Posted by Jim on August 23, 2018
Mitchel McLaughlin
By Anthony Neeson
A former Sinn Féin Assembly member has hit out at the denial of rights by the DUP and British government.
Mitchel McLaughlin was speaking at a march to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland when protestors marched from Coalisland to Dungannon in County Tyrone.
Following the original route on Saturday, McLaughlin gave the keynote address during the reenactment, saying that Ireland is on the verge of a seismic shift towards a “new, agreed and united Ireland.”
“Fifty years ago, likeminded people from all communities, outraged by the routine injustice and sectarianism of the six county state, came together to form the civil rights movement.
“Inspired by the bravery and determination of the black civil rights movement in the USA, they took to the streets and marched for rights and against inequality.
“The Orange state is now gone and we now have a peaceful and democratic way forward. This is a very different place than it was in 1968 and I am convinced that we are now on the verge of another seismic shift towards a new, agreed and united Ireland that will provide a prosperous and shared future for all our citizens.”
However, McLaughlin added his “deep concern” that there are “still people who want to deny rights and equality to their fellow citizens today.”
“People in the North still face attacks on their electoral and civil rights, alongside the continued denial of rights to LGBTQ couples, women, Irish language speakers, and bereaved families seeking a coroner’s inquest.
“Today, we are experiencing an unacceptable blockade on rights, imposed by the DUP and facilitated by the British government.
“Rights are also under threat by a right-wing Tory Brexit and there are unwelcome echoes of gerrymandering and the hollowing out of democracy by the recent Boundary Commission proposals.
The denial of rights, equality and respect is as wrong today as it was fifty years ago.”
Posted by Jim on August 22, 2018
DOMHNAIGH — On August 19, 1876, the whaling ship Catalpa
was given a tumultuous welcome as it sailed into New York harbor. She had no whales on board, but a far more valuable cargo, six Fenian prisoners from England’s Western Australia penal colony. Clan na Gael’s John Devoy, with the help of his friend John Boyle O’Reilly, a Fenian who had once escaped from Australia himself, planned the escape. Somehow maintaining the secrecy of the mission, the two arranged to buy and crew a whaler purchased in New Bedford, Massachusetts, for the attempt. The Catalpa set out in April 1875 with most of the crew unaware of their actual mission. In March 1876, they reached Australia and soon had the six Fenians — James Donagh, Martin Hogan, Michael Harrington, Thomas Hasset, Robert Cranston and James Wilson — safely on board. The British gunboat Georgette overtook the Catalpa the next day and fired a shot across the ship’s bow, demanding the prisoners be turned over. Captain George Anthony raised the Stars and Stripes and defied the British to fire on it; they would not. Seeing Anthony would not be intimidated, the Georgette headed back to port. Clan na Gael and the Fenians had achieved one of their greatest victories over the British Empire.
Posted by Jim on
“ ‘No Pope here,’ is the extreme Orange (Unionist/Loyalist/Protestant) battle cry of anti-Catholic bigots in Northern Ireland. It is being heard once again because of Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland (but not to the Six Counties of Northern Ireland). Belfast columnist Brian Feeney in the article below deplores the fact that Arlene Foster is, in effect, boycotting the Pope.
Quite simply Foster is scared to show respect to the Pope because it would infuriate a significant section of her support base. However, it is important to understand this:Anti-Catholicism in Northern Ireland is not about theological disagreement with Catholicism, but rather a socio-political system and mindset determined to keep Catholics down. Just as anti-Semitism is not really a theological disagreement, but rather an organized system of hostility towards people of the Jewish faith or heritage.The same with anti-Islamism, etc.etc.
Extreme anti-Catholic bigotry in Northern Ireland does not harm the Pope, and never has. That was never really its purpose. Its purpose was always to harm, hurt and disrespect the local Catholics in Northern Ireland—to keep uppity Catholics in their place, to show them who the boss is, and to keep the Six Counties loyal to the Queen!”—Fr. Sean McManus
Arlene’s refusal to meet Pope is act of political cowardice
Brian Feeney. Irish News. Belfast. Wednesday, August 22, 2018
You can understand what the late Martin McGuinness meant about his problems with Arlene Foster.
Her lack of reciprocity got him into trouble. There he was meeting the Queen in Windsor and Belfast. Maybe more importantly, there was the Queen meeting him in Belfast and Windsor. There was the queen muttering a cúpla focal in Dublin.
On the other hand there was Arlene swanning around with her crown brooch permanently stuck in everyone’s face so obviously that it’s become a prominent feature in Ian Knox’s brilliant caricatures of her. Yet if the person whom that brooch symbolizes can meet McGuinness despite the IRA’s killing of Lord Mountbatten and moreover meet popes, not just one, despite her being the supreme head of Arlene’s Church of Ireland, why can’t Arlene do any of that in any location?
