The Patrol

[Nick]

A short, satirical take on American foreign policy by a Northern Irish director (and a lecturer of mine at University).

Quite funny

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... ID=9496369

Yes: this is, in a tragically comical moment of truth, how Americans are seen by the world.

[Tyek]

The politicians have changed too. There was Gerry Fitt, Joe Hendron and now Gerry Adams. Adams was supposed to herald the republican revolution; he was supposed to make the place 'better' - though it was never a bad place. This is the paradox of the republican movement; they have never had so much political power; their supporters have never enjoyed such wealth and, yet, they have done so little to improve the lives of people in west Belfast. It is not reflected at the ballot box – not yet anyway. So many just vote for Sinn Féin without thinking. Worse, they even vote in the order they are told. Yet they see the wealth of the republican officer class, watch as they take themselves off to their country dachas, watch as they buy new homes on the Malone Road – “Little Andytown, mar dhea”.

Visiting west Belfast now is like returning to some eastern European country that has missed out on perestroika and glasnost. The murals and monuments tell one story and one story only, the party line, the glorious victory of the movement over the British. But people are not cheering; they are full of angst. There is no more political violence but there is the constant threat of a different kind of violence, more personal violence, every bit as deadly as that from a gun. The worst of this brutality makes the front page. We see the raw grief of the bereaved and pray for them.

The Andytown News used to carry little features on the Pound Loney and west Belfast before the Troubles. (It may still do. I don’t read it anymore.) Those pieces were affectionate little acts of remembrance, as much about the people who lived in streets long ago as the streets themselves. No one will remember this republican decade with that same affection. (Though the heroes are still there – still teaching, praying, raising families, teaching Irish, fighting for the good fight. But they are doing it because they are good people, not because they are party people.)

The casual, friendly nods with which old people used greet me on the street in my youth – “Hello, son” – have been replaced by fearful stares. Heads are bent away in suspicion: “Is he trouble?” People have become estranged from their own streets. The Provos blame the Brits, the police, everyone else - but they should blame themselves. They have destroyed all authority in the area – that of parent, teacher and cleric – to achieve their political goals. They now control everything and have ruined everything.

Maybe the Irish should spend as much time worrying about their own politics as they do American politics. This was written today.

[Nick]

Haha, yes, West Belfast is a right shithole. A total dump.

Then again, Belfast is also the most quickly developing city in the UK, it's a real place of have and have nots. And Cinema should obviously only concentrate on its own country right?

[Tyek]

Then again, Belfast is also the most quickly developing city in the UK, it's a real place of have and have nots. And Cinema should obviously only concentrate on its own country right?

Not at all, but it seems to me that you have some of the same issues in your own country. The only difference is that if Ireland fell into the ocean, the world would never know.

Plus I assumed you missed Kyou and wanted someone to randomly pick on you.

[Nick]

Or that you're just another pathetic touchy yank who can't take a joke.

Also, I think we both know Ireland is substantially more popular than the US, so stop deluding yourself

[Boogahz]

Or that you're just another pathetic touchy yank who can't take a joke.

Also, I think we both know Ireland is substantially more popular than the US, so stop deluding yourself

I don't know, it doesn't look like Notre Dame will be in a bowl game, so the Irish won't have as many fans this time of year

[Tyek]

I am a big Irish fan, which makes this year so sad. And if you think I can't take a joke, you did not see the Irish offense.

As I type this I am watching the Irish women soccer team playing Florida State.

Carrie Dew is adorable

http://und.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt ... rie00.html

and the defender from Florida State is Gorgeous, bad photo here, she was stunning in the game.

http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/w-socc ... bby00.html