Normally when I write a blog I write it theoretically. All this stuff comes from the logic in my brain... This one will be different. I want to share with you what God did today. There are some that may perceive this as gossiping, which it is not intended to be. Some people will recognise the alluded to situations but I am trying to keep it as anonymous as possible for it is not my intention to gossip; merely to pass on how amazingly encouraging God has been in the past ten minutes or so...
I have an ask.fm now (found at ask.fm/Wavey1111) and someone posted the question: What is the best thing you have learned this week. I looked at that earlier and I had no answer to it. There was nothing I considered the best thing I learned. So I asked God and went out to buy some lunch and met two Christians... I should have learned which Church they are from.
Anyway they stopped me and one said Wavey, the other said Waves. I know neither of them and I don't think they know me...
The first one, a grey haired gentleman named Doug said God wanted to say something, he had called me Wavey. He talked about how sometimes there are things we do that we need to ask forgiveness for and there are other things that we are accused of, and may have felt we need forgiveness for it, but the things I am being accused of in recent times I am completely innocent of. He said because of salvation God sees me as innocent anyway but of these things I am actually innocent in deeds and feelings.
He mentioned that I have apologised to the person saying the things and that, although relationships-wise it was probably a good thing to do that I shouldn't have apologised. It is he that is to apologise and I have nothing to apologise for.
He said that I and the other people involved on the accused side are doing all the right things but need to rely on Him and trust in Him more.
On the negative side here He said that I, and we, have been lying down and letting these accusations affect us negatively physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. God said, through this man, that we have talked about going on the offensive a lot but never done it and that it is time to start standing up for myself, even if they won't.
The other person, a girl in her twenties I'd say, said that I had been trying to change how I relate to people, specifically the people closest to me. But I felt as if they weren't noticing those changes. She said that God wanted me to know He sees everything I am doing and that He is proud of me and happy with me for doing them. He said it's a long road to me being properly good at relating to people but that I was on the right road...
She also said that He says He misses me, the way I used to be... which she was quick to add was nothing to do with what she previously said, that I used to be more interested in Him and that I needed to remember my first love and not let draining accusations... drain me so much that I am not spending time with Him and becoming like Him.
The other guy finished the conversation by saying He says He loves me endlessly and has such plans for my life but at the moment it's like walking in the grass beside the path but following the path.
Well that's enough honestly for one blog post I think... I just had to share that!
Saturday 15 June 2013
TotD: Running a Country
Reading back over my past few blogs I see a recurring trend that the present method of governing Ireland is failing, at best, or has failed, which I would be more inclined to argue myself.
I have mentioned a new system being needed and I am going to outline what I think should be done on the political scene in Ireland in this blog post.
Over the past two terms of the Dáil we have seen the failure of all the political parties in government.
The PDs and Greens are effectively gone and should stay such. Both parties are a joke anyway. The Progressive Democrats were established to be an alternative to Fianna Fail but ended spending their only time in government with Fianna Fail.
The Greens are sell outs to Fianna Fail, I am happy their party leader resigned before they entered government with them in 2007, that was honourable.
Fianna Fail caused the ruination of this country by mismanagement and inviting the Trioka in.
Fine Gael have done no better than Fianna Fail, traditionally they are the same party anyway so it makes sense no real change would be introduced under their rule.
Labour, my belovéd Labour Party, have broken every promise they made and should bow out now before the Irish public destroys them over the next two general elections and they go the way of the PDs and Greens, as well they deserve.
Sinn Féin, well... we all know who they are... If you are too young to remember I'll give you a three letter hint (IRA) and not the good one from the history books that helped win freedom for this country, the terrorist organisation banned by the Irish government that has made relations between us and the North, and UK more generally, so sour. Bad idea to vote these people in. It's scary that they are the second most popular party in the Dáil according to recent poles and could form a coalition with Fianna Fáil in 2016.
