Friday, March 03, 2006
Friday Fun - News in Brief
Menzies Campbell was this week elected the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.
He secured 29,697 of the votes from party members, defeating his nearest rival Chris Huhne, who won 21,628.
Let us all wish Menzies Campbell well as Lib Dem leader in his battle against a truly formidable opponent - Britain's First Past The Post system.
In other news, Michael Jackson has sparked further speculation he is on the verge of converting to Islam, after pledging to erect a mosque in his adopted home of Bahrain.
The star's spokeswoman Raymone Bain says: "Michael is looking to give something back to the country that has welcomed him so openly."
This is just a suggestion but maybe he could try not converting to Islam?
And in other news, The 'Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education' said it was "stunned" that proposals for four integrated schools have been turned down by Education Minister Angela Smith. The plans were for schools in Clogher Valley, Moira/Hillsborough, Saintfield and funding an existing independent primary school in Ballycastle. Ms Smith said the new schools have been proposed for areas which already have surplus capacity.
I must say I favour integrated schooling but we must be careful about the education kids receive. It should be as balanced as possible rather than a biased interpretation of events. Take for example this unionist book I found (cough) called A Unionist History by I M Right. Just look at its chronology of events:
- Ireland up to 16th century - Here be savages
- Plantations, 17th century - Savages fixed; Ireland saved
- Famine, 1840s - Bad food. Brits not to blame
- Home Rule proposed, late 19th century - Dirty Papish plot
- Home Rule resisted late 19th, early 20th century - Smart move
- Violence threatened by brave UVF, 1912 - Those brave boys
- War in Europe, 1914 - Brave Ulstermen enlist. Some Fenians do too. Probably.
- Violence carried out in Dublin, 1916 - Shame on them! We would never have done that!
- War in south, 1919 - They're savages again. Time to split. Literally.
- 1920, Home Rule accepted - This was SO worth it!
Ah yes, history...ya gotta love it. Or not.
And now to wrap up with some of the key images of the week:
New suspects emerge in Dublin riots investigation (Thanks Toque)
One brave Sinn Féin MP promises to tackle the bigots head on next time.
As Steve Staunton's Ireland team gets off to flying start against Sweden, not everyone is impressed.
And finally, as the deadly bird flu spreads across Europe, one Irish figure contemplates the end.
There it is, folks. The news in brief.
He secured 29,697 of the votes from party members, defeating his nearest rival Chris Huhne, who won 21,628.
Let us all wish Menzies Campbell well as Lib Dem leader in his battle against a truly formidable opponent - Britain's First Past The Post system.
In other news, Michael Jackson has sparked further speculation he is on the verge of converting to Islam, after pledging to erect a mosque in his adopted home of Bahrain.
The star's spokeswoman Raymone Bain says: "Michael is looking to give something back to the country that has welcomed him so openly."
This is just a suggestion but maybe he could try not converting to Islam?
And in other news, The 'Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education' said it was "stunned" that proposals for four integrated schools have been turned down by Education Minister Angela Smith. The plans were for schools in Clogher Valley, Moira/Hillsborough, Saintfield and funding an existing independent primary school in Ballycastle. Ms Smith said the new schools have been proposed for areas which already have surplus capacity.
I must say I favour integrated schooling but we must be careful about the education kids receive. It should be as balanced as possible rather than a biased interpretation of events. Take for example this unionist book I found (cough) called A Unionist History by I M Right. Just look at its chronology of events:
- Ireland up to 16th century - Here be savages
- Plantations, 17th century - Savages fixed; Ireland saved
- Famine, 1840s - Bad food. Brits not to blame
- Home Rule proposed, late 19th century - Dirty Papish plot
- Home Rule resisted late 19th, early 20th century - Smart move
- Violence threatened by brave UVF, 1912 - Those brave boys
- War in Europe, 1914 - Brave Ulstermen enlist. Some Fenians do too. Probably.
- Violence carried out in Dublin, 1916 - Shame on them! We would never have done that!
- War in south, 1919 - They're savages again. Time to split. Literally.
- 1920, Home Rule accepted - This was SO worth it!
Ah yes, history...ya gotta love it. Or not.
And now to wrap up with some of the key images of the week:
New suspects emerge in Dublin riots investigation (Thanks Toque)
One brave Sinn Féin MP promises to tackle the bigots head on next time.
As Steve Staunton's Ireland team gets off to flying start against Sweden, not everyone is impressed.
And finally, as the deadly bird flu spreads across Europe, one Irish figure contemplates the end.
There it is, folks. The news in brief.
# posted by United Irelander @ 3:54 AM 
© 2008 United Irelander.
