsed and now there are dark mutterings in Republican circles about the introduction of European socialism into America by Barack Obama

In my understanding of economics there are four conditions necessary for a state to enjoy economic growth and create wealth: -
(a) The state should be stable with a written constitution, which has the overwhelming support on the vast majority of the people.
(b) The people should be highly literate.
(c) The people should be highly numerate.
(d) The people should have a high degree of Know-howfulness.

Know-how in America is highly rated. Americans are proud of and boastful of American know-how. American know-how put a man on the moon and in the 20th century American know-how pushed the American economy to the top of the economic heap in world terms and made America the richest state in the world. But the importance of Know-how in economic growth and wealth creation can be illustrated closer to home in Ulster. In thelate19th/ early20th century Eastern Ulster enjoyed economic growth and wealth in the Know-how of linen production and shipbuilding. Indigenous know- how made Ulster a world leader in linen and ship production. This know-how is regrettably now obsolete due to a world slump in demand for linen and in shipping, due to the cost of supply and a change in demand for ships.

In my under standing of economics a state should specialise in that aspect of its economy in which it holds a relative advantage. The Irish economy holds a relative advantage in agriculture and food production This aspect of the economy requires specialist Know-how and Irish know-how in this economic specialisation can be developed by having Know- how taught in schools from an early age and into the universities in the faculties of food science, of business science, veterinary science agricultural science and the science of forestry. These faculties are related to a specialist Irish economy in food production and efforts should be made to attract the best talent from around Ireland and around the world to teach and do research. These faculties should concentrate in turning out a graduate population that is know-how driven in food science, in business science, in the science of forestry and agriculture and in veterinary science. There should also be established local business and agricultural colleges to develop the know-how of those who work at the coalface of farming and food production

In my understanding of economics, the true dynamic of economic growth and wealth is the indigenous know-how of the population, which can be nurtured and developed through education. The Irish economy will never put a man on the moon or a space probe on Mars or will it ever be top of the economic heap in world terms. What is a feasible economic goal for the Irish is to put a plate of high quality wholesome competitively priced food on every table on planet earth. In the past the indigenous know-how of the Ulster people made linen and ships world market leaders. Why not in the future make Irish food a world market leader driven by Irish with indigenous know-how nurtured and developed through education?

There is the belief afloat that an Irish economy can be built with international capital such as computers and pharmaceuticals. The problem with international capital is that it is foot loose and fancy free and will pack its bags and fly by night to any spot on the planet where profit can be maximized e.g. Dell’s flight from Limerick. To develop a stable economy in Ireland an indigenous base will have to be found. The only international capital the government should encourage is capital that is in Ireland for the long haul. Short-term international capital is economically destabilizing

Equality in Schooling

In equality in schooling a fundamental question has to be asked--- How best to school a future dustman? The grammar schools know how best to school a future doctor and have that down to a fine art. When it comes to the schooling of a future dustman the grammar schools don’t want to know. This question remains unanswered in education but if schooling is to be universal and equal the intellectual resources of the Faculties of Education, of the Colleges of Education and of the teachers themselves, must be brought to bear on this fundamental question and an answer found. But if schooling is to be universal and equal both the financial and psychic resources of the school must be distributed equally among the school population in general and especially among the three houses of varying academic ability in the senior middle school. By psychic resources I mean the talent, the care, the attention, the commitment, interest, dedication and affection of the teaching staff. The equal distribution of psychic resources in the school is especially important to the pupils who belong in the house of the least academically able. If this is done the psychic resources of the school should ensure that these pupils leave school with feeling of high self-esteem and of social worth and with high hopes. This could prove to be a corrective to antisocial and outlandish behaviour, teenage drunkenness drug abuse and suicide. However if pupils leave school to join a dole or emigrate schooling is wasted. In the distribution of state resources to schools, the state should positively discriminate in favour of those schools situated in deprived areas, especially in favour of primary schools in deprived areas The schooling of children with special needs is best done in special schools by teachers with specialized teaching skills and dedication. In the allocation of state resources to such schools positive discrimination in favour of these should operate. When a system of schooling as is envisaged in this paper is in place, then schooling will be universal, equal and sociably acceptable.

Note to the Bishops

The Bishops may feel that a moral; and spiritual dimension to the curriculum is missing. This isn’t so. A moral and spiritual dimension may be developed in the school and in the individual by the teaching of the curricular discipline Christianity. Like all other curricular disciplines, the curricular discipline Christianity should be taught as know –that and know-how. While this aspect of the curriculum is not a strength of mine, what comes to mind is the know-that of internalizing prayers by rote the know–that of the Trinity, the internalizing of the know-that of the bible by listening to or reading stories from the bible. Know- how could be taught by exploring such questions as -----How to be a good / son / daughter/ pupil/ worker / mother/ father/ citizen / girl friend/ boyfriend. How does one worship God? How does one follow Jesus? How was the world created? How should I live my life? The Churches are in a better position than I am to elaborate how Christianity can be best taught as Know-that and Know-how.

Michael Gillespie B Ed. BSc (Econ) Dip Ed D.A.S.E. M.A.(Ed)

2009-03-07T09:09:00.000-08:00

2009-03-02T14:55:00.001-08:00

2008-09-14T14:19:00.001-07:00

Whither Irish Nationalism

2008-09-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

Whither Irish Nationalism?

In his address to the British Irish Association at Oxford University the Foyle M P Mark Durkan put forward the idea that enforced power sharing at Stormont be abandoned to be replaced by simple majority rule as found at Westminster and Dail Eireann. The rights of the minority would be protected by a Bill of Rights drawn up at Westminster. It is not the intention to examine rights in this article. That will come in another article to the Derry Journal.

Right Wing Union Jack Unionism has greeted the notion of a simple majority rule at Stormont put forward by Mark Durkan with Euphoria. As they put it, in this way politics will be normalized. It is small wonder that Union Jack Unionism are euphoric because in such a set-up they will rule for ever and ever but being enforced by a bill of rights to be nice to the Catholic minority, at the same time the Catholic minority being in opposition in perpetuity.

If this is a normalization of politics it begs the question what are normal politics supposed to be? As understood by Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein normal politics are ideological in nature having to do with an ideological right, an ideological centre, and an ideological left each of these being underscored by a relevant economic theory. In normal politics a person’s religion is a private matter between the person and God. If simple majority rule is introduced at Stormont normal politics in this sense will not hold. The old sickness of Ireland will still be in place with Protestants voting for Protestant politicians who will be in a marginal majority forever and anon and with Catholics voting for Catholic Politicians who will be in a significant minority forever and ever anon. For an alternative scenario for politics in Ireland c.f. THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE Government and Politics Article 6 Pages 210—216

Nor will the political model in Dail Eireann do. There we have in practice a catholic parliament for a catholic people, the protestant people having abandoned the twenty-six counties. On top of that the political parties are tweedledum and tweedledee parties that have no currency outside the twenty-six counties.

In what Mark Durkan is saying at Oxford it is clear that like Gerry Adams, he has bought into the 1801 Act of Union, and is unaware he’s living under a military imposed undemocratic constitution on a significant section of the people who don’t want it. I looked up Mark Durkan’s manifesto on the Internet and I find he has nothing to say about sectarianism and its offspring partition. He says in the manifesto he will talk to unionists about a united Ireland but he doesn’t say what there is to talk about. I n talks is he going to convert Union Jack Unionists en masse to Republicanism, Nationalism being a half way house to Republicanism. He might as well try to convert unionism to Catholicism in the pursuit of Irish unity.

So whither Irish Nationalism and in what direction is it being led? Mark Durkan is clearly leading it backwards up the garden path into a failed past that leads nowhere and has no future. It is small wonder that Union Jack Unionism is hailing Mark as the hero of the hour. A new dispensation must be found in Ireland in which both communities are at ease. This can only be found in THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT which will realize the dream of Catholic Ireland of a united Sovereign Nation of Ireland in a Federal Kingdom context and in this there will be full scope for the free cultural expression of loyalty to the Crown by Protestant Ireland and by all. To finish Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein has this to say to all Political parties in Ireland: -

Republicanism / Nationalism / Union Jack Unionism OUT Federal Kingdom IN

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein

The GoodFriday, The St Andrew's Agreement and theU.K.Constitution

2008-09-05T09:49:00.000-07:00

The Good Friday, The Saint Andrew’s Agreement and the U.K. Constitution

After the Saint Andrew’s Agreement the Partitionist Bertie Ahern is on record as claiming in the partitionist Dail Eireann that in N. Ireland the constitution is now off the table. In doing so he was conceding that the 1801 Act of Union is valid in Ireland. This was sweet music to the ears of Ian Paisley and an agreement between Left Wing Republicanism and Right Wing Union Jack Unionism followed. Late Sinn Fein completed the validation of the 1801 Act of Union by taking seats at Stormont. So partition and sectarianism in Ireland is copper fastened as never before.

But the people of the six counties know that the constitutional issue is far from settled and is still at the centre of the table. As noted in a previous article in the Derry Journal in the north there are two heads of state involved, two outside governments involved, two national flags being flown, two national anthems being sung and two conflicting passports being travelled on giving two conflicting national identities. As noted previously a state thus constituted is unstable, subject to discord and communal strife. This is observable in kerbstones being painted red white and blue on the one hand and green white and orange on the other. The instability is also observable in the peace walls that disfigure Belfast. In Stormont there is deep-seated agro between the two main parties. As long as peace walls are necessary there is no genuine peace.

The Good Friday and the Saint Andrew’s Agreement are underpinned by the fallacy that in the settlement the politicians in the six counties should deal with bread and butter politics only and forget about everything else. The constitutional issue was brushed under the carpet out of sight and the people of the six counties were advised top think about their bellies and about nothing else. At this juncture one should recall that not by bread alone does man live. This means there is an order higher than bodily existence. This could be paraphrased into, not by bread alone does the state live which can be taken to mean that there is an order in the state higher than bread and butter politics and the creation economic wealth. The higher order is the constitution and through that – peace. For the constitution to be democratic and valid it must have the overwhelming support if the people. This does not hold in the six counties.

It is the central thesis of Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein that a unified stable peaceful Ireland can only be realised in a written democratic NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT and this will give the highest state order of all to Ireland, which is peace in a Federal Kingdom. This will be free of peace walls anywhere on a unified island and the peace will be genuine. What goes by the name of peace in the six counties currently is farcical. When a genuinely democratic constitution is in place on the island bread and butter politics and the creation of economic wealth will fall into place.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein

A Right Old Irish Constitutional Cock-up

2008-09-03T03:34:00.000-07:00

A right old Irish Constitutional Cock-up

There is a saying in Ulster that the butter will always come through the bruitin where bruitin is the Irish for mashed potatoes. This means that the true nature of something will always assert itself. Watching the news on T.V. it would seem that in the assembly the butter is coming through the bruitin in the row over a document about Our Future. The document is the responsibility of Connor Murphy of Late Sinn Fein. The language of this document is being severely criticized by Geoffrey Donaldson of Right wing Union Jack unionism for the use of such expressions as – in the north and the north of Ireland—instead of the constitutionally correct – Northern Ireland..

All of that brings us back to the central thesis of Federal Unionism—Early Sinn Fein that at the heart of the Irish Problem lies the constitution. In my writing I usually call the six counties the six counties. I have a logical reason for doing that. If I call the six counties N. Ireland what does that make Innisowen and Mallin Town? Are they southern Ireland? There is also the attempt by some to make themselves constitutionally correct by calling themselves Northern Irish but the logical difficulty remains. If the people of the six counties are Northern Irish are the people of Mallin Town Southern Irish? All of this points up the logical cock-up that the island is in. I also call the twenty-six counties the twenty-six counties, which they logically are. As a former teacher of mathematics I am nothing if not logical.

Some years ago when writing for another journal I was taken to task by a T.D. in the Dail for calling the twenty six counties the twenty six counties. He insisted I call the twenty-six counties, the mature sovereign nation of the Republic of Ireland. I in turn insisted that neither the six counties nor the twenty-six counties were nations but were two sectarian statlets the one foreign to the other. I noted to him that the six counties were clearly sectarian. On the other hand I noted also that the Dail was in practice a catholic parliament for a catholic people. De Valera wrote its constitution with the Irish cardinal holding his elbow and whispering in his ear. I also pointed that if the twenty-six counties were now a mature sovereign nation then why hasn’t Emmet’s epitaph been written in Dublin years ago? However if the National Government of Ireland Act were in place in Ireland then Emmet’s epitaph could safely and finally be written.

The obvious illogical and divisive constitutional cock-up that is Ireland spreads out among the people of Derry. I have a very good friend who goes shopping in Dublin. When she does she says: -
“I am going to Dublin in the Free State”
This is a common usage in Derry in both communities. A gardener says to me: -
“ I was born in Donegal in the Free State”
In Derry the constitutional problem is got around by various circumlocutions: -
“I come from across the border in Donegal”
“I was on holiday in Kerry in the Free State”
“He’s from the south in Buncrana”
Seamus Mallon invariably refers to the six counties as ---the north or—the north of Ireland. So Connor Murphy in calling the six counties – the north or the north of Ireland is mirroring the constitutional confusion that exists in the minds of the people. So Geoffrey Donaldson before getting tough with Connor and straightening him out constitutionally should come to Derry first and straighten the people of Derry out constitutionally. However Connor could have avoided the difficulty by not buying into the 1801 Act of Union and in so doing prop up a Right Wing Union Jack Unionist state at Stormont by being in the pay of the British Exchequer. Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein can clear up this constitutional mess by saying to the assembly ---- A Republic/United Kingdom out---A Federal Kingdom in.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein

Is Canon Ellis Unchristian and Sectarian

2008-09-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

Is Canon Ellis Unchristian and Sectarian?

