News

[Alex Linder]

Ireland is the second most expensive country in Europe in which to do business, according to a new report by the Nat ional Competitiveness Council (NCC).

http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/st...732-qqqx=1.asp

[Alex Linder]

[Irving speaking in Ireland]

06 March 2008

Holocaust denier prompts UCC to up debate security

By Eoin English

A HUGE security operation is planned around a free-speech debate in Cork next week featuring controversial right-wing historian David Irving.

Organisers in University College Cork’s Philosophical Debating Society confirmed last night that the event, featuring the convicted Holocaust denier, will go ahead on Monday night despite threats.

Society auditor Ross Frenett said both he and the society had received threatening phone calls and abusive messages since it was confirmed Mr Irving had accepted their invitation to attend the debate.

Posts on a white-supremacists website have also urged Irving sympathisers to travel to Cork to support the event.

The society had invited Mr Irving to UCC in 1999 but the lecture was cancelled at the last minute amid security concerns. About 600 protesters gathered outside the UCC venue where Mr Irving was to deliver a lecture, Myths of the Second World War.

Scuffles broke out with gardaí before reinforcements were called in. Two college security guards and a number of students were injured in the scuffles.

The incident led to the removal of college facilities and privileges from Young Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party, the Socialist Society and the Socialist Worker Society, which had all been involved in the protest

Mr Frenett said organisers of Monday’s debate are anxious to avoid a repeat of that incident.

“We have no problem with protest but our number one concern is public safety,” he said.

“We are confident that the steps we are taking will help us avoid the pitfalls of the 1999 event.”

He said they have been, and are continuing to liaise closely with college authorities and gardaí, and steps are being taken to ensure security and public safety.

Mr Frenett said:

* The location of the debate will be kept secret until the last minute. Just four people are aware of the venue.

* People must register online to get access to the event.

* Those who have registered will be vetted to ensure they have not made threats before being cleared to attend.

* Extra college security staff, backed up by private security firms, will be involved in the security operation.

“You can’t just stop people from speaking because you don’t agree with them,” said Mr Frenett.

“We have more faith in people than that. This is a debate and I fully expect Mr Irving’s views to be strongly challenged.

“He won’t get an easy ride. We have had a number of high-profile speakers in the past and we don’t endorse their views.”

Mr Irving, 69, was found guilty by an Austrian court of denying the Holocaust and sentenced to three years in prison.

He had pleaded guilty to the charge, based on a speech and interview he gave in Austria in 1989.

He served a prison sentence from February to December 2006.

Mr Irving will speak in favour of the motion “That this house believes free speech should be free from restraint”.

However, Socialist Party city councillor Mick Barry said the invitation should be withdrawn.

He urged members of the general public to email UCC president Michael Murphy and the Philosophy Society to demand that the invitation be withdrawn.

http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer...010-qqqx=1.asp

[Alex Linder]

Saturday, March 08 2008

What are these?

By Ian O'Doherty
Friday February 29 2008

There's no question that notorious Holocaust denier David Irving is a nasty, vicious little man with serious issues. Lots of them. [I have never seen a defense of free speech in an MSM article that didn't begin with a disclaimer in the form of a character smear of the person whose speech is ostensibly being defended.]

Let's be honest, when the courts decide that it is okay to refer to you as a Holocaust denier, a falsifier, a liar and a bigot, then you may need to take a long look at yourself.

But the news that he is to take part in a debate in UCC next month has sent some people around the bend.

Irving has been invited to speak at Irish colleges before, but those useful idiots of the far Left have always managed to censor him and already there are plans to organise a mass protest and block him from talking.

According to their argument, Irving should not be allowed to talk because he is a fascist, and therefore must be muzzled. [Herbert Marcuse's position: no platform for the right.]

It's an interesting argument, but a rather inconsistent one.

After all, Muslim extremist Anjem Choudhary, a man who has called for the destruction of the West, the execution of gays and adulterers and wants to destroy Israel and kill all Jews, was allowed to attend a debate in Trinity College a while back.

How many of these brave anti-fascist campaigners were there? Not one.

So, it's okay to campaign against a discredited gobshite who thinks the Holocaust never happened but they couldn't be bothered protesting against a dangerous man who actually wants to start another Holocaust?

You gotta love the Left.

And what's the debate in UCC about? Free speech, of course.

Maybe someone could explain the word "irony" to them.

NO PIGGY BANKS FOR THE DUTCH

Holland has long had a tradition of being the most tolerant country in Europe -- because, according to one Dutch friend of mine, "all our crazies went to South Africa centuries ago" -- and while it has given us such excellent treats as their fine coffee shops and 24 hour live sex shows, this pathological tolerance also has its downside.

