The Long Goodbye
Like most of the other local political correspondents, I spent a fair bit of yesterday up at Stormont Castle recording a farewell interview with Ian Paisley. At least I got in, unlike David Gordon from the Belfast Telegraph, who was turned away. As the Telegraph sees it this final "No" from Dr No was a recognition of their dogged use of Freedom of information in relation to the Paisley family.
I am doing a bit more editing this afternoon before heading up to the Paisley goodbye party this evening. The comedienne Nuala McKeever is slated to provide the entertainment. Which begs the question, if you were saying goodbye to the "Chuckle Brother" which jokes would you crack? (All contributions must be clean and God fearing).
If you want to watch the Paisley farewell interview, you can do so above
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I'm 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~39~RS~)
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Mark, I do hope you read these blogs. Could you please tell me why you and many other 'recognised' political journalists ask the same old questions to Ian Paisley in which he has a standardised response? The 'difference' between the GFA and the St Andrews Agreement allows the DUP to side-step Paisleyite protest politics. UUP sell-outs, Sinn Fein now signed up to the rule of law, administering British rule etc etc etc.
What I would really like to see in an interview with Paisley, is an explanation of why men such as Terence O'Neill were demonised for moving towards an egalitarian society? There were no Sinn Fein/IRA worth talking about then. After Stormont did collapse, why Sunningdale was opposed by his pan-unionist/protestant colleagues so vociferously with blatant sectarianism? It seems as though these incidents have been airbrushed out of history and replaced with media friendly sound bites. Am I the only one who sees something lacking? This incoherent creed of journalism serves only to tell people what they want to hear and lacks in depth scrutiny and analysis.
I am so glad Paisley has turned the corner, but I feel historians may be asking themselves these questions when it is all too late, with only conjecture left to fill in the gaps that have been left blank by so called investigative journalists fearful of not getting their next interview/paycheque.
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Mark
IT’S THE WAY YOU TELL'EM
Paisley is visiting a school. In one class, he asks the pupils if anyone can give him an example of a "TRAGEDY". One little boy stands up and offers,"If my best friend who lives next door was playing in the street when a car came along and killed him, that would be a TRAGEDY." "No," Paisley says, "That would be an ACCIDENT."
A girl raises her hand. "If a school bus carrying fifty children drove off a cliff, killing everyone involved... that would be a
TRAGEDY." "I'm afraid not," explains Paisley. "That is what we would call a GREAT LOSS." The room is silent; none of the other children volunteer. "What" asks Paisley. "Isn't there any one here who can give me an example of a TRAGEDY?"
Finally, a boy in the back raises his hand. In a timid voice, he speaks: "If an airplane carrying you and McGuinness were
blown up by a bomb, that would be a TRAGEDY." "Wonderful!"
Paisley beams. "Marvellous! And can you tell me WHY that would be a TRAGEDY?"
"Well," says the boy, "because it wouldn't be an ACCIDENT, and it certainly would be no GREAT LOSS!"
Susie
Devenport Dissenter
Carryduff
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Mark
FASCISTS FEAR QUESTIONS
Paisley was simply displaying his Fascist credentials in refusing access to David Gordon of the Belfast Telegraph.
The hardest part of a question for Paisley is to give a truthful answer!
Think Hitler! Think Mosley! Think Mussolini!
Susie
Devenport Dissenter
Carryduff
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Suzie,
Why are you a Devenport Dissenter?
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You need to read "Location, location, location" to find out why Susie is now a Devenport Dissenter.
But what you really need to be worried about is Pan-dora telling you off for spelling Susie with a z.
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PEDANT...
-RJ- ... now who is being pendantic! I am so pleased you are paying attention!
Cheers!
Pandora
A Devonport Diehard!
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Of course -RJ- you will have spotted the typo in the word 'pedantic'.
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...and 'Devenport' incorrectly spelt. I'll blame it on the hot weather!
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Mark,
How sad is it for Paisley to deny a journalist in for his swan song? Everybody likes David Gordon because he asks questions people want answers to? Maybe you should take note Mark....
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Mark:
it is sad to say good bye to a longtime politician...
~Dennis Junior
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