I read a reply written in the Derry Journal Friday 29th August 2008 by a member of the I.R.A. to Canon Ellis’ call to the I R.A. to apologize for their deeds of violence. This call by the Canon surprised me because he had refused to publish the article ---- Introducing the Concept Federal Unionism --- Early Sinn Fein in the Church of Ireland Gazette. This refusal raises the question what is the Canon’s position to the fractured constitution in place in the six counties that lies at the centre of the violence?

Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein attitude to the violence of tricolour Republicanism and Right Wing Union Jack Unionism is clear. Being Christian its attitude is summarised in this quote: -

Judge not and ye shall not be judged :Condemn not and ye shall not be condemned: Forgive and ye shall be forgiven. Luke6:37 James

Since Canon Ellis is clearly unchristian and constitutionally partisan in his attitudes to violence he is not part of the solution but is part of the problem.

Canon Ellis should take a leaf out of the book of the Church of England. At one time that church was seen as the Conservatives at prayer. That has now changed. The Church of England is now constitutionally central and neutral and is now no more the Conservatives at prayer than it is New Labour at prayer. The Canon must come to realize that he is judging a violence that is rooted in the constitution and in a convoluted history of strife that stretches back for centuries on this island. Luke says nothing about apologising. The Canon should become like the Church of England and become central and neutral constitutionally in Ireland and cease to be Right Wing Union Jack Unionist. All the Churches in the six counties should then do the same and become constitutionally central and neutral. The canon is recommended to read THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE. Page 218 Article 7 The Churches. He is also recommended to read the National Government of Ireland Act in full as the proposed solution to the Irish problem. If he feels that is not the solution he should say why and then draw up his solution to the Irish problem and publish it. He has a moral duty to do that and say what the true nature of the Irish problem is if it is not constitutional.

Sectarianism is the sickness of this island and needs eradication.. Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein will lead to that eradication and to a politically healthy
Island. So long as the currently undemocratic imposed constitution by an armed Garrison and an armed P.S.N.I remains: For so long will there be violence to oppose it.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein

A Sovereign Irish Nation

2008-08-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

A Sovereign Irish Nation

This Blog was read and commented on by a newspaperman in Omagh. He said he didn’t agree with the premise of the Blog but didn’t say what the premise was. He was of the belief that if the contents of the Blog were a reality in Ireland, Ireland would again be a colony of Britain and would be a neo-colonialist state. He added that the solution to the Irish problem is for Britain to get out of Ireland. This is a misreading of the Blog but it could be a stock response of Republicans to it and has to be taken seriously. Any suggestion that Ireland as a whole form a relation with the Crown sets alarm bells of paranoia ringing in the heads of Republicanism.

It is the premise of the Blog that the Irish problem is solvable In THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF Ireland ACT in the 21st century It is central to the Act that the United Kingdom of Great Britain an N. Ireland be replaced by The Federal Kingdom of The Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain where the Federal Kingdom is viewed from an Irish standpoint. In such a Federal Kingdom two Irish ideals will be realized: -
(a) Ireland will become a united constitutionally stable nation.
(b) Ireland will be a sovereign nation within a Federal Kingdom context.

The word Federal needs examination. It has two meanings: -
(1) A strong controlling central government placed over a group of subsidiary states
(2) A treaty or compact entered into between independent nations.

The U.S.A. is the prime example of (1). There are now moves afoot to establish a federal Europe with a strong controlling central government at Brussels placed over subsidiary states. A constitution to establish such a federal Europe was defeated in France and Holland. In the Lisbon Treaty a further effort is being made to smuggle in a Federal Europe (1) by the undemocratic back door in an unratified treaty that is basically the same as the defeated European Constitution. The treaty should be put to the democratic test of a free vote throughout Europe. By a stroke of good fortune a federal Europe as envisaged in the Lisbon Treaty has been rejected by the Irish. In 1801 a federalism of type (1) was imposed on Ireland when the British removed a potentially sovereign government in Dublin by chicanery and a strong controlling government at Westminster was placed over a subservient Ireland. The historic aftermath was an historic disaster for the Irish people.. A subtly imposed powerful government in Brussels could prove to be an equal disaster for Europe.

The second meaning of federal is the meaning used in the concept --- The federal kingdom---. A federal kingdom would be made up of a treaty or compact entered into between the co-equal Sovereign Nation of Ireland and the Sovereign Nation of Great Britain. In this the twin ideals of the Irish given earlier would be realized. Thus the claim that Ireland would become a neo-colonialist state is without foundation. Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein still clings to its central premise that the Irish Problem is solvable in a new Act of Union --- The National Government of Ireland Act.

To return to Europe, in its second meaning federalism is also appropriate to Europe There should be a treaty or compact entered into between co-equal sovereign nations in Europe. That does not rule out a central government in Europe but it should a Brussels with moderate powers not an all-powerful central government like Washington.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist Early Sinn Fein

Federal Unionism--- Early Sinn Fein

2008-08-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

Introducing the Concept Federal Unionism--- Early Sinn Fein

The writer of this article lives in Derry and belongs to, supports, or is interested in no political party be it Union Jack Unionism, Nationalism or Republicanism. The writer dissents from all three as past their sell by dates and should be thrown out and the shelves restocked with the new improved concept Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein. Federal Unionism—Early Sinn is not a political party but is a political concept, a concept being a picture in the mind.

The writer is a teacher and an author whose writing interest has to do with finding ideas that will advance the solution to the Irish Problem, which remains unsolved. It is the writer’s conviction, a conviction sincerely held, that the Irish problem is solvable with The National Government Act in the 21st century.

It is basic to the concept of Federal Unionism ---Early Sinn Fein that the Irish Problem is a constitutional problem and at the root of the problem is the unwritten undemocratic imposed nature of U.K.constitution in Ireland since 1801.

Two conditions are necessary for a democracy to be a democracy
(1) A democratic state should have a constitution, which carries the support of the overwhelming majority of its citizens.
(2) The state should have a free vote.

While condition (1) exists in the six county state, condition (2) does not. The unwritten imposed constitution is supported by a marginal majority of the six county population but is rejected by a significant minority The six county population is split over the constitution. This split is observable in the current set –up in the state. There are two heads of state involved in N.Ireland, two flags being flown, two anthems being sung, two passports being travelled on giving two conflicting identities. A state thus constituted is unstable ungovernable and is prone to communal conflict. N. Ireland is the only state in the world where such a constitutional anomaly exists.

However it is the contention of Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein that to solve the Irish Problem reform of U.K. constitution is essential. This can be done in the National Government of Ireland Act, which would give a written democratic constitution for the whole of Ireland in a U.K. context. Such a constitution should be made as acceptable to the Catholics of Kerry as to the Protestants of Derry.

For Ireland to be a peaceful united stable nation the following conditions are needed: -
(a)One written union constitution – THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT. The Act should define the union as The Federal Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain. However the Act would require much, much more than that. A full development of the Act can be found in the novel---THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE – published by Authorhouse, which is available in any bookshop or from any agency on the Internet.
(b)One Head of State, a reformed Crown, the Crown being known on British territory as the British Crown and on Irish territory as the Crown Irish.
©One flag --- The Royal Flag of Ireland A picture of this flag can be found on the Blog www.solvingtheirishproblem.blogspot.com The Flag shown on the Blog is the Irish Union flag and is the National Flag of Ireland and a symbol of the Federal Kingdom.
(d)One government for Ireland. A central government in Dublin with powers devolved to four Provincial Parliaments sited in each of the four provincial Capitals.
(e) One anthem, neither God Save the Queen or A Soldiers Song. There are many excellent songs in the Irish musical tradition, any of which would make an excellent Irish anthem.
(f)One passport giving an Irish identity, which recognises the Crown Irish as Head of State. The passport should be written in Irish and in English

It is the contention of Federal Unionism –Early Sinn Fein that only in this way and in no other way, can a united, constitutionally stable Irish Nation be realized. Such unity can only be realised in a NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT, which gives Ireland a written democratically acceptable constitution in an Federal Kingdom context. Such unity and constitutional stability will not be found in a Republican constitution because such a constitution wounds the cultural psyche of Protestant Ireland, which is loyalty to the Crown. The Government of Ireland Act partitioned the Island only the National Government of Ireland Act can unite the Island.

In this sketch of Federal Unionism—Early Sinn Fein the concept indicates that unity be restored to the island. The set-up at Stormont is unacceptable. Right Wing Union Jack unionism has debased the wholesome concept of the union by forming an unholy and ungodly alliance with Marxist orientated Late Sinn Fein. With that sell-out the United Kingdom will have to be rethought as the Federal Kingdom. To do that the 1801 Act of Union will have to be replaced by a new improved Act of Union – THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT.

On the other hand a military defeated Late Sinn Fein have sold the Irish people down the river by buying into the 1801 Act of Union at Stormont. They are now propping up a Right-Wing Union Jack Unionist state in the six counties. Late Sinn Fein are now happy to live with an armed garrison of 5000 British soldiers and an armed P.S.N.I. whose main constitutional role is to ram the1801 Act of Union down the throats of those who object to it at the point of a gun.

If the National Government of Ireland Act were in place either, ideally, in the whole of Ireland or else in N Ireland it would then be a constitutional imperative that the British army leave Ireland and that the police be unarmed c.f. THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE.

Again if the Act were in place the sickness of Ireland ---sectarianism-- would die out.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein
B.Ed B.Sc (Econ) Dip Ed D.A.S.E. M.A (Ed)

Articles For Blogger

2008-07-29T03:43:00.000-07:00

The novel --THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE--is an impressionistic fiction derived from life experiences. The novel relates Dr Quinn's struggle in a psychiatric clinic to discover his true self as an Irishman. In his mental struggle he creates THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT as the solution to the Irrish problem.

The novel is the companion to this series of articles in this Blog and is recommended reading. The novel can be bought through any book store or from any book agency on the Internet

Abortion in the Six Counties

2008-07-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

Abortion in the six counties

On listening to the radio I heard Geoffrey Donaldson and Dianne Abbot debate Dianne’s intention that the 1967 Abortion Act and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology 1990 Act be amended so that abortion on demand and for social expediency be made available in the six counties. I was pleased to hear that Geoffrey was opposed to such an amendment because such legislation was not acceptable to the political parties or to the four main churches. Mr Donaldson pointed out that such legislation was an imposition on the people of the six counties.

Secularist Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein sees the introduction of abortion in the six counties as an imposition coming from a central Westminster, but the objection by Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein runs much deeper than that. The imposition of abortion on the people of the six counties is a spin off of a much deeper problem which is the imposition by the military of an unwritten undemocratic constitution on those in the six counties who don’t want it. That is how U.K. constitution works. Mr Donaldson is right to oppose the imposition he objects to but is heedless to the plight of those who have to live under a military imposed unwritten undemocratic constitution they object to. What is needed is a reformed U.K. constitution, which is acceptable to all in the same way, as the six counties need abortion legislation that is acceptable to all c.f. THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT Article 4 Page 201.

In another article in this Blog titled Here’s to you, Mrs Robinson---, a definition of secularism is given taken from the Internet. This definition of secularism is fine and dandy and is the definition of secularism acceptable to Federal unionism - Early Sinn Fein. It agrees that state laws should be derived from reason and should be based on
evidence and fact. Laws should be humane and be enacted for the good of the state the community and of the individual. Since the introduction of the 1967 Abortion Act six million potential individuals have been refused the right to exist. Such a shameful statistic condemns those false prophets of secularism who support abortion on demand and for social expediency. Those who are genuinely secularist in outlook see those who support abortion on demand and for social expediency as, inhumane, cruel and criminal.

Dianne Abbot was raised under an unwritten undemocratic U.K. constitution and is surrounded by those who unthinkingly accept such a constitution so the lady is free to impose Dianne Abbot law on those parts of the U.K. who don’t want it. In this way abortion is being dragged in by the undemocratic back door of The U.K. into the six counties and imposed. Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein urges the lady to come clean and wise up and introduce abortion by the democratic front door. To do that the lady should leave Hackney North and settle in Belfast. In Belfast she should set up the six County Abortion Party. If Dianne prefers to be politically correct she may call it the N. Ireland Abortion Party. Whatever! She should go forward on a ticket of abortion on demand and for social expediency and when Dianne’s party returns a majority to the assembly the abortion party can introduce acceptable abortion legislation in the six counties, which is a humane solution to the difficult human problem of an unwanted pregnancy. If that were done that would be legislation introduced through the democratic front door, not through the undemocratic back door of an unwritten militarily imposed U.K. constitution that is objected to by a significant section of the six county population.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein

Whither Traditional Unionism

2008-07-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

Whither Traditional Unionism

The partitionists David Cameron the leader o f the British Conservatives and Sir Reg Empey leader of the Ulster Unionist Party are reported to be in the process of forming an alliance between their respective parties. This is a new partitionist move to copper fasten the division of Ireland into two foreign states. Neither of these men show the slightest concern about the Irish disease --- sectarianism unless there is a mass conversion of the catholic community to the old dogmas of traditional toryism following an alliance between the Tories And the U.U.P. Margaret Thatcher sold the traditional unionists down the river in the Anglo Irish Agreement, a sell-out of which the traditional unionist Ian Paisley was keenly aware in his public outburst –Never, Never, Never. But Ian in turn sold traditional Ulster unionism down the river in forming an unholy and ungodly union with Late Sinn Fein/ I.R.A.

