The Queen Shakes Hands With Martin McGuinness

This week, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II shook hands with the IRA's former Commander, Martin McGuinness. This was a historic moment in the peace process, which is progressing despite attempts by dissidents and die-hard insurrectionists to derail it.

Ten years ago, this handshake would have been unthinkable but this week it became a reality and in a country where symbolism is so important, this was a symbol nobody could ignore.

No doubt there are those who would say McGuinness has sold out, but I would say that he has achieved more by putting down the bomb and the gun than he ever achieved with them in his hands. Northern Ireland still has a long way to go to achieving full stability for all its people, but it is getting there and I think he sees that.

For the Queen, this must also have been an incredibly difficult thing to do. McGuinness would have been one of the architects of the plot that resulted in the murder of her cousin, Lord Louis Mountbatten and to come face to face with him and shake his hand is an act of magnanimity some might argue he doesn't deserve. But shake his hand she did, because it was the right thing to do. The right thing for peace in Northern Ireland.

Going back to the symbolism of the event, this is another example of how essential it is to retain the Crown. A handshake between McGuinness and a transient official such as a President would never have carried such weight.... would never have been beamed around the world as it was. The symbolism of this one, otherwise small act, is enhanced enormously because it is the Queen who made it.

Last year, Elizabeth The Great (as I think history should record her) visited the Irish Republic. She was welcomed warmly be a people who would once have hung her from the nearest lamp post as soon as look at her. Sure there were a few dissenters, but they were pretty easily ignored by their own people as an embarrassment.

All these things are little steps on the road to peace between Britain and the Republic of Ireland, and the crushing of violent insurrection. They are made more significant by the fact that they are made by a monarch who is truly a global giant and a symbol of all that is good about our country.

We should be grateful to have her and so should Northern Ireland.

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It was indeed a very important event. I don't think the Monarchy seems much of a purposr other than publicity like this, her visit to the Republic was a big thing for Ireland and I think it was a big step. This was arguable bigger.

Why is she even significant?

No one with a normal functioning brain looks twice at the queen in my town.

She's an attention seeker.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Why is she even significant?

No one with a normal functioning brain looks twice at the queen in my town.

She's an attention seeker.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Why is she even significant?

No one with a normal functioning brain looks twice at the queen in my town.

She's an attention seeker.

Doesn't stop everybody putting out plastic flags because shes been paid to make a couple of speeches a year for 60 years.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Why is she even significant?

No one with a normal functioning brain looks twice at the queen in my town.

She's an attention seeker.

It's not surprising that nobody in your town pays much attention to the Queen of Britain, which may possibly be because you live in Italy.

Then again, a country like Italy wouldn't have anything to do with a person of German descent imposing themselves as any sort of head of state without a vote from the people, who wears a crown, lives in marvellous opulence and also calls themself the head of the majority church in that country, now would they..?

No... Italy would never have such a situation.....

Spoiler:

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Thomond wrote:It was indeed a very important event. I don't think the Monarchy seems much of a purposr other than publicity like this, her visit to the Republic was a big thing for Ireland and I think it was a big step. This was arguable bigger.

Thank you for your constructive comment, Thom, which made a considered and intelligent contribution to the issue being discussed.

Can I ask you..... as an Irishman, do you think the peace process is moving along well, and headed for a satisfactory and lasting accord between the communities of Northern Ireland..?

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I live in the most southern part of Ireland. Pretty much as far away from NI as possible, I'm probably not the guy to ask!



Things seem to be motoring along nicely, sport is having a big part of it, the success of NI golfers is having an effect obviously and the whole of Ireland are behind the lot of them. Ulster seem to be keen to try and bring rugby to areas that were stoutly republican, and there seemed to be great support from both sides of NI on their HC run this year. Of course there are still the occasional incident but they seem to be on the decline. The likes of Notch/Rodders would probably give you a better answer as I said I'm not living up there.

I think the visit to the North was more symbolicaly important. The trip to the South, sure it was symbolic, but we didn't have the problems as the people in the North had.