The Socialist Party: enough said... We don't want communism thanks very much and could you imagine Joe Higgins as our dictator? He wouldn't be too bad but still... I like democracy ;)
The other parties are presently too small to make a difference really but there are some to watch.
I propose the abolition of political parties. That sounds Hitler-istic but hear me out.
Under a new governmental system free elections would take place. This means that the main positions in the Dáil would be up for grabs by anyone who wanted to run for them.
In essence An Taoiseach, An Tánaiste and other cabinet members would be voted for directly based on their promises for their ministry. The other Dáil seats with be made up of OTD positions (Ordinary TDs). These OTDs would be the opposition.
Voting styles like we see in the Dáil presently would go and there would be no forced party loyalties.
The Ministry of Finance would run on a different system. It would be made up of the top financial people in the country (the likes of heads of banks, University professors etc) who, as part of their job working in the State) would have to give some of their time towards discussing and preparing a Budget for the government. This committee would decide on how much of the governments funds are put into each department and the minister of this department, who is elected directly by the people, puts the money towards their mandated projects to the best of their capabilities.
Within such a government the office of Taoiseach could be combined with the office of an Uachtarán and thus saving the government 200,000+ Euro a year...
I have mentioned a new system being needed and I am going to outline what I think should be done on the political scene in Ireland in this blog post.
Over the past two terms of the Dáil we have seen the failure of all the political parties in government.
The PDs and Greens are effectively gone and should stay such. Both parties are a joke anyway. The Progressive Democrats were established to be an alternative to Fianna Fail but ended spending their only time in government with Fianna Fail.
The Greens are sell outs to Fianna Fail, I am happy their party leader resigned before they entered government with them in 2007, that was honourable.
Fianna Fail caused the ruination of this country by mismanagement and inviting the Trioka in.
Fine Gael have done no better than Fianna Fail, traditionally they are the same party anyway so it makes sense no real change would be introduced under their rule.
Labour, my belovéd Labour Party, have broken every promise they made and should bow out now before the Irish public destroys them over the next two general elections and they go the way of the PDs and Greens, as well they deserve.
Sinn Féin, well... we all know who they are... If you are too young to remember I'll give you a three letter hint (IRA) and not the good one from the history books that helped win freedom for this country, the terrorist organisation banned by the Irish government that has made relations between us and the North, and UK more generally, so sour. Bad idea to vote these people in. It's scary that they are the second most popular party in the Dáil according to recent poles and could form a coalition with Fianna Fáil in 2016.
The Socialist Party: enough said... We don't want communism thanks very much and could you imagine Joe Higgins as our dictator? He wouldn't be too bad but still... I like democracy ;)
The other parties are presently too small to make a difference really but there are some to watch.
I propose the abolition of political parties. That sounds Hitler-istic but hear me out.
Under a new governmental system free elections would take place. This means that the main positions in the Dáil would be up for grabs by anyone who wanted to run for them.
In essence An Taoiseach, An Tánaiste and other cabinet members would be voted for directly based on their promises for their ministry. The other Dáil seats with be made up of OTD positions (Ordinary TDs). These OTDs would be the opposition.
Voting styles like we see in the Dáil presently would go and there would be no forced party loyalties.
The Ministry of Finance would run on a different system. It would be made up of the top financial people in the country (the likes of heads of banks, University professors etc) who, as part of their job working in the State) would have to give some of their time towards discussing and preparing a Budget for the government. This committee would decide on how much of the governments funds are put into each department and the minister of this department, who is elected directly by the people, puts the money towards their mandated projects to the best of their capabilities.
Within such a government the office of Taoiseach could be combined with the office of an Uachtarán and thus saving the government 200,000+ Euro a year...
TotD: Abortion 3, Can't we be Civil?
This is a third posting on abortion brought on by some of the news articles and facebook postings I've been seeing all over the place about how the debate is taking place.
In my first blog on abortion I mentioned it being interesting in seeing how a debate on abortion being legalised would pan out for a referendum (this is also referenced in the second blog where I added I take it back). I believe, even the current legislation requires a referendum to pass under our constitution (see blog 2). In this blog post I want to adress some of the things happening as this debate rages, literally.
