Young
Unionists

Afrikaner- Noun- An Afrikaans-speaking South African of European ancestry, especially one descended from 17th-century Dutch settlers.
Wiki- Some liberal Afrikaans-speaking South Africans and Namibians have rejected the label ‘Afrikaner’, because of its negative connotations of racial and religious intolerance.

As a Unionist I am growing used to being labelled like this whether it is Father Alec Reid likening me to a Nazi. Mary McAleese saying I was brought up with an irrational hatred of Catholics and now Gerry Adams suggesting that I am racially and religiously intolerant. I am at the point now where I am neither surprised nor particularly angered by these statements they have become part and partial of my political life. The persecution of unionists- and let us be under no illusions about what this is- is wide spread as nationalists of varying shades seek to portray unionism as an oppressive and intolerant ideology to the world at large.

These comments by Gerry Adams are a true expression of Sinn Fein’s attitude. Sinn Fein goes to great lengths to portray them as an inclusive and constructive ideology. Sinn Feins [London]Derry website says
“Creating the conditions for establishing an equal society means recognising that many diverse groups and sections of Irish society need enhanced protection from the State. We must tackle the trend to blame a person or group for their exclusion from society.”
These comments sit ill at ease alongside Mr Adams’ sectarian outburst.
However what concerns me particularly about this particular incident is its timing. Sinn Fein usually engages in this pathetic posturing when Stormont isn’t running. Sinn Fein has nothing to lose in this situation and can talk tough all they like. The latest instance however took place in the middle of crucial negotiations by all parties to get the executive back on track. This outburst shows how detached Mr Adam’s is from real politics in Northern Ireland and I think that the announcement by the BBC today that a deal might have been worked out despite Mr Adam’s insult shows that he has become an irrelevance in Northern Ireland.
I am glad that we are in a situation in Northern Ireland were these tirades ARE unacceptable to constitutional politicians. I thank the SDLP and Mark Durkan for condemning this statement and I think that his willingness to do so is the surest sign that the SDLP respects the different but shared traditions of Northern Ireland.

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Northern Irelands in a peculiar situation, for not only do we have the most Enviro-secptic Minister in the UK, but he even goes as far as actively voting against the Climate Change Bill when it comes before Parliament. I’m talking of course about last week’s vote in the House of Commons, where our Sammy was a teller for the Noes, they ‘narrowly’ lost the vote; 5 against to 475 votes for. Now that alone is more than enough to raise a few eyebrows about the Ministers suitability for the job, but perhaps even more interestingly is the evident divisions within the DUP over the issue. Out of the 6 DUP MPs present they all, apart from Sammy Wilson, voted for a new clause in the Climate Change Bill. Later in the same day, Sammy spoke against the proposal to move the Bill to its crucial next stage; however he was conveniently absent when it came to the vote. Willie McCrea couldn’t have said it any better:

We have to tackle carbon emissions, and it is therefore important that there is an appropriate Bill to do that. Although I have a very sceptical colleague sitting beside me, our party’s policy is that the Bill is necessary.

Now McCrea is quite obviously stating that Sammy Wilson’s vision of the Environment is at odds with his parties own policy. This surely raises the question as to why Robinson saw it fit to appoint such an open cynic to represent Northern Irelands Environmental interests. Of course this is not the only controversy Sammy has found himself in. Only a few weeks ago the he was caught riding his motorcycle on a public road without MOT and Road Tax- even though he is the Minister in charge of MOT and Road Tax. Then there are the increasing fears amongst his own departmental officials about the direct role he is taking in dealing with constituency planning applications- even though he is the Minister in charge of Planning. And to add to that, he has continually refused to step down as a Member of Belfast City Council- even though he is the Minister in charge of reforming the councils across Northern Ireland. Can anyone see the pattern forming yet? So I must ask, when will this bumbling Minister leave the stage for once and for all and return to the backbenches where he and his views belong?

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Today we have recievied the sad news of the death of former RUC Chief Constable, Sir Jack Hermon.

All our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, our friend and colleague Lady Hermon, and the rest of the Hermon family at this sad time.