What do you think the solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland shoudl be?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ireland
If you think about it, it is rather unfair and a final remnant of imperialism that Britain should have any control over the island of Ireland at all.
I know there is peace between the IRA and the various Protestant militias but that could theoretically end at any time.
Part of me thinks Britain should give NI to the Republic of Ireland and be done with it. Those brassy,mean spirited Orangemen who proudly do their apprentice boy marches past Catholic neighborhoods would be humbled and know that King William of Orange's conquest in 1690 is now utterly undone.
Also it might lift their spirits to be part of the Republic of Ireland, a land green lush rolling hills, mysterious hidden valleys where leprachauns and fairies dwell, and humble thatched pubs with people merrily dancing around to mischivious and spirited fiddler!
Ive been to both areas of Ireland..North and South and honestly there is not much to write home about NI as compared to the South.
Belfast could fit in well in Northern England, itself being a city rather similar to say Manchester or Liverpool. Just sort of sad and industrial.
The only good bits about NI in my opinion were the Giant's Causeway and Bushmill's whiskey. I know it is the Protestant whiskey but I found it simply irresistible!
It would solve the conflicts and be a good "pick me up" for all the people of that entire region.
If anyone has any knowledge about this issue by all means..enthrall me with your acumen!
The landscape of Northern Ireland is comparable to the rest of Ireland, despite your attempt to portray it as somehow blighted or of lesser beauty.
Quote from: Recusant on November 22, 2017, 10:28:32 PM
The landscape of Northern Ireland is comparable to the rest of Ireland, despite your attempt to portray it as somehow blighted or of lesser beauty.
Uhhh.. Ive actually been there, I think I know the difference.
There is a substantial difference between the lush fields of county Kerry and the harsh foreboding mountains of Mourne in County Down.
Also..Galway and Dublin..vs. Belfast? Hardly comparable. Belfast is such a sad city :/
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 22, 2017, 10:44:01 PM
Quote from: Recusant on November 22, 2017, 10:28:32 PM
The landscape of Northern Ireland is comparable to the rest of Ireland, despite your attempt to portray it as somehow blighted or of lesser beauty.
Uhhh.. Ive actually been there, I think I know the difference.
There is a substantial difference between the lush fields of county Kerry and the harsh foreboding mountains of Mourne in County Down.
Also..Galway and Dublin..vs. Belfast? Hardly comparable. Belfast is such a sad city :/
I've spent plenty of time in both Northern Ireland and in Eire. There are 'harsh foreboding' areas in Eire, just as there are 'lush fields' in Northern Ireland. You appear to be letting your prejudices color your aesthetic judgment. I didn't spend much time in any of the cities, and my comment was not about the cities.
Partition in Ireland or India proved to be a well meaning but wrong headed idea. The Irish government has it in it's hands to reunite Ireland if it wants to. It would be political suicide for any UK political party to attempt to 'give back' NI. So unless the Irish government does something re-unification won't happen.
Brexit is problematic for this issue as well.
Quote from: Recusant on November 23, 2017, 05:56:43 PM
Brexit is problematic for this issue as well.
Very much so.
Quote from: Tank on November 23, 2017, 07:31:29 AM
The Irish government has it in it's hands to reunite Ireland if it wants to.
How could the Irish government reunite Ireland?
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on November 24, 2017, 04:09:26 AM
Quote from: Tank on November 23, 2017, 07:31:29 AM
The Irish government has it in it's hands to reunite Ireland if it wants to.
How could the Irish government reunite Ireland?
It's about invitation not coercion. The Irish government has to create a situation where the Irish born in the North want to express an Irish heritage more that a British one. The Irish government have got to stop seeing the Protestant/Catholic divide and emphasis birth (or inherited relations) as people being Irish. All people who are 'Irish' are automatically given citizenship irrespective of where they are born. All rights and privileges accorded to people in and from NI are accepted in Eire. Etc. etc. The Irish government apologises unreservedly for all damage done in the name of Irish independence. It allows MP's elected in NI to sit in an extended Irish parliament. It recreates Ireland as a political entity and essentially turns the British involvement in NI into a colonisation issue.
