[Benson_Carter]

this raises some interesting points and addresses some very important issues regarding Sinn Fein and the IRA. There are more and more folks of Nationalist persuasion here in the USA who can not condone the actions of the IRA, and what happened in Cuba was not surprising but was also the straw that broke the Irish-American Nationalist camels back, so to speak.

I don't agree with Sinn Fein taking the Queen's money while not taking their seats in Parliment, but if the Brits are dumb enough to let it happen then so be it. In all honesty, what's the use of electing Adams and McGuinness to Parliment if they're not going to accomplish anything.

Isn't it a big joke anyways? Some say Adams has been taking the Queens's shilling for years and years anyways, so what's new about this.

[Benson_Carter]

for discussion, please

[Benson_Carter]

thanks for the NewsHounds link!

[constitutiongirl]

Sinn Fein MPs refuse to take an oath of loyalty to the Queen(duh), therefore they're 'useless' in Parliament. A friend of mine near Ballycastle has a brother she hasn't seen or heard from in 10 years. She believes he's been 'exiled' and thinks he's afraid to correspond (for the safety of the family in NI). That's one of the many dangers of becoming entangled with paramilitaries. If you piss them off or do something violating their 'laws', its not as if they can imprison someone. The only options seem to be assassination or exile.

[constitutiongirl]

Any guess as to how many bodyguards Gerry will need in London? :)