I couldn't agree more with everything Cushnahan says here.However, former Alliance Party leader John Cushnahan said that while he sympathised with the family, he was astonished at the "rewriting" of Ian Paisley's political contribution.
"While I welcome the fact that he ultimately embraced power sharing, it was too little too late and should not be used to excuse the pain and suffering that he inflicted on the people of Northern Ireland for the majority of his political life," he said.
Mr Cushnahan said that his life was "punctuated with nakedly sectarian acts and deeds".
He said the 1974 power sharing executive in Northern Ireland had been brought down by "a combination of increasing IRA violence and the fascist UWC strike led by Ian Paisley and loyalist paramilitaries".
"Tragically thousands more people were to lose their lives or suffer serious injury before Sinn Féin and the DUP embraced what already been on offer in 1974. The belated conversion of both should not result in an attempt to naively rewrite history."
Prolific arsonist turned firefighter too late and, the hate-filled bigot who was long considered to have been one of the main IRA recruitment tools, was also instrumental in causing countless unnecessary deaths and injuries, both mental and physical, to the people of the North on both sides of the divide. Undoubtedly, Northern Ireland's most divisive politician.Overall I think he was more part of the problem than the solution but, in his favour, he did finish his days as part of the solution.
Agree 100%.It is indeed arguable that his conversion in latter years to inclusive politics compensates for his decades of demogogory and hatred. Whilst he may have been part of the solution, he played a very major role in promoting hatred and violence for decades. It is tempting (politics) to focus on his "chuckle brothers" years (few as they were) and less so on the decades when he was largely responsible for much of the "troubles" in the North.
If there is a God, I hope he's Catholic and has Pope John XXIII** standing at his pearly gates with a sign pointing to the hot house!I guess he now knows whether God is a Catholic or a Free Presbyterian!
good riddance....
It is indeed arguable that his conversion in latter years to inclusive politics compensates for his decades of demogogory and hatred. Whilst he may have been part of the solution, he played a very major role in promoting hatred and violence for decades. It is tempting (politics) to focus on his "chuckle brothers" years (few as they were) and less so on the decades when he was largely responsible for much of the "troubles" in the North.
I guess he now knows whether God is a Catholic or a Free Presbyterian!
I couldn't agree more with everything Cushnahan says here.
Prolific arsonist turned firefighter too late and, the hate-filled bigot who was long considered to have been one of the main IRA recruitment tools, was also instrumental in causing countless unnecessary deaths and injuries, both mental and physical, to the people of the North on both sides of the divide. Undoubtedly, Northern Ireland's most divisive politician.
Agree 100%.
If there is a God, I hope he's Catholic and has Pope John XXIII** standing at his pearly gates with a sign pointing to the hot house!
** "This Romish man of sin is now in hell!" said Ian Paisley after Pope John XXIII's death.
Having said that the SF leadership have far more blood on their hands.
fully agree with you there.When Paisleys rabble had the RUC and Army at their disposal they never needed to get blood on their own hands.
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