Snapshots on a Refrigerator

ian: 13th Aug 2002 - 20:44 GMT

I really like this.. good color, contour, contrast, focus.

Peter: 14th Aug 2002 - 00:54 GMT

hey, i have a print of photo that hanging in my room! :D

ABCDE: 9th Dec 2005 - 17:10 GMT

Went to George Best's funeral. Afterwards drove to a Pub in Falls Rd area. Two of us both Catholics, frosty reception please don't think accents judge a man, from England but disappointment as we only after a pint. if you were there like to hear from you.

AIRBORNE: 15th Mar 2006 - 22:39 GMT

DROVE ROUND THE FALLS ON SATURDAY;THEY MIGHT OF CLEANED THEIR ACT UP A BIT BUT I STILL WOULDNT THINK TWICE ABOUT SLOTTIN ONE OF YOU CATHOLIC PARASITES.LOYALISTS HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THE WHOLE CITY.YOU FUCKIN MULLOCHS HAVE LOST YOUR WAR.DEATH TO ALL REPUBLICANS.

A Belfast man called Karlo: 12th Apr 2006 - 00:37 GMT

i feel i must say something to at least let people know there are those of us that live in Belfast who DO posess a bit of wit,understanding and compassion..it really is quite sad to read such things like that last one,how can anyone be happy with their lives whilst exsisting in such a frame of mind? i could easily say such things to anyone,it doesnt really take much to degrade others.im sure this person (airborne) and the many others that have contributed to this site in the same vain feel they are winning some kind of phsycological game with every entry,the sad thing being of course is that they lose a part of their own dignity by showing people,particulary those that reside outside of ireland/northern ireland,how in many ways,it seems as though we have cornered the market on hatred,bigotry,arrogance,ignorance,stubborness,and every other facet of negativety,all of which of course,can be summed up with one word-fear...fear is a powerful emotion and has the ability to not only cloud your judgement on the world around you,but can also destoy any potential one might posess to live a happy and meaningful life.it is true to say that EVERYWHERE in this world,we are rapidly losing our ability to communicate with eachother as the human beings we so often aspire to be.when you lash out at others,and blame them for everything that is wrong with your life,then you are ignoring where those problems ultimately reside..in your own mind.i am not foolish enough to ignore the reality of the conflict in ireland,or indeed,this planet,i too have suffered,3 of my family members and 1 of my friends where murdered as a direct result of this war,but i,like so many others,have lost loved ones to what can only be described as the 'side effects' of this conflict,namely suicide,and in a less dramatic sense,a witness to the mental deterrioration of the people around me..i so completely feel there has to be a concerted effort to reverse all of this by everyone-EVERYWHERE..fear is our number one enemy and fear resides in us ALL,in one form or another.we must endevour to understand ourselves,as people,as humans,as a species,and as posessers of THE most amazing piece of biological machinery..our minds..we know NOTHING about the true capabilities that resides between our ears,it is practically staring us in the face! there are those of us who wish to defeat others,and they are many,but there are those of us,who make up the true majority,who wish only to live their lives in peace surrounded by those who we love,and who love us.of course,we live in a world that is dominated by war and a desire for power,but war is the cause of the few,who most of us will never meet,but sadly will always live with their effect..the biggest irony,is that for such the seemingly intellegent lot that we think we are,we allow ourselves to be controlled by a very small number of people,who are completely aware of how fragile and easily influenced our minds can be..we presume that we can do nothing about this.there are so many people who wish to change our global state of affairs by protesting and boycotting,joining political parties or revoloutionary groups.in certain countries and quarters,these approaches have had at least some measure of success,oppressive governments removed,dictators deposed,and armies defeated..complete success however,has,and will remain elusive because we,as humans, are ignoring a much more fundemental element..an element that applies also to those who just try to get along with their lives..this being an endevourment to fully and properly understand ourselves AS A SPEICES..beginning with our very own minds,small steps make giant leaps,we have been programmned from birth on how we should behave as acceptable human beings,if this happens,you must feel this way,if that happens,you must feel that way,this offends you,that doesnt,he's wrong,your right,even,when you think about it,to be brought up as boy and girl,she wears pink,he wears blue,she washes the dishes(sadly there are still too many cases)he goes out to work..as daft as this all might seem,the fact that we all buy into SO MUCH CRAP,completely incapacitates our very real ability to think for ourselves..we are so obsessed with what seperates us ( i.e race,religion,money) that we miss the very thing that unites us..our humanity,if you think that the world cant be changed,try looking in the mirror,if you start right there,then the world will change around you..i live in hope that someday,we will all get to take a collective sigh of relief,and ask ourselves,'how did we ever let that all happen'..the state of this world is the cause of those who wish to dominate,and we let them do it in such a way that they are rubbing their hands with glee..the first and most important battle is with our own conscience,how can we help others if we cant help ourselves? i have no desire to live my life in frustration..please, for gods sake,for our sake, WAKE UP!!!!

A Poet in Philadelphia: 11th May 2006 - 14:38 GMT

Having lived in Belfast several times, I can agree wholeheartedly with the above comment that the change begins with the person in the mirror. And having lived in the US for most of my life, I can absolutely agree with them. Here in America we are in the grips of the extreme-right, who are knocking off our civil rights and liberties at a brave pace, and telling us, similar to Hitler's Germany of the 1930s, "It's THEIR fault," pointing to one group (Muslims) and calling them evil. The Bush administration even staged 9/11 to prove it.

