Tuesday, November 03, 2015

"we feel in England that we have treated you (Irish) very badly, it seems history is to blame" James Joyce Ulysses.


The young Irish footballer James McLean is once again in the news for refusing to wear a poppy and, I am glad to see that his resolve is as strong as ever and support for him continues to grow. Ireland looms large of course in this matter for James McLean as it does for many Irish people and their descendents, like me in fact and my large extended family. He hails from a place he and many others call Derry which is called Londonderry by those who want to highlight their Britishness over their Irishness and Derry by those who want to emphasise their Irishness over their Britishness. It was historically known as Derry and renamed Londonderry by the British after their invasion and occupation of Ireland which, continues to this day. The relationship between Britain and Ireland has been a fraught one and young Mr. McLean is from the tradition that sees itself downtrodden, just as I do. He has his cause and he is going to stand up for it and I for one salute him for that.
My Father was one of 5 brothers who all fought in WW2, I never once saw him or any of my uncles wear a poppy. He was in the 8Th. Army and served in Greece, North Africa and Italy. The only time I ever heard him say anything about WW2 was when he periodically declared his hatred for Field Marshall Montgomery, Winston Churchill and the Monarchy, all of whom were part of the conspiracy to make his life perilous and uncomfortable. He would have behaved in exactly the same way as James McLean and so would I; he is doing the truth a favour when he reminds us of Britain’s brutal past. The usual armchair generals and right wing journalists will continue to go for him but I reckon that this young man will not break. The annual remembrance day events lost any dignity they might have had many years ago and are now jingoistic military celebrations which are in denial about Britain’s history. It’s time for it to be stopped and replaced by something dignified and a bit more low key. We ought to start with getting rid of the poppies and the odious “poppy police”.    

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see your vileness has now been exposed in the daily record councilor. Unluckily for you I have screen shots of all the abuse you have levelled at many many people on both the Herald forum and on your loathsome little blog here. They are on the way to Kezia as we speak. Another dinsosaur hit's the dust. RIP labour scotland.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

So Mr. Anonymous you have given up trying to beat me then. You would not believe the collection of abuse I have stored from people like you.

Anonymous said...

"The relationship between Britain and Ireland has been a fraught one and young Mr. McLean is from the tradition that sees itself downtrodden, just as I do. He has his cause and he is going to stand up for it and I for one salute him for that".

How strange that you would celebrate & support the case for Irish independence yet rail against us Scots who want only the same for Scotland. Is it an issue with your medication perhaps? Maybe go see a doctor.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Anonymous said...Sunday, November 15, 2015 11:32:00 p.m.

Scotland is not downtrodden, quite the opposite, Scotland benefits greatly by being part of the Uk. It (scotland) has also just recently decided that it does not want Independence. If you want to reply drop the personal abuse or you will be binned.

Unknown said...

A cllr, nice to see someone else has screenshot your vile behaviour on facebook. Does the fact that you continually cause offence to so many people not ring any sort of alarm bell with you?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Dougie Chalmers said..Monday, November 16, 2015 10:29:00 a.m.

I have all the insults and abuse sent to me by you and Mr. Rennie recorded so, roll the dice and stop posturing. Do you really think that I am going to be alarmed by people like you and Mr. Rennie being offended by me?.