YOU ARE ALL PROTESTANT SUPREMACISTS!

Ever since my colleague Andrew encountered left-wing journalist Johann Hari - I have had great fun following the many postings  on the forum over at Johann's mighty site.

After some gentle prodding (pardon the pun) Johann has struck back - accusing those ATW readers who have chosen to comment on some of his more ludicrous comments re the IRA - of being Protestant supremacists!

Yip - even if you are Catholic/Atheist/Agnostic/Jewish..you name it - in Johann's world - you are ALL Protestants now! I have advised Dr. Paisley.

I have also gently enquired of this journalist how he managed to conclude from what I have written on the topic of IRA terrorism that I am a "Protestant"! (never mind a Supremacist to boot...)

Perhaps ATW readers reading this may choose to similarly enquire as to how the UK 2003 "Young Journalist of the Year" can detect one's religion merely by one's opposition to IRA barbarism. What a gift he must have!! Here is the link to the forum ---- give it a whirl......IT'S A LAUGH.

Comments

[Emily]

I don't know, David. Your typeface just screams "Protestant" to me.

[David Vance]

Curses.....you noticed the subliminals. Have you considered applying to The Independent - they seem to seek out deep thinkers?

[Emily]

I did, but their font was too smug for my tastes.

His use of the term protestant would indicate someone who is not used to publicly debating issues around northern ireland ( as has been pointed out ) as most of us who do are generally more careful to distinguish against people on the grounds or religion\hide our prejudices. Sadly he was probably more right than wrong when guessing the religious background of his detractors.

As well as Mr Hari's naivete on the subject of northern ireland I noticed the usual spoutings of playing down discrimination against catholics, that the ruc werent involved in murder, catholics loved the ruc and attempts to play down unionist gerrymandering from the usual suspects. Yawn.

On a different topic I noted there was no post referencing Mark Thatchers "conviction" today and I'm not suggesting for a second this is deliberate, only a fool and a communist would do so, though it might open up an interesting debate.

[Madradin Ruad]

Am I right in thinking the creep has closed the thread ?
I was going to ask him if he learned his tradecraft from Piers Morgan.

[Ronan]

mine above

[Ross]

For some reason I can't post on Hari's thread which is a shame as I wanted to join in. I suppose I needn't worry as everyone here seems to have him on the ropes anyway. When he was going on about the "Rest of the World" believing that catholics were terribly discriminated against, with only evil ulster prods denying it, I wanted to post Thomas Sowell's (Who unlike most of the sources Hari cites has no ethnic association with one side or the other) description of the situation:

"Within Ulster the Catholic population has tended to be poorer than the Protestant and less represented in higher level occupations, as well as more represented in public housing projects. All this points towards differences in human capital, such as have marked the Irish, compared to the Scots or the English in other countries around the world. The preferred explanation among the Irish in Ulster, however, has been discrimination, even though the evidence for such discrimination consists largely of statistical disparities rather than individual examples."

If anyone else wishes to point that out to him I think they should.

[Madradin Ruad]

Mr anonymous - do you think a blatent lie - there were no catholics elected pre NICRA - is acceptable ? I don't see any difference between his extrapolations -eg some bad policemen means all policemen were bad, some protestants and Unionists are bigots so all are bigots and the crap spewed by his equivalents in Loyalism eg - all priests are paedophiles because a few have been arrested and all Priests are IRA supporters because a few have been claimed as being IRA members and helpers. In fact his attitude towards the majority population reminds me of some Loyalists attitudes towards the minority population - IRA are Catholic so all catholics are IRA. He's a poisonous self-important jumped-up hack.

[Ronan]

are you back on your high horse again where you are too high up too read your computer screen?
I stated he is naive on northern ireland, and clearly not used to debating the subject, ergo I care nothing for his opinions on the subject.

[Emily]

Here's a sample of something Hari wrote when he was blogging at Harry's Place:

Hello everyone - contrary to vicious rumours, I have not yet had my inevitable heart-attack. I took my eldest (six year-old) nephew to Brighton for a week, hence my absence. We stayed in the Grand Hotel, and on the way in I explained to him about the bomb planted there that nearly killed Margaret Thatcher back in 1984. As the receptionist was asking details - about whether I wanted a smoking room etc - my nephew chipped in, "Can we have the room where they put the bomb to kill the bad woman? Can we?"

