Durham Big Meeting

I just thing the gala, should be a celebration of the tradition of the communities and remberance.

Not hate or taking about enemies.

I am fan of working together for a amicable solution to suit all, not creating a them and us culture, you would think we at civil war it was over the top nonsense



The current government had nothing to do with it whatsoever

It was more down to a evil woman who did not give a fuck about the hard working miners

But the gala IS a celebration of the tradition of the communities and remembrance.

Fighting for justice and fairness and equality is something that has been synonymous with those communities. Remembering the struggles faced by men and women all across the Durham coalfield is vitally important so that we don’t fall foul of the same tyranny again.

I don’t think in my lifetime we’ve ever had such a threat from the right wing. Just look at the current President of the United States of America. Look at Farage. Racists and fascists are everywhere. Is it 1939 again?
 


But the gala IS a celebration of the tradition of the communities and remembrance.

Fighting for justice and fairness and equality is something that has been synonymous with those communities. Remembering the struggles faced by men and women all across the Durham coalfield is vitally important so that we don’t fall foul of the same tyranny again.

I don’t think in my lifetime we’ve ever had such a threat from the right wing. Just look at the current President of the United States of America. Look at Farage. Racists and fascists are everywhere. Is it 1939 again?

Well I could not agree more with your last paragraph, spot on.

However thankfully don’t think we as a country are anywhere near that bad.

The focus on the gala for me should be a celebration about the miners and the communities and the people.

The tradition the banners the matching etc is brilliant to see.

The constant political argument and the them and us culture isn’t imo.

It wouldnt happen again becuase hopefully will never see two arseholes together again.

Scargill and thatcher both did not give two fucks about the hard working people, both had their own agendas and as usual the hard working bloke was the one who suffrered, while the carried on into the sunset.

Durham Constabulary

Well who’d have thought it :rolleyes:

That’s what I mean that was a great post by them surely?

Enjoy it together
 
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Well I could not agree more with your last paragraph, spot on.

However thankfully don’t think we as a country are anywhere near that bad.

The focus on the gala for me should be a celebration about the miners and the communities and the people.

The tradition the banners the matching etc is brilliant to see.

The constant political argument and the them and us culture isn’t imo.

It wouldnt happen again becuase hopefully will never see two arseholes together again.

Scargill and thatcher both did not give two fucks about the hard working people, both had their own agendas and as usual the hard working bloke was the one who suffrered, while the carried on into the sunset.



That’s what I mean that was a great post by them surely?

Enjoy it together

Absolutely, flies in the face of all those bemoaning the ‘drunken antics’ and the hundreds of arrests predicted.......

Only one party under investigation for that at the moment...

Possibly because they’re the only one prepared to have themselves investigated.

Still waiting for your response to your Durham County Council hypocrisy though...... What do you have to say on the matter?

Erm, I don’t think you did.........

Durham Council
 
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Taken from Alan Mardghum’s piece in today’s Souvenir Programme from The Big Meeting.

It’s a message that more than a few on here would do well to read and remember who the real enemy is.

“It is particularly important that we remember where we come from in these days when the far right of politics is raising its ugly head once again.

Our commitment to unity and solidarity is based on respecting and defending our people and our communities.

The far right agenda seeks to divide us from those collective endeavours - setting communities against each other and driving wedges between families.

These actions are orchestrated international by the super rich. They have one clear intention - the oppression and subjugation of organised, working class politics across the globe.

Only last month, Donald Trump was promoting private, foreign ownership of our NHS while being feted by a Tory government.

Brexit is another prime example of this divisive movement.

We are distracted from the real issues facing our communities and families while the Tories drag us through the political mire.

The Tories started this mess and cannot get us out of it.

We should not fall for the rhetoric of big business and the agenda of the self-interested right.

The only solution is a General Election and the return of a socialist government led by Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.

We must return to politics that serve our people and our communities.

Labour values are our values - rooted in collective effort and progress for our children and our children’s children.”

I agree with all of that except the premise that Alan actually wrote it. :D
 
Well I was flipping spangled for it. Left just as a big fat munter started getting her tits out and bothering the bands outside the court
 
Well I could not agree more with your last paragraph, spot on.

However thankfully don’t think we as a country are anywhere near that bad.

The focus on the gala for me should be a celebration about the miners and the communities and the people.

The constant political argument and the them and us culture isn’t imo.

It wouldnt happen again becuase hopefully will never see two arseholes together again.

Scargill and thatcher both did not give two fucks about the hard working people, both had their own agendas and as usual the hard working bloke was the one who suffrered, while the carried on into the sunset.



That’s what I mean that was a great post by them surely?

