Queen and Martin McGuinness to meet

[jake-the-peg]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...hern-ireland-18552221

Wow!

I think this just shows how far we've come!

Bet this will blow a few blood vessels tho!

[NOX]

Judge there is no comparison to the way things are now and the way they used to be, if a massive improvement isn't good enough for you then how would you have handled it? Could YOU have brought peace to the north with your dogma and your rallying for the loyalists as if they were entirely blameless of the whole situation? I seriously doubt it. You will doubtless accuse me of being partisan ( which I am) as are you, we are simply on opposing sides. However, I have the good judgement I think to understand that something is better than nothing, your way more and more from both sides just get mown down in the dogma of men with their own agendas treating them as puppets, which is to neither side's advantage.
We can all sling mud regarding who did what and used to be whatever, with Bloody Sunday and IRA bombings, knee cappings and the prediliction the security forces have for whacking inconvenient solicitors, but that got us nowhere for years. This has at least given us something on the road to a proper peace, and if you don't believe me then check out the positives which you conveniently omitted such as cross culture marriage rates increasing and the general populace finding single religion schooling less and less important. There is an enormous improvement, enough for me who was born just off the Falls Road, to say yes we have a peace even if it's not perfect yet. I really can't understand what you would have done differently to achieve what's so far been achieved, but you are of course welcome to tell me.

[New Judge]

It's not what I would have done, NOX, it's what I would not have done. I would not have betrayed the majority of the population by appeasing terrorists and subsequently welcoming them into government. The message I receive when I see McGuiness and Adams prancing about is that all you need to get your own way (regardless of the wishes of the majority) is to kill, maim and threaten as much mayhem as you can. Eventually you will prevail.

The problem with democracy is that you shouldn't always get what you want if the majority of the population want otherwise. Sinn Fein has shown that it ain't necessarily so.

[Duncer]

When I think of Tony Blair MP (an anagram of I'm Tory plan B), I cannot think of anything but his execrable "I feel the hand of history on my shoulder". Surely the worst politician of my lifetime?

[Ann]

I would just love her refuse to shake his hand ................ its really hard for us to forgive someone with that background isn't it? Do you think he has changed and is sorry for past deeds?

[jno]

most people in the UK think Ireland is a pain in the A

Shouldn't have invaded it, then (many times over many centuries). Now they're paying the price.

[DTCwordfan]

true jno, but then one must also look at the Irish Pictish invasion of Scotland and Northern England too in three different waves - and, yes, we are talking way, way back.......the name Pit in town names is indicative of the second of those waves.

!What goes around, comes around."

She, Liz, will graciously receive him and that's tat.....want to give odds on the Q making another State visit to the Emerald Isle before she pops her clogs......

[craft1948]

Hear hear New Judge.............100% percent agree with you.

[gness]

I`ll raise a glass to Mo and another when there is truly peace in my country.

[craft1948]

Will that be when you're all one country gness?

[dotty.]

I thought he was from Bolton

[tonyav]

Who Paddy ^^^^

[gness]

For me it should never have been anything but one country Craft but that will never happen now. If it did the cost would be too great. I would be happy for the north to remain British if that is what is wanted and if it could be with a peaceful united population.

[stokemaveric]

im sure she will wipe the blood of mcguiness hands off her white gloves as soon as she takes them off..he is a murdering piece of sh1t who should not be within breathing space of our queen....

[shivvy]

Such an interesting thread.
I'm really interested to know who of the posters are from Northern Ireland?

[spotit3]

Must be very difficult for her to have to shake the hand of someone who belonged to th organisation which murdered her uncle. And he has definitely not changed his allegiances, just hides the fact nowadays!

[anotheoldgit]

/// We'll there will be a fair few in Ireland who think he shouldn't be meeting the titular head of armed forces who shot unarmed civillians in the streets of Northern Ireland! ///

And there will be quite a few in England who think that the Queen should not be meeting a former member of the IRA, who's members not only murdered her cousin but also shot innocent civilian mourners and blew up, maimed and killed innocent civilians.

[anotheoldgit]

That should not have been cousin.

Should have been her husband's uncle, seeing that he was the uncle of Prince Philip.

[anotheoldgit]

/// I'm really interested to know who of the posters are from Northern Ireland? ///

I'd be more interested to know from what country JTP comes from, it certainly doesn't appear to be Britain, judging from his regular anti-British posts.

[spotit3]

I am from Northern Ireland and proud of it!

[Duncer]

I'm an Ulsterman, now resident in Scotland, although I have absolutley nothing to do with the Irish Pictish invasion that DTcrosswordfan refers to!