The Good Friday/Belfast Agreement reflects on its 21 years of peace and future post-Brexit @BelfastAgmt It has been quite a run that we’ve had all of us, together. Many of you will doubtless remember the time before 1998 and what it was like. We have all, to a greater or lesser extent, broadly all grown…
Category: Current Affairs
Kurds are under attack, and we can’t sit back
It’s easy to say everything this US administration has undertaken so far has been inept, but the open sanction of Turkish advancement in Syrian Kurdistan will likely result in the worst atrocities of the next decade. Whether you’re a patriot, a sceptic or an agnostic in regards to US foreign policy, all evidence points towards…
Expatriate – A hypocritical term?
Expatriate – what does this actually mean? Have we ever stopped and really thought about it? As immigration continues to trend as a ‘hot button’ issue globally and while, whether some like it or not, more and more people are seeking lives abroad, why is there a class distinction between different migrants? Without getting into overt…
Why not Alliance?
Originally published on Northern Slant@NorthernSlant Why not support the Alliance Party? As an outsider with insight into Northern Ireland and an interest in its future, this question is a ‘no-brainer’. This north-eastern corner of the island has been plagued by duelling nationalisms for several centuries – different ‘tribes’, hoisting different flags, plaited with different colours,…
Opinions: Do we always need them? — Brexit
Originally published on Northern Slant, addressing the constitutional question in Northern Ireland @NorthernSlant There’s a saying that opinions “are like a**holes – everyone’s got one and they all stink!” While I do not wholeheartedly believe this, it certainly holds some truth, in my opinion (yes, I see the irony here). What I want to ponder here is, why is it necessary to form an opinion? Rather, if…
Is Russia rightly sceptical of the West?
I feel I will have to provide a few disclaimers throughout this article to be able to pull this argument off, but I’ve never been afraid of a challenge… Disclaimer: This is not an article in support of Russia or to garner any sympathy for the country – I know that its government is steeped…
Why has Uber struggled in Belfast?
Originally published on Northern Slant@NorthernSlant As a former Uber driver from the United States and a patron of the app seemingly since its existence, I have often wondered why Uber has had difficulty gaining traction in Belfast. Back home, the company seems to be taking the ‘ridesharing’ industry by storm just about everywhere. In the tech savvy and…
Opinions: Do We Always Need Them?
Originally published in Northern Slant 7th October 2018 @NorthernSlant There’s a saying that opinions “are like a**holes – everyone’s got one and they all stink.” While I do not wholeheartedly believe this, it certainly holds some truth, in my opinion (yes, I see the irony here). What I want to ponder here is, why is it…
Rekindling the Ulster-American Connection
Originally Published in Northern Slant 3rd August 2018 @NorthernSlant Many have documented the influence of the Scots-Irish (Ulster-Scots) throughout the history of the United States. What comes as a surprise to me, as an American, is just how under-utilised this cultural connection is in Ulster. Sure, we all are familiar with the Kennedys, Tipp O’Neill and the overall influence Ireland…
Anthony Bourdain, The Benevolent Traveller
Originally posted in the Belfast News Letter@News_Letter “If I am an advocate for anything, it is to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody” — Anthony Bourdain More than any person who I…