2 responses to “A black Friday for…..”

1. 

   Jonathan Traynor January 10th, 2009 at 00:04

   “Those ignorant of history are destined to repeat it.” The difference we have is the changing news environment. In order of your post: The Israel conflict has been ongoing for between 4,000 and 2,000 years with hostility only interposed with brief periods of semi-detached peace. If you find the time start tracing the history back from Christmas this year to as far back as you can find historical texts/reference materials. As far back as the pre-myth/Christianity Essenes should do. As to the job losses, try examining the historic levels of employment. The commentators always refer to this mythic ‘from records began’ when they can’t be bothered checking the facts and what can be extrapolated from careful examination of the economic and social history of not just Ireland, but western Europe (and yes I am talking about more than the history from the Weimar Republic). Job losses happen, job creation is barely noted except when a cigar toking Yank or sake supping Jap swans in to collect his Government hand-out/tax break for a couple of years.

   As to Sinn Féin’s reshuffle – new political dynamic owes as much to the current devolution of policing and justice stalemate as to anything else…think about it…European elections and when can DUP/Sinn Féin announce devolution of P&J and ‘consultation’ on Irish Language Act which will fail…after May!
   As to saving…this assumes that everyone in UK will fret about their savings. Logical course of thinking will go “I have been earning 5% plus for 2/3/4 years. This year I will not earn as much this year as last, but eventually the effect of compound interest will tide me through til rates improve.” Or the thought could be “I can invest in guaranteed Treasury Bills/Bonds from stable countries [the US can always start another war to keep the arms trade suppliers in employment ] that will protect my investment” Or the other thought might be…”When my pension first invested in the stock market in 1980 the FTSE was dozens of per cent less than it is now at its so-called all-time low, so therefore my pension has done better than when it was first invested.”
   Apologies for the long post, but Conall, so much of what passes for commentary is superannuated waffle. The world is falling apart, but history tells us it has been falling apart for years, and apart from climate change, people in general always manage to work their way through the chaos (remember that in the Troubles, the majority of people still went to work, and enjoyed family life). The shit of the Troubles in the late 70’s also spawned an entire musical generation, from The Undertones, to Stiff Little Fingers and Sweet Savage. SLF infuenced punk acts worldwide, and Sweet Savage are credited as being a major influence on Metallica. I would argue that for a generation punk and heavy metal was not only an escape from the shit, but bonded and supported cross-community contact.

   As you contemplate this darkest of days and wonder if the mistakes made by all can be corrected I ask you to consider the words of Metallica’s James Hetfield in an interview publishesd this week. Commenting on his own private battles he said: “Sometimes you just got to fuck it up!”

   Sometimes everyone from world leaders to pundits fuck up. It’s what we do afterwards that decides what follows. (Metallica’s Death Magnetic album topped the chart across dozens of countries in 2008 and has earned more platinum sales records that the mainstream media studiously ignores in favour of the vacuous Cowell inspired pop prats)

   Right, apologies for the long post, but as the Government plans to tax everything to rid itself of billions of debt (most since history began etc) library books and bought books are next on the list.So while blogs are still free I thought I’d offer some waffle to keep you entertained

   have a good weekend mate!

2. 

   Niall Harbison January 10th, 2009 at 00:31

   No good news? It all seems like depression at the moment alright!