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FRIDAY REPORT - MAY 13, 2011

Today being Friday the 13th. a date considered unlucky by many seafarers including NAUTICAL LOG we are staying away from maritime issues.  This does not mean however that we do not have something to say and it continues our opinion about the visit of Elizabeth Windsor to the Republic of Ireland.  There are two points in particular.  A prominent Irish politician has stated that the State Visit is:


 "premature and to soon.....very aware of the symbolism of a state visit by Queen Elizabeth of England and the offence it will cause to many Irish citizens".


While other Irish politicians welcomed the visit with such remarks as "this historic visit" and would be warmly welcomed by the "vast majority" of the people of Ireland.  This may well be as the Irish are pretty docile these days lulled by decades of civilised-socialism with the Government and European Union handouts taking care of most everything.  It is reported that 81% are in favour of this State Visit and 19% against it.


One wonders how they will react when the British civilian MI5, MI6 and British military SAS units due to accompany the State Visitor respond to protests - legal protests - will they experience once again British Troops imposing authority on Irish Citizens in Ireland?  Will these units end up behaving like the RIC Auxiliary units send in the 1920's which is the last time we had British Troops in Ireland - at least the part now known as the Republic of Ireland?  Already An Garda Síochána (Garda) have borrowed crowd suppression vans from the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) now called the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).  If the danger to Elizabeth Windsor during her visit is that great that the Garda and Irish Defence Forces / Oglaigh na h-Eireann cannot control and contain it then the visit is clearly very unwise and should be cancelled.


The other point is that on May 05, 2011  "The Irish Times" reported that the copyright of the Irish National Anthem is due to expire at the end of 2012.   "A Soldier's Song" that is "Amhrán na bhFiann" to which the State holds the copyright purchased in 1933 to ensure free access by all who wish to play it.  It is already being mentioned that the debate is expected to reopen about making a change.  In view of the apathetic Irish thinking perhaps a return to the Elizabeth Windsor Anthem "God Save the Queen" will satisfy that current Irish political thinking just 90 years after achieving Free Statehood and only 64 years since becoming a Republic.  NAUTICAL LOG is appalled and saddened, God Save Ireland.


Good Watch.

Please remember the seafarers held captive by pirates off Somalia - let us work with maritime interests and others to free them.

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