Censorship of Belfast Author Joe Graham, Rushlight Magazine

antrim | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Tuesday May 13, 2008 19:04

by Roisin Donnelly

donnellyroisin at yahoo dot com

Show Me the Man by Joe Graham Rushlight Magazine Belfast

When a local journalist and editor of a West Belfast Newspaper recently voiced his opinion concerning the neglect of duties and responsibilities by the Member of Parliament for West Belfast. Many in the community considered this a breakthrough in fair and honest reporting. However, this was short lived when the newspaper printed a front page public apology to the Member of Parliament and then obliterated all trace of the article from its internet webpage and any other associated worldwide newspapers websites.

When a local journalist and editor of a West Belfast Newspaper recently voiced his opinion concerning the neglect of duties and responsibilities by the Member of Parliament for West Belfast. Many in the community considered this a breakthrough in fair and honest reporting. However, this was short lived when the newspaper printed a front page public apology to the Member of Parliament and then obliterated all trace of the article from its internet webpage and any other associated worldwide newspapers websites.

This matter was quickly followed when the same newspaper group printed a public letter in 2 of its Belfast newspapers publishing the concerns of some of the Meehan family regarding the book “Show Me the Man” written by popular local Belfast historian Joe Graham. Once again many remained astonished when Mr Graham did not utilize his legitimate right to reply and remaining asking if Joe Graham was offered a right to reply at all.

The Martin Meehan Book written by Joe Graham has now become a matter of public interest and the book seems to have become entwined with power censorship and power agenda. However, it is difficult to extract why.

The Rushlight Magazine and its editor local historian Joe Graham have remained synonymous for more than 35 years to making history real and relevant to the ordinary people specifically the ordinary people of Belfast.

Since its inception in 1972, the publication has been attacked by the British establishment in all its guises. Many believe The Rushlight made His story – Our Story and this is about right for those who were inspired, encouraged and enthused by the magazine to take full ownership of who writes our history and current events and more pertinently what they record or don’t.

Martin Meehan a legendary militant IRA commander and Sinn Fein politician could well be one of those people described above when he decided to ask and entrust his lifelong friend Joe Graham and only Joe Graham to record his life story, now history.

Joe Graham has dutifully and honourably fulfilled the task requested by his now dead friend Martin Meehan and the book has since been published called “Show Me the Man”.

The book is an exceptional read and so easy to follow, so easy in fact one reading is suffice to digest and comprehend why Meehan would request Joe Graham and not the countless Sinn Fein high flyers available to him.

Joe Graham’s writing style and Irish oral tradition manner which others might regard as similar to Joyce’s stream of conscious including the various epiphanies that permeate the book serves to clearly compliment the old Seanachie style utilized and employed by Graham.

Joe Graham easily achieves the fullest condensing, embracing and encompassing of much of the big picture news, life events and micro events that shape the gaze and psyche of Irish Republicans like Martin Meehan living under British Unionist domination in the North of Ireland and especially Martin Meehan’s Ardoyne.

The book is an excellent tribute from a friend - for a dead friend. The book endeavours to show Martin Meehan the boy growing up to become the man, husband father and Grandfather in troubled and turbulent times.

The author has since set out to defend his own integrity after bizarre public attacks in local newspapers emanating from some of the Meehan family. This aspect has added a new dimension to the Former Officer Commanding IRA Martin Meehan story, an aspect that has included thus far: physical attacks, cyberspace threats, legal threats and Rushlight Magazine censored and closed down by its internet provider after receiving written communication from some Meehan family members.

The Book can be purchased by contacting

http://www.rushlightmagazine.com/

Rushlight123@hotmail.com or Telephone 028 90626631. Joe Graham 78 Andersonstown Park. Belfast. Ireland BT11 8FH.

Other Related Links

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4362223.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4220001.stm

http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2002/de...d.php