Executive to meet
By the time you read this in all likelihood the Stormont Executive will have at least confirmed its intention to meet. After almost 22 weeks of political stalemate the DUP and Sinn Fein have hammered out a deal that will see policing and justice devolved in some shape or form. From this will undoubtedly flow the usual gratuitous back slapping about the wonderful job the MLA’s are all doing up at Stormont and in their constituencies. The reality is still quite simple the voters on the ground have no confidence in the current administration, irrespective of the political hue, to take on the mammoth task of policing and justice. There is a feeling that the current immaturity displayed will resurface in the coming months. Issues raised consistently in this newspaper for example housing, jobs, education, infrastructure, water charges, services for the young and the elderly, fuel poverty, the lack of support for community and voluntary groups working on the ground and the very immediate issue for people as to whether they should heat or eat remain unanswered.

What a day
As you will see from this edition we have extensively covered the Belfast Homecoming Parade in significant detail including a souvenir four page supplement packed with photographs. Such is the level of interest following the parade the Shankill Mirror has decided to publish our 2009 calendar as a tribute to the men and women of our armed forces who have recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. Whilst the euphoria of such a momentous day will fade away what remains is the untold damage done by Sinn Fein in its salacious attempt to extinguish all that reflects the Britishness of the people of Northern Ireland. There are major implications for cross community relationships, for the work of people on the ground at interfaces across the city and beyond and if the Parades Commission led by the fool Rodger Poole thinks that they can simply carry on with their idiotic decisions and hide behind the cloak of equity then they are sadly mistaken.

The Poppy
Across the nation the dead of two world wars and subsequent conflicts including the 300 service personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan were remembered. Across the country people gathered at Cenotaph, war memorial and churches, wearing their poppy with pride and laying their wreaths with appropriate reverence. Unfortunately despite everything that has and is being done to ensure the poppy is given the respect it deserves once again republicans are hell bent on attempting to airbrush it out of existence. From wreaths being burnt at the Cenotaph in Armagh to multi national stores refusing to facilitate the sale of poppies because of alleged complaints of offence, to staff being victimised out of their employment because they choose to wear their poppy and honour the sacrifices made. If we are ever to move forward in this society our political representatives must in the words of John McCrae’s immortal poem, ‘Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The Torch; be yours to hold it high. Are they up to the challenge?