I follow your fantastic work and journalism on the great political and economic issues, Liam.
But it only adds to the value of that work to see a (wonderful) piece like this showing how your political and economic philosophy is so grounded in the realities of personal experience and friendships and individual lives. Never just abstractions. Thank you.
That’s a lovely tribute - your journalism is still capable of a fine flourish.
I saw plenty of AB-types in my polytechnic in the mid-80s, they were mostly all ideologues who cared nothing for running the SU along local lines - you know, facilities and societies for sports, hobbies and culture.
To them, tertiary education was about smashing Apartheid and Thatcher and supporting Scargill and the IRA.
Sporty and conservative types never mixed - even 40yrs ago the Left was truculent, joyless, uncompromising and, frankly, po-faced.
I detested their inability to compromise, and quickly learnt that their entire philosophy was based on control - freedom of thought was a strictly one-way street……
……..the same people who wanted Mandela freed from Robben Island, would happily have put Thatcher there…..
…..the same people who were ‘outraged’ when the SAS killed 3 IRA operatives in Gibraltar, celebrated when 2 British corporals were mercilessly lynched.
I’m glad you could make friends with figures on the Left - and I don’t doubt the veracity of your oration - but I suspect that has more to do with your personal charm and the necessity of having to rub along in the north London political bubble.
To me, the Left is a mortal enemy that wants to steal my hard-earned capital, restrict my freedoms and codify my life……
……and of course, these Fabian frauds never - ever - live how they demand that we do.
It's my experience that people on the centre-left are often a lot less willing to listen to views they disagree with than those on the centre-right. And far too many lefties think they have a monopoly on virtue - and if you disagree with them, the only possible explanation is because you are morally inferior and have questionable "values". Having said that, I do know and like plenty of decent people on the left of politics – who ARE up for a decent discussion and are mature enough to understand that they may not always be right. Alaric was definitely one of those people
Lovely personal oration Liam, I felt like an intruder reading it.
A lovely tribute Liam.
A lovely humane piece .
Much needed in these times.
I follow your fantastic work and journalism on the great political and economic issues, Liam.
But it only adds to the value of that work to see a (wonderful) piece like this showing how your political and economic philosophy is so grounded in the realities of personal experience and friendships and individual lives. Never just abstractions. Thank you.
That's kind. Thank you.
That’s a lovely tribute - your journalism is still capable of a fine flourish.
I saw plenty of AB-types in my polytechnic in the mid-80s, they were mostly all ideologues who cared nothing for running the SU along local lines - you know, facilities and societies for sports, hobbies and culture.
To them, tertiary education was about smashing Apartheid and Thatcher and supporting Scargill and the IRA.
Sporty and conservative types never mixed - even 40yrs ago the Left was truculent, joyless, uncompromising and, frankly, po-faced.
I detested their inability to compromise, and quickly learnt that their entire philosophy was based on control - freedom of thought was a strictly one-way street……
……..the same people who wanted Mandela freed from Robben Island, would happily have put Thatcher there…..
…..the same people who were ‘outraged’ when the SAS killed 3 IRA operatives in Gibraltar, celebrated when 2 British corporals were mercilessly lynched.
I’m glad you could make friends with figures on the Left - and I don’t doubt the veracity of your oration - but I suspect that has more to do with your personal charm and the necessity of having to rub along in the north London political bubble.
To me, the Left is a mortal enemy that wants to steal my hard-earned capital, restrict my freedoms and codify my life……
……and of course, these Fabian frauds never - ever - live how they demand that we do.
It's my experience that people on the centre-left are often a lot less willing to listen to views they disagree with than those on the centre-right. And far too many lefties think they have a monopoly on virtue - and if you disagree with them, the only possible explanation is because you are morally inferior and have questionable "values". Having said that, I do know and like plenty of decent people on the left of politics – who ARE up for a decent discussion and are mature enough to understand that they may not always be right. Alaric was definitely one of those people
.
Awww
Very nicely said, Liam. You’re a loyal friend.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam Alaric 🙏
RIP indeed. Thank you John