Just ask Pim Fortuyn or Theo Van Gogh.

But as more Muslims enter Dutch society, one local bank has decided to be more welcoming than their competitors.

Fortis Bank will no longer give free piggy banks to kids who open an account there, while they have also dropped the bank's mascot, Knorbert The Piggy Bank.

According to a spokesman, they took the decision because: "Knorbert does not meet the requirements that the multicultural society imposes on us".

This is, of course, an excellent idea.

And while we're at it, why don't we ban The Muppet Show in case someone is offended by the sight of Miss Piggy? And maybe we should ban commercials for bacon as well.

And don't even get me started on the most offensive kids story ever -- The Three Little Pigs.

AHA! SO THAT'S

THE REASON!

The horrific murder of two young Polish men by some little toe-rag in Drimnagh has prompted people to once again examine the issue of teen violence. What's causing a generation to turn feral? Is it drink? Drugs? The fact that they don't go to Mass?

Well, according to some commentators, these are contributory facts but not the real reason. The real reason, we're told, is violent computer games and DVDs are turning people into vicious nutters.

This, of course, is quite terrifying because last night I watched Hostel, Saw II and played Medal Of Honour on my PS3.

Should I just save everyone the hassle and hand myself into the cops now before it's too late?

THE PLOT THICKENS

Readers of yesterday's column may recall the story of the British holiday maker in the Dominican Republic who had his old chap unceremoniously chopped off.

But there might be more to the story. The man has been unable to help police with their investigation because, he claims: "I wasn't drunk, but I think I have amnesia caused because of the shock of what's happened."

His girlfriend, who wasn't in their hotel room when the attack place, later commented: "It could be worse."

It could be worse? What the Hell could be worse than having your willy chopped off?

Honestly, some women. I very much doubt her boyfriend agrees.
WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE...

If there's anything more amusing than watching Hillary Clinton become more shrill and unlikeable as she watches her campaign implode in about as quick a time as it takes for her husband to take his trousers off, Barack Obama looks like he's laughing all the way to the nomination.

But it won't be all plain sailing and surely the best news the Clinton camp has received in weeks comes with the revelation that Obama has a new endorser -- Louis Farrakhan.

Farrakhan, you may remember, is head of the Nation Of Islam, and claims that white people "aren't fully evolved human beings"; has called Judaism "a dirty religion"; and, perhaps most worryingly of all, he believes that the Prophet Elijah is circling the earth in a giant spaceship shaped like a wheel.

But then, on the other hand, Obama's rival john McCain gratefully accepted the endorsement of televangelist John Hagee, who believes that America should bomb Iran, that you should not negotiate with Muslims and that the end times are upon us, at which point Hagee and his followers will be lifted up to heaven by a divine light while the rest of us stay here in torment.

Which is nice.

- Ian O'Doherty


Comments

Clinton did not leave the Bush administration with a bouyant and credible economic outlook like someone has posted. The so called surplus achieved by slick Willie was a simple act of theft. The money was taken from the social security fund meant for the baby boomer generation and treated as revenue. It was an illusion the Clinton administration cleverly used to create the appearance of a surplus where there was none. Now the social security fund in America is full of worthless IOUs without any hope of them ever being redeemed. Clinton was every bit as bad as Bush in this regard, he was just a whole lot better at the PR side of things. Eventually people will realise this and Bill Clinton will be remembered for the gangster he most definately was!

Posted by William | 03.03.08, 17:56 GMT

Peter , Ian, not surprisingly, has hit the point. Either we have free speech or we dont.
Incidentally ' Free Speech' is a newer thing in Ireland than most people realise.

Posted by Jay Fitzgerald | 01.03.08, 03:52 GMT

The fact that a few years ago Mr. David Irving was considered the only serious historian to properly define WWII is what disturbs Israel and her followers the most. The Criminal State of Israel lives in constant fear that the truth about WWII and the horrific aftermath (i.e., the total destruction of Germany) might someday emerge. Thus, a historian such as Mr. irving, with his many best seller books on the subject of WWII, is a danger to the Zionist blueprint and thus must be either destroyed or discredited. In the case of Mr. irving, I don't think he ever said that Jews were not killed in WWII; millions of others were killed as well, but Israel would like to maintain that only the "six million" perished. What Mr. Irving did say, and continues to maintain, is that the figure of "six million" is so grossly inflated as to be a cruel joke. Alas, the joke is on the millions of so-called Christians who swallow this swill and send millions in aid to the Israeli criminals.