Enjoy it together
The big meeting is very much primarily a celebration of the mining communities and their heritage.
The current situation in the North East and where those communities find themselves didn't happen in a political vacuum and comes very much from a "them and us" scenario as manufactured by Thatcher and her tories. That can't and shouldn't be ignored if people are to understand where their communities are in 2019 and how they got there. It is historic and shouldn't be airbrushed away. I was moved to see a video of the pipe band performing in my village at the miners memorial and a tribute read out before they all left for Durham.

Sadly i wasn't able to go this year but by all accounts it seems to have been another fantastic day out.
 
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The big meeting is very much primarily a celebration of the mining communities and their heritage.
The current situation in the North East and where those communities find themselves didn't happen in a political vacuum and comes very much from a "them and us" scenario as manufactured by Thatcher and her tories. That can't and shouldn't be ignored if people are to understand where their communities are in 2019 and how they got there. It is historic and shouldn't be airbrushed away. I was moved to see a video of the pipe band performing in my village at the miners memorial and a tribute read out before they all left for Durham.

Sadly i wasn't able to go this year but by all accounts it seems to have been another fantastic day out.

Too often to focus turns political rather than celebrating the heritage imo.
 
Too often to focus turns political rather than celebrating the heritage imo.
It's always been political, always. Basically you want it to be something it isn't and never has been because you disagree with the politics. Tough.

Anyway, it isn't heritage like Beamish, a historical artefact for experiences, it's very much part of our heritage but it is still very alive and kicking in exactly the same way it always has been.
 
It's always been political, always. Basically you want it to be something it isn't and never has been because you disagree with the politics. Tough.

Anyway, it isn't heritage like Beamish, a historical artefact for experiences, it's very much part of our heritage but it is still very alive and kicking in exactly the same way it always has been.

I think it should be a focus on the actual miners themselves for the years of hard work and the brilliant communities they were part of for years including before the any strikes.

Can see why that should be a problem focusing on them communities and individuals.

People go to the gala imo, to celebrate hertiage, meet up with old friends, enjoy the day, which many do.

I dont disagree with the politics, I disagree with politics overshadowing the communities and the miners
 
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“This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Durham Miners' Association, and a quarter of a century since the closure of the last colliery on the Durham coalfield.

"That the Durham Miners’ Gala has survived and is now thriving is testament to the strength and values of the communities of the North East, and the wider working-class movement.

"The Gala celebrates our past struggles and achievements, but also renews our confidence and resolve to carry on the fight for peace, equality and justice.

"It is a great honour to speak at the Durham Miners' Gala. I look forward to joining more than 200,000 visitors at the 135th Big Meeting.”


Only one party under investigation for that at the moment...
Oy vey
 
I dont disagree with the politics, I disagree with politics overshadowing the communities and the miners

It only does that if you let it though.

As was mentioned many times yesterday on here and several times throughout the week in the lead up - there are many different aspects to the Gala, from the banners, to the bands and the communities to the political aspect. Its up to the individual how much of each aspect they immerse themselves in.

Like @Thackeray said though, it has always been political and the reason for that is because it is the largest Trade Union gathering anywhere in the world.
 
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It only does that if you let it though.

As was mentioned many times yesterday on here and several times throughout the week in the lead up - there are many different aspects to the Gala, from the banners, to the bands and the communities to the political aspect. Its up to the individual how much of each aspect they immerse themselves in.

Like @Thackeray said though, it has always been political and the reason for that is because it is the largest Trade Union gathering anywhere in the world.


I don't see how anyone who claims to support the aims and objectives of the Gala can disagree with this. Seems to me that some folk are just arguing for the sake of it. Roll on the 2020 Gala.
 
It only does that if you let it though.

As was mentioned many times yesterday on here and several times throughout the week in the lead up - there are many different aspects to the Gala, from the banners, to the bands and the communities to the political aspect. Its up to the individual how much of each aspect they immerse themselves in.

Like @Thackeray said though, it has always been political and the reason for that is because it is the largest Trade Union gathering anywhere in the world.

I guess it’s how you see a trade union,I have been a trade union member for all my working life 28 years.

I think it’s importnant for workers to be part of one, and I want to see them work together with whoever to get the best deal for the workers , and want employers to work with trade unions to achieve a common objective.

Too often it’s a them and us culture and talk of enemies, and who can screw who the most.
 
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I don't see how anyone who claims to support the aims and objectives of the Gala can disagree with this. Seems to me that some folk are just arguing for the sake of it. Roll on the 2020 Gala.
May as well start the gala 2020 thread now. I'll start:

It's just an excuse for people to come from the pit villages, get pissed up on Fosters and start fights.........:rolleyes:;)
 

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