Six year-olds cracking jokes about terrorist bomb attacks. How cute.

Link

[Ronan]

how does that constitute a joke, rather than the natural curiosity of a six year old?

[Madradin Ruad]

That's evasive Ronan. He's writing in a mainstream newspaper. He's spreading his poison on the radio.
If a Belfast Tele Journalist had been on Radio saying that all Priests are IRA supporting Paedophiles and all RCs are bigotted apologists for terrorism you would be singing a VERY different tune.

[Emily]

The way Hari recounted it with pride left a bad taste in my mouth. Not to mention, six is an awfully young age to indoctrinate children with such negative ideas about democratically elected leaders. Calling Margaret Thatcher a "bad lady" isn't natural. He was taught to think that.

[Madradin Ruad]

Ronan, one of the worst crimes we had here was the murder of Senator Paddy Wilson by a Loyalist. Would you be impressed if a Journalist went through the same palaver about visiting the place of the killing with a punchline
"and my 6 year old chipped in with 'can we see where the bad man was killed' " ?

[Ronan]

MR
he made a stupid statement about no catholics being elected etc, guff clearly.
"If a Belfast Tele Journalist had been on Radio saying that all Priests are IRA supporting Paedophiles and all RCs are bigotted apologists for terrorism you would be singing a VERY different tune"
What are you on about? I'm not sure what quote from Hari that I am meant to compare and constrast with your above quote.

For the record I read the Independent daily and have yet to see a column by Johan Hari on the Ireland question. Why he was interviewed on the bbc about it beats me.

[Madradin Ruad]

No comment on the Bad lady/bad man ?

[Young Irelander]

On the matter of gerrymandering you may find this interesting.

Seems like you all had fun anyway.Good night and God bless.

[Madradin Ruad]

Thanks for that YI! I have a copy of "Up Off Their Knees" by Conn McCluskey, but haven't had time to read it yet.

[Andrew McCann]

'Protestant supremacists'!!! (LOL) I stated on his threat that half of my family are Catholic. I, for my sins, am a High Church Anglican - a church closer in its worship format to Catholicism than to, say, Free Presbyterianism.

Maybe now some of you can see why my radio argument with this guy was so illuminating.

[Andrew McCann]

YI

The report is flawed.

1. It claims no Catholics were ever Unionist party representatives. What about Denis Henry?

2. Records of the time have also revealed discrimination in housing against Protestants in Dungannon, Strabane, Cookstown and Newry.

3. Belfast Telegraph job archives from the 1960's also show examples where 'Protestants need not apply.'

4. Catholics were permitted to sit on State school boards to make appointments. No reciprocation existed.

5. Unemployed Catholics were afforded the same welfare provisions as everybody else.

6. Three out of 13 Crown counsel in the 60's were Catholics, and others had actually turned down appointments.

7. Ballycastle and Limavady Rural councils both had Protestant majorities governed by nationalist councils. Explain.

[willowfield]

http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/discrimination/whyte.htm

The above is a balanced account of discrimination, available on CAIN.

[willowfield]

Here it is as a link

John Whyte on discrimination in NI

[mairin]

I didn't read all the posts on the Hari board, but from the outside looking in, you all are giving yourselves way too much credit. Hari may not be all that familiar with NI and/or he MAY be relying on some flawed/outdated information—but it is not uncommon for somebody not used to discussing NI to use technically incorrect terminology when discussing the situation and people in NI. Most people do. 'Attacking' him rather than correcting him and/or offering opposing statistics/research/analysis does not make you the 'winners' and quite frankly, some come off as a bit rabid. What you have done is made him and probably others not likely to discuss NI with you again. If that’s what your aim was, than you were successful. Just my humble opinion, mind.

[colm]

mairin

Your opinion may be humble, but it is also intelligent, mature, moderate, sensible, respectful and very well balanced.

the world needs more mairins.

[mairin]

Colm, thanks...but i'm sure there are a lot of people having a great laugh at: "the world needs more mairins." ;o)