In Northern Ireland, The Reverand Dr. Ian Paisley is a strong Pro-British, Anti-Irish/Anti-Catholic leader and voice of the Protestant Majority.
What does the average Briton (in England proper) think of this individual in general?
He’s a joke. He’s seen as a dinosaur from another age, who’s been a major problem in bringing about reconciliation in Ireland. Indeed, I’d venture to suggest that most people in England don’t even realise that his party, the DUP, consistently get some of the highest votes in elections.
(BTW, “average Briton (in England proper)” is going to get some backs up, although I know you meant no offence 
)
He’s the Protestant equivalent of Gerry Adams, just as his political party is the equivalent of Sin Fein.
I susspect at leat 95% of Mainland Brits hate him.
I would expect he is liked less than Gerry Adams by a significant number of the people who consider Gerry Adams to be the head of a terrorist organization.
I’m not quite sure what this sentence means.
I’d certainly suggest that the ‘typical English voter’ would see Gerry Adams as a meaningful politician, whereas Paisley is an eccentric who has to be kept amused and contained. Perhaps this this is because of faults in the reporting, perhaps it’s something else (such as the Republican party’s adoption of modern use of the media).
Yeah I had difficulty with that one and tried reediting it several times. I’m meaning that even some of those Brits who consider Gerry Adams to be a terrorist (as opposed to head of a political party that supports the aims of a terrorist group) would consider him the lesser of two evils when compared to Paisley.
And I consider Paisley as an eccentric in the same way I consider Phelps an eccentric.
ITYM a mouthpiece for terrorists.
Perhaps it’s Nu Labour’s anti-English bias? IMO - and in the experience of people I trust - both sides in NI are little more than gangsters.
Sorry, that should be "Republican parties’ ". Damn apostrophes.
I’ve NO idea what this means.
I’m Northern Irish
Ian Paisley Snr-He’s an incredibly charismatic, bigoted lunatic.
He has absolute and total belief that his opinions are supported by God, so he’s not exactly open to reasoned argument or compromise.
He is well known for treating his constituents very well, whatever their personal beliefs or background, which means that even people who don’t agree with him cannot fault the job he does in his constituency.
He is not allied with any current paramilitary organisation, so CANNOT be used as a mirror image of SF- if you’re looking for that try the PUP (UVF), who in some ways are more moderate than the DUP and Paisley.
http://www.pup-ni.org.uk/
It is my personal belief that Mr Paisley Snr is suffering from a serious illness (rumoured to be prostate cancer) and will not be around for much longer. This guy has absolutely nothing to lose by following his own beliefs, and is now finally seeing the fruit of years worth of work. He has a massive support from large sections of the Unionist and Loyalist communities, who WILL vote for him. He should not be underestimated.
Ian Paisley jnr-like dad, but minus the charm, charisma and intelligence and plus a thuggish mentality. A real piece of work who frightens me more than his dad. Paisley Snr is the past, Paisley Jnr is the future.
My favourite Paisley joke:
A nun is driving through County Antrim and runs out of petrol just outside Ballymena. She had seen a farmhouse a mile or so before, so walks back and asks for some petrol. Unfortunately the only container that the farmer can spare is an old chamber pot.
She is pouring the petrol from the chamberpot into the tank when the Rev Paisley drives past on his way to Stormont.
As he passes, he rolls down his window and shouts “Madam, I hate your religion, but I admire your faith!”
It sums him up very well. He is not incapable of seeing the good in people of other beliefs than his own, but as long as they hold those beliefs he will never be able to reach an agreement with them.
I’ve never had much time for Ian Paisley … he always struck me as overly loud, overly dogmatic, and unwilling to accept compromise. In short, part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Well you’ll all know what I think of him, but then I’m not a Briton, average or otherwise. I would however like to point out that he isn’t in fact a doctor. His “doctorate” is an honorary one (from Bob Jones University, of all places, although in his case it’s only fitting) and therefore the title “Dr.” is not appropriate.
The sound of Iain Paisley holding forth is guarenteed to remind me, now atheist brought up Anglican, that via a great grandmother, I have Irish Cathlolic roots. I don’t know anyone in England, of whatever background who regards him as anything but a hateful bigot. And, although he is the butt of many a joke, I don’t find him particularly funny.
[Yank]Isn’t he the guy who thinks the Royal Family is actually a bunch of extraterrestrial lizards? No, wait, that’s David Icke. Nevermind.[/Yank]
Thanks, ruadh - I’d never clocked that the ‘Dr’ was just so wrong.
Well, whatever he was, we don’t have to worry about him any more.
NYT article on the death of Ian Paisley.
Good.
I’m not British , but I remember him primarily as a major hate monger. The world is better off without him.
Another new thread.