The Irish government has it in it's hands to reunite Ireland if it wants to. They may not realise it. But if they put uniting Ireland through peaceful means an absolute priority it would happen. It would take a couple of generations but it could be done.
Quote from: Tank on November 24, 2017, 08:06:05 AM
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on November 24, 2017, 04:09:26 AM
Quote from: Tank on November 23, 2017, 07:31:29 AM
The Irish government has it in it's hands to reunite Ireland if it wants to.
How could the Irish government reunite Ireland?
It's about invitation not coercion. The Irish government has to create a situation where the Irish born in the North want to express an Irish heritage more that a British one. The Irish government have got to stop seeing the Protestant/Catholic divide and emphasis birth (or inherited relations) as people being Irish. All people who are 'Irish' are automatically given citizenship irrespective of where they are born. All rights and privileges accorded to people in and from NI are accepted in Eire. Etc. etc. The Irish government apologises unreservedly for all damage done in the name of Irish independence. It allows MP's elected in NI to sit in an extended Irish parliament. It recreates Ireland as a political entity and essentially turns the British involvement in NI into a colonisation issue.
The Irish government has it in it's hands to reunite Ireland if it wants to. They may not realise it. But if they put uniting Ireland through peaceful means an absolute priority it would happen. It would take a couple of generations but it could be done.
Interesting. Thanks for the information.
Well it's not really information. It's just a logical thought process. Another example would be the Falkland Islands. The British government have said that they with remain 'British' until the population say otherwise. So if Argentina want the Falklands all they have to do is peacefully bribe the islanders until a majority change their allegiance. So they start buying Falklands lamb and mutton. They start air flights. They build infrastructure on the Island through sponsorship. An enemy never changes their mind, so stop being an enemy and be a friend.
Can you imagine the respect the US would be held in if it spent as much on humanitarian aid as it does on making war?
Gibraltar would be the same.
Quote from: Tank on November 24, 2017, 03:45:10 PMCan you imagine the respect the US would be held in if it spent as much on humanitarian aid as it does on making war?
Even a quarter as much would be a huge increase. Foreign aid (of all types) amounts to less than 1% (https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/02/10/383875581/guess-how-much-of-uncle-sams-money-goes-to-foreign-aid-guess-again) of the US budget, while military spending accounts for around 15% (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/aug/17/facebook-posts/pie-chart-federal-spending-circulating-internet-mi/).
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 22, 2017, 10:44:01 PM
Quote from: Recusant on November 22, 2017, 10:28:32 PM
The landscape of Northern Ireland is comparable to the rest of Ireland, despite your attempt to portray it as somehow blighted or of lesser beauty.
Uhhh.. Ive actually been there, I think I know the difference.
There is a substantial difference between the lush fields of county Kerry and the harsh foreboding mountains of Mourne in County Down.
Also..Galway and Dublin..vs. Belfast? Hardly comparable. Belfast is such a sad city :/
Sure you've been there, probably on a trip with Sister Bellarmine along with that roguish prankster who goes by the name of Billy Flanagan.
Why the hell would we believe anything you say?
Quote from: Father Bruno on November 25, 2017, 02:06:37 PM
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 22, 2017, 10:44:01 PM
Quote from: Recusant on November 22, 2017, 10:28:32 PM
The landscape of Northern Ireland is comparable to the rest of Ireland, despite your attempt to portray it as somehow blighted or of lesser beauty.
Uhhh.. Ive actually been there, I think I know the difference.
There is a substantial difference between the lush fields of county Kerry and the harsh foreboding mountains of Mourne in County Down.
Also..Galway and Dublin..vs. Belfast? Hardly comparable. Belfast is such a sad city :/
Sure you've been there, probably on a trip with Sister Bellarmine along with that roguish prankster who goes by the name of Billy Flanagan.
Why the hell would we believe anything you say?
