Crisis
How many crises does it take to make up a peace process? The truthful answer is “I lost count at 3,442″.
You would switch on the news on any given evening, and you could be sure that as you munched on your mashed potatoes, a “peace process crisis” would unfold in front of you. Often, it would be a slightly different crisis to the crisis from yesterday.
Whether it was a small crisis, or an earth-shaking OFF THE RICHTER SCALE CRISIS, two things were certain. It wouldn’t make a jot of difference to normal folks. And another crisis would be along before tea time tomorrow.
OK. The bit above was brought to you courtesy of an article I just read about the UUP threatening to boycott the Policing Board. Apparently, they’re peeved about reforms to the board that favor the DUP and hold two places for Sinn Fein - despite Sinn Fein showing no intention of getting involved.
It was Reg Empey who dropped the bombshell: This is a crisis in the making. We will not serve on a quango.
I’m not going to over-analyse this one. Suffice to say, I find it hard to take politicians seriously when they threaten to walk out of these things. I mean, did Sinn Fein thwart the creation of the Policing Board? No.
This is just another example of a Northern Irish party trying to prove their relevancy by creating a storm in a tea-cup. So they exercise the “walk out and sulk” option rather than properly represent the people. Yet again.
My final thought on this: There should be a penalty system in place against any politician who uses the term crisis (or any other word determined to represent ‘crisis’), or any politician who causes the local media to use same. Sort of like the penalty points system. Yes. Caused a crisis? Alright, you’ve lost 3 points Mr Paisley - lose any more points and we’re revoking your licence to be a politician. You’ll have to sit your test again. You might lose your job. Your friends and family will distance themselves from you, and you may not even be welcome at party functions.
I can see the campaign now….
The two governments have got to send a tough signal to all political parties that there will be no hole in the wall for any of them to get concessions. The Secretary of State has announced, however, that the DUP will be getting four seats on the Board - not the five seats that they were looking for. It has been made clear the two remaining seats will go to nationalists in April. This means that THE Patten programme is strong and secure and the numbers for change on the Board will increase.
I see that there was a hoax bomb alert at Larne Grammar, as there’s a DPP meeting there tonight. When political representatives (and those who represent no-one, such as the 32 CSC) engage in activity such as huffing over policing, refusing to take seats, planting bombs, sending bullets, and condoning street-bound thuggery, what exactly are they hoping to achieve? Do they sit down and really think it through?
In 1998, when the SDLP was the biggest party, things were looking bright- we had the GFA, devolved government, and to a large extent, peace.
Now, with other parties receiving more votes, the whole thing has gone to pot. The electorate must soon realise that voting for the extremes only results in extreme incompetence.
El Mat: I totally agree with what you’re saying. Specifically, it’s a damned shame that the SDLP have lost so much ground to Sinn Fein - the SDLP were one of the parties that would have helped to stabilise Northern Ireland over time.
What scares me is that the majority of people seem to support these parties! Are they really that bigotted? When folk head off to the polling stations, are they voting for the party who will bring stability, education and employment, or are they voting for people who will play games with their futures and their children’s futures?
No, frankly I think so many people are deeply involved in the politics of ‘the conflict’ that they refuse to acknowledge the damage it is doing.
I too am saddened at the SDLP’s demise - I blame John Hume!
Why David? Most others comend John Hume for his enormous contributions to the peace process.
Actually, Mrs L, I can sort of see David’s point. Hume helped Sinn Fein along the road to politics, which gave SF the double advantage of “armalite and ballot box”.
That development threw the SDLP’s uniqueness out the window, as Sinn Fein’s aggressive local politics overtook them. Look at Alex Attwood in West Belfast - you wouldn’t know he existed except at election time when his posters mysteriously appear.
Mr. Levee “Are they really that bigotted?”
I think it’s more a case of SF appealing to base instincts among the catholic electorate with rhetoric. They must be commended on their ability to maximise results from the electoral process.
However, it doesn’t escape the fact that they are policy-lite. Many of their policies have been (mis)appropriated from the SDLP and repackaged as being part of the ’struggle’.
Expect to see significant pillage from the Fianna F?il range of policies in the run-up to the next southern election, as Sinn F?in attempt to emulate their move into the realms of ‘respectability’ in the north.