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

[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.

[Barney Rubble]

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.

Well put Alcatel, it's easy to judge others when you weren't living here at the time.

[alcatel]

Well put Alcatel, it's easy to judge others when you weren't living here at the time.

I await the Dear John perspective ;-)

[EIFII]

Well put Alcatel, it's easy to judge others when you weren't living here at the time.

No Barney I disagree. Whilst no one can judge, violence always leads to more misery, pain and suffering, and only begets more violence and retribution

[annabel taylor]

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.

I am not condoning the violence. I However understand why that option was took during that time. No side hasnt got blood on there hands. But ireland was a country that was occupied for a very long time with harsh conditions from the british empire for vast Periods of time. we in republic didnt live in those times having indepence thru a similar story bullet to ballot box. The complexaties of the north are too many for anyone to umderstand. However my comment on him been a hero was not due to his past but him making peace for greater good violence is easy but that was not it showed massive courage and open mindness for all concerned. What better men to broker peace pasiley and martin. A target painted on both for doing so.
To me that is a brave act without it life on north could of continued its easy to say well the ira shouldnt have happened but either should have scottish planters or the opression of catholics or british occupation or even or own republic because that was won in part by violent actions againist british occupations war sometimes in unavoidable not saying that is right or wrong but thats just life we do not live in a perfect world. But all that has happened now peace has been made people need to move on be glad of the peace brought on by.men like mcguiness, by a war started long before his time

[MidlifeCrisis]

I am not condoning the violence. I However understand why that option was took during that time. No side hasnt got blood on there hands. But ireland was a country that was occupied for a very long time with harsh conditions from the british empire for vast Periods of time. we in republic didnt live in those times having indepence thru a similar story bullet to ballot box. The complexaties of the north are too many for anyone to umderstand. However my comment on him been a hero was not due to his past but him making peace for greater good violence is easy but that was not it showed massive courage and open mindness for all concerned. What better men to broker peace pasiley and martin. A target painted on both for doing so.
To me that is a brave act without it life on north could of continued its easy to say well the ira shouldnt have happened but either should have scottish planters or the opression of catholics or british occupation or even or own republic because that was won in part by violent actions againist british occupations war sometimes in unavoidable not saying that is right or wrong but thats just life we do not live in a perfect world. But all that has happened now peace has been made people need to move on be glad of the peace brought on by.men like mcguiness, by a war started long before his time

I agree with most of what you say except for calling him a hero. Brave yes, but heros don't get involved in killing innocents, whatever the circumstances.

He was the right man for his time though, and I think perhaps no one else had the combination of Republican credentials, political talent and charisma to bring people close enough together. Our problem over the years was that most of the people arguing for peace were too moderate to be listened to. Martin was one of a handful of key players. Mo Mowlam and David Trimble also made big contributions. Big Ian is another that will cause rows, but it took a unlikely combination of personalities to finally get real progress.