I can tell you don't believe in God because you are not very magnanimous or forgiving. The whole white lie about being a nun in a circa 1965 Catholic school was just a bit of narrative fun. The Ireland trip was in fact very real.
I went with my brother to see the sights of Ireland. We went to Dublin, then swung up North to see Belfast,Derry and the sights and sounds of Ulster. Belfast was sort of a gritty city (unlike Dublin) and reminded me very much of what Liverpool or Birmingham Engalnd must be like. There were painting everywhere on the walls extolling the Catholic and Protestant terrorists.
We saw the Giant's Causeway and drove through the town of Bushmill's home to the Busmill's distillery!
It would seem the Catholic policy of saying no to contraception appears to be working in Northern Ireland. At this point only two of the 6 counties in NI are majority Protestant, Counties Antrim and Down. With any luck though, those Ulster prods will move back to Engalnd and Scotland..and Ireland will be united once more as it was in days long past.
I enjoyed Ulster but found it lacking compared to Ireland. It was significnatly less of a mysterious fairyland type of place. There were for example no road signs in English and Gaelic alike, fewer sheep roaming about the country lanes, and everything seemed more industrial as opposed to quaint.
The town of Bushmills was nothing like Doolin, Ballingerry or Killarney. It had no Celtic magic about it, and looked like it could be a rural town in Pennsylvania or New Hampshire.
We explored Derry and the walls and saw a massive Presbyterian Church (thankfully we did not enter it!)
When we escaped out the backend of Northern Ireland to the county of Donegal it was like we really entered a different country. Donegal is lovely with spacious green planes and a large amount of Gaelic speakers. It was as if we stepped back in time!
We also did this:!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV6nK1NF29A
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 25, 2017, 05:32:27 PM
...
I can tell you don't believe in God because you are not very magnanimous or forgiving. The whole white lie about being a nun in a circa 1965 Catholic school was just a bit of narrative fun. The Ireland trip was in fact very real...
The trouble is you have zero credibility as an honest interlocutor. There is no point in bleating about the way people perceive you. You've made your bed, lie in it. And Father Brunos behaviour toward you is a reflection of your behaviour in the first place. You deserve it. Suck it up.
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 25, 2017, 05:32:27 PM
...
I can tell you don't believe in God because you are not very magnanimous or forgiving.
Quote from: Tank on November 25, 2017, 06:54:18 PM
The trouble is you have zero credibility as an honest interlocutor. There is no point in bleating about the way people perceive you. You've made your bed, lie in it. And Father Brunos behaviour toward you is a reflection of your behaviour in the first place. You deserve it. Suck it up.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/7KYxcmSJmrFNm/giphy.gif)
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 25, 2017, 05:32:27 PM
I can tell you don't believe in God because you are not very magnanimous or forgiving.
I could just as easily say I can tell you don't really believe in god because you're a liar. How "white" a lie is doesn't matter -- false witness is false witness.
On the secular side of things, everybody starts out with the benefit of the doubt because until someone does something wrong there's no reason to think ill of them. You very effectively removed that benefit for yourself.
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 25, 2017, 05:32:27 PM
Quote from: Father Bruno on November 25, 2017, 02:06:37 PM
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 22, 2017, 10:44:01 PM
Quote from: Recusant on November 22, 2017, 10:28:32 PM
The landscape of Northern Ireland is comparable to the rest of Ireland, despite your attempt to portray it as somehow blighted or of lesser beauty.
Uhhh.. Ive actually been there, I think I know the difference.
There is a substantial difference between the lush fields of county Kerry and the harsh foreboding mountains of Mourne in County Down.
Also..Galway and Dublin..vs. Belfast? Hardly comparable. Belfast is such a sad city :/
Sure you've been there, probably on a trip with Sister Bellarmine along with that roguish prankster who goes by the name of Billy Flanagan.
Why the hell would we believe anything you say?
I can tell you don't believe in God because you are not very magnanimous or forgiving. The whole white lie about being a nun in a circa 1965 Catholic school was just a bit of narrative fun. The Ireland trip was in fact very real.