With the military defeat of Republicanism by the British in the six counties Partition and its underlying malady –Sectarianism –is being reinforced on the island as never before. The six counties are now polarized into two extreme and constitutionally contradictory sectarian camps of Republican: Late Sinn Fein and the unionism of Right Wing Union Jack Unionism, the D.U.P. For Sir Reg and David the treachery of Margaret Thatcher is being airbrushed away and sectarianism is taken to be the order of the day in Ireland.

At this point in the history of Traditional unionism it should be useful to ask ----Whither traditional Unionism? and look at a radical appraisal of the U.K. by examining what are the fundamentals of U.K. constitution and ask what is the sine qua non of the union.

For traditional Unionists in Ulster the union is constitutionally embodied in: -
(1) Loyalty to the Crown.
(2) The anthem God Save the Queen.
(3) The Union Jack.
(4) A British Passport.
(5) Parliament at Westminster

God Save the Queen is regarded by traditional unionism as being immutable and unchangeable. However God Save the Queen is not a sine qua non of the union. Three Blind Mice as the National Anthem could replace God Save the Queen if that were the will of the House of Commons and deemed appropriate by the British people.

By the same token the union Jack is not immutable and unchangeable. That flag is manmade and was created by Whitehall in 1801 and as such is not a sine qua non of the union. An alternative to the Union Jack is given in THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT Article 9 page224. A suggested redesign of the Irish Tricolour as the National flag of Ireland and a symbol of the United Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain can be seen in this Blog. The new design should be called The Royal Flag of Ireland.

Is the existing design of a British Passport a sine qua non of the U.K.? Surely not. The British passport can be redesigned in any shape or form the House of Commons cares to make it. A suggested redesign of a U.K. passport in Ireland is given in the Act as follows:-

(1) Ireland--- written in English Irish and French on the cover along with the Royal flag of Ireland
(2) The Crown Irish Representation c.f. The Act Article 3 Page 195 to be shown on the first inside leaf of the Passport.
(3) The passport should be written in Irish and English.

The holder of such a passport would be an Irish citizen who recognises the Crown as head of state in Ireland and such recognition of the Crown as Head of State is the only sine qua non of the U.K. All else is changeable including Parliament With devolved governments in Scotland and Wales, Parliament at Westminster is now in a state of flux.

Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein brings this radical unionism to the attention of traditional unionism At the moment there is a working party in place to examine a new arrangement between the U.U.P. and the Tories. Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein has no objection in principal to this except that such an alliance will do nothing to eradicate sectarianism in Ireland. Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein puts forward a new approach to the eradication of sectarianism on the island. It is proposed that a constitutionally central collation be formed of the central S.D.L.P. the U.U.P. and Alliance whose aim is to oppose and defeat the constitutional extremists Late Sinn Fein and the D.U.P. The central coalition should be named The Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein Party of Ireland. In such a coalition the U.U.P. could retain its association with the Conservatives, the Alliance retain its historic association with the Lib Dems and the S.D.L.P. retain its association with the Labour Party.

If eventually the National Government of Ireland Act were in place, ideally, in the whole of Ireland then the Irish Christian Democrats could be in association with the British Conservatives and with the Christian Democrats in Europe, the Irish liberal democrats could be in association with the Lib Dems in G.B. and with European liberals, and the Irish Social Democrats could remain in association with British Labour and with socialists in Europe.

In such an arrangement politics in Ireland would become normalized being based on the ideological, right, centre and left and the sickness of Ireland –sectarianism will wither away. So whither traditional Unionism?

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein

2008-07-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

Whither Late Sinn Fein?

At the moment there is considerable interest in the press and in the media concerning the peace process and its direction and efforts are being made to reconcile the DUP and Late Sinn Fein to one another. Stormont has become the Mecca of the North for Late Sinn Fein.

But it may be time to stand back and examine what is happening constitutionally in the six counties. The crux of the matter seems to be that the DUP and Late Sinn Fein will not bed down together at Stormont until Late Sinn Fein accepts in full the six county courts and cooperates in full with the PSNI. Gerry Adams is now leading Late Sinn Fein in that direction.

To understand clearly what is afoot in the six counties the state’s constitution has to be looked at and the law courts and the police force are basic to the six county constitutional make up. In this unwritten constitution derived from the 1801 Act of Union the law courts and the police are the basic means whereby the six county unwritten undemocratic Right Wing Union Jack Unionist constitution is maintained. In deed one might say the courts and the police are the heart and lungs of this undemocratic constitution. This constitution has been rejected by the vast majority of the people of this island but in the six counties this undemocratic constitution is being maintained militarily by the British Army and by the PSNI with a gun strapped to their hip.

Since the 1801 Act of Union, the primary function of the police in Ireland, beginning with the RIC, was the maintenance of the constitution on the island as a whole. The maintenance of civil law and order was a secondary function. When the six county statelet was set up the RU C took on the role as state enforcers of an unwritten undemocratic constitution even though the constitution was unacceptable to a significant portion of the population. The PSNI still has as its primary function the enforcement of the constitution on those who don’t want it. That is why they travel the highways and byways carrying guns. For the PSNI the maintenance of civil law and order is a secondary function. The ultimate back up to the PSNI in this role is the British military garrison of 5000 whose ultimate duty is to enforce the constitution at the point of a gun on those who object to it. For Gerry Adams and Late Sinn Fein this is now to be accepted. In this acceptance Late Sinn Fein is now accepting the 1801 Act of Union and in so doing are propping up a Right Wing Union Jack Unionist regime in the six counties. Late Sinn Fein are now being hoodwinked bamboozled and pressurized by the clever wiles of Ian Paisley and the DUP into an acceptance of the Act of Union. This deception is aided and abetted by the British con artist, Tony Blair using the sleight of hand—good community relations and peace. Backing this up is the Irish con artist, the partitionist Bertie Ahern and a partitionist Dail Eireann, and urging this on is the arch partitionist Catholic potentate of a cosy Catholic foreign jurisdiction---Mary Mc Aleese. Gerry Adams should now come clean with the party faithful and go the full constitutional hog and fly the Union Jack on Late Sinn Fein headquarters, take a seat in the House of Commons and take the oath of allegiance to the Queen and end its Ard Fheis in Dublin with ---God Save the Queen. If Ian Paisley and Tony Blair were to make all of that a condition of entry to Stormont Gerry Adams and Late Sinn Fein would acquiesce such is their lust for power in the six counties.

This is not so with Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein. There is no way it would buy into the Act of Union 1801 by selling its birth right for a mess of pottage in the six counties. It rejects utterly the Act of Union simply because the Act has been rejected historically by the vast majority of the people of this island. But Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein goes further than that and positively. Recognising that Republicanism has been defeated militarily in the six counties and because of that, is defeated on the whole island and is now partitionist in outlook, Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein advocates the repeal of the unacceptable Act of Union 1801 and its removal from the statute books, to be replaced by a new acceptable Act of Union, the National Government of Ireland Act, giving a Union that is democratically acceptable to all, be it the Catholics of Kerry or the Protestants of Derry. Those who have the best interest of Ireland and the Irish at heart will find a proposal for the National Government of Ireland Act published in 22 articles in the Blanket 2006 The six counties are now in a constitutional mess as is the island as a whole, being partitioned into two statelets the one foreign to the other. This mess has been created in the past by extremists north and south. It is high time the mess was cleared up but Late Sinn Fein cannot do that. All they can do is wallow in it and now have their nose rubbed in it by the DUP. But the mess can be cleared up in a UK context in the National Government of Ireland Act. That way, in a UK context lies a United Ireland and only in that way.

When it comes to policing a few twiddles of the constitutional knobs by Cris Patton will not do. Patton has left the primary role of the PSNI as constitutional enforcers intact. In the National Government of Ireland Act the police would be subject to the constitution, not enforcers of it and the maintenance of the constitution would be in the hands of the Taoiseach but would ultimately be determined by the democratic will of the Irish people. The only constitutional duty of the police would be the maintenance of civil law and order. Likewise if the National Government of Ireland Act were in place, ideally, in the whole of Ireland or else in the six counties it would then a constitutional imperative that English Scottish and Welsh soldiers leave Ireland and an Irish Army in Ireland would have the constitutional role of defending Irish territory and democracy, or of defending the territory of the Isles of the North Atlantic and democracy in conjunction with the British Army should the need arise. Neither the Irish Army nor the British Army would be constitutional enforcers in Ireland. The constitution would be maintained solely by the democratic will of the Irish people.

Michael Gillespie

2008-07-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

Whither Traditional Republicanism?
Michael Gillespie

On first writing to the Blog I made clear I am a dissident, dissenting from Traditional Republicanism, Nationalism, and Unionism seeing these as failed entities that have past their sell by date and should be thrown out and replaced with the new improved up-to-date stock of Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein. On reading current articles in The Blanket, contributed by Republicans, it is now becoming clear that Early Sinn Fein’s original message is finding an affinity with thinking Republicans where traditional Republicanism is being seen as a futility.

Traditional Republicanism has been abandoned by Late Sinn Fein which now props up a Right Wing Union Jack Unionist 6 county state by buying into the 1801 Act of Union at Stormont. Like Early Sinn Fein, traditional Republicanism is opposed to the 1801 Act of Union and wants rid of it but unlike Early Sinn Fein, traditional Republicanism doesn’t know how to achieve that goal. Violence has been the traditional means towards the end but that means proved futile in ’98, in 1916 and in the recent spate of violence in the 6 counties. So the question is---Whither Traditional Republicanism?

The 1801 Act has been rendered secure in the 6 counties and being secure partition is copper- fastened and sectarianism institutionalised. Ian Paisley had beome expansive and has made a benevolent visit to Dublin and has shaken hands with the unprincipled partitionist Bertie Ahern who has the full approval of a unprincipled Catholic partitionist foreign Dail Eireann. All of this is greeted with euphoria by an unthinking media.

In the knowledge of all of that, Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein holds to the principle that the Act of Union was a military imposition in 1801 and undemocratic and remains an undemocratic military imposition on a sizeable section of the population in the 6 counties at the present time. To resolve this Early Sinn Fein advocates the replacement of the imposed Act of Union 1801 by a new acceptable and democratic Act of Union—The National Government of Ireland Act---.Ideas for such an Act have already been published in The Blog. Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein is as one with Traditional Republicanism in its opposition to the 1801 Act as an end but Early Sinn Fein advocates reason, not brute force as a means.

Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein also wishes to see the day when sectarianism will be non-existent in Ireland. Being realistic sectarianism has its roots in the fracture of Christianity in ages past and is bound up with denominational religion in Ireland. Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein believes that ones religion is a private matter between the individual and God and religion shouldn’t be worn on the sleeve, or mouthed about in public, or paraded in public for votes. Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein profoundly believes that no single brand of denominational Christianity holds a monopoly of Christian truth but that since the fracture of Christianity at the Reformation, the Christian truth is held in a partial fragment by each one of the Christian denominations. Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein profoundly believes that no single Christian denomination offers an exclusive route to personal salvation but that each one of the Christian denominations offers a route to personal salvation, the various denominations being six of one and half a dozen of the other. In that belief Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein is aware that Ian Paisley preaches from the pulpit that his brand of denominational Christianity is the whole Christian truth and nothing but the Christian truth. Preaching thus Ian maintains that his brand of denominational Christianity is a super brand, and like Persil it washes whiter. Is Ian then the role model of the super Christian and is he the superstar of Christianity? If Ian had behaved like a Christian and spoke like a Christian 40 years ago and had backed Captain O’ Neill in the introduction of modest reforms in the 6 counties and had shaken the hand of Sean Lemass in friendship as he has done with Bertie Ahern, in the judgement of Early Sinn Fein there would never have been an I.R.A. and there would never have been violence and 3000 people who are now dead would still be alive. Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein maintains that Ian Paisley is a man with much on his conscience and has much to answer for. Because of that Early Sinn Fein calls on the reverend gentleman to admit his guilt, confess his sins and in company with his erstwhile unchristian political partner at Stormont, Martin who has an unchristian record of terrorism, wear sackcloth and ashes as repentant sinners who have been joined at the hip in an unhealthy, unholy and ungodly union at Stormont. On the other hand Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein is prepared to assist in the healing of the multiple fracture in Christianity by advocating in the National Government of Ireland Act that Christian Ecumenism be made the official state religion of a New Ireland.

The reverend gentleman preaches that the Pope is the anti- Christ and believes that all Catholics are clones of the Pope and would have us believe that Mary M cAleese should be called Dolly the Pope because of her Catholicism. He preaches that his brand of religion and it alone, offers personal salvation and that he personally is saved but maybe if the full truth were known the only thing saved in Ian’s life are the files on his computer. Those with an ounce of Christian sense in their make up must realize that neither Ian or Martin have a Christian bone in their body and in both their faces can be seen the unacceptable face of Christianity.

There is a recurrent theme in Republican writing that the Irish problem can be resolved in socialism. It would be interesting to know the origins of this notion. It could be that this notion originates in Long Kesh with Republican prisoners being brainwashed and indoctrinated into the dogma that revolutionary socialism is the cure all. This has been put to the test in the 6 counties and has been shown to be flawed, faulty and defective. Socialism has also been put to the electoral test by that foot soldier of socialism, Eamon McCann and by the Worker’s Party. The electoral results speak for themselves. Socialism collapsed in Europe with the Berlin Wall but there are those who still cling to the forlorn hope that if only the Shankill and the Falls would unite as working class people in socialism unity would follow and all would be well. This hope was put to the test by the old Northern Ireland Labour Party but without electoral success. The difficulty with the Labour Party lay in the reality that to split the party from head to toe on sectarian lines all that was needed was a motion proposing that the Party recognise the border. So in the old Labour Party the unity of socialism was skin deep and superficial. What touched the quick and divided the party was the border i.e. the constitution. So Federal Unionism reiterates again that to unite Catholic Protestant and Dissenter requires a new reformed U.K.constitution in Ireland i.e. The National Government of Ireland Act and that Ireland can be united in no other way.

