Ian Paisley

[Big-Paul]

He was a product of his environment as we all are, the world around us and the communities we live in shape us our beliefs and to a great extent our views of others. The environment that Dr Paisley came to prominence in was one of two very polarised communities in very close proximity to each other which in turn shaped the leaders of each community. In fairness he did not hold the monopoly on narrow minded posturing and bigotry as some one else said here it came in equal measures from both sides of the divide, like him or loath him his place in the history of Ireland is assured along with many others who played a part in the affairs of this country.
Dr Paisley was a man from a different time a different Ireland, an Ireland that we have hopefully moved on from

[Mousey]

Lads, go easy with the hardcore politics, eh?

[Doozer]

Lets talk about a united irish football team instead

[Mousey]

He was a product of his environment as we all are, the world around us and the communities we live in shape us our beliefs and to a great extent our views of others. The environment that Dr Paisley came to prominence in was one of two very polarised communities in very close proximity to each other which in turn shaped the leaders of each community. In fairness he did not hold the monopoly on narrow minded posturing and bigotry as some one else said here it came in equal measures from both sides of the divide, like him or loath him his place in the history of Ireland is assured along with many others who played a part in the affairs of this country.
Dr Paisley was a man from a different time a different Ireland, an Ireland that we have hopefully moved on from

This, sir, is an excellent post.

[Big-Paul]

This, sir, is an excellent post.

Why thank you kind sir

[Derry lad]

Breakingews.ie and RTE are reporting that Big Ian was "rushed" to hospital after being taken ill at home yesterday. No word yet on his condition.

At 85, you have to wonder how much is left in the tank.

I don't want to put the man in his grave just yet, but what do you think Ian Paisley's legacy will be, and how will Irish history remember him?

I think he'll live for a while yet because "God doesn't want him and the devil's scared of him"

Seriously though, he took advantage of Protestant fears and used it for his own personal gain of power and wealth. A lot of the Protestant people opened their eyes to him and didn't like what they saw. He always fanned the flames when he should have been the "oil on troubled water".

[Bumble]

...like him or loath him his place in the history of Ireland is assured along with many others who played a part in the affairs of this country.

I think Mr P. would die 100 million times over rather than be a part of Irish history. He was a Brit IHO.

[doodlebug]

He was a product of his environment as we all are, the world around us and the communities we live in shape us our beliefs and to a great extent our views of others. The environment that Dr Paisley came to prominence in was one of two very polarised communities in very close proximity to each other which in turn shaped the leaders of each community. In fairness he did not hold the monopoly on narrow minded posturing and bigotry as some one else said here it came in equal measures from both sides of the divide, like him or loath him his place in the history of Ireland is assured along with many others who played a part in the affairs of this country.
Dr Paisley was a man from a different time a different Ireland, an Ireland that we have hopefully moved on from

Sometimes Paul, there are those who actually shape the environment rather than being shaped by it. History will show the Ian Paisley was the former. He shaped a lot of the views that led to extremism before there was extremism on both sides, he was actively encouraging anti Nationalist/Catholic/Irish sentiment before the troubles as they are known began. As others have posted perhaps his greatest failing was his inability to support those he led into extremism. Many in grass roots Unionism who chose the road of violence felt abandoned by him when they found themselves in prison for having followed his lead.

While politically I would be diametrically opposed to him and what he stands for, I do applaud him for his ability to make peace and to move forward as first minister. Despite his man of the cloth image, I know people who were beaten up in front of him and he didn't intervene.

I wish him well as I have no desire to see anyone lose a family member. I hope that as his time comes to an end he can be at peace with himself. That is all any of us can hope for.

[Mousey]

A lot of the Protestant people opened their eyes to him and didn't like what they saw.

That's an interesting point; can you elaborate?

Back to the general topic - I am somewhat suspicious of the way both Paisley (and Sinn Fein) were prepared to sacrifice their once-implacable ideals as soon as there was a chance for political power. We saw it down here with the Greens entering government with Fianna Fail, for example. For years, Paisley was the intransigent man of right-wing Protestantism in politics. His racist (because that's what it was) rhetoric fanned the flames of hatred - I would even go so far as to say that the blood of innocent people may be on his hands.

When the people of Northern Ireland started to veer away from the Ulster Unionists and towards the DUP, suddenly Paisley became very interested in reaching an accommodation with his Roman Catholic neighbours for the sake of everybody's children. A shame he spoke up in the opposite vein when agreements like Sunningdale were being negotiated. Therefore, I wonder could we classify Big Ian as a shrew politician, who stoked the fire of his voters when he needed notoriety and publicity, but became like a pussycat when actually holding the reins of power?

[doodlebug]

That's an interesting point; can you elaborate?

Back to the general topic - I am somewhat suspicious of the way both Paisley (and Sinn Fein) were prepared to sacrifice their once-implacable ideals as soon as there was a chance for political power. We saw it down here with the Greens entering government with Fianna Fail, for example. For years, Paisley was the intransigent man of right-wing Protestantism in politics. His racist (because that's what it was) rhetoric fanned the flames of hatred - I would even go so far as to say that the blood of innocent people may be on his hands.

When the people of Northern Ireland started to veer away from the Ulster Unionists and towards the DUP, suddenly Paisley became very interested in reaching an accommodation with his Roman Catholic neighbours for the sake of everybody's children. A shame he spoke up in the opposite vein when agreements like Sunningdale were being negotiated. Therefore, I wonder could we classify Big Ian as a shrew politician, who stoked the fire of his voters when he needed notoriety and publicity, but became like a pussycat when actually holding the reins of power?

Interestingly, as a politician at one to one level he made no distinction between his constituents. There are many Catholic/Nationalists who he helped in terms of housing, grants and other local problems. I know of a few Catholics who were given free taxi rides from the airport with the same Dr Paisley.