Mary McAleese address to the RNLI ...

[ParaHandy]

she, oops .. M'am, president of Ireland .. made the address to the gallantry awards last week and there was one beautiful passage amongst many others:

We can count the lives saved, the hours spent in training and in rescue operations, the money raised, the stations manned but we can never count the full impact of such unselfishness: such a powerful sign of contradiction in a world often beset by cynicism and selfish individualism. You are the people whose hands and hearts turn random groups of individuals into a community, with a transcendent value system and an heroic spirit. For that too we give you thanks and thank God for you.


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[Twister_Ken]

Thought I spotted a flicker on the bullshit meter as I read that.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[ParaHandy]

hmmm ... funny, how often we need a complete outsider to demonstrate the worth of things we take for granted


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[Sybarite]

What do you mean an outsider? It's well known that Ireland is the centre of the Universe and a land of Saints and Scholars as so ably demonstrated here by Mary McAleese....

John

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[MainlySteam]

Reads like a vain attempt by a nincompoop trying to emulate Churchill but ending up with a bunch of gobbledygook, instead of the likes of the master's -

"Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour.""

and

"The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."

John

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[StugeronSteve]

Re: Chuchill..

We'll tow them off the beeches, we'll tow them off the sand banks etc, etc.

<hr width=100% size=1>God only made so many perfect heads. The rest got covered in hair.

 

[kesey]

Mainlysteam (perhaps "Mainlyhotair" is more apt?), be assured the lady is no nincompoop. Nor does she need to either emulate or parrot Churchill. She has a brain which she uses. She also has compassion and courage.

Mrs. McAleese saw virtue and heroism and was delighted to celebrate and honour them. A pity you did not choose to do the same.



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[boatless]

Not sure that she had to include "transcendent value system" - surely?

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[MainlySteam]

<<<Mrs. McAleese saw virtue and heroism and was delighted to celebrate and honour them. A pity you did not choose to do the same.>>>

Where on earth did you get the idea that I do not appreciate virtue and heroism?? Certainly I did not make any noise of that sense and I certainly made no derogatory comment about the RNLI.

Pleased to hear that you have such a high opinion of the lady but the high opinion seems overshadowed by dogmatism - seems I have inflamed someones fanatical political allegiance. I am sure she is not quite perfect.

John

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[MainlySteam]

Re: Chuchill..

Yes, stirring stuff from a great orator and writer.

Have been reading some more of his speeches to build my courage as it sounds like one of Mary's lads is likely to turn up on my doorstep in a kneecapping frame of mind /forums/images/icons/crazy.gif.

John

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[towlerg]

Watch out mate, chip showing.

Rgds George

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[claymore]

Great Stuff - I've fancied her for years

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>regards
Claymore<font color=purple>
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[kesey]

"seems I have inflamed someones fanatical political allegiance. I am sure she is not quite perfect."
John "

Mary McAleese believes in politics, peace and civility. Educationally she is a former Professor of Law at Trinity College, Dublin. She held the same chair as Mary Robinson.

She was invited to make an address. She made it. As is her wont, she made it in a spirit of generosity and celebration. How does that earn her an attack like: "Reads like a vain attempt by a nincompoop trying to emulate Churchill but ending up with a bunch of gobbledygook"?

Neither she, nor Mr. Churchill, nor I and certainly not you "are quite perfect." She however has done a lot in life to help as many as she can, and continues to do so.

John, your linking of Mary McAlleese with kneecapping may be your version of jocularity, or it may be just ignorance or a severe case of flatulence. In any event it is very much untrue, and extremely offensive. There are Presidents who have earned a reputation for being self-serving, prone to misuse of military violence and lacking in used brain-matter. Mary McAleese is not one of them. Grow up.







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[MainlySteam]

As I say, I seem to have touched a touchy political nerve. Sorry it is so sensitive, probably explains alot of things - I am off to do better things than worship the alter of the godess. Keep your forelock off the floor.

John

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[Nickel]

You obviously belong to the Martin Johnson school of international etiquette. I tend to find when speaking on subjects that I know nothing about - it is much better to keep stum than make a complete a*r*e of myself - you obviously feel the opposite is appropriate - fair 'nuff - that's your choice, but don't complain when you look like an a*r*e.

I've often thought that all political systems could be improved by adopting a presidential system where the candidacy requirements are that you must be an Irish woman named Mary!

From a brief historical point of view - your object of fore-lock-tugging worship was a good orator and he made one vital decision in his life - continue the fight - but apart from that he was the master NINCOMPOOP - particularly as a war leader - viz Galipoli, Norway, Greece, Crete, Italy.

Nickel



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[claymore]

Boys,Boys, Boys

Enough of this - its a lovely day (apart from all this wind and rain)

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Claymore<font color=purple>
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[Sybarite]

Er....I wonder which current British politician you would hold up as a role model?

John

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[MainlySteam]

Hi John

Not sure that "politician" and "role model" are compatable terms and perhaps your "hold up" should be "hung" /forums/images/icons/smile.gif.

I am totally intrigued by the interpretation by others of my criticising the prose of her speech and making a comparison with Churchill's ones as meaning that McAleese is a sleezy piece of work and Churchill was faultless in all respects. The wonders of interpretation by the imaginative and defensive idolators perhaps?

In the event I have been to Ireland (and do know a little about McAleese - probably much more than my critics know about Helen Clark or any other woman leader) and have to say that I found it a very hospitable and pretty place. Did not see that much of it as visits have been business ones, but not sure that I would be safe going back to see the rest now though /forums/images/icons/crazy.gif.

John


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[oldgit]

Re: Churchill..

Interesting little prog on the BBC recently on how Mr C used variations on those famous few words many times during the course of his political life.Also totally unfounded rumours that they were nicked from someone else.
Now remind me who it was sent those troops into some square or other to clear out an few unarmed woman and kids.,my recollection of history is a bit hazy.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[MainlySteam]

Re: Churchill..

Hi Old Git

Yes, many of his speeches seem to have the same structure and measure through them. However, they did make sense and were well constructed.

I think that comparison of McAleese's speech with those of Churchill's (eg the quotes I gave) show a strong similarity to the structure and meter of Churchill's, but without the clarity of sense to the extent of almost being meaningless and representing surface pleasantry rather than inner belief. Her other speeches may be masterpieces, but I am afraid I could not comment on those (and have not done so) as it would appear that she is not as famous in the rest of the world as she is at home and as such her speeches are not widely reported on. All in my opinion and I regard it as sad that one cannot these days criticise a politician's speech (perhaps excluding Bush and Blair /forums/images/icons/smile.gif) without being abused into submission by some.

Not sure why some think I am a great supporter of Churchill's just because I refer to his strong literary abilities. I have not expressed any other view on the man /forums/images/icons/crazy.gif.

Anyway, I am about to catch a plane to go boating for the week - much better than being concerned about politicians who consistently poll as the least trustworthy members of western societies along with used car salesmen and journalists - but just as used car salesmen's mothers trust their sons, it appears some who are not their mothers trust politicians too.

Regards

John

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