okay, we won't expect YOU to show any respect for a guy some people have decided to idolise as a hero of Irish patriotism.

However you can't really be surprised if reciprocally, they show no respect for the ikons you hold close to your heart, Teribus.

As you see - its quite possible to characterise anybody who has taken part in military action as some sort of thug. People regularly say just as nasty things about the British army as you have just said about Bobby Sands and the IRA.

Someone somewhere though is going to have to break the cycle and start showing some respect for others beliefs. Otherwise we will only ever have bitterness and aggression between us.