The furore around Stephen Nolan continues. The Irish News has published a story, following a long investigation, and legal appraisal, which has a number of elements that put the man and the BBC under a microscope. Briefly the story involves the sending of pornographic photographs, staff needing counselling, the promotion of divisive stories, called "ra... Continue Reading →
There was a time, no, seriously, there was, when the future looked bright. The economy seemed to be more settled, interest rates would remain low, more people getting better jobs would fund the NHS and public services through acceptable tax rates. The world was calm, with a few hot spots, but the Cold War was... Continue Reading →
P The current Prime Minister is an ex-banker. He worked for Richard Sharp, the current Chairman of the BBC. In a bank. Now, these are not banks of the kind that you and I may know, either as users of personal banking services or small business owners. I pitched for and was successful in winning... Continue Reading →
Advertising doesn't work. I've been told that by hundreds of people over the years when I told them what I did. Except that they would be wearing branded clothes, driving a branded car, having branded groceries in cupboards and the 'fridge, travelling on branded airlines, using branded phones and making all sorts of choices based... Continue Reading →
Money, what is it? Why is it so powerful? Does it change us, our character and our personality? Strange stuff, this money. Until 1931 sterling was valued on the gold standard. You could bring a pound note to the Bank of England and it would have to give you actual gold. Now your Pound is... Continue Reading →
A film that leaves you better informed and thinking... I am lucky enough to have spent some time in the West of Ireland. Connemara, Westport, Achill and places in between. Margaret, my wife, introduced me to a beach that I couldn't show you, as it is hidden from the tourism tracks. I ask her to... Continue Reading →
"I think we have gone through a period when too many children and people have been given to understand ‘I have a problem, it is the Government’s job to cope with it!’ or ‘I have a problem, I will go and get a grant to cope with it!’ ‘I am homeless, the Government must house... Continue Reading →
Partition. The word itself is enough to create an argument in Ireland, both North and South. In Northern Ireland (or the North, or the 6-counties, depending on your acceptance of partition), recently celebrating 100 years of existence, the division is still at the root of all Troubles. In Ireland, the Civil War that resulted from... Continue Reading →
Wealth. Power. There you go, history in two words. From the earliest stages of human civilisation the driving force for the creation of a society has been power and wealth. Power exercised in the form of control of the tribe and wealth originally in food and lodgings then with precious metals and jewels. These attractions... Continue Reading →
Libertarian. You may have heard the term, or not, but it is impacting on your life, every day. The Koch Brothers The word liberty has been central to political thinking since the philosophers began considering the Rights of Man. Liberty, Equality and Fraternity was the mantra of the French Revolution. Liberty was the clarion call... Continue Reading →
History is a bunch of events that lead to interpretation before landing on propaganda. I read a lot about Napoleon and recently came across another tome. This author was intent on dismissing Napoleon's attributes, decrying his military and political success. Was it that the author had been in the British Army and started with the... Continue Reading →
Jamie Doran in Belfast My first memories of the Troubles comes from 1968. The local news that come on after children's TV, still in black and white, reported on events from Londonderry (it was the BBC). What I later learned was the conclusion of a Civil Rights march had ended with the now famous scenes... Continue Reading →
Here we are, in Northern Ireland, or the six counties, or the North, depending on your political upbringing. A small place, one hundred miles up and down and across, with a population of less than two million. So you might think we would know ourselves. But to take a lead from Fintan O'Toole's excellent book... Continue Reading →
100 Years since partition. Since Ireland was separated from the United Kingdom, or Northern Ireland was separated from the rest of the island. Since one Protestant State was created and another Catholic one came into being. Looking at my two previous posts, about needing to look at the reality of history, not the mythology, has... Continue Reading →
We are a land of storytelling, myths, and legends, across the geography of the island. Giants and warriors, queens, and princesses. All told from age to age, and with each telling, the magic grows. But in 2021if we are going to move forward we need to move past myths and legends. We need to work... Continue Reading →
