dr who's thoughts on sectarianism

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David Tennant on sectarianism

David Tennant reveals his personal torment

Doctor Who actor David Tennant revealed that he contemplated pulling out of the BBC programme "Who do you think you are', when he discovered some orange skeletons in his family cupboard.

The jocular, pleasant Scotsman (real name David McDonald) expressed his disgust at learning that relatives on his father's side were prominent loyalists and were actively involved in election fraud and gerrymandering in the Derry of the nineteen twenties and thirties.

Tennant who quite engagingly describes himself as a "hand wringing, Guardian reading liberal", found it difficult to come to terms with his family shame.
"As a young man, I found my Granny Nellie's anti-Catholic comments as being the result of her insular, parrochial Northern Ireland background. I thought she meant no harm, and it was just her way".

However, Tennant's personal voyage of self discovery brought him to the mean streets of Loyalist Derry. On a personal level he found his second cousin Harry Blair a charming and intelligent man, however his political views left a lot to be desired.

"When Harry handed me my grandfather's orange sash, I felt that I had been handed a turd. To me, the Orange Order represents everything that is obnoxious in society. I have always associated Orangemen with right wing racism and sectarianism".

Astonishingly, the last part of his trip to Derry brought him into contact with an unknown Catholic cousin Barry McGlaughlin a prominent official at Derry football club for whom Tennant's Scottish grandfather once played.
Tennant listened intently while McGlaughlin explained in graphic detail the atrocity of Bloody Sunday, which he witnessed as a young man.

"I found it deeply moving and have undegone the whole gambit of emotions since I undertook this personal Odyssey. I was in despair until I met Barry McGlaughlin, he more than anybody else restored my faith in humanity".

SLG

I find Dr Who disgustingly British. UJs and British iconography everywhere. I can't even watch the program.

Cymro

Interesting article. Dr Whos a brilliant programme SLG don't be silly! Very Happy

Congal

Orange Order Gets "Flame Of Hope" Award

6 June 2004
The Orange Order has been given a national "Flame of Hope" award for raising a staggering £124,000 on behalf of Cancer Research NI.
At a ceremony at the Le Meridien Hotel, London, on Friday (4 June) the Oustanding Achievement Award was presented to the Order by Cancer Research chairman Baroness Hayman in recognition of what was the biggest ever donation from a single organisation to the charity in Northern Ireland.
speaking after the ceremony the Order's Grand Master, Robert Saulters, said: "Although individual Lodges have always raised money for both local and national charities, the Grand Master's Charity Appeal on behalf of Cancer Research NI was the first time we've organised a concerted fund-raising drive.
"The response was incredible, Orangemen all over Northern Ireland, from Belleek to Bangor, really threw themselves into the appeal. Over the year I travelled to just about every corner of the Province to pick up cheques or open events, and I am really proud to receive this award on behalf of all those who so tirelessly raised money".
More than a hundred guests from all over the UK attended the awards lunch at which individuals and organisations in fifteen different categories were honoured for their contributions to the fight against cancer.

Based on an article from the Belfast Newsletter
5th Jan 2006
Orange Order gives hospice £14,000 boost
THE Orange Order in Londonderry has given £14,000 to the Foyle Hospice, which is based on ground once owned by the Order. The lodges of the City of Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge held fundraising events throughout last year.
Appeal co-ordinator Colin Campbell said yesterday: 'There was a vote on which charity should benefit from the money raised and it was a unanimous decision that it should be the Foyle Hospice.
"The hospice is a great charity and because they originally bought the land from the Orange Order it made it even more appropriate. "The 30 different lodges in Londonderry and Donegal all did their bit so there was a string of activity going on throughout the year." Dr Tom McGinley, director of the Foyle Hospice, said: 'This highlights the cross-community support that the hospice gets and we have always said that if it was not for this cross-community support we could not survive." Fundraising events included dances, flag days, a parachute jump and a sponsored cycle.

5th Jan 2005
Orange leader calls for backing to help victims
ORANGE Order Grand Master Robert Saulters has urged members to give generously to the tsunami appeal to help those who have been left homeless and bereaved.
He said: "Orangemen and their families, as well as lodges across Ireland, give to charity on a regular basis and I know that many have already given to the appeals surrounding this terrible disaster.
"I would appeal for individual Orangemen and Orange lodges to support, this call and do what they can to help alleviate the great distress in the various communities affected by the disaster."
Mr Saulters said that anyone who watched the television coverage of the disaster and its aftermath since Boxing Day would be filled with sympathy and compassion for the people in Asia.
"This tragedy has touched the hearts of people across the world, and our deepest sympathy as an Orange Institution goes to those who have lost loved ones, and, particularly, the children who have been orphaned and left without close family support at this sad time.
"As we all know, it will be a long time before the necessary infrastructure is restored to the area and all help which can be given for both the short term and long term should be forwarded to one of the disaster appeals."

