Martin McGuinness has died

[SteveB]

Controversial Former Stormont Deputy First Minister and IRA Commander Martin McGuinness has died, aged 66, after a short illness.

[annabel taylor]

A hero... Some people forget what northern ireland was for catholics back then. He went from bullets to ballot box
He only ever want peace and united ireland

[SteveB]

A hero... Some people forget what northern ireland was for catholics back then. He went from bullets to ballot box
He only ever want peace and united ireland

That is one opinion Annabel.
My opinion is that things would have evolved a lot better if there had been no violence. As well as the loss of life, the alienation of the "Unionist Community" will take a generation at least to overcome.
Another example of violence not only solving nothing but causing more problems. To a certain extent he acknowledged that himself when he became a politician.
To make a hero out of him as a man of violence, I believe, is to glorify that violence. And to claim that the “only way” was violence is even worse.

[Liberty Love]

RIP Martin, a hero and a gentleman

[brendonlong1]

A hero... Some people forget what
northern ireland was for catholics back then. He went from bullets to ballot box
He only ever want peace and united ireland

Nobody could have put it better

[Best Before]

R.I.P. Martin

[Barney Rubble]

Just after hearing the news about Martin McGuinness' passing, may he rest in peace. I know that many will not see him as a hero (including many dissident republicans) I personally regard him as a great man who turned his back on violence to follow a peaceful route to politician.
RIP

[Mr Sweet Guy]

That is sad news to hear as Martin was a man who spoke for freedom and right for all people in Northern Ireland and a huge loss to this country as he was well Respect in Northern Ireland as well as Rep Ireland to..
May he rest in peace Martin Mc Guinness as he and Ian Paisley had their differences but both work together for better future for northern Ireland..
Respect to Martin Mc Guinness and you may be gone but never forgotten as true legend has left this world...

[alcatel]

That is one opinion Annabel.
My opinion is that things would have evolved a lot better if there had been no violence. As well as the loss of life, the alienation of the "Unionist Community" will take a generation at least to overcome.
Another example of violence not only solving nothing but causing more problems. To a certain extent he acknowledged that himself when he became a politician.
To make a hero out of him as a man of violence, I believe, is to glorify that violence. And to claim that the “only way” was violence is even worse.

Arising from the alienation of the nationalist community due to the actions of the unionist regime in the late 1960s,early seventies, gerrymandered politics, nationalists denied housing in certain areas or jobs in certain companies, civil rights marches beaten off the streets, B specials, continuation of what had happened in the '20s and earlier.
The biggest recruiting sergeant for the Pira at the time, was the actions of unionists/loyalists in power at the time.
Unionist "alienation", settler/colonist and "siege '' mentality goes back a long way, to the (sometimes inflated) race memory of 1641 and earlier.
It is easy to judge the actions of others from a distance in time and place, without fully recognising the powerful currents and momentum of the past, that can sweep people along.

[FredLopez]

A hero... Some people forget what northern ireland was for catholics back then. He went from bullets to ballot box
He only ever want peace and united ireland

such as silly statement, Anyone that was involved in murder is not a hero, Tell that to the McConville family and may other innocent people caught up in this stupid conflict.
The reason they decided to try the ballot box was because the bullets were not working . I am a nationalist but lets be honest here