SUNDAY SCHOOL

Ever been to Sunday School? Even for a few years? I went to Sunday School for several years and was taught by some very decent kind Sunday School teachers. This is how the life of my last Sunday School teacher ended......

"Ten men returning from work were lined up beside their work bus and shot dead in January 1976 near Kingsmill. The terrorists were cheering as they left them lying in a pool of blood and drove off. The youngest man to die was only 18, one was a missionary and another a Sunday School teacher. The men were on their way home to their wives and families and were killed simply because they were Protestants."

Harmless defenceless workmen machine-gunned to death - on their way home from work. Gotta love the IRA, eh Mr Blair? The Newsletter reports on a special anniversary memorial service at Mullaghglass Free Presbyterian Church for 35 people murdered by the IRA in south Armagh during 1975/6. I hope the families get comfort - they NEVER got justice.

Comments

[levee]

Thanks for sharing that David. I've often wondered how most of us developed our political preferences. You know, the people and events that shaped our opinions and where we sit in relation to the ever-important fence!

Thinking of doing a little feature over on theLeveeBreaks shortly - hopefully some of you will contribute your thoughts.

[Aileen]

I remember reading Tbby Harbindon's book Bandit Country (I couldn't finish it is was so grim) and I think that this was the incident where one on those on the bus was a RC and the murderers asked if the were any Catholics. They all assumed that this was "loyalist" terrorists. One of the Prods whispered to the RC not to say anything and pretend to be one of them, that they would back him up. Luckily for him he was recognised and not murdered. His would be rescuer was not so lucky.

Where are those animals now?

Levee

Am I reading you right - are you assuming that David's experience influenced his political influences? Do you think he would be a pushover re terrorists if it was not for this?

David - would you?

[David Vance]

What do you think? I was brought up to distinguish right from wrong and the experiences of living in Bandit country only deepened my withering contempt for those who have no respect for the sanctity of human life.

My political influences are not really influenced by any one event or series of events. I have my own values and I feed them into any given political topography - for me things like Party Politics mean very little. I care about issues such as liberty, freedom, the right to bring your family up free from the threat of terror - little designations leave me cold.

My biggest influence is simple - the Bible. It endures when all other things fade. I don't decry those who think otherwise but I am very clear on where I come from, and it has little to do with South Armagh. That's just a place....

[joc]

David,

I'm sorry about your Sunday school teacher, as the rest - I didn't realise you lost a personal friend then. I don't recall the Kingsmill massacre, but I do remember being very affected by the Darkley massacre. I still have the letter that the pastor there wrote to me afterwards.

[Monica-Philadelphia]

That's terrible. Just terrible.

["Alice"]

My God. I'm speechless.

[levee]

Aileen - I was suggesting something along those lines, although not that one event was the influence, more within a tapestry of events that guide one's thoughts.

David - What I meant was that many of us have been touched by this so-called conflict. There have been profound events in my own life (some not related to here) that have guided and informed my opinions. I just think that this story gives your readers more intimate insight into your background.

[Jo]

Sad to learn of that experience, David.

I don't think we ever got a satisfactory response from Republican poster(s) on the detailed piece I posted on PIRAs "work" in S. Armagh over the years.

I seem to remember reading that a SF member said, when challenged about Kingsmill at the time:

"Well, it stopped the killings didnt it?"

Stark, cynical and no regret whatsoever.

[Aileen]

Levee

I think that a big part of the problem is that a lot of people seem to need something to affect them personally before they take a view on it (or that seems to be expected norm). It is something that I do not understand. Why does anyone need to be a victim of terrorism to form their view of it? Further why should a personnal experience change that view. It should only be in receipt of new information or re-evaluating a premise, that could change an opinion. Being a victim of terrorism generally surely gives you no new information re its evil. It can give you more information about its impact on you and on the reactions of others to it and to you. In itself, it gives you no more insight into its causes or the solutions, although it may give you added motivation to explore this.