Remembrance and New Countries.

Day 2,332, 22:44 • Published in Ireland Cuba • by Harrilal


This week, Trinidad and Tobago mourns the loss of a true son of the soil: Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson. I do not have the literary prowess to truly do the man justice. So, I will simply give a very brief story which is but a glimpse into his character.

In 1990, a group of armed fanatics stormed parliament and held many government officials hostage, including then prime minister, ANR Robinson. After giving him a beating, they instructed him to relay a message to the regiment. They told him to order the regiment to lay down arms and accept all their demands. Despite being threatened with death for defying them... He said clearly over the system that the men were murderers and torturers, "Attack with full force!"

For his 'disobedience', he was shot in the kneecap and bore a limp for the rest of his life. A visible reminder of the courage he displayed that day. The man was willing to die for his country (and nearly did). By the way, the coup attempt failed... though, you probably guessed that.

Robinson would later earn the country's highest award for this and other great things he did.

He was not just a Trinbagonian patriot. He was also a global force. Here's a link to an article where ICC President Sang-Hyun Song stated that Robinson would be remembered by many as the grandfather of the International Criminal Court.

I will close this segment by giving the Midnight Robber the final quote.
Res' in peace, Robbie. Gi' dem Hell in Heaven!

Vote for New Countries.

I notice there is a poll for new countries. The top two, according to the admins will be selected. Undoubtedly, they will take the votes into consideration when they select their two as well.

The five front runners are:
Cuba (3503 votes [12.80%])
Ecuador (2897 votes [10.59%])
Georgia (2275 votes [8.31%])
Iceland (2454 votes [8.97%])
Jamaica (1785 votes [6.52%])

I have always stated that the instant a Caribbean country was added, I would join them. If Cuba stays on top or if Jamaica creeps up to the top two, I will in all likelihood be leaving Ireland (not without some sadness in my heart).

They will almost certainly become a puppet to one of the larger countries, but it's something I just have to do. Of course, this is not in stone. The Caribbean countries could very well slip from the front. I figured I would say it again, so that if it comes to pass, folks are not shocked.

eIrish History Entry

An Sluagh has a competition/lottery running as we speak.

As I missed most of the big things that happened in recent years, I will write about the one significant event that I actually researched. The Shannon Exercise. Incidentally, I was among the original editors of the Shannon Exercise wiki entry (you can tell from the liberal use of parenthesis... I can't help myself).

Once upon a time (2009!), Ireland was considered a very uneventful, neutral place. Too boring for some. Nithraldur and Kumnaa (the Irish and UK leaders) came up with a plan to have a mock war, but treat it as a real war. They drew up a secret contract in case the UK attack was actually successful (a retreat was supposed to be ordered by the UK) to protect Irish sovereignty.

Anyway, when the UK attacked Shannon from Northern Ireland, the inefficiency of the Irish Defense Force was exposed. People spent money on weapons and the like when they were encouraged not to. People did not follow orders, etcetera. Had the UK actually been attacking, Ireland could have potentially been wiped. The IDF was reformed shortly thereafter.

I chose this event because it happened just prior to my arrival. As such, I saw many of the resulting changes. It also reminds us of a time when the UK and Ireland worked together. Of course there was still mud slinging on both sides here and there, but there wasn't any real tension. Check out the wiki entry for a more complete summary of the exercise.

The two paragraphs that actually sum up the event have 125 words. If you count the first and fourth paragraphs, there are even more! So I think that ought to qualify? Get writing Ireland! You don't want me winning!

Would you kindly, Ask Harrilal!
How it works: I take the first five (5) questions asked in the previous article's comment section and answer them however I see fit.

Lalo292 asks, "¿Cuál consideras que es el idioma mas difícil de aprender, y cual el mas fácil, y por qué?"
English was the easiest. It was my first! Spanish was not too hard. Considering those are the only ones I know, Spanish would be the hardest language I learned. Though technically I have tried to learn French and failed miserably... so French for me was hardest because I STILL can't understand it. I think that covers the why as well!

John Gormley asks, "How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man?"
Bob Dylan says that the answer is blowin' in the wind. I think he's full of it. There is generally an event in every man's life where it finally occurs to him (and to his peers) that he is truly a man. For every person, that event comes at different periods in their life. So the answer could be one or one hundred depending on the person.
Alternatively, Bhane says 42 and Colby says 1, depending on road conditions.

Viktor Kurgan asks, "why you no answer to my question H?"
Ah, but I did. As you correctly pointed out, I answered it in the previous article. I forgive you though. I did four rapid fire articles that week, so it was easy to miss one.

Releasethe Krakken asks, "How many socks does Hank Sock have?"
One? I don't rightly know. I do know that you should not judge a man by the contents of his sock drawer though. You CAN, but you shouldn't.

Grainne Ni Mhaille asks, "Why do you think you have so few entries, so far?"
I'm not sure. It's easier to comment and troll than write an article, I suppose. A couple less buttons to press. Perhaps laziness?

And that’s five!
Remember folks! The first five (5) questions asked in the comments of this article, will be answered in my next article!
Thanks for reading!

Classifieds and Personals
The classifieds and personals are not an indication of Harrilal’s personal, political, religious or social affiliation.

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Seeking lovely, amorous lass with cask of fine single malt for serious romantic relationship. Please send images of cask to Paddy OBrien.
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Support Ireland!
Buy Irish!
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Join Escuadrón Chapultepect!
A very nice and chocoflanistic MU!
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The classifieds and personals are not an indication of Harrilal’s personal, political, religious or social affiliation.

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