Is it not time that we start discussing here what way we feel things are going to progress in the absence of the 'bogeyman'? By all accounts the IRA has demobilised - gone out of business!! Should we not now discuss the policies of Sinn Fein when talking about republicanism, and their potential implications??

If the answer to that from people is "well what about trust? What about this and that??" Should we not start discussing possible forums for discussing things about the past??

I think the initiatives the IRA has conducted over recent months has created an entirely different context (and soul if you want, in terms of politics here) and needs to be reflected in our debates. We are living in entirely different times, lets talk about that!!

John McIlveen

"I think the initiatives the IRA has conducted over recent months has created an entirely different context (and soul if you want, in terms of politics here) and needs to be reflected in our debates. We are living in entirely different times, lets talk about that!!"

You are right, John. Recent Republican initiatives have created a completely different atmosphere island wide. The big question remains, will others capitalize on these initiatives or continue to conveniently create ridiculous obstacles to progress?

If we want to move to normal politics and Sinn Fein is prepared to rely on purely democratic methods will it be possible to have a new dispensation which does not include anyone"as of Right" in the Executive level of government"
the Unionist people have great difficulty in accepting into government those who do not regard their previous terrorist activity as criminal and who continue to benefit from the proceeds of that criminality.

it be possible to have a new dispensation which does not include anyone"as of Right" in the Executive level of government

I think your idea of excluding people from the executive as of right is brilliant. How about we form a government out of the willing participants, which at the moment means we will have an executive containing Sinn Fein and the SDLP, and exclude the unionists ?

T. Ruth: "the Unionist people have great difficulty in accepting into government those who do not regard their previous terrorist activity as criminal and who continue to benefit from the proceeds of that criminality."

And here I thought that the Rt. Rev. Paisley was well thought of in the Unionist community, his exhortations to hatred notwithstanding, not to mention the business with the nail-studded two by fours.

T.Ruth is another one of these types who won't answer when his hypocrisy is exposed.

The "unionist community" frequently rewards politicians who associate with paramilitaries, such as William McCrea. There is no evidence that the "unionist community" have a problem with voting people sympathetic to paramilitary organizations into government.

I have two comments. One, Comrade Stalin you write well, make very good points, but why do you call yourself comrade Stalin? I asked you this before, but you did not answer, you chose to ignore such a glorious handle, again why?.

Two, Mick, play the ball but not the man. I am Canadian we play ice hockey it is a rough sport. We were taught to play the man, and not the "puck'. If someone wants to play with the "puck" he deserves a fair hit, in our game anyway. So if you rant and rave in a racist or sectarian, or facist manner why would you only play the ball, in Canada we take the man not the puck to stop him from scoring.
If his ideas are bad sure he souldn't score anyway, but we still take him out of play. Maybe a good game of ice hockey would help you understand what I mean.

Playing the ball, "puck,' isn't always the best, just ask those who opposed demi-gods anywhere. I don't get it. If someone is racist or sectarian we should play him. Look what Paisely has said over the years, but I guess I should just play the ball. Loyd George, "upon threat of immeidate and terible war," no problem, just play the ball. Margeret Thatcher, " Out, out and out."

Here in Canada if you play the game you risk getting played, full body contact. We are not so squeamish about taking the hit for the team, and standing up for what we believe in.

As my dad said play the man not the puck. Cultural differences perhaps, or don't whine about getting hit if you say something stupid. Hockey on the ice is very physical by the way. Those who lie down and hold onto thier knees for five minutes, before getting carried out on a strecher, are frowned upon. get up and play tought. Say what you mean and mean what you say, then bear the consequences.
Booby Baun.

Bobby,

Interesting thesis, though I'm not sure you've got the right thread for it.

Nothing wrong with what your saying re Ice Hockey, where perhaps the puck shoots too fast for any defender to catch it. But I'm afraid for the purpose of running a blog comments zone if people were to play the man as physically as they would on the rink, I'd be the one left carrying any can arising on your behalf.

So I'll be sticking to the old English soccer rule of ball not man, thanks.

English rules eh?
We don't play by them in Canada, maybe you should stop playing by them in Ireland. Thanks for responding.

Yours from the "Dominon of Canada", (dominion- rule or power to rule; soveriegn authority),

"Minion"--A favourite, especially one who is a fawning, servile follower: term of comtempt.

Does anyone seriously think that we in Canada are servile minions to the Queen. Recently our citizeship rules allow us to become Canaidans without proclaming our allegiance to some weirdo family. Don't you think it is strange Mick to swear alleniance to some guy because he was born to be the "one." We in the "Dominion of Canada," think it is quite strange.

Take care of all the people everywhere.

Go ahead ask me where I am from.

I am from Earth.

Toronto means gathering place, and that is what we have here. People from everywhere.

You cannot deny oppression, we have more people from the British empire here than anywhere. We cannot, just as you cannot in Ulster deny what was done wrong. The Empire in itself was wrong.

Here in Canada it was wrong, ask the Cree, Objibiwas etc. We are from earth, take out the men who act otherwise, play the puck and the man.

Live together for each other in everywhere.

Bobby Baun.