Sunday, 14 September 2008
Whither Irish Nationalism
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
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
Friday, 5 September 2008
The GoodFriday, The St Andrew's Agreement and theU.K.Constitution
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
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
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
A Right Old Irish Constitutional Cock-up
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
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
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Is Canon Ellis Unchristian and Sectarian
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
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
Thursday, 28 August 2008
A Sovereign Irish Nation
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
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
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Federal Unionism--- Early Sinn Fein
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)
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)
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