Ian Paisley - a short tribute

I never ever thought i would be saying this. I'll really miss the old bigot. Thats right folks the Rev (lol) Ian Paisley, the First Minister of Ulster has announced that he is standing down as leader of his party and province. First of can I make clear that i find Paisley so repugnant on so many levels. He is a homophobe, a bigot and a parochial zealot. He has spent a lifetime preaching hate and division. However, as a man who appreciates a good wordsmith I've got to give the man some credit. He certainly knows how to string a sentence together, even if they are usually hate filled. Here's a couple of examples. "They breed like rabbits and multiply like vermin." I wonder who that was directed at? Well I've heard it argued that he doesn't hate catholics, just their religion. mmm. Read that quote again and make up your own mind. Or there's the eternal classic from when Pope John Paul II visited the European Parliament. Paisley was huckled out as he cried at JP "I denounce you as the Anti Christ!" Or who can forget his catchphrase of "We will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, SURRENDER!" Oh but he did. He eventually shook hands and worked with a man who had in all likelyhood plotted to kill him at some point in the murky past of the troubles, Martin McGuinness. I respect that he could actually bring himself to do that. To make the big decisions that needed to be made to take his community forward to peace. But make no bones about it, the guy is a really nasty piece of work. I will miss him purely because of the entertainment value. He is a fantastic orator and for that Mr Paisley I will salute you. But i'll be pissing on a union jack while i do so. ;)