Though there is a movement afoot to impeach Bush and Cheney, there is such a corporate power grid surrounding to hold steay the flow of corporate grants, tax breaks and deregulation, that it will take an unprecedented move from Congress to remove Bush & Co.

Considering that madmen and bad governments are often the norm on this planet (ref. the Sudanese government, for one), and that war has always been with us, and probably always will be, I agree with the writer above, that it more comes down to individual consciousness than to political movements. I don't think that the world is entirely broken, and that we have all come here to fix it. But I do think we are meant to use our minds to envision what we desire - in this case, peace and human rights - and to steadily hold that vision till it is the only normalcy, the only reality we will believe in. When that happens, we will have it in greater form than we ever have.

Anyway, wanted to say to the above writer, "Nice one," as they say in Belfast.

A Poet in Philadelphia: 11th May 2006 - 14:51 GMT

Correction on second sentence of the above - meant to say I agree with the comments of the previous writer, not that I agree with "them" meaning the conservative US view.

The Healing Leaf: 13th Oct 2006 - 00:51 GMT

Hey, Ulsterman and Republican! Yo!

Interested in what my Canadian government did to our First nations people 100-150 years ago? Exactly what the British did to ALL the original Irish 400 years ago, and beyond! [modern Canada is nothing but a British colony].

The seeds of this insidious "colonialism" came from our British, and for that matter, French forefathers.

We took these poor less than humanoids, our Indians, and butchered them. Then we stole their land, robbed them of all their resources, forced them onto "reservations", destroyed their culture, called them heathen, pagans, and savages, changed their language, forced Protestantism and Catholicism on them, all in the name of our wonderful God, Christ Jesus our Lord! What do ya think about that...eh?!

Then, about 1900, the Catholic and Anglican churches contracted to the Canadian government to remove our little Indian kids from off their reservations and forced them into residential schools. Tore them little snappers right outta their parents arms, we did!

They weren't allowed to speak their language, couldn't practice their customs nor have their own names.

Both Protestantism and Catholicism was forced upon them. They were physically, emotionally and sexually abused as well.

Some died awful deaths. Priests, pastors, nuns, they're all guilty!

The sins of our fathers! What we experienced here, is what y'all have also experienced. The Imperialistic, demonic spirit at work.

Ya'all, both Ulsterman and Republican, are victims of the "Colonial spirit", as we too, have come under it's domain, only we are a younger nation.

Canada is composed of nations within a nation. 250 First nations lay claim to this country. Is it any wonder that we have 250 broken, humiliated and wounded nations within our borders?

Some of the names we whites call them - "drunken Indian", "no good fer nuthin' savages", "useless redskins" et al. Have a familiar ring? You Irish republicans might identify with something similar.

Our guys haven't quite twigged to "guerilla warfare" as yet, not like you boys.....but our day's a comin'! We've had a few "hotspots", but tensions are a buildin!

Landclaims, compensation, healing houses....the chickens have come home to roost on our government's doorstep. We're lucky it ain't guns, bullets, and bombs.....yet.

The answer for us?

When my Canadian government takes ownership of their "past sins" and makes humble redress through apologies, asking for forgiveness, and financial compensation, then, and only then, will reconciliation with both French and Indian be at all possible.

Until then, Canada's a tickin' time bomb!

The answer fer you? Maybe what the same as what we gotta do.

O, by the way, Canadian Catholics and Protestants? Best of buds! I'm a WASP and love my Catholic bros! Vice versa, best of friends in all things......difference being, we've both been duped by the same spirit!!

Lastly, Canada is the only nation with a "maple leaf" as it's symbol on our national flag.

Rev.20:2 "...on each side of the river stood the tree of life...and THE LEAVES of the tree are for the healing of the nations".

As our peoples receive healing in our nation, perhaps we can bring healing to Ulster and the Republic, wherever, and whenever Canadians are allowed to walk with you.

mac: 15th Apr 2007 - 03:33 GMT

Wow. I came across this by accident. As an Aussie I couldn't believe how much hatred there was here. Sorry but I can't understand how people can hate each other so much. All I can say is I'm glad I live in Aus. Aren't we lucky that religeon is better tolerated here? Not saying there's no racism - sure there is but nothing like the hatred that keeps such a small nation separated. Life really is too short.

BASQUE GIRL: 18th May 2007 - 07:13 GMT

Could somebody tell me if Andersonstown street is in Catholic or protestant area?

Ethereal: 5th Mar 2008 - 11:06 GMT

I too have stumbled in here by accident and I have to say I am a little scared.. I am English and me and my Irish girlfriend are going to move to Ireland within the next 6 months... what the hell kind of reception can I expect??? I have no religious beliefs, but tolerate all views if they are not forced upon me... I have no hatred and tolerate those who do not hate me.... I have no argument with and native people and I had nothing to do with nor continue to have nothing to do with those who repress native people... Why do we get judged by our great great grandfathers actions??? Should the relatives of all murderers be punished??

peaceangel: 6th Apr 2008 - 18:06 GMT

The violence today was in Londonderry, and police say it was unlikely to be sectarian, more like rival gangs, and possibly orchestrated by a social networking site...is that why facebook cannot be opened in northern Ireland this afternoon???