Many of us who know that jet fuel doesn't melt steel, and knows that the average British citizen does not have access to military grade explosive, have come to realise that the “war or terror” is an unmitigated fraud. To perpetuate this fraud, it has been essential to demonise all Muslims and their leaders. For example, the words of Ahmadinejad regarding the “Zionist regime ending”, became Israel being “wiped off the map”.
As far as I can gather, the US Vice President earns a salary of $198,000, or about €145,000. The main reward of holding that office of course is the honour of serving as second officer in the federal government. Nevertheless, at a certain level, salaries are more a symbol than mere money. For this reason, in the US, all federal salaries are set below that of the president. It is symbolic too that our hospital consultants are rejecting salaries that are some €65,000 higher than that of the US vice president!
I always considered myself a lover of jazz - not all jazz, but certainly the standards. I would include some less mainstream genres among my favourites - scat, electro-jazz, a touch of fusion. But I'm not a jazz cat, an aficionado. Which must be why a recent concert by a big name left me utterly baffled. Without giving too much away, let's say the artist's name rhymes with Pain Torture. I had listened to, and enjoyed, some of this saxman's earlier work. He was billed as one of the greatest living jazz-men.
I am intrigued by the findings of the International Theological Commission on the Catholic concept of “Limbo”.
The Commission's Secretary General has been quoted as stating, in relation to children that die without baptism; that “we can say we have many reasons to hope that there is salvation for these babies”.
The Pope has agreed with the Commission's assessment of an unbaptised baby's chances of being “saved”. It refers to “serious theological and liturgical grounds for so hoping.
I find it utterly revolting to see Royal Mail bags being used to collect and transport Irish mail. And not just in the 6 counties still under English occupation. These bags can be seen in every post office in the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland. The worst insult is to see them lying around in the GPO! The courageous men and women who fought there to give Ireland our freedom are being totally disregarded and disrespected. We must get our own mailbags immediately! What in God's name is wrong with this country? Did not Bertie Ahern promise that Ireland would stand on its own feet?
I would like to comment on the recent criticism of nurses and the INO for allegedly compromising patient care. I attended the INO protest at St Vincents' hospital in Dublin in mid-April. All the INO speakers emphasised how they were putting patients first. The nurses were all back in for exactly 12 noon after holding a very dignified protest for one hour. They are conducting an incredible campaign in the face of a shameful level of government and media hostility.
The recent Future Shock: Property Crash programme on RTÉ highlights the economic legacy being left by the present government. What is immediately apparent to this reader in travelling around the country are the results of the apparently cosy relationship between Fianna Fáil and Irish developers, a relationship which resulted in the reintroduction of tax breaks on developments in 2002.
The horrific mass shooting in Virginia will doubtless provoke a debate on America's gun culture. Sadly, however, nothing will change. America's love affair with personal weaponry is deeply ingrained and sponsored by powerful lobbies. Its democracy is paralysed by apathy, vested interests, and a shallowness that neuters any sense of ‘can-do'.
To all readers who are wondering who to vote for in the forthcoming elections, may I suggest that they ask the following question of any politician who seems to want their vote: “Exactly what qualifications do you personally have to manage a multi-million people, multi-billion euro business called a country?”
I have been mystified for some time by one aspect of the Bertiegate affair. Time after time, I have heard otherwise sensible people say something to the effect that perhaps Bertie's holding £50,000 in cash back in the 1990s's might have had something to do with his then ongoing separation from his wife. I have heard Pat Carey say this on the Vincent Browne Show and I recall Vincent Browne saying something similar on another occasion.