The Queen & Ireland

[Richie]

I guess I was too stubborn to forget the past. Although British troops killed allot of innocent people, that's the past and we need to concentrate on the future. All we can do is always keep those who died during those horrid times in both Ireland and England in our thoughts.

I was really impressed by the Queen and David Camerons speech. They admitted what happened in the past was terribly wrong on their behalf, which I'm sure the majority of the people in Ireland are grateful for. I really hope the Queens visit will put an end to all the terror being caused by the IRA. Only time will tell and lets be honest if they are persistent and continue bombing innocent people we know it really isn't for a so called "cause" it's for them to big themselves up because they have nothing better to do. After all Ireland and Britain are close neighbours which should work together rather than continue feuds from century's ago. What has happened has happened, it's not like fighting will get anyone anywhere.

I believe and hope after this visit, we will be two very close nations that stick together. To me it's almost like a relief which is funny, I always held some sort of competitive grudge against the united kingdom. For example just days ago I was more concerned about Ireland beating the united kingdom than us actually winning the eurovision. Which is just silly. The only views I think I'll continue to follow is the British marching around Dublin with union jack flags, that is totally uncalled for and if people of Britain didn't attempt that in 2006 I think the heated tension wouldn't be so much when the Queens visit to Ireland was confirmed.

I hope she enjoys the rest of her visit and comes home in one piece

[Catzsy]

That's a lovely sentiment, Richie and I agree. You can keep David Cameron though.

The only views I think I'll continue to follow is the British marching around Dublin with union jack flags, that is totally uncalled for and if people of Britain didn't attempt that in 2006 I think the heated tension wouldn't be so much when the Queens visit to Ireland was confirmed.

What is this all about though?

[Richie]

That's a lovely sentiment, Richie and I agree. You can keep David Cameron though.



What is this all about though?

He seems like a nice guy but that could be just a show


As for the march, everything here explains it and here are some images from the riot.

---------- Post added 19-05-2011 at 10:44 AM ----------

P.s
In the first post I meant stubborn

[Inseriousity.]

If there are more people like you who've come to some sort of conclusion that actually peace is the way forward then I think the Queen's visit is worth every penny.

We should never forget the troubles and the innocent people who died in the process but we need to move forward for their sakes. imo.

[Catzsy]

Well that sounded inflammatory and unnecessary. Don't think the mainland UK would have approved of that at all. Hopefully, now that it is all the past.

[Eoin247]

Even in the space of a year things have changed enormously. As i mentioned in another post, Gerry Adams now calls the queen "Her Majesty". Several months ago he would have just called her by her name.

[GommeInc]

It's interesting how something as simple as the Queen visiting has calmed many of the sentiments of the Irish and the British. It's so far in the past now that Britain and Ireland have been slowly mending and coming to terms with each other. Hopefully the IRA can stop throwing their toys out of their pram and move on too, as they have been no help at all.

[Jordy]

That's a very fair statement and definitely the sort of thing that should of came out of the Queens visit. My history of it all isn't the best but it's clearly a big moment and some excellent diplomacy. It's also further evidence of how good the Monarchy is for Britain, the Queen is fantastic for diplomacy. Imagine sending "President Cameron" over to Ireland, that wouldn't of made any difference.

I'd quite like to see Sinn Fein take it's seats in the House of Commons, I've no idea how close they are to this but it'd be a big moment.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I do fail to see why Bloody Sunday is all that seems to spew from Richie's mouth when in reality it was an isolated incident, terrible yes but nothing compared to the violence of the IRA against the United Kingdom since civil war in Ireland from 1919 onwards. In the same thread I keep seeing Gerry Adams mentioned as though this man commands some form of respect, a man who was directly involved in Bloody Friday.

The British army is not even comparable to the likes of the IRA and paramilitary Unionist groups, the latter of both which targeted innocents.

I'd quite like to see Sinn Fein take it's seats in the House of Commons, I've no idea how close they are to this but it'd be a big moment.

I'd like to see many in Sinn Fein hanging from the gallows myself.

[Eoin247]

I do fail to see why Bloody Sunday is all that seems to spew from Richie's mouth when in reality it was an isolated incident, terrible yes but nothing compared to the violence of the IRA against the United Kingdom since civil war in Ireland from 1919 onwards.

Now i don't want to begin another long discussion on this since we've already spent a lot of time on it to the point that you and i just go around in circles. However i do think it's unfair that in this statement towards Richie, you are simply assuming he is talking about just one of the Bloody Sundays ( I assume you're talking about the most recent one). Yes it is in the past and we must move on, but you also must accept that quite a lot of other incidents did happen, especially before the world wars. I think Richie was talking about the entire history of the British/English army in Ireland rather than just what happened in recent enough times in the north.