It’s not as if Arlene is a Presbyterian who, outside this benighted place, are notoriously hostile to any expressions of monarchy, priesthood, pomp and ceremony, bells and smells. You might be able to see her difficulty if that were the case. There might even be some religious reason. On the contrary, the Presbyterian moderator will attend the papal reception in Dublin Castle. So will religious leaders and political representatives from all over Ireland except for the largest party for the time being in The North.
The fact that it took Foster so long to remember that she was going on a family holiday next week raises the suspicion that she thought about going to Dublin to join other political and religious leaders at, mark you, a non-religious reception, and then thought worse of it. The fact that no one from the DUP will be there speaks volumes.
Of course, she’d have faced flak. Isn’t that what political leaders are for? To lead? Didn’t Martin McGuinness face flak after many republicans thought he’d gone too far but received nothing in return? Hasn’t the current Presbyterian moderator faced flak from within his own Church? Why? Because he showed leadership.
Foster’s failure to go to Dublin and her failure to nominate anyone else in her party to attend, is a supreme example of her political cowardice, her failure of leadership, precisely the sort of myopic politics Peter Robinson has been warning against in recent months. Her inaction marks her out as a political pygmy for whom the world beyond the Ballygawley roundabout is a big, scary place. Some political leaders grow into the position. Foster has shrunk from the position during her tenure, repeatedly demonstrating that she’s out of her depth. Now she’s just a figurehead shorn of any kudos that went with being first minister. We all know who the real DUP leader is these days and where the real power in the party resides.
One consequence is certain. Foster’s failure of nerve guarantees that those Catholic unicorns that some unionists fondly imagine will never vote for Irish unity will remain imaginary. Robinson’s pleas in 2011 that Unionists will have to reach out to northern Catholics if they want to preserve the Union because soon there will no longer be enough Protestants to save it have fallen on deaf ears.
It is not as if Foster’s failure is an act of religious bigotry. It’s not. It’s an entirely political failure. She knows perfectly well that probably more than half of those attending the reception or function in Croke Park no longer believe a word the pope utters. Her attendance, or that of anyone from the DUP, would have had as much religious connotation as that of the majority present who voted for abortion reform and ignore the Catholic Church’s teaching on contraception and everything else. No, she’s not taken the trouble to deputze anyone not for religious reasons but for petty, provincial symbolic reasons which no one outside her limited Norn Irn [Noerhern Ireland] political horizons understands.
It seems bizarre that Foster can’t herself understand the contradiction that the very fact that she refuses to perform symbolic actions as Martin McGuinness did, is in itself a symbolic action. She remains unable to answer why the Queen can perform symbolic actions which Foster won’t even send a DUP representative to perform, and yet still remains the Queen, and more highly regarded because of those symbolic gestures.
Posted by Jim on
SSG CHRIS ENGELDRUM FDNY VFW POST 12033
The SSG Chris Engeldrum FDNY VFW Post 12033 will be holding its monthly meeting on Thursday, September 20th. The meeting will be held at Randall’s Island, Building 11 Cafeteria at 8:00 pm. All Military Veterans who have served overseas during time of war are eligible to join. For additional information, see the Post website at FDNYVFW.com.
FIREHOUSE KITCHEN TALK AT FRIENDS OF FIREFIGHTERS:
PENSIONS WORKSHOP WITH AL CONNOLLY AND KAREN DONNELLY
Join Friends of Firefighters on Wednesday, August 29th, from 6-9 PM at 199 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231 for a firefighter-prepared dinner followed by a pension and retirement workshop with Al Connolly, FDNY Pensions Director, and Karen Donnelly, who has been working with Friends of Firefighters for the past 7 years helping families identify financial goals and develop living-plans that include tax strategies, life insurance planning, retirement income planning, and money management. Together they will provide plenty of information as well as one-on-one meetings for those thinking about their futures and planning for retirement. FREE for FDNY firefighters, no RSVP necessary, and in the words of retired firefighter Tony Cat, “Bring a friend.”
ANNUAL WALK OF REMEMBRANCE
On Sunday, September 9, 2018, at 0900 hours, there will be a mass followed by a Walk of Remembrance in honor of Father Mychal F. Judge. The mass will be held in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 135 West 31st Street, Manhattan. Following the mass, the “Walk” will commence, stopping at firehouses and police precincts along the way and ending at St. Peter’s Church. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. For further information contact Jack Cook, L-163, 516-263-4685 or visit www.911walkofremembrance.com.
On Monday, September 10, 2018, at 1030 hours, E-73/L-42 will host a Memorial Mass in quarters honoring the memory of DC Joseph Marchbanks Jr., Lt. Raymond Murphy, L-16, Lt. Brian Ahearn, E-230, FF Peter Bielfeld, L-42 and Father Mychal Judge, who made the supreme sacrifice on September 11, 2001. In addition, former members of B-26 and B-55 who have passed on will also be remembered. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
The annual Lt. John Martinson Memorial Picnic will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2018 (Rain or Shine) from 1200 to 1800 hours at the Hillside Swim Club, located at 151 Signs Road., Staten Island. Picnic will include live music, rides, and games. For ticket information visit: www.JohnMartinsonMemorialFoundation.org.
