Again and again, I find something eerie in many Irish occasions - the unrelenting whiteness, the emotional tribal attachments, the violent prejudices lurking beneath apparently pleasant social surfaces, the cosy smugness of belonging. Tom Paulin More Quotes by Tom Paulin More Quotes From Tom Paulin I think ideas should be flying about and banging into each other. It is a kind of energy. If you occupy static positions, then things sort of ossify. Tom Paulin flying ideas thinking A truly vibrant and creative culture depends on a system of education which is not divided along class and sectarian lines. Tom Paulin creative class culture I don't think the British carry a historical consciousness either. Tom Paulin consciousness historical thinking All I do is read books, really. I worry about that sometimes. I don't seem to have a hobby or anything. Tom Paulin hobbies worry book Ulysses is the greatest anti-racist text in the English language, and it challenges right from the beginning the vicious racism which lies near the foundations of the Irish Free State and of the Irish republic. Tom Paulin racism challenges lying Didn't I seize the fire of ideas and make them leap, tear, fly, sing Tom Paulin tears fire ideas I always feel freelance writers are leading a heroic life. I think that is the real writer's life. On the other hand, it's good to have another job. It gives you something to do. Tom Paulin real jobs thinking I'm kind of domestic, untidily so. Tom Paulin kind I wish I could write lyrical poems, but I just write the way they come. Tom Paulin wish writing way You are either a Zionist or an anti-Zionist. Tom Paulin zionist In my view the European culture carries a very heavy responsibility for the creation of Israel... it is a product of both British and Stalin's anti- Semitism, but the British never faced their own complicity in its construction. Tom Paulin israel responsibility views I think protest and actions have to be organised against the Israelis and their backers. There needs to be a concerted high profile campaign to raise awareness of the people in this country. Tom Paulin country people thinking I think attacks on civilians in fact boost morale. Tom Paulin boost facts thinking I never believed that Israel had the right to exist at all. Tom Paulin israel Everyone who supports Israel is a Zionist. Tom Paulin zionist support israel Hitler bombed London into submission but in fact it created a sense of national solidarity. Tom Paulin submission london facts I am not very moved by historical apologies. Tom Paulin moved apology historical This sympathy is not translated into force against the British government because it is not like the anti- apartheid movement which had a high profile here and Mandela is a more engaging figure than Yasser Arafat. Tom Paulin high like government sympathy Look, you're either a Zionist or an anti-Zionist: there's no middle way. Everyone who supports the state of Israel is a Zionist. Tom Paulin everyone look you way It's ironic that early on in the war with Afghanistan, the Americans and the British were saying, 'We recognise there must be a Palestinian state,' then they rapidly forgot about it. I think history will show that that kind of amnesia will come back to haunt you. Tom Paulin think you war history
