DUP Dog That Didn't Bark

The DUP spent many years shouting from the roof tops that they were the only Unionist party that could deliver for the people of Ulster. Yet in Government, their brand of Unionism has been muted.

They promised us to re-balance the relationship between North-South and East-West. However, no improvement in East-West co-operation has taken place while the North-South bodies continue. Some may say that they can't do much on this without the support of Provisional SF/IRA and the UK Government. But the DUP haven't pushed the idea e.g. Ulster-Scots groups in Scotland and the rest of the UK can't get funding from the Ulster-Scots Agency.

However, another item which the DUP has failed to do has been highlighted by a posting from oneill in which he talks about promises from the DUP leader. Peter Robinson told us he was going to set up a Unionist Academy to increase the understanding of history and heritage of the British Isles (in addition to the more local and cultural Ulster-Scots Agency). A couple of years on, no progress. He also said he would set up a "British Cultural and Equality Unit to provide legal advice to the public on fighting the removal of British emblems from Northern Ireland society". A couple of years on, no progress.

Are the DUP turning into the Dog that didn't bark ... because they are now over-familiar with the SF/IRA criminals in Government?

Ireland and Rugby

I've blogged on this in the past: the Ireland rugby team and their political symbols. Yesterday I watched Ireland vs Australia. It was a good entertaining game. Yet the IRFU have once again shown their political side by their choice of flags at the start of the match. They had two flags leading them out: The Republic of Ireland flag and the 9 county yellow Ulster flag. That means three counties were represented twice!

If the IRFU had any decency they would either have both the RoI and NI flags or a common flag e.g. Cross of St Patrick, rugby flag. Either it is a joint Northern Ireland + Republic of Ireland team or it's not. When we had a DUP minister for sport, nothing was done about the issue. So there isn't much chance of the current convicted SF/IRA terrorist who occupies that office doing anything. But why are the Unionist politicians so quiet about it all? Yes, some of our best Grammar schools play rugby to the exclusion of football - something that doesn't help the NI football team. But have most of our Unionist grammar school boys and girls been so indoctrinated by their schooling that they're willing to cheer for the tricolour team when Ireland are playing and then go back to being Unionists at the end of the game? I for one haven't been indoctrinated and demand that the IRFU recognise the Northern Ireland state - otherwise, let's have a Northern Ireland rugby team.

McGuinness needs to confess crimes

Lord Tebbit has rightly said that Martin McGuinness should confess his crimes before standing for the presidency of the Republic of Ireland. The Provisional Sinn Fein/IRA group keep saying they favour a truth commission to hear accounts from all sides. The only problem is that the Provos have been telling lies as part of their strategy for many years. We are supposed to believe that Adams was never in the killing side of their organisation. McGuinness told us for many years he was also never in the terrorist death squads until he changed his mind and gave 'evidence' to the inquiry about the incident on 30 January 1972 in Londonderry. He has failed to give any evidence on the many people he has murdered or told others to murder. So Martin, let's hear the truth for once. Any chance?