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Shamrock Poppy Pin Frank Feighan

As we approach the centenary of Armistice Day, here's why I'm asking Irish politicians to wear a Shamrock Poppy

It’s time to stop airbrushing the Irish soldiers who died in World War I out of our history, writes Fine Gael senator Frank Feighan.

MILITARY HISTORIAN TOM Burnell estimates that more than 200,000 Irish people fought in World War I. Around 50,000 of them died and 30,000 of the people who died came from the counties that later became the Republic of Ireland.

Unlike in Britain there was no conscription on the island of Ireland, so all those soldiers chose to fight, around one in seven men of service age enlisted voluntarily.

The thousands of Irish people who fought and died in World War I were shop workers, farm labourers, brothers, sons and daughters. They came from every city, town, village and townland across the island of Ireland.

Soldiers signed up for different reasons, including financial necessity, out of a sense of adventure, or importantly in an effort to secure the long-awaited Home Rule Bill for Ireland.

In my own county of Roscommon, more than 550 people are estimated to have lost their lives and 126 of them came from my home town of Boyle. Indeed, I only discovered recently that four of my close neighbours died in the war – they were the Wynne brothers, who had lived only 100 yards from my house.

As we all know too well, Ireland and the UK have a shared and divided history. It is a history marked by tragedy and triumph, success and failure, loss and hope.

Understanding history

As Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said this week, by understanding Irish history, we help to encourage understanding of it – but not with the intention of challenging anyone’s loyalty.

Part of my own family’s political lineage illustrates the complexities of Irish history. My grandfather James Feely was a Commander in the Old IRA in North Roscommon, a Sinn Féin councillor and was a prisoner in Mountjoy and the Curragh during the War of Independence.

Along with all other prisoners, he was released on the signing of the Anglo-Irish agreement in 1921 and later became one of the first members of the Irish State’s fledgling police force, an Garda Síochána.

The shamrock poppy pin which I am wearing this week was commissioned by the Limerick branch of the Royal British Legion in 2014 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I and to remember the tens of thousands of Irish men and women from the across the island of Ireland who lost their lives.

I believe that this Irish version of the poppy should be more acceptable for those people, who otherwise would be reluctant to wear the poppy, to remember the Irish dead.

Commemorative Symbol

To me, the poppy is a commemorative symbol: poppies grew in the fields where the battles and slaughter in World War I took place, a place where many Irish men are now buried.

The poppy was made famous in a poem written by Lieutenant Colonel McCrae, a serving military doctor from Canada. As the start of the poem goes:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow; Between the crosses, row on row. 

From the 1920s onwards, the poppy was adopted as a symbol of remembrance.

Thankfully, I believe we have arrived at a point where the poppy is no longer a controversial symbol in this country.

There is a new political dawn in this country where our shared histories on this island allow us to remember all those who served and died, especially those from the 26 counties whose sacrifices up until very recently were ignored.

The current climate of tolerance and understanding gave me the opportunity to make an important gesture, when in 2012, I wore a poppy in Dáil Éireann on Remembrance Day.

Since then, we have had a very successful and historically informative decade of commemorations, which opened up access to historical records.

These records, along with local and national historical and cultural information have enhanced our understanding and respect for different traditions and versions of seminal moments, which shaped who we are today.

Those events include the campaign for Home Rule; the Great Lock-out; the Suffragette movement; the signing of the Ulster Covenant; the outbreak of World War 1; the Easter Rising; the War of Independence and the foundation of the Free State.

For me, being the first politician in 16 years to wear the poppy in the Irish parliament back in 2012 was a symbolic gesture to recognise those Irish people who fought and whose sacrifices were airbrushed out of our history.

varadkar poppy Taoiseach wearing Poppy in the Dail 2017

Last year, I presented an Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, with a Shamrock Poppy pin which he proudly wore in the Dáil to commemorate and remember the sacrifices of Irish soldiers – both nationalist and unionist – across the island of Ireland who fought and died in the First World War.

11 November 2018 will mark a very significant centenary – the end of the First World War. So this year I sent a shamrock poppy pin to every Irish MEP, member of the Oireachtas and councillor as well as to members of the UK Parliament.

In doing so, I invited them to mark the centenary of the upcoming Armistice Day, in their own way, either by wearing one of these pins or making another gesture.

I believe it is important more than ever to remember and honour these Irish men and women. Lest we forget.

Fine Gael Senator Frank Feighan is Vice-Chair of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly and a member of the Good Friday Implementation Committee.