Posted by Thomas Zimmermann | 29.02.08, 20:55 GMT

Your point is totally valid as regards Irving. I despise his viewpoint but if the lefties are demanding lowlife like Choudhary (someone whom even many Muslims despise) the right to speak, what makes Irving any different? Ban them both or let them both speak - they're both anti-semites anyway.

Funnily enough, Iran (a country which many of the liberal left say the US should leave alone) gave Irving full rein to spout his evils there and Iran hangs criminals for fun too (capital punishment is even more widespread than in any American state, but you don't get the loony irish lefties picketing outside jails in Tehran because freedom of speech is banned there (unlike their great enemy, America, which actually permits it). Your point about irony is always lost on these, Ian. The "right on" PC liberal left are just another form of facist - freedom of speech but only if it corresponds to their opinions (sounds like facism to me).

As regards those pondscum who murdered those poor Polish lads, I think we should send them to Tehran for entertainment. Public hangings there get a lot of crowds - we can say they were Bush informers and let the Iranians deal with the rest!!!

Posted by Vap | 29.02.08, 13:32 GMT

The prblem with so many on the left is that they just acts not by the act itself, but by who's doing it. You can get away with almost anything if you're on the left's "approved" list. Only this can explain how they can end up supporting a theocratic state that persecutes religious minorities and executes people for being gay against a democracy that supports freedom of religious expression and sexual orientation.

Posted by PJ | 29.02.08, 13:17 GMT

The prblem with so many on the left is that they just acts not by the act itself, but by who's doing it. You can get away with almost anything if you're on the left's "approved" list. Only this can explain how they can end up supporting a theocratic state that persecutes religious minorities and executes people for being gay against a democracy that supports freedom of religious expression and sexual orientation.

Posted by PJ | 29.02.08, 13:17 GMT

I think that a "Fascist" advocates the merger of the state and business with a strongman at the top. I do not see this in any of David Irving's writings or speeches. He sounds like a Tory to me. Are you calling him a "fascist" simply as an insult?

Posted by Tom Hartman | 29.02.08, 12:49 GMT

Your reference to the Drimnagh toe rag who murdered the two Polish citizens is an insult to toe rags which are useful for preventing sore toes from ill fitting shoes. Perhaps its time to bin the already defunct ASBO's and introduce an official government Terminator, a twelve month notification of termination may have a better effect particurlarly when a copy is served to the parents. A patrolling terminator van would have more impact than a Garda van, after all you only have to go back a short period in history when people watched public hangings during lunchtime. Sorry for sounding off, I forgot we are a civilised society now.

Posted by Frank Mullin | 29.02.08, 11:26 GMT

People like David Irving should be ignored. Free speech is one thing, but why seek him out and give him a platform?

Posted by Peter | 29.02.08, 11:25 GMT

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/co...s-1302101.html

[Robert Bandanza]

A debate involving controversial historian David Irving at University College Cork has been cancelled over security concerns, the university said today.

The university said the debate on free speech planned for Monday night involving the academic who believes the Holocaust did not happen would not go ahead.

It is the second time a planned appearance by Irving, who was jailed in Austria two years ago for claiming the Nazi genocide of Jews during the Second World War was a myth, has been called off.

In 1999 he was due to give a speech at UUC but it was cancelled at the last minute after scuffles broke out between gardaí and about 600 protestors who gathered outside the event.

Mr Irving (69) was to speak in favour of the motion "That this house believes free speech should be free from restraint" at the Monday night debate.

© 2008 ireland.com

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/bre.../breaking8.htm

[Robert Bandanza]

Originally Posted by Roberto Abbondanza

A debate involving controversial historian David Irving at University College Cork has been cancelled over security concerns, the university said today.

The university said the debate on free speech planned for Monday night involving the academic who believes the Holocaust did not happen would not go ahead.

It is the second time a planned appearance by Irving, who was jailed in Austria two years ago for claiming the Nazi genocide of Jews during the Second World War was a myth, has been called off.

In 1999 he was due to give a speech at UUC but it was cancelled at the last minute after scuffles broke out between gardaí and about 600 protestors who gathered outside the event.

Mr Irving (69) was to speak in favour of the motion "That this house believes free speech should be free from restraint" at the Monday night debate.

© 2008 ireland.com

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/bre.../breaking8.htm

http://www.wakeupfromyourslumber.com/node/5975

[Robert Bandanza]

Supporters of the Latin Mass will use a controversial prayer for the conversion of Jews on Good Friday despite criticism by a former chief rabbi of Ireland.

http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/st...295-qqqx=1.asp

[S.P.]

Northern Ireland

Dissidents issue SF death threat

The deputy first minister has been told by the police that there is a threat to his life from dissident republicans.

more info...