You didn't shave a few years off your age or claim a tiny bit more educational achievement than you actually have. Those would be white lies. You walked in the door of an established community with a completely fabricated persona in order to preach. Is it any wonder no one trusts you?
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 25, 2017, 05:32:27 PM
We also did this:!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV6nK1NF29A
I have trouble believing this. I have no trouble whatsoever thinking that you are a pathological liar.
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 27, 2017, 12:36:58 AM
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 25, 2017, 05:32:27 PM
We also did this:!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV6nK1NF29A
I have trouble believing this. I have no trouble whatsoever thinking that you are a pathological liar.
Me and the other priests from the monastery also did this when we were on a trip to the Himalayas!
Quote from: Father Bruno on November 27, 2017, 02:14:47 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 27, 2017, 12:36:58 AM
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 25, 2017, 05:32:27 PM
We also did this:!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV6nK1NF29A
I have trouble believing this. I have no trouble whatsoever thinking that you are a pathological liar.
Me and the other priests from the monastery also did this when we were on a trip to the Himalayas!
Me and the other witches from my neighborhood also did this when we were on a trip to Germany!
There I am! I'm the pretty one! :tellmemore:
What are your opinions?
What do you think?
Please let me know.
I like them. Who else does?
Crazy right?
Any thoughts?
I know there is some controversy with this posts, but I do not know why there should be?
Anyone here who can help?
thoughts? Ideas?
Thoughts? Beliefs?
Thoughts please!!!
Any ideas?
If anyone has any knowledge about this issue by all means..enthrall me with your acumen!
Those witches are some snappy dancers.
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on November 27, 2017, 10:14:12 AM
Those witches are some snappy dancers.
:secrets1:
BooksCatsEtc, if I'm pretending to be
SisterAgatha, this is the part where I ask, "Thoughts? Ideas? Opinions? Beliefs?" You answer, and I totally ignore you.
~Don't feel bad, OK? That's just the Catholic thing to do. :shifty:
Quote from: Magdalena on November 27, 2017, 08:44:58 PM
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on November 27, 2017, 10:14:12 AM
Those witches are some snappy dancers.
:secrets1: BooksCatsEtc, if I'm pretending to be SisterAgatha, this is the part where I ask, "Thoughts? Ideas? Opinions? Beliefs?" You answer, and I totally ignore you.
~Don't feel bad, OK? That's just the Catholic thing to do. :shifty:
You dang witches and your dancing...so typical of you.
I bet you aren't even a witch!
Quote from: Father Bruno on November 27, 2017, 08:46:58 PM
Quote from: Magdalena on November 27, 2017, 08:44:58 PM
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on November 27, 2017, 10:14:12 AM
Those witches are some snappy dancers.
:secrets1: BooksCatsEtc, if I'm pretending to be SisterAgatha, this is the part where I ask, "Thoughts? Ideas? Opinions? Beliefs?" You answer, and I totally ignore you.
~Don't feel bad, OK? That's just the Catholic thing to do. :shifty:
You dang witches and your dancing...so typical of you.
I bet you aren't even a witch!
(https://media1.tenor.com/images/fbcdba5eccc89dfba074708959d68e44/tenor.gif?itemid=6109098)
Quote from: Father Bruno on November 27, 2017, 08:46:58 PM
I bet you aren't even a witch!
:secrets1: Be careful, FB! She'll turn you into a newt, like she did Bruce.
:P
Is shampoo a solution?
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 27, 2017, 09:07:42 PM
Quote from: Father Bruno on November 27, 2017, 08:46:58 PM
I bet you aren't even a witch!
:secrets1: Be careful, FB! She'll turn you into a newt, like she did Bruce.
:P
(https://i.imgur.com/YbKV37o.gif)
OK people. I get how me being less than truthful made you upset...but the respect level is really not where it should be.
Can't we all try to be a bit more nice and respectful toward each other?
