I once read a short story in a science fiction magazine in which time travelling tourists attended the trial of Jesus. In order to "fit in" they dressed and behaved the same as the locals and shouted "crucify him". It transpired that all the local people stayed at home that day so it was the time travellers who unintentionally caused the crucifixion. What has this got to do with Mudcat? It seems to me that a lot of political comment on Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales is being made by people in far flung places, some of whom are recent emigrants, many of whom are second or third generation descendants of emigrants who have a distorted view of the reality in these islands. I am not suggesting that the USA caused the problems in Northern Ireland but a large amount of the funding for both the Loyalist and Repubican camps came from expatriates who gained their knowledge of Irish history from biased sources. So, all you pseudo historians out there please look at the story from both sides. Beam me up Scotty.