Month: May 2007

Categories
politics

McDowell’s last bow

I feel intensely sorry for McDowell. You see I’ve actually read many of his comments in the Dail, listened to what he has to say and admired the gusto with which he carried out his duties as Minister for Justice. Never an easy role! Over the years I’ve been impressed by a dedicated, hardworking, erudite and clever man who is not really suitable for Irish politics. I know many who feel delighted he’s gone. They believed hook, line and sinker the media representation of the man who dared to express tough and unpopular opinions in this land of milk and honey. Of course he wasn’t always right and his aloof nature and righteousness didn’t help. The hatred many invested in McDowell would have been better channeled elsewhere. I’d like to believe that they’ll retrospectively understand that he’s a sincere and good man (albeit endowed with a lawerly conceit) and perhaps contrast this with the even more arrogant and corrupt rogues of days gone by. A little corruption goes a long way at the polls, or so the Irish people proved on Thursday.
I share no sense of vindication in the passing of the PD’s into political obscurity. They have served this country well. They have been a vital part of the country’s current success and I’m concerned there are no fitting replacements for either Harney or McDowell in the next government. There are genuinely tough times ahead as the celtic cub emerges into ungainly adolescence under the watchful and often reproachful eye of Mother Europe. The electorate have spoken however and democracy will serve up the government they deserve.
Hopefully the Celtic teenager will eventually learn to overcome the peer pressure of the kids from the 4th estate and look more objectively at our political figures and their relative merits.

Categories
psychology

brimming with possibility

Much of modern media seems like background noise
An endless drone of marketing static. Selling me burgers, cars, movies
One catchy jingle mingles with another. I can’t tell the difference anymore.
I often feel media saturated, my brain soaked through with an incoherence of thoughts, images, sounds, pleas, intentions, subversions and inversions.
The words and images like an old friend, warm and inviting.
But they’re just passing by
& All I hear is static.
They’ve oversold.

Categories
politics

Putin’s Russia

Just seen a brilliant documentary of Channel 4’s More4 station. Death of a Nation is a compelling look at modern Russia. The documentary shows widespread disatisfaction with “Managed Democracy” which seems to be at odds with much of the freedom and civil liberties that we associate with democracy. It puts a lot of our (& my own) whinging about bipartate politics into poignant perspective. It also dismisses Putin’s presentation to the west and highlights a violent and authoritarian regime similiar to Western perceptions of the old USSR. Russia seems like a country on the brink of disaster, caught between the extremes of unchecked capitalism and dictatorial communism. No side truely in control.
The documentary was narrated by Marcel Theroux, Louis’ less sardonic and altogether more thoughtful brother. I won’t discuss it further as it really needs to be watched to be appreciated.

Categories
education

University of the South East?

I sincerely hope the proposed University of the South East gets the go ahead. However, while I’d prefer it to be University College Waterford I’m more concerned about the logistics than the nomenclature. Calling it the University of the South East is one of those political decisions which are necessary when you need to sell an idea to politicians who are already counting the cost in votes elsewhere. (e.g CORK) However, the title is still problematic as there’s a perception that the less specific the region represented by a college’s title, the less significant it is. This is a worldwide perception but it’s particularly strong in the UK as new universities were created in the 60s by upgrading advanced institutes of technology. No, the irony of this is not lost on me but why hinder yourself from the outset?
However, the other issue is the logistics of a widely distributed campus. It just doesn’t work. In an era when inter disciplinary research is being promoted it’s wild to suggest that schools should be distributed amongst Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford etc. It would be a shame to think that Waterford would campaign so hard and so long for a University only to see the chance to establish a critical mass of courses, facilities & expertise impractically distributed throughout the South East.