Current Affairs Bloody Sunday Verdict

[Carl O'Ancelotti]

Am I the only one scratching my head here wondering what the IRA has to do with gunning down children on a civil rights march.

I can’t think of any two things that could be a polar opposite.

Does the fact that the IRA existed, legitimize the shooting of innocent children on a civil rights march.

All I can say, it’s that type of generalized, preconceived and stereotypical attitude that caused this atrocity in the first place.

As i said earlier it’s sad to see it still alive and well.

No you're not the only one, we all are.

It's was a shameless attempt by this forum's resident anti-Irish bigot to derail this discussion, turn it into one about something else, and reopen old wounds, rather than be respectful towards the victims' families on their day of reckoning.

Although it is sad to see this attitude alive and well as you say, thankfully this sort of opinion is only held by a small minority of people in Britain.

So despite the recent cooling of relations over Brexit, hopefully we can get back on track with improving relationships on these islands after the current mess has been sorted out.

I say 'hopefully', because I'm not at all sure that the peace process hasn't begun to unravel already.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

But you said ‘an imperial power’ and an ‘armed resistance’. Now the Army was put into a U.K. provence to protect the Catholic population, so what was this ‘imperial power’, what was this armed resistance, resistance to help ?, resistance to security ? what exactly were the IRA resisting ?....

Bloody Sunday was a Civil Rights March asking for British rights to be protected in Northern Ireland for all of it’s citizens. It’s organisers were both Catholic and Protestant working together to demand improved housing, job opportunities and equal voting rights.

Your attempt to deflect the conversation into one about the IRA is disturbing but exactly in keeping with establishment methods from the day of the massacre.

 

[SteveSC]

Bloody Sunday was a Civil Rights March asking for British rights to be protected in Northern Ireland for all of it’s citizens. It’s organisers were both Catholic and Protestant working together to demand improved housing, job opportunities and equal voting rights.

Your attempt to deflect the conversation into one about the IRA is disturbing but exactly in keeping with establishment methods from the day of the massacre.

Well said.

It's mad how many people forget the highlighted portion also.

Ah sure he will probably make a quip about how you weren't around then or how he has Irish heritage so he understands and fully knows the situation.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

Well said.

It's mad how many people forget the highlighted portion also.

Ah sure he will probably make a quip about how you weren't around then or how he has Irish heritage so he understands and fully knows the situation.

The sad reality is that had the peaceful protestors succeeded in securing equality of treatment for all then this would have removed many of the reasons that sparked the violence.

You are right, I wasn’t around then but education is a great thing

 

[Bruce Wayne]

@peteblue this is a hugely sensitive topic, so I'm sure a man with your experience and emotional intelligence would understand the need to tread more sensitively than you have been last night. This is a memorial thread, not one for political commentary, so please treat it as such.

 

[arminisgod]

All sides... but let’s be honest... and I’ve told you this before .... I have first hand accounts from an ex serving para who was there that day and was sickened by what happened. He would never go as far as to admit it was pre planned and the troops were pumped up that day but it has been suggested.

That's what I meant by I don't think they have got justice. Soldier F had the gun and fired... I accept that. But he was given the gun, given the training, and out into the situation

 

[Emlynsqueakyvoice]

Lads/lasses,

I am purposefully swerving this thread and I think you should too. We all know the story of Bloody Sunday, who did what and how. We know about the cover ups, the vilification of the Derry people and the smear campaigns ran by the British state. Their useful idiots come on to forums like this to wind us up. I urge you to ignore the rent-a-quote clowns (clown?) on here and continue to debate on other threads in an adult manner.

That is my final contribution to this thread.

 

[peteblue]

@peteblue this is a hugely sensitive topic, so I'm sure a man with your experience and emotional intelligence would understand the need to tread more sensitively than you have been last night. This is a memorial thread, not one for political commentary, so please treat it as such.

Fair enough....If I have offended anyone in here, then I would like to apologise. That was not my intention.......

 

[Barnfred 55]

I'm normally a staunch supporter of our armed forces and incredibly proud of the work they do to keep our citizens safe. But let's be clear here, this was not their finest hour.

In a way it reminds me of Hillsborough in that there are 2 tragedies. Firstly the very avoidable loss off life of innocent people. And secondly the indefensible and very obvious cover up instigated by the UK authorities which is nothing short of shameful. Born and bred in Liverpool I shared in the heartache of Hillsborough because the cover up was a blight on the whole city, not just the red half. I guess this must be very similar to the people of Northern Ireland. Let's hope these proceedings can bring some closure for them, and in particular for the families of those who lost their lives.

Pete has now apologised for turning this thread into a political discussion. Let's put this behind us and treat this thread as a memorial thread as originally intended.

 

[Redstarrob]

Between two combatants. The forces of an imperial power and those of an armed resistance to it.

Was kingsmills and darkley armed resistance in your opinion

 

[davek]

Was kingsmills and darkley armed resistance in your opinion

No they weren't. I'm not an IRA apologist. A question was asked about whether the conflict in Ireland is a war. It was/is.

 

[PhilM]

No they weren't. I'm not an IRA apologist. A question was asked about whether the conflict in Ireland is a war. It was/is.

Not exactly true. It wasn't a war in true sense of the word as the rules of engagement (the Yellow Card) said otherwise. Or, it at least wasn't for one side!

 

[davek]

Not exactly true. It wasn't a war in true sense of the word as the rules of engagement (the Yellow Card) said otherwise. Or, it at least wasn't for one side!

It was an asymmetric warfare, but warfare nonetheless. The oldest ongoing war in history. 900 years and counting.

 

[Redstarrob]

Not exactly true. It wasn't a war in true sense of the word as the rules of engagement (the Yellow Card) said otherwise. Or, it at least wasn't for one side!

Its not really a war when one side is comprised of murderous terrorists who killed more fellow irishmen than the british army

 

[Redstarrob]

I will say without reservation that bloody sunday and ballymurphy are completely unacceptable and have to be condemned and the families need justice for their loved ones