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    Mute Captain kirk
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    Jul 25th 2014, 7:25 AM

    I see a movie starring Tom Hanks in this

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:52 AM

    wait until Santy opens his post this year …. he’ll have to find a lot of land Poor Santy !
    poor Rudolph !

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    Mute Daniel Wilson
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    Jul 25th 2014, 11:44 AM

    Dermot what the hell are you talking about?

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jul 26th 2014, 1:05 AM

    It’s a present – and what will every little girl want this Christmas ..their own country and who gets the job of delivering presents at Christmas ?

    7
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    Mute Ruth Rochester
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:26 AM

    As a King he’s got the right idea, you work FOR your people for the betterment of all, neighbours included. Gets my support!!!

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:52 AM

    I’m not entirely sure how many people he intends to feed with an area of only 800 square miles but, if it does get the funding to go ahead, it would certainly make a strong point.

    43
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    Mute Paul Parsons
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    Jul 25th 2014, 7:25 AM

    Dibs if he gets bored.

    194
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    Mute Shane Hickey
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:20 AM

    I think he’s brilliant. Who would have believed there is still land on this planet that no-one owns or claims

    191
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    Mute Play Against Par
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:52 AM

    He has to be from Cork! They think everything is theirs, biy!!

    123
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    Mute Steve M
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:09 AM

    Reminds me of the time Smithers, Burns and Homer are flying in a plane, trying to find an island to start a new country on:

    Mr. Burns: Ohhh, there’s a big one! And it has freedom written all over it!
    Waylon Smithers: Sir… that’s Cuba.
    Mr. Burns: Cuba, eh? Take ‘er down, Smithers.
    Waylon Smithers: Uh, you’re flying the plane, sir.
    Mr. Burns: Excellent.

    182
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    Mute Conor Conneally
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:01 AM

    A white guy going around bits of Africa claiming it for himself without consulting the locals. Didn’t that used to be called colonialism?

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    Mute Leopold Dedalus
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:19 AM

    Not if no one lives on that land

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:58 AM

    Looks like the flag is the mightiest weapon. Stick it in the ground somewhere and thousands die.

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:51 AM

    is the moon safe Paul ?
    I get your point btw ;excellent !

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    Mute Damo
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    Jul 25th 2014, 7:22 AM

    Nutter.

    122
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    Mute neeneee
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:09 AM

    I can’t believe I’ve just wasted 5mins of my break reading about,that head the ball

    46
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    Mute royston T justice
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:47 AM

    ..I hope he has invested in his defences, I’m sure Sudan might want that land off him & “princess” some time in the future

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jul 25th 2014, 11:05 AM

    This story is so old it has whiskers, anonymous Journal writer have you been on leave for an extended period of time ?

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    Mute Jack Ripper
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:22 AM

    Google Sealand. It is a hilarious story of a man who claimed a disused platform in the sea and declared it a country. He was even once overthrown but he managed to get it back again. He has his own passports and currency… and royal family.

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    Mute Paul Somers
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:13 AM

    Absolutely brilliant http://www.sealandgov.org/title-pack, excellent idea :)

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    Mute Jack Ripper
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    Jul 25th 2014, 12:51 PM

    I’d say their web server hosting service is far more lucrative ;-)

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    Mute Moira Connolly
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:28 AM

    The locals will wait until he irrigates the land and has crops growing, then they will claim it back.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:43 AM

    There are no locals, it’s unclaimed because nobody lives there and until recently nobody wanted to live there.

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    Mute Moira Connolly
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:52 AM

    But see how many come out of the woodwork if he makes the land viable

    43
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    Mute Pokey2013
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    Jul 25th 2014, 7:43 AM

    Harrison Ford was already in a movie like this, “The Mosquito Coast”.

    44
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    Mute ChocSaltyBallz
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:45 AM

    Once the country gets on it’s feet he will be surprised how many people want his hard worked profitable land people will probably die and if he’s an American citizen anything could happen !

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    Mute Claire Foster
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:10 AM

    Islamic extremists will find him & kill him

    37
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    Mute John Stewart
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:08 AM

    @Claire will Christian extremists rob his oil?

    31
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    Mute Claire Foster
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:13 AM

    Couldn’t tell you … All I hear about is Islamic extremists that side of the world…

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    Mute John Stewart
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:16 AM

    Never heard of Iraq and the invisible WMDs?