Nationalism. The love of a country? The love of your country. Above all others, because you were born there, or your antecedents originated in that geography. More than that. A belief that your country is better than others. Exceptionalism. You are special because your country is special. Yet that can't be right, because around the... Continue Reading →
There you go. That's what woke means. Yep, the same word that is now bandied about as an insult by people like Piers Morgan and Andrew Neil. Men who have platforms to promote their disdain for people who are aware of racism and social injustice. Here's what has happened in my lifetime, because of political... Continue Reading →
There is a driving force behind all of history. Wealth. As far back in recorded history, to Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, wealth has been the core engine that drives us forward. The tombs of the Pharaohs are adorned with wealth that they did think they could take with them. Democracy in Greece was accessible... Continue Reading →
Northern Ireland. A troublesome little spot. Tricky. Two tribes, one island, one border, 6 counties, 2/3 of a province and a whole load of issues. Issues like a person has issues. Personality issues, resulting from the upbringing of the people, infusing us with personality disorders. All of us. We have views and opinions that to... Continue Reading →
Photo by Dan Burton on Unsplash It starts early. A broken plate. The last biscuit from the tin. A homework not done. "It wasn't my fault. It was my sister/my brother/the dog!" Blame. And so it goes for the rest of our lives. Learning to blame becomes a central part of our lives. Late for... Continue Reading →
I came across the song Respect Yourself by the Staple Singers in a documentary about 1971 and the impact of music that year, and it sparked some thinking. The song become an anthem for the black population of the US. Along with Sly and the Family Stone, Marvin Gaye, Isaac Hayes and many more, black... Continue Reading →
Let's start with the good stuff. I think the BBC has played a hugely positive part in my education and entertainment life. From a small child watching Children's Hour, listening to the Beatles on the radio in 1963 and onwards, through to the great dramas, sports coverage, Radio 4 and more, there is so much... Continue Reading →
Communication differentiates us from all the other species on the planet. Yes, others can exchange information, and chat, but the development of our ability to use language was central to our development. From the early beginnings of civilisation, humans began working together, in teams, to go from making stone tools to the present day when... Continue Reading →
I am an individual. So are you. We are all individuals. Or so we think. So, I will take a moment to challenge myself on my individuality, my creativity, my freedom to make my own choices, the reason I make my own decisions. And very quickly I realise that the concept of being an individual... Continue Reading →
I got interested in Napoleon when I was around 28, which is now 37 years ago. I was intrigued by looking at what I had achieved by that age (not much) and how a man who wasn't even French had managed to be on the road to ruling Europe. It was the start of an... Continue Reading →
The furore around Stephen Nolan continues. The Irish News has published a story, following a long investigation, and legal appraisal, which has a number of elements that put the man and the BBC under a microscope. Briefly the story involves the sending of pornographic photographs, staff needing counselling, the promotion of divisive stories, called "ra... Continue Reading →
In 1922, following Partition, there were real differences in the two parts of Ireland. Ireland had a huge majority that were Roman Catholic, Northern Ireland was predominantly Protestant. Each jurisdiction followed the paths set by their denomination. The North was a Protestant state for Protestant people, the south was a Catholic State for Catholic people.... Continue Reading →
Almost every element of politics in Northern Ireland is infected with a historical virus. Partition. Unionism and Nationalism remain the driving forces in the decision-making of the majority of the people when elections are being decided. It is the accepted status quo, that people will have an opinion, be on a side, take a position,... Continue Reading →
The publication of the Sunday Times Rich list is always a prompt to think about the inequality of life in the 21st century. The top ten families have over £200 billion to spend, fight about dramatise in the battles of inheritance, the dreadful stress that managing the avoidance of tax creates, and the determination to... Continue Reading →
The nature of Northern Ireland is that we have two communities, one looking to the future with growing optimism, the other with only pessimism. There is no argument that Nationalism is on the rise. The evidence is overwhelming, as seen in elections and polls, the past is being left behind and the association of Sinn... Continue Reading →
Thinking about Things... 