Paisley rushed to hospital with respiratory problems
I understand that members of Ian Paisley’s family are with him and he is currently in intensive care. Dr Paisley had a history of heart trouble and though he has not, I understand, suffered a heart attack, he was rushed to hospital with respiratory problems.
It was a previous brush with death that Tony Blair was convinced played a big part in the conversion of Ian Paisley from wrecker to participant in a peace process he did everything in his power for decades to destroy. In his memoirs, Tony Blair writes of how Ian Paisley “had a sense of impending mortality” after “a long and debilitating illness” (also, I understand, heart-related).
Tony Blair thought Ian Paisley’s was a conversion driven by a shift in public opinion. The outcome was that no sooner had he uttered the old line, that the the IRA would enter government “over our dead bodies” (August 2006), than he was in office with them (May 2007).
I once asked him if he owed David Trimble and others who he had for years ruthlessly insulted, an apology as they seemed to have spotted something he hadn’t, the capacity of republicanism to change. This brought a fiery reaction, a glimmer of the old beast and a flash of anger.
There was some of the old fire and brimstone talk on display 10 days ago when he gave his last sermon at his church before taking retirement. One who was there said he preached of eternal darkness and the terrors of hell… the old-time religion still blasting, even though the old-time politics had been modified.
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It is interesting that a long and debiletating illness should play a part in the change of Mr Paisley’s political stance.
Some people might feel the drastic cuts for the sick and disabled are necessary, that is until they themselves are unfortunate to suffer illness and disablement.
Ian Paisley was a hard nut to crack, but clearly brushing with death and facing the demons of long term sickness changed his political view to such an extent that it enabled headway to be made in the peace process in Northern Ireland.
Now, Martin McGuiness is considered one of his closest friends. How ironic is that.
It is interesting that the House of Lords were opposed to the Welfare Reform Bill. ‘The old codgers’ themselves have no doubt a lifetime experience of sickness and disability and know how easily life’s bright light can switch to darkness.
It’s a pity we couldn’t do a’house
exchange’replacing the House of Commons Ministers with the Peers of the House of Lords.
Perhaps it was the fear of meeting his maker that caused Dr Ian Paisley to change his political position and choose to work together with all political parties in Northern Ireland.
There is nothing like a long spell of illness to cause a person to stop and consider his/her life and aspirations. To consider the methods used or not used to attain his/her goals.
Dr Paisely has shown that an old dog can learn new tricks.
Let’s hope this old dog makes a good recovery so that he can continue to be a living example that even the most dogmatic person can relent and change their principles so that can be a constructive, positive force for good in politics rather than a negative one.
An all together evil man
Will not sorrow at his passing