Cymro

All very well Congal but what has that got to do with the title of this thread? Dr Who/David Tennant and Secterianism? I don't think anyone claims the OO don't do charity work, but this is just spam.

SLG

Just because an organisation gives money to charity doesn't make them a nice organisation.

Congal

Wasn't meant to make them look nice or a spam. Just to show like human nature there is another side to them.

I'm not trying to sell them to anybody.....don't think there is much chance of that here Smile

.......again.....argument makes little headway against conviction. But I think in the interests of fair play and free speech,the other side of a person/organisation should be heard too.

'You take a man as you find him' is an old adage. Certainly didn't apply to Dr Who. He said he liked the man,but once he found out he was an Orangeman his attitude changed. Guilty by association seems to be his belief

But anyway I knew they wouldn't be liked on here. And thats folk's choice. Just thought I'd show another side of the story.......thats all.

Anyway I'm away out to cut the garden. Stay there! do I here you's say Crying or Very sad

Cymro

Thats all well Congal, but just posting an article from another message with no comments of your own is jsut spam. It added or took nothing away to the discussion with Parkhead started.

SLG

Congal

Quote...Of course there is more to them than anti-catholicism. Just because people come from a different point of view from yourself does not mean they are stupid.

I would just say that the anti-catholicism is not directed at the individual. Or should I say.....it shouldn't be.

Quote....No, that's a cop out... "argument makes little headway against conviction". What other side? I could say that News Corp give money to charity every time someone slags off Rupert Murdoch, but it wouldn't change the reasons why people are slagging him off in the first place. Are you really saying that because the OO have given money to charity that we should ignore their failings?

No No not at all......everyone is human. Everyone, every organization has its failings. And I don't expect anyone to like them just because I put a post up about their charity work. It was just to show that there is another side to these people. Of course some could accuse them of this and that. I think they would be well use to that by now anyway.

Quote.....Of course guilty of by association. He wasn't born in the OO, he made a decision. An example - if I go and join the BNP, I'd expect to be judged as such.

Correct you make your own decision. But I meant that in general terms. Tennant didn't make his judgement on the man himself. But on upon him finding out he was an Orangeman. I have met quite a few Roman Catholics and Nationalists on a few ocassions. I found O.K. people. I didn't agree with their faith or politics. But that didn't make me detest them because of what they believed. I would 'argue the toss' with them. I had my point of view....they had theirs. It says a lot about Tennant himself.

Quote.....Yes it's folks choice. But people don't dislike them for the sake of it. People dislike them on the basis of their actions. I don't see how the side you present should change that. If you had posted about the charity on a new thread you would most likely have had a reply saying well done the OO, they are doing something positive. But to try and use it as a defence against other actions is wrong.

I would ask what action you refer to.

Quote....Haha, enjoy your gardening

I'm knackered now with that gardening, Sad

but it keeps 'her indoors' quiet. Bloody grass was a helluva long and soaking wet. I think I'll have a wee whisky and a wee rest now Wink

Cymro

Watched this programme lastnight. Very interesting. Was fascinating watching him hearing both sides of the story from within his own family.

Best yet from this programme.

Want to go over to Mull and to Northern Ireland now.

parkhead_rfb

Congal

The six counties is ok by me. After all it is an English configuration too Very Happy

Aventinian

Cymro

Well it's official name is Northern Ireland. It's in the North of Ireland. I couldn't care less what people call it now, I know what I would like to see happen to the place and a name doesn't change that. I still what to go there.

RadgeJougal

Dodgy organisations always think that charity will vindicate them. The Masons have been milking that line for years.

parkhead_rfb

neil8r

Aventinian

Paisley tried that once. Nobody cared...

Congal

Thats right.....Donegal Cavan Monaghan Sligo Louth. All in the north of Ireland.

Then you cross over the border into British Ulster Very Happy

Aventinian

I quite like it. I'm distinctly amused at the thought of an Irishman saying "ah, I'm going up north to the south".

Cymro

Cymro

Oh, and Rhyl is further North in Wales than my town of Denbigh. Does that I mean that I don't live in North Wales?

Is Manchester and Liverpool not in Northern England, because Cumbria is further North?

Corby Boy

Rhyl is a fine place (not), Denbigh is pretty quaint. Any good pubs you'd recommend? I live in Cheshire so go into N Wales a fair bit.

Parkheid's a bit of numpty, he couldn't have got good grades for geography in his highers or o grades!

Cymro

Rhyl is a dump, if the IRA want to put their explosives to good use for the good of mankind they are more then welcome to give it to Denbighshire to deal with the eyesore that is Rhyl.

Denbigh is fine, although I'm originally from Rhuthun (Ruthin) down the road from Denbigh (still in North Wales though Parkhead despite being 21 miles south of Rhyl!). A good few pubs in Denbigh - the Plough and the Hope and Anchor being my two locals. 3 pubs have closed temporarily I gather as the owner has dropped dead with no family to take them over.

Rhuthun is better for a night out.

Corby Boy

Thanks for the pub tips!