Saturday, 27 June 2009
Quis Separabit?
They want something, of course. Just as the other side did. And the other side got it. So, what are the UDA and the UVF going to get? If it's a better deal for the Protestant working class (to match the better deal for Republican areas), then not before time. But there must be more to it than that. Mustn't there?
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They are not going to get much nor do they deserve any.
ReplyDeleteSF-IRA has been given money and influence which has transformed Nationalist/Republican areas.
The fig leaf of course for the DaneGelt is that SF-IRA has 25% of votes cast.
Therefore the UDA-UVF is in a slightly different position. They have no fig leaf of community support on which to rely.
And have been deserted by mainstream loyalist politicians.
Alas its a very necessary part of the process.
"And have been deserted by mainstream loyalist politicians"
ReplyDeleteWell, there are no votes in standing in the way of the sort of development that Sinn Fein has delivered in green areas.
I don't need to tell you that the UDA and UVF have complicated local relations with the UUP and DUP. They will doubtless maintain their own parties as a permanent threat to the DUP, especially - deliver the goods, or we will.
I find myself on the DUP here.
ReplyDeleteWhile Papa Doc has certainly attempted to "ride the loyalist paramilitary tiger" it has for the most part been a failure.
The "Bob Jones" types have little time for the UVF and especially the UDA (the latter of which is heavily involved in the illegal drug trade".
The old RUC has always been a much more viable and legal alternative to thousands of decent young Protestant men and women who have sought to serve both communities (as many have done with enormous distinction.....some of whom I am grateful on a personal level) and indeed for decent Protestant men and women who sought to define serving the community more narrowly.
The old RUC always had its share of bad apples and has had the facility and mostly desire to weed out the psychopaths and assorted nutters. The loyalist paramilitaries were perfect places for the low life.
If we assume that neither the position of unionist or nationist is MORALLY superior to the other, then we must assume that many normal and otherwise blameless individuals found their way into the ranks of the IRA.(lets be frank I know several)
of course they had a bigger share of nutters and psycopaths (and frankly I have known some of them).
The IRA hardly had trained counsellors involved in selection process although it was often possible to weed out the nutters.
Ironically the disruption caused by Internment in 1971 actually facilitated the temporary takeover by the "nutjobs".
But I think the main thrust of my comment should be that the relationship between DUP/UUP and the Police was in decline during the 1970s and is now practically non existent.
Indeed with Martina Anderson (9 years jail for conspiracy to bomb England) actually on the Policing Board ...there is some justification for thinking that different relationships are emerging.
Incidently now that my third and non-glittering university career has come to an end, I have actually been approached to join the local Policing Board as an "independent" (sic) member.
My wife is less than enthusiastic but certainly a chance to contribute to the process.
You should go for it. Who that shouldn't would ever be asked?
ReplyDeleteI must emphasise that "local" is VERY local and related only to our "local" PSNI division.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how I feel about being "approached". Not least because the person who sounded me out did not want me because of my "independence" but rather because I was assumed to be a "yes" person to "his" side. Which is not a very flattering position at all.
The irony is that I am a passionate supporter of the PSNI which I actually think is one of teh worlds most progressive police services.
Obviously the old RUC deserves its place in the dustbin of history (notwithstanding the excellent service of individuals).
The great boon has been the cumpulsory retirement of dinosaurs and getting rid of the "canteen culture" of casual sexism, racism and sectarianism.
I have been very impressed by some local commanders...those Ive met and those Ive seen on TV etc.
There is a nostalgic hankering for a police force based on "Ashes To Ashes" culture but a Plice Service without baggage is actually a wonderful thing.
We've all been (very) mistaken for yes-men in some capacity or another in our time, John.
ReplyDeleteWhen something similar was suggested to me, I lost out (if that's the right way of putting it) to a friend who is a retired Chief Inspector who had held onto his Labour Party card. He is certainly a cradle Catholic, so, although his name is not Irish, I assume that his background largely is; his wife's certainly is.
Irish Catholics are to be found in large numbers in the fields of law enforcement generally, and policing in particular, wherever the Irish have gone. And the Irish have gone to an awful lot of places. As a people, you are clearly good at that sort of thing.