    16
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    Mute Claire Foster
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:43 AM

    Can’t say that I have

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:45 AM

    John, do you have to turn every article into a bash the US thread?

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:54 AM

    Jason he didn’t mention the U.S. …it was Britain that provided the W.M.D. evidence …..
    “The eye that sees only what it wants to is the blindest of them all !”
    Ching Zo ; Chinese Philosopher.

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    Mute John Stewart
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    Jul 25th 2014, 11:51 AM

    What happened to Dr.David Kelly?

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    Mute Patrick Varley
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    Jul 25th 2014, 7:30 AM

    This was on an episode of QI XL.

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    Mute jkcdub
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    Jul 25th 2014, 7:25 AM

    So what, I claimed planet Jupiter…

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    Mute Leigh Power
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    Jul 25th 2014, 7:30 AM

    You planted a flag on Jupiter?

    110
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    Mute Carlos Bandanas
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:04 AM

    I claim Offaly. Nobody wants it anyway.

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    Mute neeneee
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    Jul 25th 2014, 11:05 AM

    @jkcdub I’d say a few people have claimed Uranus a few times :)

    34
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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:30 AM

    He will go where no one else will go ,lovely if it works

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    Mute Kieran Monaghan
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:17 AM

    Good luck to him..

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    Mute David Giles
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:18 AM

    I wonder what the “subjects” of this so-called Kingdom have to say about this ?

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:14 AM

    There aren’t any, only his family.

    32
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    Mute Dec B
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    Jul 25th 2014, 11:47 AM

    Bir Tawil population: 0.

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    Mute Juan Venegas
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:29 AM

    What a miserable comments from everyone who thinks is brilliant what this man is doing while on the other hand criticizes the Queen, and when asked why they say “I’m not against the British Royal family, I am against Royalty in general, people are not minions”

    If you are one of those who thinks he’s great while being against the British Crown, then, you are a miserable poor little brainwashed eejit with no brain of your own.

    I personally am against his idea of being a king as I am against ANY kind of Royalty. And he is worst, what a father example by making a spoil little girl a princess, future spoil brat in the making

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    Mute Amy gaffney
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:01 AM

    Well it can’t be a democracy if he’s the only one voting! Sheesh calm down and take your blood pressure pills.

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    Mute Startled Sapien
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:37 AM

    Did you actually read the whole article? It may be a hair-brained idea but the guy has the best of intentions.

    What have you done recently to make the world a better place?

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    Mute Charlie Mountney
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:41 AM

    Totally right Juan. Fool off a man taking his daughter into an unstable region and then saying, Here I am. Bad father.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:49 AM

    Unstable region? It’s unclaimed because there’s nothing there. How can it be unstable if there’s nobody there to make it unstable?

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    Mute joehig100
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    Jul 25th 2014, 12:50 PM

    Send him a memo letting him know ireland has low corporate tax if he fancies doing a bit if outsourcing

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    Mute Captain Bumhum
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    Jul 25th 2014, 9:01 AM

    Heh heh! Fair balls!

    11
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    Mute John Bransfield
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    Jul 25th 2014, 12:15 PM

    ISIS must be kicking themselves they didn’t find it first.

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    Mute John Fairclough
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    Jul 25th 2014, 11:44 AM

    Does it have a Wetherspoons?

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    Mute Captain Bumhum
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:18 AM

    Didn’t some oul lad do something similar in Arklow a few years back?

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    Mute Ray
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:58 AM

    No crown no King.I don’t see a crown or cloak for that matter.

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    Mute Dismas Okello
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    Jul 25th 2014, 11:20 AM

    If it takes of and achieves nation status how long before it becomes another corrupt African Republic. I’d give it 2 generations.
    Headline news 2054
    “King Jeremiah Heaton III. Despot of North Sudan and his 28 child brides today welcomes King Obama V of the confederation of America to a barbecue of lightly grilled Egyptian served on a bed of Sudanese toenails”
    Oh I can see it all. The new Cecil Rhodes has set it all in motion.

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    Mute Dismas Okello
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    Jul 25th 2014, 11:25 AM

    Of course, if he was a king it wouldn’t be a republic.
    But sure that’s only semantics

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    Mute Bill
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:17 AM

    Just a bit of a laugh

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    Mute Daniel Dunne
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    Jul 25th 2014, 12:04 PM

    Where is he going to get the money to do all this? Quantitative Easing?

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Jul 25th 2014, 1:27 PM

    It says it in the article if you actually read the thing…

    6
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