I’m not from UK and I don’t live there but I’m still really fed up with the whole business. We will fight terrorism in 3rd world countries but still allow it to exist freely in our backyard. Isn’t there anything that could be done to stop this insane war?
I don’t know, but you sound pretty fanatical about removing fanatics.
Allowing terrorism? Look, just because it happens it doesn’t mean that we are allowing it within our homeland. I’m hurt to hear about the murder as well, but it’s important we keep our heads on before we fling around wild accusations of allowing, “it [terrorism] to exist freely in our backyard.”
Lot’s of people are frustrated, both before and after 9/11, but let’s try not to get too crazy at the cost of losing our perspective.
0.5 for length.
-3.5 for quality.
If you’re going to rant, then rant. Don’t make your audience do all the work.
I had to guess, based on the victim’s name, and your comment about not being from the UK, that it the story would lead back to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
I followed your links, and learned that Martin O’Hagan was a journalist who covered stories, issues, and persons connected with the conflict. I got the impression that he was considered to be dedicated to journalistic integrity. I have no idea where he, personally, stood on the question of Northern Ireland (not that this is relevant to his murder, of course; I just think this thread will be more understandable if you can give us some idea of who he was).
I’m a bit unclear on who the suspected perpetrators are, politically speaking. LVF? What’s that? Loyalist Volunteer Force? Lurgan Volunteer Force? Lunkvaard’s Viking Friends? I’m going to guess that they’re somewhat like an Ulster version of the so-called “Real IRA,” opposed to the peace plan and to the Good Friday accords. But I shouldn’t have to guess.
If you’re looking for a magic bullet, that can bring the conflict to an immediate halt, the answer is “No.” Except the sudden departure from the planet of human life. That said, something is being done right now to bring a stop to “this insane war.” It’s called the Northern Ireland Peace Process. It may be staggering along, gasping for breath, but a lot of people believe that it is still viable, and are working very hard to bring it to fruition.
Perilously close to being Wildest Bill-grade ethnocentrism, therealblaze. It’s easy to read that as “What kind of screwed-up system of priorities allows us to fight terrorism among dark-skinned folks, when there are still white people suffering from it?” I’m not going to accuse you of holding that view, or asking that question, but a clarification would be helpful.
Oh, and BTW, if you’ll just sit down and watch The Commitments sometime, you’ll learn that Ireland is a third-world country. Jimmy Rabbite says so, right there in the movie. 
Martin O’Hagan was a journalist with the Irish Sunday World. His life had been threatened many times by loyalists. He had a prior conviction for IRA activity, but that was many years ago and as far as anyone knows he’s been working simply as a journalist in recent years. His murder is thought to be connected with his testimony in the libel trial of Sean McPhilemy, who wrote a controversial book a few years ago (The Committee) alleging collusion of the security forces in loyalist attacks.
kaylasdad99, you’re pretty much right about the Loyalist Volunteer Force. A shower of murderous sectarian scumbags opposed to the UVF (the group they broke away from) ceasefire, the peace agreement, and pretty much the very existence of Catholics in Northern Ireland, if not the world.
I’ve seen the movie, thanks.
P.S Martin O’Hagan is the first journalist murdered in the Northern Ireland crisis.
To the point actually killing them. I don’t think so.
Do you really think that you would allow this kind of actions if they were happening in Texas by black people against white people?
This has little to do with 9/11 besides the point Americans get all frothmouthed over it because the attack was against them.
Fuck off.
Thanks Shayna, I will.
:rolleyes:
:mad:
Quoth therealblaze:
Then may I respectfully suggest that you might have done better to post this in Great Debates?
Whoops, too late, now it’s stuck in the Pit.
:rolleyes:
Wait a minute. Was this thread actually supposed to be about how dissatisfied you are that the Pit has lately become a ghetto for obsession over the events of 9/11?
Because if it was, I need to re-calibrate the Rant-O-Meter. You have pushed the outer boundaries of inscrutable subtlety beyond anything ever imagined by the either the International Conventions on Physical Standards or the entire metrology industry. That misdirection with the assassinated Irish journalist was masterful.
Note to all and sundry: I have neither the desire nor the intention to trivialize the death of Martin O’Hagan, whom I am inclined to believe was a man of courage, integrity, and good will. If any of you feel that I have done so with any of my posts, please accept my regrets.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by kaylasdad99 *
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As this is pretty controversial and higly emotional issue I thought we could start this here so we could talk more freely and not just get moved.
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Yes and don’t you think it’s amazing that I could do all that subconsciously?
Let’s get back to the issue, ok? And to clarify it: Isn’t it obvious that the current peace project is failing as the fanatics of both sides do not pay any attention to it. It’s all good that they’re doing that work too but another ways have to be used to get the extremists in control. How long are people willing to let this go on?
I repeat that O’Hagan was the first journalist killed in the three decades of this crisis. That is why this isn’t just a murder but an attack against freedom of speech and democracy. How much worse will the situation be if more journalists are killed?
“Security sources believe Mr O`Hagan may have been the victim of a revenge killing because of a series of articles he wrote exposing the murderous activities of former LVF leader Billy Wright.”
“If it is proven that the LVF [UDA/RHD] was behind the killing, this will put pressure on Dr Reid [Northern Ireland Secretar] to declare its ceasefire of May 1998 over.”(UTV Internet)
Reid was about to declare the ceasefire over but after being contacted by the UDA (Ulster Defence Association) he changed his mind and decided just to reprimand them and said “…well if you do this again then I will declare the ceasefire over”.
O’Hagan was the first journalist killed, but one of his colleagues at the Sunday World (Jim Campbell, I think his name was) was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt a few years ago.