SÉAMUS AHEARNE: A FACILE COMMENT ON TWO PROGRAMMES:
1. Full of gush and guff: ‘The Home of the Year.’ (Hugh Wallace, Amanda Bone and Siobhán Lam. ‘Strictly Come Dancing.’ (I only got a glimpse of each of these. But.) I didn’t know if it was ‘the home’ in the programme, was on show, or the presenters. Then they began their gush and their guff. It was all too precious for me. It might have been the robotic WOW. Or the editing. But it was cringing. And then I looked in on Strictly. I liked the dancing and the extraordinary abilities displayed. (I recalled from years past – Rose Ayling Ellis and Hamza – quite wonderful). Strictly is a gathering full of lovies. It is of course ‘the best day of my life’ which is the predicable comment, (and so say all of them!) and then all this gush and guff.
It is too sweet for me but then I am a diabetic and medicated. I recall my own history with one of our students who was rather highly intelligent. However, he too was a bad diabetic and was frequently found in a diabetic coma. He went for some help in a therapeutic centre. I was asked to sit in on his final session. At this, I asked how his discipline with his diabetes was. He exploded. He couldn’t cope with someone who didn’t have to deal with the problem asking him such a question. Of course, he never had addressed his own issue. Ah well. Maybe I know nothing. However, that could be the reason that now, I can’t cope with too much gush and guff. All this sweetness and emotion is too much for my little simple heart. The doctor has told me to ban everything sweet!
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION:
1. The Election. We have been well served by the two Marys and by Michael D. They have been a credit to the Country. However, this Election appears to lack much dignity. As I recall – Michael D stood above the fray during the former elections. He became someone, who during the election, didn’t allow himself to be dragged into party politics, or into issues, that the Presidency had nothing to do with. The Presidency was different and above all of this. But in this Election, it felt divisive. Of course Mairéad McGuinness was the expected heir and Mairéad had to drop out. Jim Gavin should never have been in the race. He has done many a job and has done it well, but this wasn’t the place for him. And then there was the little matter of the rent. Other candidates didn’t manage to get through the system.
2. Some shouldn’t have got there. Bob Geldof felt he would have run away it. Conor McGregor? That couldn’t have happened despite the St Patrick’s Day stunt in the Oval Office. The Election was a total mess and the Office deserves something, and someone, better. By the way, Michael D should not have continued as President for the second term. However, he did do it well. He spoke well. He had much to say. We don’t want the Presidency however slipping back into a sinecure, for some ancient politicians, as it sometimes had been.
SOLDIER F:
Liam Wray spoke on Morning Ireland following the Judgement from Justice Patrick Lynch on Soldier F from the shootings on Bloody Sunday (during the week). Liam’s brother Jim was shot dead. Liam spoke clearly and with understanding. He took the line that something bad happened on Bloody Sunday; that it took a long time before this was acknowledged; that the Judgement was satisfactory in accepting the chaotic and indisciplined behaviour of the troops on Bloody Sunday; that the Verdict was as expected, where the Statements of the other soldiers simply wouldn’t stand up and were untruthful. He moreover felt, that everyone has to move on, and realise with acceptance, that there were bad things done on both sides and that the only way forward was by working together. Such a view could apply broadly in many situations. All these requests for Inquiries; for suing; for legal redress after mistakes made, is a non- acceptance of the messiness of life and is always is looking to blame someone. Everyone has to move on. If we indulge in digging into the past, we will always find others to blame for everything.
RIOTS AND THE NEW POLITICS:
1. There were Riots after the little dancing girls in Southport were murdered. There were Riots after the Epping event (Hadush Kebatu – was released by mistake on 24th October), and the Bristol event. There were Riots after the Parnell Square East stabbings. There were Riots after a man was alleged to have sexually assaulted the 10 year old child who had absconded from the Tulsa outing last week. (City West). Each incident is horrible. However, none of us can ever allow ourselves to escalate the individual case, from the particular to the general. So many appear to use the excuse – that if some migrant does something wrong; then all refugees and asylum seekers are dangerous. There is a fear then attached to all Non-Irish and people become suspicious! And all these wonderful people who have made a home in our country are made to feel dangerous. That is scandalous and so wrong. These moments (incidents) have obviously been exploited through social media.
2. There is a new political problem. This different phenomenon has appeared. Trump is an example of it. There is no reasonable explanation why that man should, or could, be elected, but he was. Nigel Farage has appeared and again, he is typical of the anti-brigade who taps into the fears of a nation. Elon Musk is also spreading the disease. The Far Right (whoever they are) are scuttling the political system. There is sufficient fear out in the community – for people to blame the migrants for everything; to suggest that the migrants are taking over the medical system; that they are getting all the benefits to the detriment of the ordinary population; that they are getting housing resources; that they might even be taking jobs. Why doesn’t the mainline political people tell the truth?
3. How many of these great agitators would do the jobs that the ‘new Irish’ are doing? In the hospitals; in the care homes; in the hospitality industry? How many of those who are putting up flags everywhere (imitative from the UK) are actually working or contributing? Those flags should never have been allowed to be on our ESB poles. But we found locally, that none of our politicians managed to get them taken down. And not even the Taoiseach’s Office did anything. Overall, we need to be very careful, and need to begin an assessment and an appreciation of what the democratic system of politics gives us, and somehow we have to be grateful for what history has given us. It is beyond me that so many intended to spoil their vote for the Presidency (which is very disrespectful and almost childish) or even not vote at all. I find that very sad.
Seamus Ahearne osa