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.

Rick and I were at the Slugger Awards this evening in W5.  Good to see that two out of the three blogs shortlisted for political blog of the year were UUP blogs, even if neither won!  Congratulations to both Brian and Chekov for standing out in an increasingly crowded field.

Congratulations also to UUP Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy on his well deserved win in the Committee Chair of the Year category.  Danny does a sterling job as Chairman of OFMDFM and fully deserves the recognition, as does Basil McCrea for his nomination of newcomer of the year.  A mention also for David Gordon of the Belfast Telegraph for his journalist of the year award which is also richly deserved.