And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to

3 May 2006


Cast:

The flatmate bought a shiny new dvd-harddrive-recorder thingy recently, and I have discovered that it will play at least one of my “borrowed” episodes of Veronica Mars , which is great, because the laptop won’t. But now I can still rewatch, and on the big screen of a tv as opposed to a little Pavlovian screen. Its also good news because I’ve sort of decided to put off buying a new laptop for a couple of months. I do want a shiny new one, but, they[1] do say that patience is a virtue.

Anyways, as the flatmate was out last night I recorded Desperate Housewives and so was flicking around the stations after BSG when my attention was caught by a programme on RTE about the hunger strikes in Northern Ireland.

And I was going to post something about them, and how although you have to respect their strength of conviction, it is hard to think about them without thinking about the fact that they were paramilitaries who murdered and bombed people. But I’m not going to. It is such a grey, emotive issue. But I will say that the programme was very interesting and well made, and I’ll have to remember to tune in next week for the second part.

However, am doing a bit of research into the Black and Tans for B#5 at the moment, as he is thinking of doing his special topic for the leaving Cert on them. And you know that old saying about the past repeating itself? Well, its amazing to read some of the views of the likes of Lloyd George and his views on the IRA back then. And whatever anyone says, the IRA/Volunteers of the war of independence are not the same thing as the IRA of the seventies and of today, not even close. In one article David Leeson[2] says that

The insurgency was defined as a threat to law and order. The insurgents were characterised as criminals…law and order had broken down in Ireland, threatening the conditions of civilised society. The men responsible for this breakdown were murderers, not soldiers ‘The very fact that an attempt is made to describe murder by another name, and to make excuses for it as if it were political action, must demoralise the whole life of any country where such excuses can be made’ [quoting PM Andrew Bonar Law, August 1920]

How easy would it be to replace Ireland with Iraq[3] And can’t war be described as mass murder with a political reason?

Obviously the situation in Iraq is very different to that of Ireland in the 1920’s, but I doubt very many of the Iraqi insurgents would see themselves as nothing but criminals. This doesn’t make their actions and less terrible or horrific, but wouldn’t you think that people could look at history and see that you can’t fight ideals with nothing but violence.

Well, from Desperate Housewives to suicide bombers, interesting[4] how that all happened. Feel free to ignore any of the political ramblings. We’ll get back to more interesting things by bring up Battlestar Galtactica. I mean, whats going on back on Caprica? Will Show Spoiler ▼

Linknotes:

  1. these they people are so very smart
  2. The Scum of London’s Underworld? British Recruits for the Royal Irish Constabulary, 1920-21
  3. this is not a statement saying I support the actions of those Iraqis bombing random targets. I do not. They are in the wrong.
  4. or not

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22 Responses

  1. anne says:

    Wasn't the Iraq reference a perfect occasion to quote Serenity? "We meddle. (…) We're meddlesome."

  2. kyknoord says:

    Well, you did get there via BSG, so it almost makes sense. Of course, if it made complete sense, then we would have cause to worry.

  3. NineMoons says:

    I would LOVE to watch VM on the big screen. Sigh.

  4. Fence says:

    Anne, you've so been converted. Wahoo!

    Kyknoord, almost making sense is good enough for me.

    You can watch season 1 can't you. Your telly maybe isn't as big as ours, but big enough.

    Hi Mark, its almost surreal there are so many similarities. Although there are a lot of differences there too.

  5. anne says:

    I know. I'm a bit scared, in fact…

  6. NineMoons says:

    Don't be scared. We'll take care of you.

  7. Kelly says:

    You'd think with a son in Iraq, that I'd want to talk about the parallels between the situation there and what happened in your neck of the woods in the '20s, but what I really want to talk about is BSG, and the fact that I don't know what's going on and it's driving me crazy.

    You can all come watch Veronica Mars at my house.

  8. Fence says:

    Anne, that's in a non-Goodfellas taking care of you of course :) at least I hope that's what NM meant.

    Kelly, have you seen the second half of season two? Or are you still stuck unknowing half way through? if so, aaaaahhhh :)

  9. Carl V. says:

    mmmmmm….black and tans….. oh, that's right, that means something different over there than it does in the ol' U. S. of A. doh! sorry.