There is the assertion in Republican thinking that in Ireland disunity is due to the naughty British who back unionists and if only the British would stop doing that and went away protestant loyalist Ireland would convert en masse to Republicanism and a united Ireland would follow. This foolish assertion fails to understand loyalist Ireland. The central plank of that community’s culture is loyalty to the Crown. It has to be accepted as reasonable that loyalty is a praiseworthy human attribute be it loyalty to friend, family, organization, country or Crown. In a liberal democracy that allows freedom of expression, loyalty should be freely expressed not repressed, as loyalty to the Crown would be in a Republic. The case in point is the Protestant loyalist community in the 26 county statelet. There the central plank of the community’s culture was taken away and the protestant community, ill at ease in an imposed alien culture, voted against the statelet with their feet by walking out, so it is true to say that protestants are as scarce on the banks of the Shannon, nowadays, as Sioux Indians are on the banks of the Mississippi. The fate of Catholics in the 6 counties is in marked contrast. Since 1921 the catholic community in the 6 counties has increased, multiplied and flourished even though they have felt badly done by, by Right Wing Union Jack Unionism, so Catholics in the 6 counties don’t seem to have any objection in principle to being within the U.K. provided they get a fair crack of the whip. By the same token the Catholics of Kerry could equally increase multiply and flourish if they were to be within a reformed United Kingdom.

Some time ago I saw Catrina Ruane of Late Sinn Fein mention a New Ireland to a D.U.P.man on T.V. It was a mystery to myself the D.U.P. man and also to the viewers what Catrina was talking about. Everyone would want to know what Catrina’s new Ireland would be like , where it would come from and how it would be constitutioned and what we all would be letting ourselves in for in this new Ireland but Catrina never mentioned any of that. Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein is willing to come to the lady’s assistance and offer the lady, free of charge, a brand new Ireland which unlike the muddy waters of Late Sinn Fein’s Eire Nua, is clearly thought out, clearly presented, and clearly constituted and with no hidden agenda so that the lady can study the National Government of Ireland Act and see how she would like to live in a united Ireland as an Irish Christian Liberal Democracy within the United Kingdom. I hope Catrina reads This Blog.

When first writing to This Blog I described myself as a teacher and a writer. If the readership doesn’t like teachers and writers especially teachers I can describe myself in the way Shaw described himself to the Fabian Society: -

“I am not a teacher. I am a fellow traveller who is pointing the way.”~
Michael Gillespie

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2008-07-27T10:39:00.001-07:00

Ruled by Zealots

With the setting up of the assembly in the 6 counties the partitionist Bertie Ahern has declared in a partitionist Dail Eireann that the constitution in Northern Ireland is now off the table. It is easy for Bertie to say that in a cosy catholic foreign 26 county Republic. Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein invites the taoiseach to visit the 6 counties and look around and he will find his wishful thinking about the constitution is misplaced. In the 6 counties he will find that for the people, the constitution is at the centre of the table and remains at the heart of the matter. He will find in catholic estates the kerbstones painted green white and orange, the flag is the tricolour, the anthem is a Soldier’s Song and the passport is Irish. In protestant estates he will find the kerbstones painted red white and blue, the flag is the Union Jack, the anthem is God Save The Queen and the passport is British. So what is Bertie talking about when he says that in N. Ireland the constitution is off the table? This typifies the flannel that comes from politicians in Ireland. What now is the flag to be flown at Stormont and what is the anthem? Is it the Union Jack and God Save the Queen? If it is then Late Sinn Fein are 1801 Unionists and should fly the Union Jack at headquarters and end the Ard Fheis with God Save the Queen. Could both flags be flown and both anthems sung? If that were the case then Stormont would clearly be the constitutional monstrosity that it has become. Perhaps the parties could agree not to fly any flag or have an anthem, in that case the 6 counties, as a constitutional non – entity, would be a non- state. This seems to be the constitutional position adopted by Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair and being urged by the media. The people of the 6 counties are being told to deal with bread and butter matters only. In other words the people are being told to think about their bellies and about nothing else. But to have a buoyant economy it is vital to have a stable state and a stable state must have a democratically accepted constitution, which the 6 county statelet doesn’t have. Mr Ford of the Alliance Party has suggested that the 6 counties should have its own flag—a green flag with a circle of blue flax flowers---- and its own anthem---Danny Boy--- but that is typical of the silly shallow nonsense that comes from Alliance.

Ian Paisley keeps insisting that he is a democrat, that the 6 counties is a democracy and is within the United Kingdom but never explains what ‘democracy’ or ‘united’ are supposed to mean. Since the U. K. constitution is unwritten the validity of these words can be tested in acid in this way. Ian should invite the Queen to make a Royal tour of the 6 counties and Ian, Martin, and Bertie should escort Her Majesty on a walk about up the Falls Road and have the people of the Falls greet the Queen with Union Jacks. The Royal visitor should then attend a Royal Fete in Casement Park to be serenaded by a Falls male voice choir crooning in four part harmony---God Save the Queen---with Ian Paisley jr conducting. The Queen should then make a similar Royal tour of the Bogside and Creggan in Derry and finish off the visit with a similar Royal tour of Crossmaglen. When all of that comes to pass Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein will concede to Ian that the 6 county statelet is democratic, that he is a democrat and the United Kingdom is united and will agree with Bertie that the constitution is off the table in N. Ireland. But all of that is not a scenario of the immediate future but may happen light years from now. In the mean time when the Crown visits Belfast the Crown is hijacked by Right Wing Union Jack Unionists, is corralled into Protestant districts and is seen as a protestant Crown for Protestants. If that is ever to change that can only be done in the National Government of Ireland Act by Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein.

To look at the constitutional surrealism of the whole island, recently I saw Ian Paisley jr on T.V. make a visit to Dublin where he was greeted by the Irish foreign minister Mr Ahern. It looked like Ian jr was arriving from Timbuktu not from Belfast a hundred miles or so up the road. It amazes one how these two men can keep straight faces when involved in such a surrealist constitutional farce.

Zealotry is the curse of Irish history and while the farcical constitutional nature of the island goes back to ancient religious wars in ancient times, the modern farce began with the zealotry of Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen Their zealotry drove the Irish ship of state off course. Prior to the United Irishmen, the Patriots in the Irish Parliament were pressing for a parliament which was separate from, but co- equal to Westminster under the Crown and this is the first and best concept of Irish nationhood in Irish history. In this concept the Irish ship of state was on course but in reaction to ’98, the Irish parliament was ripped out of Ireland and with it the island’s constitutional centre, this being spearheaded by a zealotry of Irish protestant landed gentry and the Irish ship of state was driven off course. In the 19thcentury attempts were made by Butt and Parnell to steer the ship of state back onto the course of the Patriots but this was frustrated by Right Wing Union Jack Unionism. In the 20th century Griffiths, in the notion of a dual monarchy, tried to steer the ship of state back on the central course of the Patriots but the sectarian zealotry of 1916 put paid to that in 1916, and the ship of state was driven totally off course into the doldrums of partition. How many protestants were in the leadership or in the ranks in 1916? Now in a 30 year zealotry of violence Late Sinn Fein is not only off course but is now lost at sea in Stormont.

Zealotry is normally found in religion but there exists the zealotry of two secular religions in Ireland i.e. Late Sinn Fein and Union Jack Unionism. These secular religions have secular saints and secular martyrs, a one true faith based on contradictory dogmas about Ireland and on two conflicting and contradictory truths about Ireland. The adherents of these two apostate religions have gutted one another in the past but are now joined together at the hip in an unholy ungodly and unhealthy union at Stormont and these zealots now rule; on the one hand, the religious and political zealot, Peter Robinson on the other, the political zealot Martin Maginnis. In the past in G.B. the racist zealot Oswald Moseley was put out of politics because he was anti- Jewish but in the 6 counties the religious and political zealots theD.U.P. have remained in politics and now rule even though they are known to be anti- Irish and anti- catholic. They do this in company with the anti- loyalist zealot Maginnis.

All of this is bound up with the morality of government in the assembly. A government in a genuine democracy has a moral basis. In a genuine democracy the government governs in the belief that what it says and does is right and the opposition opposes in the belief that what the government says and does is wrong. Profumo was sacked because of a sexual impropriety and for lying to the House; Nixon was sacked for lying to the nation; Clinton was faced with impeachment, not so much for a sexual impropriety as for lying; Bertie Ahern’s fitness for government was called to question over his personal finances and all of this is due to the moral basis of the democratic governments concerned. This is not the case with the assembly at Stormont. There the basis of government is amoral. Amorality and immorality are different. To be immoral one must have a sense of right and wrong and infringe ones sense of right with a sense of guilt. To be amoral one is devoid of a sense of right and wrong and the person is devoid of guilt. This is characteristic of a psychopath. For all Early Sinn Fein knows, and for all the general public knows, those who were involved in the most heinous of crimes, like the Enniskillen bombings and those who condoned such criminality now rule over us in an amoral assembly. This is not directed at Republican criminality alone but is directed at the counter criminality of Right Wing Union Jack Unionism, such Unionism stretching from the UUP, to the DUP, to the police, to the British military and then to the UDA and to the UVF. All of these are, constitutionally speaking, the one sow’s pigs and condone a criminality that extends from Bloody Sunday to the murder of innocent Catholics and to collusion between the police and loyalist paramilitaries. Thus the assembly rests on amoral deals done between zealots behind closed doors in the Belfast/Scottish agreement. Thus the zealots rule.

In Dublin, Bertie Ahern has said that in Ireland, the two constitutions are now set in stone. In Bertie’s mind that is the way Ireland is, and has to be. There is no other way. Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein refutes that flatly. There is another way for Ireland and the Irish, in the way Ireland ought to be. This can be expressed in the National Government of Ireland Act. If the Act is examined as published in this Blog it will be seen that the joining of the two historic traditions in Ireland is symbolized in the union of the Irish Tricolour with the Cross of Saint Patrick and the Crown, the Harp and the Shamrock This is a more realistic and rational approach to unity than having two irreconcilable zealots sit beside one another in a partitionist Stormont. As a symbol of unity the new flag should be named in the Act as the Royal Flag of Ireland and defined as the national flag of Ireland and as the co- equal symbol of the United Kingdom of the sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain. This is a synthesis of the two historic political traditions in Ireland. The joining and synthesis of the two cultural traditions in Ireland, the Irish and the Loyalist and of the two Christian traditions, the Catholic and the Protestant is symbolized in the Crown Irish Representation given in the Act which should show a picture of the Crown wearing the Irish Crown Jewels standing beside a Celtic Cross and underneath should be written in Irish and English: -

An Coroin Criostuil Gaelach
Banrion Eilis a do

The Christian Crown Irish
Queen Elisabeth the Second

The full synthesis of the two historic traditions in Ireland is given in the 22 articles of the National Government of Ireland Act published in The Way Ireland Ought To Be In this way there lies a united Ireland that is peaceful and stable and in no other way but Ireland divided will never be at peace. This is only achievable in Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein.

Michael Gillespie

2008-07-27T10:32:00.001-07:00

Was it a war? ----Oh yes it was---- Oh no it wasn’t.
Some time ago on B.B.C. N. Ireland the in-dispute seemed to be----Were the troubles a war? For Late Sinn Fein the violence was a just war fought in a noble cause and for Union Jack Unionism it was despicable terrorism. As usual the debate had an air of pantomime farce about it i.e. Oh yes it was a war---Oh no it wasn’t--- with no reference as to what the word ---war – is supposed to mean.

In such circumstance it is my conditioned reflex to reach, Pavlovian style, for the dictionary. According to my dictionary, war, has a proliferation of meanings. So it is a question of finding which one best fits the period of violence in the 6 counties. I quote the following meanings

(1) A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict, carried on between nations, states or parties.
Does this fit? Was the conflict in the six counties between the Irish Nation and the British Nation? That doesn’t fit.
Was the conflict between the six county state and the twenty six county state? Surely not.
A conflict between parties or communities in a country is a civil war. Was the conflict between the Catholic community and the Protestant community and was it a civil war? That doesn’t fit either. However the poet Michael Longley calls the conflict in the six counties a squalid little civil war.

(2) A period of conflict as in (1)
The period of conflict in the forties between G.B. and Germany is called in common speech—during the war---. The period of conflict in the six counties is called in common speech in Ireland --- during the troubles. So the period of conflict in the six counties is the troubles not a war.

(3) A formally declared state of war in which certain internationally conventions
are supposed to apply.
This is the way in which war is nowadays understood. War ought to be underpinned by conventions and rules. Military personnel who infringe such conventions and rules in conflict can be indicted for war crimes. The conflict in the six counties was not formally declared a war but free lance paramilitaries took it upon themselves to enter into conflict. These freelance paramilitaries were guilty of crimes at Enniskillen, Teeban, Darkley, Bloody Friday, Bloody Sunday, Omagh, The Disappeared along with a host of innocent people who were murdered. In the meaning of war in (3) war should be underpinned by morality and ethics. These were patently absent on both sides in the conflict in the six counties.