[Englisc]

Ireland’s deputy prime minister was trapped in a car for two hours on Saturday afternoon after being surrounded by demonstrators protesting against water charges.

Joan Burton, the Labour party leader, had to be rescued by Garda Síochána officers when her vehicle was trapped within a large angry crowd in the Jobstown area of west Dublin.

Burton, who is also the Irish Republic’s minister for social protection, was attending a graduation ceremony when about 100 protesters rushed towards her ministerial car after the event finished at about midday.

During the incident a Garda helicopter monitored the situation.


Irish Socialist party TD Paul Murphy, who represents the area in the Dáil, said: “The protest has been peaceful. Yes, she has been delayed here for a number of hours but I think this protest has sent a very clear message to her, a message which the Tánaiste [deputy prime minister] has ignored to date, that people don’t want to pay these water charges.

“There is national anger over the changes but particularly in Tallaght and Jobstown in west Dublin … there are a lot of people who simply can’t afford to pay,” he said, adding the protesters were also sending a message to Irish Water that the people of Tallaght would not accept water charges.

A spokesman for the deputy prime minister said she had attended a graduation ceremony at An Cósan higher education college.

“Nothing should be allowed to detract or deflect from what was a very important day for those students,” he said.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...rge-protesters

[Mick Walker]

Sinn Féin has a solid record of*supporting*the Palestinian struggle for justice and equality.

That record does not remove the need to scrutinize the Irish political party – now*riding high*in opinion polls – and its activities.

Last month, a London-based organization called Forward Thinking published a one-paragraph*report*of a trip it took to Belfast and Dublin. The visit allowed the organization to plan “forthcoming delegations of Israeli and Palestinian political and community leaders,” the report stated.

Forward Thinking met “special advisers” from Sinn Féin and two other political parties during the trip, the report added.

Despite its brevity, the report is disturbing.

When Benjamin Netanyahu was Israel’s prime minister, Sinn Féin*took part*in discussions with his Likud party over a number of years.

Those discussions – arranged by the aforementioned Forward Thinking - have been*opposed*by Sinn Féin’s rank and file.

Because of that opposition, Sinn Féin made a formal*pledge*at its 2018 annual conference to “fully support” the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions. As part of that pledge, Sinn Féin would not meet any “Israeli government grouping” until “Palestinian representatives” requested or approved such discussions



More here...


https://electronicintifada.net/blogs...boycott-israel

[alex revision]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AA8w031yBEU

[alex revision]

[alex revision]

Schools urged to get involved in Holocaust commemorative project

Former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, this week officially launched Holocaust Education Ireland’s Crocus Project, by planting crocus bulbs in her garden at home in Roscommon with the help of local schoolchildren.

The yellow flowers, recalling the yellow Stars of David, will bloom around the time of International Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January. Holocaust Education Ireland are encouraging schools in Clare to register to participate in the project ahead of the registration deadline, Friday, 28th October.

The Crocus Project commemorates all of the children who perished in the Holocaust, and aims to educate schoolchildren over the age of ten about the Holocaust and the dangers of racism, and all forms of discrimination and hatred.

Speaking at the launch this week, Professor Thomas O’Dowd, Chairperson of Holocaust Education Ireland, said: “We are delighted to have former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, launch our annual Crocus Project this week, and we are encouraging schools in Clare to register to participate before the deadline passes.

“The project is an important opportunity to introduce young people to the subject of the Holocaust, and teach the importance of inclusion and respect for all people regardless of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

“Seeing the flowers bloom in the early new year ensures that the stories of the children who perished in the Holocaust are not forgotten but are passed on to future generations, while educating our young people in a tangible way about the perils of prejudice. The beautiful flowers also remind us that, even after the most terrible events, new life begins again and we can have hope in the future.”

Mary McAleese, said: “I am delighted to support The Crocus Project. The lesson of the Holocaust is one of the most important lessons for children to learn and the Crocus Project is a gentle way to introduce young people to the subject. The project will sow the seeds of inclusivity, justice and acceptance into the minds of the next generation so that, through learning from the terrible mistakes of the past, we can build a more caring and inclusive Ireland.”

There is no charge for participating in the Crocus Project. Holocaust Education Ireland provides teachers and educators with crocus bulbs and a Teacher’s Handbook as well as guidance about the project that includes information and age appropriate material. The handbook is available in English and as Gaeilge as well as twelve European languages to ensure that children in Ireland and across Europe can fully participate in the project.

The Crocus Project is co-funded by the European Union and supported by the Department of Education.

https://clareherald.com/history/scho...ative-project/