A Tangled Web

Fossil Discussing a Relic



If, at any time, I stop to wonder why I find Irish nationalism so repulsive, the writings of Jude Collins provide a suitable reminder. His was the only article I managed to read whilst my PC was in intensive care. He had a little number out last week claiming that the official name of the Maiden City was 'a relic of the past'. In the testament according to St jude, the name 'Londonderry' should be expunged because it symbolises 'systematic repression and exploitation' associated with 'English' rule.



Mmm, funny that!! After all, British rule gave Ireland its legal system, its parliamentary system, many of its current laws, and permission for the latter to dump its excessive labour on our shores without the need for a passport or citizenship rights. Of course Jude doesn't mention any of the positives. Nor does he mention the reason why successive British monarchies felt the need to keep an historical watch on the Irish. No, for cretins like him, everything (including - possibly - the 'planters') revolves around the apparent nefarious intentions of Perfidious Albion. Perhaps he would like Ulster's Protestants to venture across the North Channel like so many of the republican idiots who are receptive to the analytically vapid bullshit which issues forth from Collins' pen. Ah, classic fascism in action, people.



Invoking examples set by India is entirely a false analogy. Changes to names there revolved around the desire to establish Hindu-oriented nomenclature as a means of articulating Hindu nationalism. It had nothing to do with wanting to rid India of past associations with the United Kingdom. If that were the case, the Indian Government would have set about dismantling the country's railway system, as well as demolishing British creations such as the Gateway of India. Now, blowing up structures associated with Britain is a well-practiced art of the Irish, as dear Jude's inclusion of the example of Nelson's Pillar amply illustrates.



Whatever self-indulgent crap Collins likes to present as reasoned argument, the fact remains that the aim of changing the name of Londonderry is rooted in nothing more than an obvious desire to expunge any traces of association with the country in which Ulster's second city is located. If Jude wishes to sever all links with Britain, perhaps he could emigrate to a rock in the Bering Sea. Or is that too close to British Columbia for his fossillised thinking?