On the pro-life side.
Recently the Taoiseach and other TDs stated that they have been receiving abuse for being supporters of the Abortion legislation.
Pro-Life campaigners have been spitting on TDs, calling to these people's homes at all hours, threatening to slit TDs throats and burn down their homes.
The Taoiseach himself has been in receipt of letters written in blood (some claiming to be the blood of the babies Enda Kenny is allowing to be aborted) and plastic foetuses.
These are not the way to make a political statement, unless you want the opposite of what you are campaigning for to occur. Actions like these will lead those who are on the fence to vote the other way because of how appalled they are by your actions. All that these kind of actions lead to is damage to a pro-life campaign because it makes pro-lifers look insane.
On the Pro-Choice (specifically the actions of the TDs) side.
The right to vote freely in an issue that is of conscience is important. I read this article heading on RTÉ's page and I genuinely thought the article was going to be about how the majority of Dáil parties are stopping their members from freely voting on this legislation under threat of 'party discipline'. The heading was "Dáil hears of widespread intimidation of TDs over abortion legislation." (link: http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0613/456422-abortion-legislation-tds/)
Not allowing free choice in the voting on this legislation is morally wrong. This is an issue of conscience and should be treated as such. It is not an issue of party loyalty.
Having said that there appears to be very few TDs who would vote against the legislation. Most TDs back it. Therefore the government have very little to fear in allowing a free vote as the legislation would pass in the Dáil anyway.
However, in not allowing a free vote it appears that the party leaders are desperate to hold onto control which is more like a totalitarian dictator than it is a democratic process.
TDs represent people in the Dáil. If there was a Labour, Sinn Féin or Fine Gael TD who represented a constituency that was anti this law by the very nature of what a public representative is that TD should be voting no. Not allowing this is ridiculous and possibly even tyrannical in nature.
Also an Independent TD made a point earlier this week I believe that also appeared uncivilised and so it requires attention here. John Halligan, Independent TD for Waterford elected on the 11th count with 10% of the vote, ex mayor of Waterford City made the following statement:
"this organisation (the Roman Catholic Church) has no right to be the State's moral compass and is in no position to lecture anyone on human rights with the Catholic Church's blood-stained history, from pre-Medieval times to the Crusades across Europe and the Middle East... (and the) irreparable damage they have done to human beings, particularly children, across the world." (Article link: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/john-halligan-td-says-church-is-in-no-position-to-lecture-on-rights-1.1428027)
I am in no way saying that I disagree that the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) has made many, many mistakes. However, these issues are not the topic of debate and bringing them up is just throwing dirt and being petty.
People who give advice on how to handle conflicts and disagreement discussions always tell you it isn't the place to bring up the mistakes of the past because the whole discussion becomes overwhelming and breaks down. This is exactly what this TD has done, and others like him undoubtedly.
Admittedly, I do not know his story, there is a possibility, and unfortunately not an unlikely one, that he or someone he is close to was abused by the church and that is sad. Plus there is loads of pressure from the backlash TDs are receiving from Pro-Life campaigners (see above) which is atrocious too. However, none of that justifies what this man has done and said about the Church. If it was a general statement said outside of any debate it would be fine but to scape goat the RCC like this and make it look bad when the debate has nothing to do with those issues is equally atrocious.
I feel the need to pause the discussion here to reiterate the fact that I agree with Mr Halligan and he is correct in his assessment of the atrocities committed by the Roman Catholic Church and I am not a Catholic, nor do I agree with much of what the Catholic Church does or says. I even agree that is should not be seen as the State's Moral Compass.