(4) Any condition of active antagonism or contention ---e.g. an advertising war, a price war.
(5) A concerted effort or campaign to combat or put an end to something--- e.g. the war against disease

(4) and (5) illustrate the width of meaning in which war is used. When these meanings are examined war should still be based on morality and ethics. In an advertising war is pornographic images permissible? In a price war is the use of substandard or illegal goods permissible? In a war against disease is vivisection permissible? If the campaign of violence was to put an end to the six county state then morality and ethics still apply in the effort

(6) A conflict A clash of opposing ideas or forces --- a battle ---- a fight.
However to describe what took place in the six counties as a conflict and leave it at that is a moral and ethical cop out. If one sees two men fighting in the street and one says this is a conflict and is unconcerned with the rights and wrongs of the matter then that is a moral and ethical evasion. I heard a lady from Dublin say on television that she saw the troubles in the six counties as a conflict and she claimed that the people in Dublin saw the troubles that way as well. If that is so then that is an evasion of the rights and wrongs of the matter by the South.

(7) Rebellion An uprising or organised opposition intended to overthrow the existing government or ruling authority.
Synonyms Revolt, insurrection, uprising, coup d’etat, revolution, mutiny

This begs the question is a violent uprising justified if the government or the constitution is just? There was an organized peaceful opposition by the C.R.A. to an unjust government and constitution in the six counties. The demands of the C.R.A. were conceded so the ensuing violence by P.I.R.A. to overthrow the state, was without moral or ethical foundation. However Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein maintains that the constitution of the six counties remains unjust in that it is unwritten and is maintained military not democratically and is imposed on those on the Island who don’t want it. For that reason Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein advocates that the six county constitution be opposed in an organized peaceful opposition with a view to replacing an unjust constitution with a just constitution in The National Government of Ireland Act.

(8) Feud A bitter prolonged hostility between two armies, two individuals or two families or clans

What is characteristic of a feud is the absence of any moral or ethical basis
to the conflict, the conflict being underscored by hatred. A feud could be described as a dirty war. What has gone on in the six counties for thirty years or more can best be described as a feud between the clans, Republicanism and Right Wing Union Jack Unionism. The dirt in this feud was equally distributed between the two sides.

In summary the recent attempt by Late Sinn Fein to have the conflict in the six counties called a war is a vain attempt by that feuding faction to snatch some semblance of victory from the jaws of abject defeat. It is the thrust of this article that what has taken place in the six counties is best described as a feud not as a war.
Note The National Government of Ireland Act is dealt with in my novel---THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE published by Authorhouse.
Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist Early Sinn Fein

2008-07-25T07:36:00.000-07:00

Freedom yet again

Following on a previous article on Freedom and Democracy, it is to be noted that in Late Sinn Fein’s recent Ard Fheis, the word – Saoirse—was emblazoned in the background. As noted in a previous article the word –Saoirse—as used by Late Sinn Fein is as meaningless as ---Uhuru---as used by the Kenyans in the 60ties. The 1801 Act of Union remains in place in the 6 counties and Hugh Orde can sleep soundly in the knowledge that the primary function of the P.S.N.I. is fulfilled, the 6 county undemocratic sectarian unwritten enforced constitution being now more secure than it ever was. It is now duly and finally enforced by a permanent British garrison and by an armed P.S.N.I. Hugh Orde can now relax knowing that partition is copper fastened and sectarianism institutionalised. Having conceded the constitution to the P,S.N.I. Late Sinn Fein is now willing to participate in the secondary function of the P.S.N.I. which is the maintenance of civil law and order and be happy with a placement at Stormont. Gerry Adams recommends that Republicans join the P.S.N.I. How this is going to work constitutionally is impossible to tell. As policemen and women it will be their constitutional duty to enforce the 1801 Act of Union but as Republicans it will be their duty to oppose it and get rid of it. In such a set up Republicans in the police will lead a schizophrenic existence.

By taking Right Wing Union Jack Unionists, the D.U.P., as bedfellows at Stormont Late Sinn Fein has exposed the attempt by P.I.R.A. to overthrow the Act of Union by brute force as just another Republican failure, a futility, and a farce and at the same time have exposed the tragedies of the hunger strikes at Long Kesh as just another Republican folly. In truth ---Saoirse--- as used by Late Sinn Fein is clearly as bogus and false as was ---uhuru---in Kenya.

However Federal Unionism—Early Sinn Fein still holds steadfastly to freedom in Ireland and holds to the truth that freedom is needed as never before but not of the bogus--- Saoirse/Uhuru--- sort. In the National Government of Ireland Act freedom is given its modern meaning as accepted by forward thinking people. In the Act there is given a list of “freedom froms” and in this list there will be found ---freedom from disease---as a basic freedom of the individual. What Ireland needs to be freed from in the 21st century is from the social disease of sectarianism, bigotry and intolerance. If the Irish are to be united in freedom they must first be liberated from the social disease of the country—sectarianism---.

Sectarianism is rampant in the mentalities of Late Sinn Fein and of Right Wing Union Jack Unionism There isn’t a protestant in the ranks of Late Sinn Fein nor is there a Catholic in the ranks of the D.U.P. In the case of Late Sinn Fein sectarianism runs deep in its history and pedigree. Late Sinn Fein takes as its ancestry the Catholic sectarian uprising of 1916.In that debacle there wasn’t a Protestant in the leadership or in the ranks; the Protestant Roger Casement is associated with this period of history but one swallow doesn’t make a summer. If the full truth were known about 1916 and it isn’t, it could be that the leadership and the ranks held to the sectarian bigotry that to be Irish one must be a Catholic, convert to Republicanism, and have a paranoid hatred of all things British especially the Crown. But to look at the whole picture and be fair there is the counter sectarian bigotry which says that to be loyal to the Crown, one must be protestant and British and convert to Right Wing Union Jack Unionism and live by the Act of Union and have a paranoid hatred of all things either Catholic or Irish. This sectarian bigotry, which is rampant in Ireland, has kept the communities at one another’s throats for generations. Ireland needs liberation from this mindset and when thus freed the island will be at peace and will be unified. Only Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein can point the Irish in this direction in the National Government of Ireland Act. If this Act were in place in Ireland, Ireland would a sovereign nation like Canada. Canadians are loyal to the Crown and such loyalty is no barrier to Canada being a Sovereign independent nation within the Commonwealth. As a sovereign nation Canada has one head of state, the Crown, one Canadian flag, one Canadian anthem, and one Canadian passport giving a Canadian identity. Thus in Canada there is no inconsistency in being loyal in being loyal to Crown and in being Canadian because the Canadian constitution allows that. But in Ireland one cannot be loyal to the Crown and be Irish because the constitution doesn’t permit that either in the 1801 Act of Union or in the 1937 constitution in the 26 counties.

In the National Government of Ireland Act Ireland would be constituted as an Irish Christian Liberal Democracy within the United Kingdom and in an Ireland constituted in this way there would be no inconsistency in being loyal to the Crown and in being Irish. The constitution would allow that. Under such a constitution the people of Ireland would enjoy true freedom, not a bogus freedom like a shout of ---Saoirse / Uhuru---in the streets. The highest form of freedom that the individual can aspire to is---freedom to be--. In an Irish Christian Liberal Democracy the individual could aspire to freedom in its highest form namely freedom to be Irish to one’s heart’s content and at the same time the individual should be free to be loyal to the Crown to one’s heart’s content.

Republicanism and Nationalism (Nationalism being a half way house to Republicanism) hold that self-determination can only be realized in a Republic. But self-determination can equally be realized in a Monarchy. This is true of the Monarchies of Norway and Sweden

To develop this concept of the freedom of the individual the needs of Ireland in the 21st century can be listed as follows and these can only be fulfilled in Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein.

1. The repeal of the Act of Union 1801

2. Its replacement by a new Act of Union, the National Government of Ireland Act in which the U.K. constitution is reformed and restructured in Ireland making it acceptable to all, be it the Catholics of Kerry or the Protestants of Derry.

3. The Act should define Ireland as a Sovereign Nation within the United Kingdom with a reformed Crown as head of state.

4. A federal structure of government in Ireland with a central government in ~Dublin, Dail Eireann, with powers devolved to four provincial Houses of Representatives

5. One state religion for all---Christian ~Ecumenism

6. A reform of the Orange Order

7. The British Isles redefined as The Isles of the North Atlantic.

8. Emmet’s epitaph to be written, Ireland being a 32 sovereign nation.

There is little point in disillusioned, disenchanted and disgruntled Republicans lamenting the sell-out by Late Sinn Fein in the six counties. That was inevitable. Republicanism has been tested to destruction by P.I.R.A.in the six counties and have shown it to be flawed, faulty, and defective and should be rejected. It is the thrust of these articles that traditional Unionism, Nationalism, and Republicanism are all flawed, faulty, and defective and should all be thrown out and replaced by the new stock of Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein. So all is not lost. Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein, which is a synthesis of Nationalism, and Unionism, remains with its solution to the Irish problem.

Michael Gillespie

Freedom and Democracy

2008-07-25T03:39:00.000-07:00

Freedom and Democracy

Uhuru Freedom

In 1920 Kenya became a British Colony. In the early 1960 ties there was an uprising by the Kikuyu tribe led by the Mau Mau in a terrorist campaign and in the ensuing violence Britain left Kenya and granted it independence. In 1963 Jomo Kenyatta declared Keyna a Republic and in the ensuing celebrations in Nairobi the people danced in the streets chanting --- Uhuru i.e. Freedom. But this heady declaration died the death. Under British rule the country was prosperous but with independence due to bad government and economic recession the country became one of the poorest in the world In 1969 Keyna became a one party oppressive state and freedom and democracy were abandoned. I quote this case of freedom and democracy in Keyna to illustrate that a chant of ---- uhuru – in the streets doesn’t guarantee freedom and democracy in the state.

Saoirse Freedom

It was an unattainable pipe dream of Republicans in the troubles in the six counties that violence would drive the British Army into the Irish Sea and Loyalists with them. An all- Ireland Republic would be set up and in celebration the Republicans of Belfast would dance in the streets chanting ---- Saoirse--- Saoirse. --.This Republican pipe dream proved to be a delusion. But even if that dream had been a reality a shout of --- Saoirse—in the streets would not have been a guarantee of freedom or democracy in the state.

There is an element in Late Sinn Fein that envisages the future of Ireland to be a Socialist Republic and therefore a one party state as the Socialist Republics in the world are one party states. This is evident in Eire Nua on the lightest of readings and verbiage about freedom in a document is no guarantee of freedom in the state.

Late Sinn Fein still labour under the delusion that for a democracy to a democracy all that is needed is a free vote. For a democracy to be a democracy the state must have a constitution, which is accepted by all, and freedom must be enshrined in the constitution in writing and democratically ratified by the people.

In the constitution proposed for a United Ireland within the U.K.given in the National Government of Ireland Act published in the NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT freedom is enshrined in the constitution and cannot be denied. For Republicans freedom is a shout in the street and nothing more. It is a shout about freeing one green field from bondage by bomb and bullet with a shout of ---Saoirse—and just as a shout of ---Uhuru--- guaranteed nothing in Nairobi so is a shout of---Saoirse—in Belfast equally vacuous.

Freedom in the 21st century

On a modern analysis of freedom in a present day liberal democracy freedom has a dual nature.

(a) Individual freedom.

(b) State freedom.

These are dealt with in The National Government of Ireland Act Article 4. Individual freedom is threefold.

(1) Freedom from
(2) Freedom to become
(3) Freedom to be

Freedom From

While the Republic of Keyna began with a shout of --- uhuru---nowadays in that country individual freedom is non- existent. It has to be understood that the enjoyment of individual freedom depends upon the health of the state economy in which one lives. While many individual “ freedom froms” are listed in The National Government Act c.f. Article 4 such “ freedom froms” as freedom from poverty, want, hunger and disease etc are absent in Keyna. But it has also to be recognised that individual freedom was absent for generations in the 26 counties due to the third world nature of its economy for decades c.f. Angela’s Ashes.

Freedom to Become

Like freedom from, freedom to become depends upon the state of the economy in which one lives. The economy determines the nature of the schooling system and in turn this determines the realization of freedom to become in the state. In Keyna freedom to become is non-existent for the impoverished majority. Freedom to become was also limited for generations in the 26 counties due to the nature of the economy, the 26 counties statelet being the last in the West to introduce a universal secondary tier of education in the state. In the past many young people left the 26 counties and went to England to benefit from the free education there.

Freedom to Be

Freedom to be is the highest form of individual freedom and it in turn is also dependant on the economy. One can aspire to be a plumber but if one cannot find work as a plumber because of a scarcity of work opportunities in the economy then the plumber’s freedom to be is being violated. Freedom to be is limited in Keyna but freedom to be was also limited for decades in the 26 counties due to the third world nature of the economy and there was massive emigration to find work abroad.

This account of individual freedom brings to mind the Marxist dictum: -

“ Art, science, philosophy and politics are the froth on the crest of the economic wave, when the wave breaks the froth will reform and restructure”

Marx did not include freedom in his dictum but he should have. The economic wave has broken in the 26 counties in recent times and freedom has reformed and restructured. But even if wealth levels have increased spectacularly since the 1990ties and because of that individual freedom has blossomed nevertheless there remain pockets of poverty in the state from which the people need to be freed. The blossoming of pockets of poverty from which the people need to be freed. This blossoming of individual freedom ha\s nothing to do with a shout of ----Saoirse--- in 1916 but has all to do
with the south being a member of the E.E.C.by which the economy in the south was kick started.

