DUP MP defends bonfire effigies

Posted By: July 14, 2017

IRISH CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING

Distributed by Irish National Caucus
 
“Defending the indefensible: the ‘RIGHT’ to insult and degrade Catholics, even dead Catholics like Martin Mc Guinness. See article below from the Irish News.
How sad to see that the “new” face of the DUP is not new at all— still as bigoted as when first founded in 1971. The DUP came  to power by proving that it would be even more Anti-Catholic than the Unionist Party. …  In much the same way that the racist George Wallace came to power in Alabama. Having lost an election in 1958, Wallace infamously declared: ‘I was out-niggered by John Patterson. And I’ll tell you here and now, I will never be out-niggered again.’
Emma Little-Pengelly has clearly vowed never to be ‘out-Taiged.’  ‘Taig’ is a derogatory term for a Catholic in Northern Ireland. Of course,  it does not have the terrible historical venom and viciousness of the N-word, which I was reluctant to quote in full but if I did not, Wallace’s hateful quote would not be understood—nor would Ms. Little-Pengelly’s dog-whistles to her voters. How profoundly sad that Ms. Little-Pengelly engages in such appalling politics instead of embracing the Good Friday Agreement and — as the Irish National Caucus advocates—building up  in Northern Ireland the Beloved Community, the term Martin Luther, Jr. made famous.”—Fr. Sean Mc Manus
  


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Emma Little-Pengelly
 
Brendan Hughes. Irish News. Belfast. Friday, July 14, 2017

A DUP MP has defended the burning of flags and effigies on bonfires as “public expressions”

of opposition within a “free society”.

Emma Little-Pengelly described her argument as a “classic liberal approach” to criticism from political opponents.

There was nationalist anger this week at the burning Irish tricolors, Sinn Féin and SDLP election posters and an effigy of the late deputy first minister Martin McGuinness on Eleventh Night bonfires.

Responding to criticism of the bonfires, Ms. Pengelly, who was elected as a first-time MP last month, called for respect to go “both ways”


Referring to a ‘F*** the DUP’ banner in London, Ms. Pengelly said: “Ultimately people here and across UK and ROI [Republic of Ireland] have the right to do it regardless of our like or disagreement with it.

“When we look at so many places that outlaw opposition and public expressions of it we should actually recognize and appreciate that right. That’s a right I would actually fight to protect.”

Ms. Pengelly later sought to clarify her comments, adding: “For anyone trying to read any ambiguity into anything let me be absolutely clear (and I have said this repeatedly) – All terrorism is wrong, that includes associated flags and emblems.“Hate crime is wrong and there must be zero tolerance of it. All bonfires, and cultural expression, should be done in a respectful way.”