The fact of the matter is that the Catholic Church clergymen present in Ireland today did not support the 'Nazi' regime in Italy (which was called Fascism by the way, Naziism was in Germany) or take part or endorse the Crusades or take part in the blood staining the TD in question mentioned. There is a possibility that some of them were involved in the abuse of children but not all of them and you cannot tar the entire organisation by the actions of a few. If that were the case the entire Dáil could be written off due to the actions of one TD, which I am sure Mr Halligan would not agree with so why use a different standard for an organisation you Mr Halligan, disagree with than you would use for the organisation you a part of.
In related news:
The Labour Party has finally done something right, possibly the first thing since they fixed minimum wage after the shambles that was the Fianna Fail, Green, 'P.D.' government. The same TD quoted above called on Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party Eamon Gilmore to condemn the Church for "attempting to intervene in the running of this State."
The Tánaiste responded: "All citizens of the State have every right to state their point of view to government on any issue which is of public importance."
I hope all this back biting can cease and we can just debate the issue without taking personal swipes at people and organisations just to be petty and throw dirt. I am not saying Mr Halligan is the only TD responsible for such actions either, he is just the one that is appearing in the news a lot at the moment.
Debate abortion when you're debating abortion, not everything else.
In my first blog on abortion I mentioned it being interesting in seeing how a debate on abortion being legalised would pan out for a referendum (this is also referenced in the second blog where I added I take it back). I believe, even the current legislation requires a referendum to pass under our constitution (see blog 2). In this blog post I want to adress some of the things happening as this debate rages, literally.
On the pro-life side.
Recently the Taoiseach and other TDs stated that they have been receiving abuse for being supporters of the Abortion legislation.
Pro-Life campaigners have been spitting on TDs, calling to these people's homes at all hours, threatening to slit TDs throats and burn down their homes.
The Taoiseach himself has been in receipt of letters written in blood (some claiming to be the blood of the babies Enda Kenny is allowing to be aborted) and plastic foetuses.
These are not the way to make a political statement, unless you want the opposite of what you are campaigning for to occur. Actions like these will lead those who are on the fence to vote the other way because of how appalled they are by your actions. All that these kind of actions lead to is damage to a pro-life campaign because it makes pro-lifers look insane.
On the Pro-Choice (specifically the actions of the TDs) side.
The right to vote freely in an issue that is of conscience is important. I read this article heading on RTÉ's page and I genuinely thought the article was going to be about how the majority of Dáil parties are stopping their members from freely voting on this legislation under threat of 'party discipline'. The heading was "Dáil hears of widespread intimidation of TDs over abortion legislation." (link: http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0613/456422-abortion-legislation-tds/)
Not allowing free choice in the voting on this legislation is morally wrong. This is an issue of conscience and should be treated as such. It is not an issue of party loyalty.
Having said that there appears to be very few TDs who would vote against the legislation. Most TDs back it. Therefore the government have very little to fear in allowing a free vote as the legislation would pass in the Dáil anyway.
However, in not allowing a free vote it appears that the party leaders are desperate to hold onto control which is more like a totalitarian dictator than it is a democratic process.
TDs represent people in the Dáil. If there was a Labour, Sinn Féin or Fine Gael TD who represented a constituency that was anti this law by the very nature of what a public representative is that TD should be voting no. Not allowing this is ridiculous and possibly even tyrannical in nature.
Also an Independent TD made a point earlier this week I believe that also appeared uncivilised and so it requires attention here. John Halligan, Independent TD for Waterford elected on the 11th count with 10% of the vote, ex mayor of Waterford City made the following statement:
"this organisation (the Roman Catholic Church) has no right to be the State's moral compass and is in no position to lecture anyone on human rights with the Catholic Church's blood-stained history, from pre-Medieval times to the Crusades across Europe and the Middle East... (and the) irreparable damage they have done to human beings, particularly children, across the world." (Article link: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/john-halligan-td-says-church-is-in-no-position-to-lecture-on-rights-1.1428027)
I am in no way saying that I disagree that the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) has made many, many mistakes. However, these issues are not the topic of debate and bringing them up is just throwing dirt and being petty.
