Gerry Adams wins Northern Ireland vote

Associated Press ^ | 03/07/06

[IrishCatholic]

No, he is not a troll. He just has a different viewpoint. The fact is that Northern Ireland has been a mess for ages and neither side has anything to boast about in the morals department.
In fact every Orange Parade kind of proves his point. What do do now and where to go from here is a different topic all together. The Republic of Ireland is touted as an economic powerhouse. Will the relative prosperity possible mitigate the mindless generational hatred on both sides?
It is something to talk about and maybe a teaching moment for those of us in the States if the emotional attacks can be held at bay. I would be interested in the estimate of how the elections shape the political landscape and the prospects of Northern Ireland.
Without the name calling of course.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

It's not democratic when terrorists are allowed to run in elections.

They have been able to vote in the North for a long time.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Yup! Getting sick of them!

[Stoigo]

"Sinn Fein activists cheered wildly in the major ballot-counting center, the King's Hall conference center in south Belfast, as Adams took the winner's podium. Nearby activists from Protestant parties booed or stood stony-faced."

Democracy in action, after several centuries.

[trumandogz]

Why in the world would President Bush meet with a terrorist?

[Irish_Thatcherite]

UK is a democracy, IRA are terrorists, end of story.

In fact every Orange Parade kind of proves his point.

Got a problem with the freedom of religion?

Northern Ireland lags the Republic because of terrorist violence.

[presidio9]

I'm guessing that photo was taken early in the Bush presidency, based on the lack of gray in Bush's head, and Adam's beard.

Bush's Crackdown on Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Why in the world would President Bush meet with a terrorist?

Because it's the Selectively-Fought War On Terror.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Democracy in action, after several centuries.

A terrorist group getting power isn't democracy, idiot!

[trumandogz]

The picture was taken in March of 2001 after Clinton met with Adams and before 9/11.

[countreegurl]

How anyone can justify British actions in Ireland for more than 500 years is problematic.

---

It sure is.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

How anyone can justify British actions in Ireland for more than 500 years is problematic.

IRA terrorism is more recent than that...

(This is a conservative website, right?)

[trumandogz]

Call me a Radical, but I like the kind of democracy where people of all faiths are permitted to vote.

[Stoigo]

"A terrorist group getting power isn't democracy, idiot!"

To Irish_Thatcherite

I'll forgive your rudeness and simply state:

In a democracy, the majority rules. Period.

Like it or not, it's a fact.

[presidio9]

That is what I figured. I'm pretty sure that that was the last time he was welcome at the White House, though I am aware of the fact that Bush does speak to him on the phone occasionally.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

The IRA is an illegal organisation, Sinn Fein and the IRA are one and the same, therefore Sinn Fein should not be a legal party to begin with.

[presidio9]

(Adams laying a wreath at the grave of Yasser Arafat)

[trumandogz]

As for today, the IRA/SF has given up on the Armalite and the Ballot Box Strategy and in now only working via democratic channels. By following this method SF is charting a middle course without the radicals in the IRA that want to turn all of Ireland into a socialist state.

[countreegurl]

UK is a democracy, IRA are terrorists, end of story.

Northern Ireland lags the Republic because of terrorist violence.

---

don't even know where to begin. It was brilliant for the UK to bring these people into the political process...if they hadn't, you would still be seeing lots of blood on the streets. That is a fact. Peace was never going to come about in the north without these people feeling like they had a voice in the process. and I say this as someone who's family members have been shot and killed by both sides. Just took my last trip there, my 13 to date, a few years ago and the change is amazing and wonderful.

As for the roaring economy of the republic, the north doesn't lag because of terrorists acts (ira activity has pretty much stopped), rather the republic has initiated some forward thinking economic polices that has catapulted them ahead of the north.

I get the feeling that you would rather have bloodshed and violence, then give any concession whatsoever, to peace-seeking members of SF.

That's really unfortunate.

[dfwgator]

Adams is a Castro-loving Commie!