State Freedom

A rebellious adolescent may take freedom to mean—one should be free to
. do as one pleases. This view of freedom won’t do for the state. Freedom requires a definition. The following is suggested:-

Freedom is the mature exercise of the will in the pursuit of either good or evil with full intent.

Because the person can do evil freedom must be subject to the law. As noted in the article on Federalism, the eminent English philosopher J.S Mill understood freedom to mean that in a liberal democracy one should be free to do as one pleases, provided that in doing so one doesn’t injure, hurt or offend someone else. By implication this means that freedom should be subject to the law.

After the inception of the 26 county statelet freedoms of thought, mind, expression, and speech were suppressed in a state that was priest ridden and under the thumb of the Catholic Church. A catholic Dail Eirteann sat in silence while this suppression was practiced. In truth home rule was Rome rule. Now in the south with a rising tide of wealth, freedom of thought, mind, expression and speech are accepted. The power of the Catholic Church is on the wane due in part to sex scandals. In the National Government of Ireland Act a plethora of freedoms are listed.c.f.Article 4. Freedom is not of one ilk----uhuru---saoirse--- but is of many kinds.

It is hoped this article and others will emphasise the central nature of a constitution in a democracy. It is the conviction of Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein that the Irish
Problem is in essence a dispute about the constitutional nature of the island, should it be a Republic or should it be under the Crown? Freedom is too important to be left to self – appointed zealots of the – uhuru—saoirse--- type freedom but should be written into the state constitution where both individual and state freedoms can be rationally understood and democratically accepted by all.

It is still the conviction of Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein that the problem in the 6 counties can only be resolved constitutionally in a new reformed U.K.constitution which ideally should be as acceptable to the protestants of Kerry as to the catholics of Derry. If such a constitution is not acceptable to the people of the 26 counties then it can become the written constitution of the 6 counties making that state stable and democratic c.f.Article 22 The National Government of Ireland Act. However if the island is ever to be united that will only come about in a U.K.context. That is the only way to a United Ireland and there is no other way.

MICHAEL GILLESPIE FEDERAL UNIONIST – EARLY SINN FEIN

2008-07-24T06:13:00.000-07:00

The novel --THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE-- is a fiction derived from the author's composite life experiences. The novel relates Dr Quinn's struggle in a psychiatric clinic to discover his true self and his true identity as an Irishman. In this struggle he creates the NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT as the solution to the Irish problem.The novel is a companion to this series of articles in this Blog and is recommended reading. The novel can be bought in through any bookstore in the U.K./Ireland or from an book agency on the Internet.

2008-07-24T06:11:00.001-07:00

Selection at Eleven in Northern Ireland

Now that the constitutional monstrosity the assembly is in place in N. Ireland and has bedded in, as some one who calls himself a Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein, it is my belief that the assembly will eventually shake itself apart due to inherent constitutional contradictions. In the meantime it may be useful to look at an aspect of government in the six counties (N. Ireland) –namely selection at eleven.

I first came across academic selection in an official capacity when I was Belfast President of the Irish National Teacher’s Organization during the Harold Wilson administration and dealing with academic selection at the time was part of my remit as union president. It was my firm belief then as it is now that selection is a sine qua non of education. What remains to be decided is at what age selection should take place and who should do the selecting.

The age of selection at eleven is quite arbitrary. That age was set up following the 1948 Education Act, which looked forward to universal secondary education. At that time compulsory education ended at 14. In the secondary schools that were to come into being, the government decreed that secondary schooling should be at least 3 years so the age set for selection was eleven. So selection at eleven is quite arbitrary, but even so for right wing Union Jack Unionism selection at eleven is sacred and is carved in stone.

The I.N.T.O. at that time campaigned for the abolition of the eleven-plus and for the introduction of comprehensives in the six counties (N. Ireland) but this was defeated by a powerful grammar school lobby. My personal position was that selection at eleven be abolished and that pupils be given the opportunity of selecting themselves and should not be divided into sheep and goats by the state. With that in mind and in the knowledge that selection is a sine qua non of education I backed a system of all ability Primary schooling with transfer to an all ability middle school at the age of eleven with compulsory schooling ending at 16. In this system, selection which I stress is an essential part of education, should take place at 14 the pupils being supported at 14 by careers advice along with an academic profile of each individual pupil, beginning in the primary sector and continuing into the second year of middle schooling. At 14 the school should be streamed into academic and vocational groups. For the first two years of middle schooling the classes should be of mixed ability with class setting being allowed to cater for slow and fast learners, as is the practice in primary schooling. The aim of the middle school should be to turn out a school population that is literate and numerate At 16+ those with an academic bent should move to sixth form colleges. This system of education is similar to the system of education in Craigavon in N.Ireland as of now.

The school curriculum should allow two forms of knowledge---Know that – and Know how. This would in keeping with the revised curriculum at present being muted for schools, the emphasis being on Know How. The distinction between Know That and Know How may be made in this way. For example, I know that a car has four wheels, a steering wheel, seats back and front, that cars are of different colours and that they should be taxed and insured. All of that is--- know that--- about a car and is in a way useless knowledge. What is meaningful is knowing how to drive a car or knowing how to fix a car when it breaks down and that is useful knowledge. Know How has to do with the learning of procedures. A competent driver knows how to proceed along a highway and a competent mechanic knows how to proceed in repairing a car. A 21st century economy requires Know how from its population and know how requires instruction. Traditionally-- Know That-- has been taught in schools but that form of knowledge is only of use in quiz shows. What should be of significance in modern education is learning how to proceed in the academic disciplines or in vocational skills.

It is evident that Right Wing Union Jack Unionism is hell bent on retaining selection at eleven. Be that as it may it is difficult to understand how the right wing in the six counties can reconcile selection by the state with right wing philosophy. It was Margaret Thatcher’s purpose in being Prime Minister to roll back the state. The Right Wing in the six counties should roll back the state out of the lives of children by allowing them to select themselves. The state should be kept out of it. The right wing is inconsistent in this but then they are consistent in being sectarian.

In all of this one must look at education in the inner city and education in the suburbs. When looking at inner city education I have in mind Late Sinn Fein (as distinct from my Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein) Late Sinn Fein having adopted a sectarian stance in relation to the protestant Shankill. I have heard Late Sinn Fein on the T.V. claim that the abolition of the eleven plus and the introduction of comprehensives is the cure all for low academic standards on the Shankill. More recently I heard Ms Ruane repeat this after a N.A.S/U.W.T. conference in Belfast but in singling out the Shankill in a problem that is an Inner City problem, Ms Ruane is being sectarian.

At the time I was President of the I.N.T.O. in Belfast I was also doing research into numeracy in the inner city in Belfast at the Faculty of Education at Q.U.B. The neighbourhoods selected for research were (1) The Shankill ( a protestant inner city enclave) (2) The Lower Falls (a catholic inner city enclave) (3) The Donegall Pass ( a protestant inner city enclave) (4) The Markets.(a catholic inner city enclave) The research looked at Basic Numeracy and Overall Numeracy at the end of Primary schooling.

Basic Numeracy This took as its criteria the ability to do simple addition subtraction, multiplication and division. The research revealed that over one third of the school population couldn’t do these basic operations at the end of primary schooling and were thus innumerate. When the statistics were tested rigorously for significance the performance of pupils in Controlled Schools (protestant) did not differ significantly from the performance of pupils in Maintained Schools (catholic) so the levels of innumeracy among pupils on the Shankill do not differ from the Levels of innumeracy among pupils on the Lower Falls. So why does Late Sinn Fein single out the Shankill when it comes to an Inner City problem in education. Does Ms Ruane and Late Sinn Fein think that innumeracy has something to so with religion and politics?

Overall Numeracy This level of numeracy was established in a wide-ranging test of mathematical knowledge at the end of Primary Education. When tested for significance between Maintained and Controlled Schools it was found that pupils in Controlled Schools out-performed pupils in Maintained Schools. So why does Ms Ruane knock the Shankill by singling it out? But there are swings and roundabouts in all of this. It has also been established in research that pupils in Maintained Schools out-perform pupils in Controlled Schools in verbal ability.

To take a still wider view of education one must look at inner city schools in relation to schools in the leafy suburbs. Had the research indicated been carried out in schools on the Malone it would be expected that pupils on the Malone would out-perform pupils in the Inner City. While this anomaly is true of Belfast it is also true of all cities in Ireland, in Great Britain, in Europe and in America. It was originally thought at the time of Harold Wilson that comprehensives were the corrective to this anomaly but this did not prove to be the case in England and Wales. There is now talk of bog standard comprehensives in England but these tend to be situated in the Inner City. Comprehensives in the suburbs tend to do well academically. The current Labour Government have tried to rectify this by having the state invade the classroom in telling teachers what to teach and how to teach it. It is now thought that this is making matters worse. It could be that the cause of the anomaly is due to the relative values that inner city families and suburban families place on educational attainment.

This is the problem that Ms Ruane will have to tackle in the six counties and there is no simple answer to it. So what is the point of Ms Ruane and Late Sinn Fein in singling out the Shankill for special note? To do that is raw sectarianism.

The Catholic Church has also climbed on the bandwagon of selection. Fr Farren argues that selection is an infringement of the catholic school ethos. Such hypocrisy! When it comes to selection the Catholic Church is a major culprit by insisting that children be taught apart in separate catholic and non-catholic schools. It is high time that integrated schools took over, and the teaching of divisive sectarian denominational religion was replaced with the teaching of unifying Christianity in all schools.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist --- Early Sinn Fein

2008-07-24T06:06:00.001-07:00

Hearts and Minds

As noted in another article published in this Blog the ex- Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is on record in Dail Eireann in claiming that after the St Andrews agreement the constitution is settled in N. Ireland and is now off the table. That may be the wish of a partitionist but the people of the six counties ( N.Ireland) see the matter differently. Living in the six counties one can observe two heads of state involved, two national flags being flown, two anthems being sung, two passports being travelled on with two conflicting identities. A state thus constituted is unstable and is prone to intercommunal strife and verbal harangue. The evidence of this can be observed in the peace walls, and kerbstones painted red white and blue and green white and orange that disfigure Belfast.

But despite the wishful thinking of Bertie the constitutional issue burns deeply in the six county psyche. Watching Hearts and Minds on television on Thursday 7th February two antagonists were at one another’s throats over the flying of the Union Jack and the display of U.D.R. and R.U.C. plaques in the council offices at Banbridge (N. Ireland). The antagonists were Bob Collins of the Equality Commission and Drew Nelson of the Orange Order. The bone of contention with the Orange Order was that unionism i.e. Right Wing Union Jack Unionism, was being striped of its cultural heritage in the removal of British symbols from the council offices. Bob Collins who has the air of an establishment “do-gooder” about him, claimed he was promoting good community relations in having the symbols removed as they were offensive to a section of the community. And so this old hoary argument over constitutional symbols rumbles on despite Bertie but it should be evident to any impartial observer in all of this that the constitution lies at the heart of the Irish problem and a mere twiddling at the margins of the constitution by establishment “do-gooders” creates more problems than it solves. Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein maintains that the U.K. constitution needs radical reform. It could be that it is the strategy of establishment “do-gooders” to cool the communities into an acceptance of sectarianism and partition as the status quo on the island.

Entering into the dispute, the presenter Noel Thompson quoted a survey in Life and Times about attitudes to flag flying in N. Ireland which found that 60% of the survey in the six counties couldn’t care less what flag is flown. There are of course lies dammed lies and statistics and if Noel genuinely believes this glib statistic he should put it to the test by first walking up the Falls in Belfast, waving a Union Jack and then walk up the Shankill waving a tricolour in the probability that he is 60% safe. When Noel wakes up in hospital with both eyes 100% black he will then fully realize the falsity of his statistic. In all of this one is reminded of John Hume’s father’s advice to his son that one cannot eat a flag. While this an indubitable truth nevertheless a flag is a small but vital part of a constitution in that it symbolizes the collective identity and loyalty of the people of a country, to wit the Stars and Stripes in America and the Tricolour in France, There is the E.U, flag but a European identity and loyalty have still to emerge.

Accepting that as the raison d’etre of a national flag one can look at Noel Thompson’s statistic in another way. If 60% of the people of the six counties couldn’t care less what flag is flown in the six county state what are the implications of that? It is best to examine this with some parallel examples. Suppose it were true that 60%of Americans couldn’t care less whether it is the Stars and Stripes or the Hammer and Sickle that flies on the White House the implications of that for America would be catastrophic. In effect the majority of Americans would be giving the American Constitution the fingers. The same would be true for France if 60% of the French couldn’t care whether the French or German flag is flown on the Elysee Palace. To look at the matter nearer home what if 60% of the people didn’t mind whether the Tricolour or the Union Jack is flown on the G.P. O. in Dublin? In that case the people of the twenty-six counties would be giving the 1937 constitution the fingers. So Noel Thompson’s statistic implies that a majority of the people in the six counties are giving the six county constitution the fingers. This reinforces Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein central thesis that the six county constitution is in an advanced state of decay and is in need of radical root and branch reform. Such reform can only be enacted in a 32 county context, not in a six county context c.f. Article 22 the National Government of Ireland Act.

Those given, flags aren’t sacred and immutable. They are man made and being such can be remade by man. Maud Gonne designed the Irish tricolour with the approval of Arthur Griffiths in the early days of Sinn Fein. Civil service boffins at Whitehall designed the Union Jack and the Cross of St Patrick was invented in 1801. Hoping that Maude isn’t turning in her grave, Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein has given a redesign of the Irish tricolour in a form acceptable to all. The detail of this can be found in Article 9 of the National Government of Ireland Act. Rather than put two constitutional irreconcilables together in Stormont it is preferable and sensible to put the two national flags associated with Ireland together and then synthesise nationalism and unionism in a lengthy Act.