People who give advice on how to handle conflicts and disagreement discussions always tell you it isn't the place to bring up the mistakes of the past because the whole discussion becomes overwhelming and breaks down. This is exactly what this TD has done, and others like him undoubtedly.
Admittedly, I do not know his story, there is a possibility, and unfortunately not an unlikely one, that he or someone he is close to was abused by the church and that is sad. Plus there is loads of pressure from the backlash TDs are receiving from Pro-Life campaigners (see above) which is atrocious too. However, none of that justifies what this man has done and said about the Church. If it was a general statement said outside of any debate it would be fine but to scape goat the RCC like this and make it look bad when the debate has nothing to do with those issues is equally atrocious.
I feel the need to pause the discussion here to reiterate the fact that I agree with Mr Halligan and he is correct in his assessment of the atrocities committed by the Roman Catholic Church and I am not a Catholic, nor do I agree with much of what the Catholic Church does or says. I even agree that is should not be seen as the State's Moral Compass.
The fact of the matter is that the Catholic Church clergymen present in Ireland today did not support the 'Nazi' regime in Italy (which was called Fascism by the way, Naziism was in Germany) or take part or endorse the Crusades or take part in the blood staining the TD in question mentioned. There is a possibility that some of them were involved in the abuse of children but not all of them and you cannot tar the entire organisation by the actions of a few. If that were the case the entire Dáil could be written off due to the actions of one TD, which I am sure Mr Halligan would not agree with so why use a different standard for an organisation you Mr Halligan, disagree with than you would use for the organisation you a part of.
In related news:
The Labour Party has finally done something right, possibly the first thing since they fixed minimum wage after the shambles that was the Fianna Fail, Green, 'P.D.' government. The same TD quoted above called on Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party Eamon Gilmore to condemn the Church for "attempting to intervene in the running of this State."
The Tánaiste responded: "All citizens of the State have every right to state their point of view to government on any issue which is of public importance."
I hope all this back biting can cease and we can just debate the issue without taking personal swipes at people and organisations just to be petty and throw dirt. I am not saying Mr Halligan is the only TD responsible for such actions either, he is just the one that is appearing in the news a lot at the moment.
Debate abortion when you're debating abortion, not everything else.
TotD: Abortion 2 Unconstitutional
A while back I wrote a blog about my view on abortion being made legal in Ireland in a time of change for my personal opinions on it. This is a second blog on that topic because it is coming up a lot again lately. This is only the fourth or fifth piece I have done on current affairs because I generally stay away from them (if you read this in a week it may no longer be relevant) but some things have been annoying me lately and I feel the need to blog about it.
In my last blog on abortion I ended with the idea that it would be interesting to see a referendum campaign on abortion occur throughout Ireland... I take that back!
In the first instance I need to say that I think it is absolutely disgusting that the Dail plans on passing legislation on abortion without a referendum. I believe this to be unconstitutional and I hope it is rejected by the President as such (however, with President Michael D. being a Labour man himself it is extremely unlikely that such a bill would be rejected as unconstitutional by such a president).
In case you were wondering by which article I propose abortion legislation to be unconstitutional it is Article 40.3.3 which states:
"The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right."
Now the government are being really sneaky here. With the tragic death of Mrs. Halappanavar the government have made moves to introduce abortion legislation to Ireland under the middle bit of the above statement (with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother).
However, if abortion is legalised under the circumstances that we are talking about how is the right to life 'equal'? If the mother's right to life supersedes the unborn child's right to life we are no longer talking equal.
In one such instance the new legislation proposes to allow abortions if the woman is at risk of suicide due to the pregnancy. The rigmarole they have introduced with this clause (having to see three doctors first) will make it very unlikely that this clause will be enacted legitimately but people who aren't suicidal at all will use it to get rid of their unwanted pregnancies, thus abusing a stupid system in the first place.
The reason I say that it will unlikely be enacted legitimately is owing to the fact that people who feel suicidal often don't come forward as such, when you are hopeless and at the point of ending your life you don't go see three doctors about it.
