Gerry Adams Wins Belfast West: Love Is Blindness

Love is clockworks
And cold steel
Fingers too numb to feel
Squeeze the handle
Blow out the candle
Love is blindness
--U2

When Bono wrote about a IRA bomber waiting to kill his prey, he probably did not envision the people of West Belfast would someday collectively squeeze the handle.

But they did. Again.

Gerry Adams retains his seat

The first result has been declared in the Northern Ireland election count, with Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams retaining his seat in Belfast West.

Mr Adams polled more than 24,000 votes, securing a majority of 19,000. The result was announced at 2.15pm.

I can understand being frustrated at the Unionists, Blair, the DUP and the Protestant establishment in general, but voting for continued subjugation at the hands of IRA is beyond me. Adams, of course, is Sinn Fein which is not IRA affiliated (queue eye rolling). If the voters in this hellish ghetto could vote in the SDLP, they could send a signal that they are through with the status quo, and telegraph a message that the IRA is not welcome in West Belfast anymore.

Missed chance. Especially in light of the McCartney Sisters' campaign.