Another contributor to Hearts and Minds made a defence of the Assembly noting that the two party coalition as at Stormont is the norm of Governments in Europe. He took Switzerland as the prime example of a coalition government representing four cantons with four languages. What the contributor didn’t tell the viewer--, did the first minister in the Swiss government, or in any other European government, have a track record of insulting and reviling the sincerely held religious beliefs of a significant section of the electorate or did leading politicians in Switzerland or elsewhere in Europe have a track record of involvement with the gun the bomb and the bullet? Hearts and Minds neglected this.

Leaving Hearts and Minds aside, the constitutional issue glows hot in another facet of Irish life. This is the verbal conflict between the F.A.I. and the I.F.A. over the question should soccer players born in the six county state be eligible to play for the twenty six county state. This again highlights the fact that the constitution is a hot potato for the people. If Bertie Ahern is to be believed and the six county constitution is settled then the six county state is foreign and apart from the twenty-six county state, in that case, by the F.I.FA. ruling that soccer players as players can’t migrate between nation states, then by F.I.F.A, soccer players born in the six county state must play for the six counties. That is the constitutional reality of the Island but that reality remains a bone of contention with the people. However if Articles 2 and 3 of the twenty-six county constitution had not been repealed (a stupid blunder made by a boneheaded Dail Eireann) then in that case the Republic could lay legitimate claim to six county born players. However with the repeal of Articles 2 and 3 the I.F.A. can claim all players born in the six counties and could insist that such players travel on a British passport to foreign football venues. Such a practice would be constitutionally rock solid.

All of this is not an essay of despair. The island is now in a constitutional mess created in past and current times by Republican and Union Jack Unionist zealots. There is only one way, and only one way, out of this mess and this way is pointed out clearly by Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein. What Ireland now needs is a written democratically acceptable U.K. constitution endorsed by an island referendum. For those to whom an unwritten militaristically enforced constitution is unacceptable, such people should mount an organized peaceful opposition to the existing constitution in the six counties and in so doing challenge the Orange Order who flaunt in the face of those who don’t want it, a constitution that has to be enforced by an armed garrison and an armed P.S.N.I. Nor will it do to have establishment “ do–gooders” cool us all into an acceptance of sectarianism and partition. A radical reform of the U.K. constitution is called for in the National Government of Ireland Act leading to a Sovereign Nation of Ireland united within the United Kingdom. That way and only that way lies a United Ireland enshrined in the hearts and minds of the people. The Government of Ireland Act partitioned the Island only the National Government of Ireland can unite the island.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist—Early Sinn Fein

Note The National Government of Ireland Act can be found in the novel THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE published by Authorhouse and can be obtained through any bookshop in Ireland or the U.K. or book agency on the Internet.

2008-07-22T03:58:00.001-07:00

The Bishop Says No

Listening to Paul Mc Fadden on Radio Ulster on Friday 11th July I was heartened to hear that the Bishop of Derry had refused to sign a petition calling for the disbandment of dissident Republicans namely the Real I.R.A., the Continuity I.R.A. and the Irish Liberation Army.

When it comes to drafting a petition it is useful to know who are the draftees. The community supposedly drafted the petition under consideration but a community cannot draft anything. An individual or group of individuals within a community can only draft a petition and the individuals who drew up this petition seem to be faceless. A number of listeners to Paul Mc Fadden stated, and correctly so, that the prime movers in the drafting of this petition was Provisional Marxist Late Sinn Fein. In this petition Late Sinn Fein is tightening its grip on the Creggan.

The bishop is correct in saying the petition doesn’t go far enough. It is true that the Provisional I.R.A. seem to have said farewell to arms for the moment but the army council remains in existence. The petition should call for all groups to disband, Republican and Loyalist, and vanish into the history books.

But even that doesn’t go far enough. Unrepentant members of terrorists groups and those who have flirted with terrorists groups now rule over us at Stormont. We are now ruled by an unholy alliance of Marxist Republicans and Right Wing Union Jack Unionists. A petition in the six counties should call for the disbandment of the assembly and urge the setting up of an assembly composed of brand new faces that do not carry with them a luggage of mayhem, of murder and the bomb.

But even that doesn’t go far enough. A petition should stretch right back into Irish History condemning Tone and the violence of 98 (98 was riddled with sectarianism) and Pearce and the Catholic sectarian uprising of 1916 (There wasn’t a protestant to be found in the leadership or in the ranks) and The Battle of the Boyne. Beginning with that a petition should call for the disbandment of sectarianism in Ireland.

All of that may be considered a tall order but even so, it is a must for a new future in Ireland. Federal unionism Early Sinn Fein places such a new future in Ireland on offer in its thinking. Its analysis places an unwritten undemocratic U.K. constitution as the cause of Ireland’s current sectarian divisions. The constitution, which remains intact but is imposed in the six counties, is rejected by the overwhelming majority of the people of this island and by a significant minority of the people of the six counties. On the other hand the twenty-six county Republican constitution is rejected by a significant minority of Protestants in Ireland because a Republican constitution wounds the cultural psyche of protestant Ireland which is loyalty to the Crown. For these reasons Federal Unionism – Early Sinn Fein places the U.K. constitution at the centre of the Irish problem and an unwritten imposed constitution lies at the heart of the sectarian nature of the Irish Problem since 1801.

A written reformed democratic constitution, which can be lived with by all, can only be drawn up in a United Kingdom context. Such a constitution will require the drafting of the National Government of Ireland in the six counties. The main outline of the Act can be found in the novel---THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE--- published by Authorhouse.

So the bishop of Derry has got it right in saying that the petition doesn’t go far enough. The distance to be travelled stretches far back into Irish history. The Patriots in 18th century pressed for the parliament in Dublin to be separate from but co-equal to Westminster under the Crown. Such a stance was constitutionally moderate and if this had been developed with patience Ireland would now be a united sovereign nation in a U.K. context but this moderate position was swept aside by the stupidity of 98. One hundred years or so later Griffiths put forward the idea of a dual monarchy. Had this idea been developed with patience Ireland would nowadays be a united sovereign nation in a U.K. context but this moderate was swept away by the stupidity of 1916.

In the late 20th century a peaceful constitutional reform was called for in the Civil Rights Movement but this was swept away by British and Republican violence. If Captain O Neill had been allowed to introduce modest reforms in N. Ireland and if Ian Paisley had shaken the hand of Sean Lemass as he did with Bertie Ahern in later years there would never have been trouble in the six counties and they would have remained within the U.K.

What we have now is a constitutional monstrosity at Stormont composed of former terrorist, those who have supported terrorism and those who have flirted with terrorists, each adept at manipulating sectarian politics. If the sickness of sectarianism is to be eradicated in the whole of Ireland, this can only be done in the constitutional reforms of the National Government Of Ireland Act

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein

2008-07-22T03:51:00.000-07:00

Solving the Irish Problem peacefully and democratically, using only the force of reason.

The author of this article belongs to no political party or political grouping and is independent of such. T he author is not a politician but is a teacher and writer and as such is interested only in ideas. The author dissents totally from traditional Unionism, traditional Nationalism, and traditional Republicanism seeing all of these as failed entities in Ireland which are well past their use by dates and should now be thrown out and the shelves restocked with new fresh attractive improved political goods. The nature of these new goods is indicated in the previous article to the----The Blog-----THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE-----and is Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein.

The approach made in this article to solving the Irish Problem is the method used by engineers in solving a problem. To solve a problem an engineer first of all draws up a solution on paper and then implements the paper solution on the ground. These articles in—The Blog------ are the solution to the Irish Problem on paper It is the conviction of the author, a conviction sincerely held, that the Irish Problem is solvable in the 21st century in the National Government Of Ireland Act (cf the novel THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE ) and is solvable in no other way. The reader is reminded that the solution to problems using only the force of reason, and not brute force, is the civilized way of doing things

It is noted that Ireland has been a problem for centuries and down the centuries there have been vain attempts to solve the Irish Problem by brute force. There was the attempt made by Elizabethan English armies to solve the problem by brute force. The English armies came and went but the Irish Problem remained. An attempt was made to solve the problem in the plantation of Ulster. Ulster was planted by brute force but the Irish Problem remained but in a worsened state.. A brute force attempt was made to solve the problem in the 1641 rebellion. The rebellion achieved nothing and the Irish Problem remained. King William came to Ireland and victory went to him at the Boyne but even so the Irish Problem remained unsolved. The Penal Laws came and went but they solved nothing. Cromwell came and applied brute force to the problem on a massive scale. Cromwell went and the Irish Problem remained. A brute force attempt to solve the problem was made by the United Irishmen but this brute force attempt worsened the problem. In this debacle in Irish history what has never been evaluated or measured has been the nature of Wolfe Tone’s I,Q. There was a scarcity of intellectual capital among the United Irishmen and this scarcity remains among Republicans to the present day. All that is extant is the 18th century sentimental idea of catholic protestant catholic and dissenter being united in the name of Irishman. Wolfe Tone saw this happening in a Republic but only in a Republic but to unite catholic protestant dissenter in a Republic was as impossible in the time of Tone as it is now, because a Republic wounds the cultural psyche of protestant Ireland that is, loyalty to the Crown. It is the contention of these articles that catholic protestant and dissenter can be united in the name of Irishman in The National Government Of Ireland Act ( cf the novel THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE)within the United Kingdom under the Crown. Republicans have been banging their heads against a brick wall in looking for a United Ireland in a Republic It is the contention of these articles that the Republican ideal can only be realized under the banner of Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein.

The United Irishmen and the 98 rebellions were a divisive disaster in Ireland. In the parish I come from, protestants and catholics were buried in the same graveyard, protestants to the left and catholics to the right in the18th century In the parish there was a protestant United Irishman called Caldwell. When this man came to be buried the protestant community wouldn’t allow him to be buried in the protestant side of the graveyard so he had to be buried on the catholic side. So much for unity. The parish was divided along sectarian lines then as it remains to the present day.

But the disaster for the country in 98 lay in the fact that the United Irishmen had no picture in their minds of a governed nation except that there would be no Crown and catholic protestant and dissenter would unite but what the nature of the nation would be and what its constitution would be, acceptable to all, is an historic mystery. The Patriots on the other hand had a concept of nationhood, which gives a picture in the mind of a governed nation, but this was swept aside and trampled underfoot by brute force Republicanism and then airbrushed out of Irish history. But a concept of a nation, which should be acceptable to all, can now be given in the National Government Of Ireland Act (cf the novel THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE ) derived from the thinking of the Patriots who saw a government in Ireland separate from but co-equal to Westminster under the Crown.

Following the United Irishmen there came the tragic 1801 Act of Union in which another brute force attempt was made to solve the Irish Problem by ramming a Right Wing Union Jack Unionist unwritten and undemocratic constitution down the throats of the Irish. Ireland was now ruled by protestant elite, which was anti-Irish, anti-catholic, and oppressive and undemocratic. The Irish Problem worsened.

In 1916 another attempt was made to solve the Irish Problem by Republicans, using once again, brute force. This was an attempt to overthrow the Right Wing Union Jack Unionist Constitution by violence in a Catholic uprising and the uprising was sectarian in nature being catholic. There wasn’t a protestant to be found among the leadership or in the ranks. The uprising ended in failure and solved nothing but the brute force execution of the 1916 leadership by the Right Wing as a salutary warning to the British Empire compounded and worsened the Irish Problem. It is noted that 1916 was sectarian in nature and being also Republican the uprising wounded the cultural psyche of protestant Ireland that is loyalty to the Crown.

Pearce’s Proclamation is much vaunted in Republican circles but in no sense is it a constitution for a new nation. It is in reality a concoction of ideas thrown together to morally justify an armed uprising against the existing Constitution. The Proclamation gives no picture in the mind of the nature and style of the new state as could be found in the concept of the Patriots or as can be put forward in the National Government Of Ireland Act (cf the novel THE WAY IRELAND OOGHT TO BE) by Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein following on from Griffiths. What Pearce had in mind in reality for a new state is anyone’s guess other than the new state should be a Republic in a vague sort of way.

Following on from 1916 there was a further attempt to solve the Irish Problem by brute force in a feud between Michael Collins and the I.R.A., and the Right Wing Union Jack Unionists the Black and Tans. Again this ended in failure and the island was partitioned into two unacceptable statelets a catholic statelet in the 26 counties with a catholic government for a catholic people and into a 6 county statelet with a protestant government for a protestant people.

This outcome was fought over in a brute force civil war, which again solved nothing and contributed nothing to Ireland except that there emerged in Ireland a tweedledum and tweedledee political parties that have no meaning or currency outside the 26 counties and have no currency of any kind in Europe. What emerged in Ireland out of all of this was a sectarian nondescript pseudo-English illiberal statelet in the 26 counties and a Right Wing Union Jack Unionist statlet in the 6 counties which was anti-Irish anti- catholic and oppressive.

In the period under consideration Late Sinn Fein claimed a moral victory and the moral support of the people for the use of brute force in Ireland in the 1918 election. Not everyone in the country shared this rose tinted view of Late Sinn Fein. W.B.Yeats didn’t share this outlook. In ---The Second Coming--- written in early –1919—the poet has a jaundiced view of the –1918 election.