Now undoubtedly the woman in the situation of genuine suicidal tendencies due to pregnancy has a right to life. However, constitutionally the unborn child has an equal right to life. This means that the State, under her own constitution, needs to protect both people in this situation. We need to provide appropriate care for the mother during, and after, pregnancy and not just offer ridiculous solutions that may provide temporary release but may also cause longer term emotional problems as the woman, who was already emotionally unstable if she was planning to take her own life, will undoubtedly suffer. How is the state looking after her well being then?
On a final note for this particular posting I wish to also highlight that it is even more disgusting that the political parties backing the bill (which I think is all of them) besides Fianna Fail (who are appearing like the best at the moment but are the party that got us into the mess we are in, let's not forget that Ireland) are not allowing free voting on this issue. The Irish political parties are telling their members in the Dail and Seanad Eireann they will be disciplined if they go against the party and vote no for this bill. I don't think anyone has the right to decide how a person, who is supposed to represent other people, who may all be opposed to the bill, how to vote on any Dail legislation.
On a final note, if the bill does pass it would be worthwhile having an alliance of Pro-Life people, including the Roman Catholic Church and other Churches in Ireland should bring the legislation to court on the issue of the equality being enshrined in the constitution. That might at least get a referendum...
In my last blog on abortion I ended with the idea that it would be interesting to see a referendum campaign on abortion occur throughout Ireland... I take that back!
In the first instance I need to say that I think it is absolutely disgusting that the Dail plans on passing legislation on abortion without a referendum. I believe this to be unconstitutional and I hope it is rejected by the President as such (however, with President Michael D. being a Labour man himself it is extremely unlikely that such a bill would be rejected as unconstitutional by such a president).
In case you were wondering by which article I propose abortion legislation to be unconstitutional it is Article 40.3.3 which states:
"The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right."
Now the government are being really sneaky here. With the tragic death of Mrs. Halappanavar the government have made moves to introduce abortion legislation to Ireland under the middle bit of the above statement (with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother).
However, if abortion is legalised under the circumstances that we are talking about how is the right to life 'equal'? If the mother's right to life supersedes the unborn child's right to life we are no longer talking equal.
In one such instance the new legislation proposes to allow abortions if the woman is at risk of suicide due to the pregnancy. The rigmarole they have introduced with this clause (having to see three doctors first) will make it very unlikely that this clause will be enacted legitimately but people who aren't suicidal at all will use it to get rid of their unwanted pregnancies, thus abusing a stupid system in the first place.
The reason I say that it will unlikely be enacted legitimately is owing to the fact that people who feel suicidal often don't come forward as such, when you are hopeless and at the point of ending your life you don't go see three doctors about it.
Now undoubtedly the woman in the situation of genuine suicidal tendencies due to pregnancy has a right to life. However, constitutionally the unborn child has an equal right to life. This means that the State, under her own constitution, needs to protect both people in this situation. We need to provide appropriate care for the mother during, and after, pregnancy and not just offer ridiculous solutions that may provide temporary release but may also cause longer term emotional problems as the woman, who was already emotionally unstable if she was planning to take her own life, will undoubtedly suffer. How is the state looking after her well being then?
On a final note for this particular posting I wish to also highlight that it is even more disgusting that the political parties backing the bill (which I think is all of them) besides Fianna Fail (who are appearing like the best at the moment but are the party that got us into the mess we are in, let's not forget that Ireland) are not allowing free voting on this issue. The Irish political parties are telling their members in the Dail and Seanad Eireann they will be disciplined if they go against the party and vote no for this bill. I don't think anyone has the right to decide how a person, who is supposed to represent other people, who may all be opposed to the bill, how to vote on any Dail legislation.
On a final note, if the bill does pass it would be worthwhile having an alliance of Pro-Life people, including the Roman Catholic Church and other Churches in Ireland should bring the legislation to court on the issue of the equality being enshrined in the constitution. That might at least get a referendum...
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