Quote from: Father Bruno on November 27, 2017, 09:15:24 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 27, 2017, 09:07:42 PM
Quote from: Father Bruno on November 27, 2017, 08:46:58 PM
I bet you aren't even a witch!
:secrets1: Be careful, FB! She'll turn you into a newt, like she did Bruce.
:P
(https://i.imgur.com/YbKV37o.gif)
(https://media.giphy.com/media/818v2NiQGalIQ/source.gif)
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 27, 2017, 09:26:07 PM
OK people. I get how me being less than truthful made you upset...but the respect level is really not where it should be.
Can't we all try to be a bit more nice and respectful toward each other?
Essentially respect is earned, not demanded. You decided to start here with a fake persona, and have some "fun" at our expense, even though some of us were willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.
What exactly did you expect would happen? Wait, don't answer that, you don't answer most queries and replies anyway...
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 27, 2017, 09:26:07 PM
OK people. I get how me being less than truthful made you upset...but the respect level is really not where it should be.
Can't we all try to be a bit more nice and respectful toward each other?
"Excuse me, '
Sister/
Brother'...Please...Thank you."
(https://media1.tenor.com/images/949f42b13894d3865614b1e08d7177db/tenor.gif?itemid=5245718)
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 27, 2017, 09:26:07 PM
OK people. I get how me being less than truthful made you upset...but the respect level is really not where it should be.
No, it certainly wasn't when you came in here not only lying repeatedly but preaching and trolling on an atheist forum with a "no preaching or trolling" rule.
QuoteCan't we all try to be a bit more nice and respectful toward each other?
As a show of good faith, you should start. Go ahead, and let us know when you think you're actually doing that as I suspect we'll have to give you some guidance on it.
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 27, 2017, 09:26:07 PM
OK people. I get how me being less than truthful made you upset...but the respect level is really not where it should be.
Can't we all try to be a bit more nice and respectful toward each other?
I'm not sure what you mean by asking us to "be a bit more nice and respectful toward each other." What you are seeing is a group of people who have been together on this forum long enough to have built a community and understand each other. There is plenty of respect here, but we are not formal with each other. Respect does not require formality.
You came here seeking entry into this community. Not to become a part of it, but actively seeking to change it. If anyone is not showing respect, it is you.
Quote from: Velma on November 28, 2017, 02:36:53 AM
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 27, 2017, 09:26:07 PM
OK people. I get how me being less than truthful made you upset...but the respect level is really not where it should be.
Can't we all try to be a bit more nice and respectful toward each other?
I'm not sure what you mean by asking us to "be a bit more nice and respectful toward each other." What you are seeing is a group of people who have been together on this forum long enough to have built a community and understand each other. There is plenty of respect here, but we are not formal with each other. Respect does not require formality.
You came here seeking entry into this community. Not to become a part of it, but actively seeking to change it. If anyone is not showing respect, it is you.
Velma...
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F20JhpI1.gif&hash=9f066e37c4018930daf62c23c26e6a52a9bc76da)
Oh yeah, I'm just soooooooooooooooooooo, upset.
(https://i.giphy.com/media/PVOP4DQJZ4Of6/giphy.gif)
Quote from: SisterAgatha on November 27, 2017, 09:26:07 PM
OK people. I get how me being less than truthful made you upset...but the respect level is really not where it should be.
Can't we all try to be a bit more nice and respectful toward each other?
You start and things could well change.
Shenanigans in the Brexit negotiations--it looks like the Conservative's government partners DUP (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dup-manifesto-2017-summary-what-does-it-say-policies-tories-conservatives-government-a7781716.html) ( ::)) have decided they'd rather have a hard border with Eire than agree to have any difference in regulations from the rest of the UK.
The report (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-42236543) that UK negotiators told the DUP that the Irish government had somehow managed to prevent the negotiators from sharing UK/Europe agreement documents is interesting. What sort of leverage did Ireland supposedly use on the UK to achieve this?
It won't last forever, but it looks to me as if having DUP in the UK government is dealing serious harm to the idea of a united Ireland.
It's an absolute cluster fuck of an omnishambles!