Dear Keith

I don't think you will achieve very much with this thread.

I suspect the people you are aiming it at, know all the things you are saying, but it is not the emphasis they want to give history.

At some point we have to stop having arguments, never mind about winning them.

My own father fought with an Irish regiment in the 2nd world war and my grandad was irish, and fought in the Boer War and the First world war. They had a shitty time of it in all three times of unpleasantness.

i believe the Irish side of my family were involved in IRA activity in the 30's - but we lost contact.

I really don't think raking up all these old quarrels will help anybody. And if I'm seen as a fool or bufoon by both sides, so be it.

Why have this shit on the menu for the next generation. And if you don't want it for them, why do you keep warming it over?