THE BOGSIDE ARTISTS NEWSLETTER - Issue 1

Date 26/2/03

Published by "The Bogside Artists" _________________________________________________________

Hi, No. We are not going to tell you how to make a million by farming bagpipes in Donegal. Nor do we wish to add to deluge of unwanted horseshit already in your email box. Instead, we will amuse, inform, edify and even hang around later for your questions. If you got something that is useful, true or funny, drop us a line. Mailto: bogsideartists@bogsideartists.com

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THIS ISSUE'S CONTENTS _________________________________________________________ _

1.DERRY 2.EDITORIAL. 3.ON THE GRAPEVINE. 4.OUR DIARY. 5.USELFUL SITES.

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1. DERRY

Derry or "Londonderry", to give it its formal title, boasts some of most beautiful women to be found anywhere on planet, with Belfast running a close second. That probably explains why Derry men are crazier than most and Belfast men crazier than anybody. Derry however, has a colorful history every bit as interesting as its indigenous beauties. Each issue of our Newsletter will offer a little snippet or two of information on subject (history, that is) about which, especially since onset of "troubles", numerous learned tomes have been written. _________________________________________________________ _ Derry gets its name from ancient Irish word "daire" meaning an oak grove. The oak tree was venerated by Celts and is likely that Druids used grove for their rituals. The "daire" was situated on a crannog or small island in river Foyle. As waters receded, surrounding area turned into bogland, whence derives name Bogside. The hill itself once boasted a fortress not unlike that overlooking Lough Swilly called Grianan of Aileach.

In sixth century Saint Colmcille (Columba 521-597) established a monastery on hill. There is no proof of this, but it is more than likely, as founding monasteries was what Columba liked to do best. This, of course, attracted people to live nearby and so settlement grew.

The monastery indeed was intact well into 17th century when colonists arrived from Scotland and England. Derrys boomtime however, was in 12th and 13th centuries when MacLochlainn dynasty moved in. They used their wealth to build settlement up and when they died out, Derry fell into decline. It was not until arrival of De Burgos that relative prosperity returned to growing town. The skeleton on Derry's coat of arms derives from De Burgos. _________________________________________________________ _

2. EDITORIAL.

The Bogside Artists are a mysterious trio to many. Ergo, let me introduce us. As this will take up more space than I feel entitled to use, I'll be brief. In our NEXT Newsletter, you will find a fuller and more comprehensive edition at our website. We will even have our own photos! Consider this a mere introduction.

KEVIN Kevin Hasson's formal education began with The Christian Brothers school in Brandywell area of city. It later moved to Creggan and renamed itself St. Peters. That was in early `70's. "Art even then, was thing I was most interested in", he says. "My dad was a very talented man who used his skills and imagination to entertain us. Creativity therefore, as a bulwark against poverty, constituted environment I grew up in."

For his first ever trip abroad Kevin found himself on a relief mission to starving of Calcutta. It was an experience that transformed him. In Frankfurt, he met his American wife to be. Once married, he settled down in America. Finally, he returned home with his family.

He wasn't home a fortnight when he linked up once more with Tom, whom he had first met at St. Peters. Art was thing they had most in common. Kevin and Tom both play guitar. Kevin likes old movies.

Serbia

In bitter cold of Serbia’s October, tens of thousands of defiant, men and women take to streets in protest. In unison they roar “He is finished.” They capture parliament building in a show of defiance. Outnumbered, police relinquish power to mob, standing idly by as young men and women storm building. Before long, millions of uncounted ballots from rigged elections are thrown down to people. They shower jubilant crowd like bursts of confetti. It is end of Slobodan Milosovec’s self-imposed tyrannical reign as president. It is dawn of democracy.

October, 2002— It is that exhilarating time of year—election time. Two years have passed since Serbian people’s non-violent resistance and country’s induction into free world. For a country that had fearlessly united with fire and fervor in face of a tyrant and demanded dignity, and had become a testament to oppressed of world—this was a time millions stilled to watch. What they would see this year would shock their very belief in promise of democracy. Voter turnout in Serbia is so low that elections are declared invalid.

Meanwhile…

In a related but completely dissimilar story in another part of world, one country holds a fairy-tale election with astoundingly perfect results. The citizens of this “utopia” would never miss an opportunity to vote for their beloved ruler. With adoration, and for some literally with their blood, millions of voters cast their ballots for man who evidently provides them with comforts worthy of such a show of appreciation. The man: Saddam Hussein.

Unquestionably, this most beloved of rulers is first ever to win one hundred percent of a country’s vote, making him ruler for another seven years. There are over eleven million eligible voters and every one of them voted for Saddam that day. The sick, limping, old, frail—all came. Saddam’s people insist vote was fair and accurate. Saddam Hussein was only candidate.

Without resorting to speculation, could it be that perhaps his being only contender played a role in his receiving one hundred percent of vote? It’s a far cry, but it just might be true. The Third Wave?

This is a bad time for democracy. It has shown us some of most absurd and unjust elections. So what has happened to “Third Wave?” The one political scientists and analysts have boasted about since fall of communism. The Third Wave of democratization that sweeps through world replacing oppression and tyranny with truth and justice. If anything, results of these absurd elections point to a new phenomenon—a wave of “half-done” democracy that is hurriedly being implemented without necessary foundations in place.

Increasingly, it seems that countries that so avidly promote democracy somehow expect it to exist in a vacuum. What results is a highly skeptical and distrustful population, driven to voting booths out of despondency or, as in case of Iraq, out of fear. But this is not true democracy; this is not true participation—the Third Wave so far is nothing more than an illusion.

Zimbabwe

Picture Robert Mugabe in his presidential palace talking defiantly to American ambassador on telephone: “No, we do not need American election monitors. Zimbabwe’s elections are free and fair. We don’t need advice from a country that can’t run its own elections.” He refers to Bush and Gore mess of 2000.