I repeat - did those who voted for Blair vote for the Iraqi war? Representation democracy does not mean the continuation of a political situation that has created strife for nearly nine decades and has led to a permanent state of conflict as well as a racist animosity towards Irish people totally unprecedented in my experience.
How do you go about letting the people decide - by open debate between all groups leading to referendum - how else? Certainly not by political pressure by one aggressive and influential minority. It is you who has insisted that the wishes of that tiny vociferous minority should be pandered to despite the wishes of the rest of the British population, so why should the opinions of the people as a whole not be sought and acted upon - that would be the democratic way out of the present problem?
"PSNI are dealing adequately with dissident Republicans."
No they are not - the threat and the fact of terrorist violence remains - want a list?
"Sectarian tension is a fact of life. We have it in Glasgow too."
Sectarian violence in Glasgow, nor in my native Liverpool where the same situation exists, has not led to sectarian discrimination and exclusion of a specific group, long-term rioting, massacres, open warfare, terrorism and partitioning as it has in the six counties.
"Changing the border ....."
The border was created as a temporary measure; it was put in place under the threat of military invasion and was held there only by the aggressive behaviour of the Unionist activists - it is long past its sell-by date, if it was ever a suitable option in the first place.
"The violence of the Troubles is over."
Then what is the rioting taking place in Belfast and the annual stand-offs at Drumcree and all the other flashpoints throughout the marching season all about?
When Mrs Robinson, the wife of the Unionist leader decided to go walkabout the power-sharing talks were in risk of collapsing, which could well have plunged us into an even bloodier set of 'Troubles' - no country can tolerate that sort of risk hanging over it - it is a recipe for disaster.
"You invite personal abuse...."
I have offered a personal opinion on the incident, its causes and possible cures. You have reacted with personal abuse throughout in a manner I have never come across before, not here - not anywhere.
I have been through this thread several times and I can not find one single original suggestion from you, one piece of personal reasearch, one glimmer of knowledge, one single indication that you know anything about Ireland. You have based your whole approach on picking up on the input of others. You have attempted to bully and manipulate the thread away from areas you don't begin to understand with claims of 'ancient history' and 'dead people'. When your friend Terribus shambled off into the sunset you fell flat on your arse as if somebody had pulled your chair from under you. You have relied totally on drawing on the contributions of others to dominate this thread and when they have not coincided with your own opinions you have tried to shout them down.
It is little wonder that you think "This sterile debate should have been wound up days ago" - you are totally out of your depth.
A quick glance down the 'Israeli atrocity' thread appears to indicate that this is your general approach to debate as you have appeared to have done the same to a lesser extent there.
If offering a contrary opinion to your own 'invites abuse' and results in the vitriolic bile that you have displayed here (want a list? We could start with "stop being a twat") then perhaps you should consider a a more soothing pastime - macrame maybe!
Jim Carroll