The Second Coming

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in the sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour comes round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

In this poem Yeats is casting a cold eye on Ireland in January 1919 an Ireland in the aftermath of the 1918 general election. The poem begins with an image of instability and of something being out of control in the image of the falcon and the falconer. Yeats is also conscious of the collapse of the centre in Ireland this collapse of a constitutional centre is looked at in the article-----THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE--- and is traceable back to the 18th century. In this poem Yeats has a vision of a monster emerging in the country and the monster was born in 1921 with a collapse of the centre and the polarization of the country into two constitutional extremes. So not everyone saw Ireland through rose tinted Republican spectacles after 1918.

In the late 1960ties the civil rights came into existence in N. Ireland to challenge the excesses of Right Wing Union Jack Unionism. The C.R.A. was peaceful led by the moderate John Hume but was heavily infiltrated by brute force Republicans. The civil rights movement was put down by brute force Union Jack unionism and from this the Provisional I.R.A.emerged who made an attempt to overthrow the constitution of N. Ireland by force. In this brute force attempt, which ended in failure and in the defeat of Republicanism, the I.R.A., committed crimes against humanity and crimes that are an affront to high heaven. In a brute force attempt to defend the constitution of N. Ireland Right Wing Union Jack Unionism in turn committed crimes against humanity and crimes that are an affront to high heaven. Crimes that are an affront to high heaven are wilful murder.

So far this article contains jottings on attempts to solve the Irish Problem by brute force all of which have ended in failure but there have been a few attempts to solve the problem peacefully and by the force of reason. The first of these was an attempt to solve the problem peacefully and in a reasonable way by the Patriots in the 18th century This grouping pressed for an Irish parliament that was separate from but co-equal to Westminster under the Crown. It is the view of this article that that is the first and best concept of Irish Nationhood but this concept was swept away in the brute force rebellion of 98.

O’ Connell Butt and Parnell made efforts to solve the problem in a reasonable and peaceful way but these efforts were defeated by Right Wing Union Jack Unionism in the 19th century

In the early 20th century Arthur Griffiths made another attempt to come up with peaceful and reasonable solution to the problem. Arthur Griffiths was a monarchist and he saw a solution being affected in the notion of a dual monarchy. It doesn’t seem that Griffiths thought this notion through, but when it is, as it can be in the National Government Of Ireland Act, it leads to a Sovereign Nation Of Ireland in a Federal United Kingdom. Arthur Griffiths concept was swept aside by the brute force Republican---- De Valera and he made Sinn Fein, Republican and violent. This is late Sinn Fein. In doing this De Valera set Sinn Fein on a wrong course in Ireland and this ended with the defeat of violent Republicanism in N. Ireland.

There is now a new approach to the problem in N. Ireland by Republicans in the Belfast Agreement, the St Andrew’s Agreement and the Peace Process. But is this the solution to the Irish Problem? Surely not. Late Sinn Fein in N. Ireland has abandoned all pretext of solving the problem. Instead they are now eager to prop up a Right Wing Union Jack Unionist statelet in the six counties. Late Sinn Fein now accept without protest the presence of a garrison of 5000 English troops et al to impose and ram down the throats of those who don’t accept it---- a Right Wing Union Jack Unionist undemocratic unwritten Constitution That is the function of a garrison of English troops et al in N. Ireland as it was through out the British Empire in its heyday. The English garrison is backed by an armed P.S.N.I. What N. Ireland now needs is a written democratically acceptable U.K.constitution. Federal Unionism-Early Sinn Fein in the National Government Of Ireland Act( cf the novel THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE ) can put this in place. Late Sinn Fein have strained at the bit to set up shop at Stormont and pocket there, a largess of the English bounty In the same way Late Sinn Fein while refusing to recognise the Crown pressed for and have in the past pocketed a largess of English bounty at Westminster. Late Sinn Fein are now the arch hypocrites of current politics and are now lost in the jungle of Irish history and lash around there like a pack of brain damaged gorillas.

It is high time the Irish began to celebrate and glorify sweet reason as the solution to problems. Pearce is associated in the public mind with violence and the blood sacrifice but Pearce was a more complex character than Republican historians make him out to be. In this passage taken from the writings of Pearce he is considering a reasonable peaceful and non-violent approach to the Irish Problem.

“Negotiations with the Orangemen might be opened up on these lines. You are creating a P rovisional Government Of Ulster- make it a Provisional Government Of Ireland and we will recognise it and obey it.*** Hitherto England has governed Ireland through the Orange Lodges: Now she proposes to govern Ireland through the A.O.H. You object; so do we. Why not unite and get rid of the English? They are the real difficulty; their presence here the real incongruity” Irish Freedom 1914

If this overture to Ulster Unionism had been reciprocated it could have been that Pearce would have been satisfied with a government for Ireland under the Crown but in this passage Pearce makes clear what his bottom line was. It was ---English Out. Late Sinn Fein put their feet in it by calling for--- Brits Out--- in N. Ireland and in so doing outraged the Protestant community who see themselves as British. Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein, like Pearce in this quotation, envisages an Ireland based on a synthesis of Unionism and Nationalism and these can be synthesised in the National Government Of Ireland Act and for Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein the bottom line is Pearce’s bottom line, which is--- English Out. Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein should not rest at ease until the last English soldier leaves the six counties.

Late Sinn Fein are at sea and are directionless living as they do in an acceptance of partition and sectarianism. In doing so partition has been copper fastened and sectarianism institutionalised. For as long as these two remain, for so long the Irish Problem remains unsolved. Federal Unionism- Early Sinn Fein is a return to the fundamentals and first principles of Arthur Griffith’s Sinn Fein and to Pearce’s bottom line---- English Out and is a rejection of De Valera’s Late Sinn Fein.

There remains two outstanding issues in the solution to the problem’

(a) The presence of a garrison of English soldiers et al in the six counties.

(b) The presence of a protestant community in Ireland whose long-standing tradition has been, and remains, loyalty to the Crown.

If the National Government Of Ireland Act were in place ideally in the whole of Ireland, or else in N. Ireland, then it would be a constitutional imperative that the English garrison leave Ireland and take the Union Jack with them. In this Pearce’s bottom line would have been met.

The issue of the Crown in Ireland is more complex. To have the Crown as Head of State ideally in an all Ireland context, is historically speaking a tall order but not impossible. In Great Britain the Crown is constitutionally central and neutral and while Britain’s constitution is unwritten and undemocratic nevertheless it carries with it the overwhelming acceptance of the British people. The Crown in Ireland has been a different kettle of fish. With the Act Of Union 1801 the Crown in Ireland was hijacked by Union Jack Unionism and the Crown in Ireland was seen as a protestant Crown for protestants and became associated with right wing oppression.

“Another martyr for old Ireland another murder for the Crown “ Kevin Barry

Against the famine and the Crown I rebelled they cut me down
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay The Fields of Athenry

This 1801constitutional set up continued in N. Ireland and there the Crown was seen as a protestant Crown for the protestant community and was seen as an oppressive figure by the catholic community, This constitutional anomaly of the Crown in Ireland can be corrected in the National Government of Ireland Act (cf the novel THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE) by defining the Crown as constitutionally central and neutral and by defining the Crown as Christian in Ireland..

But loyalty to the Crown bears further scrutiny. Loyalty is a praiseworthy human attribute be it loyalty to friend family organization institution or country. As a human attribute loyalty should be free to be expressed and not suppressed as loyalty to the Crown would be in a Republic. There is no inconsistency in being loyal to the Crown and in being Irish. Those Irishmen who fell in Flanders bear testimony to that. These Irishmen were the true heroes of Ireland and in their loyalty to the Crown were not diminished as Irishmen in any way and should be held up as models for Irish youth. In contrast to those Irishmen those men who blew up buildings and people in N.Ireland and shot their neighbours in the back and in the head in the pursuit of a perverted political philosophy, these men have besmirched the name of Irishman and in no sense can be thought of as role models for Irish youth. In Ireland the minds of generations of the communities have been poisoned by the twin propagandist lies put around by Right Wing Union Jack Unionism and Republicanism, these lies asserting on the one hand that to be loyal to the Crown one must be protestant, wave a Union Jack, carry a British passport and sing God Save The Queen. The Canadian people are loyal to the Crown and do none of these things. In Ireland on the other hand there is the counter propagandist lie that to be Irish one must be catholic, wave an Irish tricolour, sing a Soldier’s Song and carry a Republican passport but one can be Irish and do none of these. Under the National Government Of Ireland Act Irishness would be given full recognition and full freedom of expression just as loyalty to the Crown would be accorded the same freedoms.

But another fear might linger in the minds of some in the idea of the Crown becoming head of state for an all Ireland. Ireland, it might be feared, would become a neo-colonialist state. Such a fear would be ill founded. In the Act the United Kingdom would be defined as the United Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation of Ireland and Great Britain or vice versa. Also in the Act the parliament in Ireland, following on from the 18th century Patriots, would be defined as being separate from, but co-equal to Westminster under the Crown. In Canada the Crown is Head of State but Canada is not a neo-colonialist state but is a sovereign nation recognised as such by the United Nations. Canada has its own distinctive national identity with its own government its own flag its own passport and an anthem of its own; in the Act all of that could be set down for Ireland.. But Ireland doesn’t have to be an imitation of Canada In the Act there could be designed for Ireland a unique national identity in Ireland being created as ----An Irish Christian Liberal Democracy----. An Irish Nation thus designed in the Act would be unique and distinctive in the U.K., in Europe and in the world. In an Ireland with the Act as its written constitution there could come about a nation fulfilling the wishes and the desires of all of the Irish people and the island could become a land of hearts desire.

There could also be those in Republican circles who might see the Crown as English and foreign. While that might hold among extremists, the ordinary man and woman in the street know differently. Jack Charlton in Ireland was English but was seen by the Irish people as being one of us. The English don’t regard the Irish as foreign. Terry Wogan in England is Irish but is thought of as being one of us. By the same token the Crown in Ireland while being English could be thought of as one of us.

This article outlines the historic nature of the Irish Problem and details the author’s conviction that the problem is solvable in the National Government Of Ireland Act and in no other way. The approach to solving the problem is the approach of an engineer to problem solving. What is contained in these articles to ---The Blog--is the solution on paper. If the paper solution were to be implemented on the ground that would have to be done in N. Ireland under the banner of Federal Unionism Early Sinn Fein. The flag of that party is the Royal Flag Of Ireland and is the existing tricolour with the Cross Of St Patrick and a simple crown, harp, and shamrock, imposed on the white central panel This flag should be defined in the Act as the National Flag of Ireland and a symbol of the United Kingdom of the Sovereign Nation Of Ireland and Great Britain The author contends that a deal struck in Belfast and in Scotland between constitutional irreconcilables, Late Sinn Fein and Right Wing Union Jack Unionism is no solution to the Irish problem and will never be The reader is reminded that the solution to problems using only the force of reason is the civilized way of doing things

Federal Unionist- Early Sinn Fein.

Michael Gillespie

Solving the Solving the Irish Problem peacefully and democratically, using only the force of reason.SolvingIrish Problem Peacefully and Democratically

2008-07-22T03:45:00.000-07:00

Here's to you Mrs Robinson

2008-07-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

Here’s to you Mrs Robinson

Irene Robinson, the wife of the first minister in the six counties, is on record as saying the state should enact God’s Law. She made this comment in a debate about abortion. From utterances such as these Mrs Robinson comes across as a political extremist so far to the extreme right that if she moves one step further in that direction she will fall off planet earth.

Mrs Robinson doesn’t seem to realise that the political norm nowadays is secularism. To keep the matter clear and free from a personal viewpoint I have taken the following definition of secularism from the Internet.

Secularism in its current usage is usually defined in two ways: -

(1) Secularism in one sense asserts freedom of religion and freedom from government imposition of religion upon a people within a state. The state should be neutral on matters of belief and give no state privileges or subsidies to religion.
(2) Secularism in another sense refers to a belief that human activities and decisions, especially political ones, should be based on what is considered to be evidence and fact rather than on religious influence dealing with religious based dogma and absolute truth or Devine law.
(3) Secular law is based upon reasonableness, which was developed during the age of enlightenment. Secularists believe that all activities falling outside the private sphere, should be secular not religious.

When this definition is examined closely it will be found that the state may not impose religious belief upon a people. The state should be neutral on matters of religious belief. Secularism in the sense given is now the mainstay of modern democracies throughout the world but this has still to sink into the backwaters of the six counties especially in the D.U.P.

The debate in which Mrs Robinson made the outburst was about abortion. Does this mean then that an acceptance of abortion goes hand and glove with secularism? It is true that most Christian Churches oppose abortion as immoral and criminal but is abortion on demand and for social expediency acceptable in principle to all secularists? Secularists hold that state laws should be derived from reason and be based on evidence and fact. While an unwanted pregnancy is clearly a human problem reason can say that legal abortion, as a solution to a human problem, is inhumane. The facts and evidence of the act of abortion indicates clearly that the act of abortion is neither good for the mother or for the life form in the womb. If secularism is consistent on abortion it should hold that in a secular state the only acceptable solutions to human problems are humane solutions and should set about the task of finding and implanting humane solution for human problems. Reason evidence and fact point in that direction.

So while secularists can support Mrs Robinson’s opposition to abortion, God’s Law on the matter won’t do. Christians hold that God’s Law is based upon the Ten Commandments but such laws should only inform private conscience, private behaviour, and the private lives of Christians and cannot be imposed on non-Christians and non-believers in the state. Lets bring the 21st century into the six counties and in so doing say – Here’s to you Mrs Robinson: welcome to secularism and the 21st century.

Michael Gillespie Federal Unionist – Early Sinn Fein