Tuesday, November 16, 2010

NOT GOING AWAY, YOU KNOW.



‘You’re mad!’ your man said.
‘What do you mean I’m mad?’
‘Going to Louth – abandoning the people of west Belfast. It’ll all end in tears.’
‘Well’ I said, ‘When you talk the talk you also have to walk the walk. The country’s in a mess. People are crying out for leadership and a way to regain our sense of ourselves’.
‘And you think you can do something about that? Who’s going to represent west Belfast?’
‘The people will sort that out. And I’m not leaving west Belfast. I’m standing down from my public responsibilities here. But this is where I live. It’s where Colette and our family live. It’s my community. It’s where my church is, my GAA club, my county.’
‘So, you think you’re going to get elected in Louth?’
‘Well, that’s the intention. There’s no guarantees. Wee Arthur is a hard act to follow. And it is a challenge. Luk, Sinn Féin is the only all-island party. There are two different sets of policy position, currencies, political establishments because of partition. But the problems are the same. I’m two or three days in the south every week as you know. And sometimes two or three days in the Assembly. So, its hard to do both to the extent that is required.
‘and what about the peace process?’ he asked.’
‘Martin and I work very closely together and we don’t take the peace process for granted. I’ll continue to work on that. But you have seen people coming up to me in distress at what the government in Dublin is doing.
And Fine Gael and Labour have bought into that agenda. We are the only ones proposing a better way forward.
I’m one of the people calling on citizens to make a stand. So I’ve decided to make a stand myself.
And by the way all the work I do on suicide prevention, on justice issues like the Ballymurphy and Springhill Massacres, I’ll be able to bring them to a different platform.’
‘If you get elected!’
Your man was really in a tizzy.
‘I know this idea has been kicked about for 9 or 10 years now’ he exclaimed, ‘but why now? What about the regeneration projects in west Belfast?’
‘We’re going to push ahead with those. Look, I know this is a big thing. I had to decide personally whether I was up for it. Whether I wanted to put my family through another roller coaster ride. Whether I could wrench myself away from the work that I do here in the west of the City.
And when I did eventually come round to the conclusion that I personally would be prepared to take this initiative, apart from Colette, the first people I spoke to was the Belfast and west Belfast leaderships. And then our leadership in County Louth.



We had lengthy discussions and we’re all at one on this. A struggle is about taking risks. It’s about acting in the common good. Our struggle at its essence is about Ireland and the people of Ireland. So, there you are.’ I concluded.
‘You don’t have to give me all that bullshit. Who’s going to thank you for this?’
‘I’m not looking thanks.’
‘You’re looking your head chopped off. You’re handing it to the staters on a plate. The establishment is going to come at you – like a tornado.’
I decided to provoke him.
‘Did you ever read Robert Frost?.’ I asked.
‘I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood,
And I –
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.’
He looked at me with a smirk.
‘You’re full of it!’ he exclaimed.
‘And’ he said coyly with a little smile, ‘You’re leaving me.’
‘No I’m not’ I said. ‘You’re coming with me.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Yep!’
‘Well I’m up for that! The only thing is,’ he hesitated ‘I feel like Ché before he went to Bolivia.’
‘We’ll be alright’ I said.
‘I suppose so’ he said.’ Let’s do it. Up the Republic!
‘Now who is full of it? ’ I asked him.
‘Well’ he replied ‘We’re not going away you know. Just down the road a wee bit. Up Louth’.
‘Turn coat’ I said ‘Aontroim Abú!’

9 comments:

Timothy Dougherty said...

It is GREAT Gerry,
Very good plan, your are right ,Sinn Féin is the only all-island party. Put it all at the doorsteps, a good way to go.Up the Republic!

The Plashing Vole said...

I think it will be good for SF in West Belfast - it's time to promote the new generation and get away from the perception that SF follows the Cult of the Individual.

Kate said...

Thank you Gerry.....this leadership decision..be it called "Brave" among other things will be yet another step in "The way forward"..May God guide you...as those with a vision of the future continue to support you.

You have always advocated "Change"..and this certainly is that ....Those of us who lived through troubled times have believed in and trusted Sinn Fein...seen the changes and the struggles the party has made to strengthen belief in change.
Yes we will miss you in Belfast (Although you asure us "You have not gone away") I wish you every success, and I thank you for taking this step toward our future. I know we have a confident and competent team here in Belfast.... Paul/Fra/Jennifer/Sue and Pat.as MLAs What a team!

You have crossed a great divide....in order to unite.
Again I offer...sincere thanks and continued support.

Ardoyne Republican said...

Like to wish U well for the challenge ahead in Louth. A bold step and hopefully the electorate there will see it as such.

Let's see the issue of republican-socialism lifted again and slammed into Leinster House.

Adh Mhor Ort!

Unknown said...

nicely said Gerry. Dominic

michaelhenry said...

Never seen this comming
you still have the power to shock
you still with a grin-

Our leader has went and done it now

It's still 5 weeks to christmas
you know
yet santa GERRY give's out his
assembly present to another and to
give his M.Ps gift to another- these were your hard worked for seats so it must have been a difficult decision,

you also took the media and other political party's by surprise and they don't like it- the main reason
for their smart comments is because they would never take such a chance with there position's,
they will be out in force to try and stop you but it's up to the people of louth, i have a lot of
confidence in them, they will not let you down,

i was not going to mention this-
but you should be T.D when the Queen of the brits comes to dublin - just saying,

every-one will want to work in louth at the next election-

come on louth come on the 32.

Kate said...

Thank you Gerry.....this leadership decision..be it called "Brave" among other things will be yet another step in "The way forward"..May God guide you...as those with a vision of the future continue to support you.
You have always advocated "Change"..and this certainly is that ....Those of us who lived through troubled times have believed in and trusted Sinn Fein...seen the changes and the struggles the party has made to strengthen belief in change.
Yes we will miss you in Belfast (Although you asure us "You have not gone away") I wish you every success, and I thank you for taking this step toward our future. I know we have a confident and competent team here in Belfast.... Paul/Fra/Jennifer/Sue and Pat.as MLAs What a team!
You have crossed a great divide....in order to unite.
Again I offer...sincere thanks and continued support.
--
Ta ar la anois

Kate

LW said...

I wish you well. It's better to be unpredictable and change with the times and grow. I'm very impressed and normally politcians don't impress me

Micheal said...

The most significant political development of the year so far. I wish you well on the day.

Dragging the Government to a Poll in Donegal also reflects a tenacity for which the SF community is famous.

The Irish united will never be defeated.

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