  10. Alan says:

    I actually watched Veronica Mars in the states last week. Before that I didn't have a clue what you kept going on about. And now all I can think is that her dad was one of the aliens in Galaxy Quest.

  11. NineMoons says:

    I caved and watched last night. GLUED to screen. Shock shock horror horror shock shock horror. Found it very hard to sleep afterwards due to brain-buzz. Can't BELIEVE the shit that happened. Hurry up and watch so we can discuss.

  12. Fence says:

    Carl, we'll forgive you. This once…

    Alan, not what a fantastic show? Or was it just a random episode, cause you need the arc to really appreciate it.

    NM, finished downloading just after 11 last night, which was perfect timing as was after Alien on Sky. But I didn't watch. Might wait for weekend, cause Bones, Sopranos and House are all on tonight, plus then i won't have to wait too long for the final episode.
    But more than likely I'll give in this evening.

  13. NineMoons says:

    I finished downloading at around tennish. I held out for 30 minutes of Alien before I cracked and went to bed with the laptop. (Can't call it Tim in that context…) The Beloved came to bed about ten minutes before VM ended so he was disturbed by my squeaking at the screen and wails of nonononoooooo!

  14. Kelly says:

    You girls are making me dread season two. I'm already on tenterhooks wondering who the hell she opened the door to at the end of season one. Logan? Leo? No, DON'T tell me! *sob

  15. NineMoons says:

    I finished season one and screamed at the telly "WHO WAS AT THE DOOR?!?" Then despite telling Fence I definitely wouldn't be borrowing her TOTALLY LEGAL copies to watch on my laptop, I couldn't wait.

    Was I happy with who was at the door? I'm saying…
    nowt.

  16. Fence says:

    Mine prolly finished around the same time. I say after 11 cause that is when I noticed, but resisted the urge :)

    Kelly, dread in the good sense yes?

  17. Kelly says:

    Nines, you little booger. I do want to know, but I don't, but I do…. blahlala. Is it Leo? GOD. It must be LOGAN. Now I'm crying again. It's probably somebody stupid like a long lost aunt we've never seen before but somebody mentioned once.

    Dread in a good sense, yes. But that good dread is ripping me apart.

  18. Fence says:

    How did you guess? It is Veronica's long lost dead aunt Majella, who has come to take her on a secret trip into deepest darkest Peru. And there is something about a bear.

  19. NineMoons says:

    Does he have Wellington boots?

    Don't call me a little booger. That's deeply offensive. To boogers.

    WHO could it be? Who COULD it be? Who could IT be? Who could it BE?

    Maybe it's Backup.

    Maybe it's Buffy!

    I love Veronica Mars. If I could marry a show and have its babies, it would be that one. Currently. :-)

  20. Kelly says:

    I also want to have the babies of many shows. So, who did you prefer in season 1, without knowing anything that you do now from season 2: Leo, or Logan? I can't decide, which is a drag because Leo's due here in, like, 15 minutes to take me out dancing.

    And I forgot the "cute as a" part between 'little' and 'booger'.

    HAHA, now I get the Wellington boots comment! I KNEW it about the aunt! Crap! But if there's also a penguin, as well as the bear… I'll let it slide.

  21. Fence says:

    Don't be silly NM, I just told her. It's Veronica's long lost dead aunt Majella. Didn't you read my comment!

    Kelly. No penguins. They're off being bothered by Frenchmen and Morgan Freeman.

  22. NineMoons says:

    Oh, I'm all about the Logan. Leo was a bit mumbly for my taste. Sweet as a beet but! I was mildly put off by (a) his comment about wanting to see Veronica's ceiling – keep your pants on Leo! (b) the fact that he always SEEMED so much older than her which was vaguely pervy (not totally, just slightly and (c) he wasn't Logan. Not even a little bit.

    I heart Logan. Absolutely 100% Logan. No question, hands down (or anywhere he wants, really) Logan Echolls, baby. Although I'm pretty sure in real life I'd hate his guts and go dancing with sweet dependable mumbly Leo. :-)