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I don't actually know much about him, I just studied some of his poems for my exams
But yeah that was the poem I was thinking about...

*my internet has gone a bit weird - it keeps repeating post *

I still got his surname wrong
I was referring to a different poem - I'll look for it later.
But yeah the digging one was about his livelihood as a poet and comparing it to his forefathers work of digging.

Never mind I just remembered - Seamus Healy
Oh dear I'm terrible

Thank you for the awesome poems
'Wounds' was my favourite - I tried saying it with an accent - but it got worse as I went along

Actually that reminds; what is the name of that famous Irish poet who did the poem 'digging' and that one about when his brother died?
His name sounds something like Shamely Hearley - OK that was very embarrassing

It's seems I officially own your VM board

Back to what you said - I agree totally. People always need a scape-goat.
And sectarian conflict is always exploited - there's always someone who profits from such things -and would rather they continued. It's easy to add fuel to the fire - especially when there's lot's on embers from past fires. OK maybe I went a bit err But that's what it always seem to be like - I mean people are still calling this a clash of civilisations and the use words such as crusaders + crusade + Jihad. This seems to also be the case in other conflicts. Don't people ever forgive - even generations after? I think education is vital to solve these things out -otherwise history will only repeat itself. People defiantly still haven't improved on this.
However I doubt we'll ever have wars like the crusades or like the great world wars - though I may be proven wrong. Conflict has become much more complex - modern warfare is most definitely a new kind of beast. These complex global conflicts are all getting a bit blurred, people in my eyes seem to be exploiting this.

About Michael Longley - I've heard of him before but never read anything by him. Any suggestions for his work?

Really?
Well it's been mentioned in loads of history documentaries and books
I am a history geek
When I was little the only books I would willing read were history books, so I got given loads

But yeah, Imagine if a Muslim or pagan, Satanist (generally a non-Christian) went to a gathering and preached...
Plus remember when those atheist adverts were put out, and loads of religious people got angry
Yet there are loads of Christian adverts, for such things as Alpha courses.
Oh and have you seen those bus adverts which are in America, encouraging people to leave Islam, and offering them support?
Imagine if there was one aimed at Christians!!!

In the end I blame revelations. It put's Christians into this defensive apocalypse mood.

It really gets me when Christians criticise Muslims non-stop and do all they can to insult them. Then when the Muslims either try to convert a Christian or criticise Christianity (you get the idea), they go berserk. Bah, peoples hypocrisy. Yes I know Christians are persecuted in Muslim countries, but when that convert to Islam from Christianity had his home attacked in America or when Mosques are vandalised -there is very little media coverage. But if they were Christian or Jewish the story would explode.

Besides I would like to know this history he is talking about.

You know how people always go on about how the west is better because of scientific achievements.Well what about during the medieval age, when the Islamic world was way a head of Europe -which was being held back by the Church.
Plus the Crusaders basically killed anyone - Muslim , Jews and Christians. Yet Saladin did not have Christians killed when he took Jerusalem.
Actually it's rather ironic that during the Crusades - most of the Jewish population fought with the Muslim armies.

Some people are just confused
What did they ask you afterwards, how awkward did it get

Paganism doesn't have to necessarily mean polytheism - though most pagans are, or are at least henotheist or pantheist. But I do see what you mean. There is polydeism as well
Ha so many terms - it gets confusing sometimes

So what was the debate you were having, I'm intrigued