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The following is an extract from Jennifer Carroll’s new book, ‘Jen’s Journey’, a mix of memoir and recipe book. The Instagram influencer looks back at the tough years she spent living in turmoil and dealing with her pain by overeating. Jen struggled to cope with the weight gain after years of this secretive and emotional behaviour, all while she remained trapped in an abusive relationship.
When her son was born, everything changed. Jen left the relationship, moved home from London and drastically overhauled her lifestyle to incorporate healthier habits. Her new book allows Jen to dive deeper into facets of her story and how she made the changes.
TO THIS DAY, I have triggers and flashbacks of moments I had long buried and forgotten. I have memories I will probably never share with anyone.
I have shared more in my latest book than I have before because I don’t think it would be a true representation of my full journey if I didn’t.
I didn’t want to sugar-coat my story or lead people to believe that it’s been an easy journey. From the beginning, I wanted to take my time and open up and share.
We all have a past, but our past does not define us; it teaches us lessons. We will always be faced with difficulties and bumps in the road, but when we work through them and come out the other side, it’s always more fulfilling, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.
I remember queuing at 8 o’clock in the morning with a buggy and a suitcase to get a bed in a shelter, and not one person close to me had any idea that this was my life.
I felt weak and like a failure, but when I look back on that day, I see strength and resilience in my showing up and doing what I could for Carter and me. I didn’t see that at the time at all, but often we don’t realise the things we are capable of in the moment.
Another moment that really sticks in my mind was just after Christmas 2016. I was sitting on my own on my sitting-room floor in London. I had probably sat crying for over an hour because of how low I felt.
I was exhausted from the constant anxiety, weak from the constant sadness and completely crippled with loneliness. I couldn’t see as far as tomorrow. I had no idea if I would ever get home to my family and friends. I had almost accepted that this was going to be my future.
I was riddled with guilt that I had already failed my son. I don’t think I had an ounce of hope left in me. My life was in the worst place, and I couldn’t see a way out. I honestly believed nothing was going to change.
I know there are other people out there in similar situations who may never want to open up or talk about it. Still, I hope that my sharing the ups and downs of what I went through makes someone feel a little less lonely or provides a little comfort in knowing that it’s not just you and that you’re never alone.
I didn’t see a future for myself then, and I would never have imagined that I would get myself to where I am today.
I know some circumstances feel impossible. But things can and do change, and nothing is permanent; this moment or this feeling will pass, and you are capable of changing just as much as anyone else out there.
I wanted to be honest about my mindset throughout this journey because we are constantly being bombarded with messages about positive mindsets, self-love and body confidence – which is great to see and the direction we need to go in, but it’s not always easy.
People sometimes look at me and my journey and just assume that I am there. I don’t think most of us are, but I hope we can all be more open about it and unafraid to say, ‘Actually, I don’t feel my best, but that’s okay because I’m acknowledging it and working on it.’
When it comes to food and diet, it’s impossible to tell anyone what to do, as we are all built differently. Some people want to track and weigh, some want to use intuitive eating, and some want to try weight-loss surgery. You must do what is right for you and, most importantly, what works for you! Finding the balance is key.
Cook more meals from scratch, cook with your family, cook new recipes, batch cook, plan your meals, and cook meals you enjoy! And still, go out and live your life. Make memories and enjoy being social when you’re out. Don’t deprive yourself; don’t say no to things because you’re afraid of the calories. You can have a great week full of nutritious meals and plenty of walking and exercising, and still enjoy a meal out and a few drinks.
Remember that small changes all add up to make big differences. There’s no rush: just keep doing the work and the results will follow. You won’t get to the end of your life and say, ‘I wish I never ate that box of chocolates,’ or ‘I wish I had spent longer in the gym and burned more calories,’ or ‘I wish I worked harder to get rid of my cellulite.’ So, when you find yourself worrying about those things, remember that they’re the least important things about you and your life.
We are so much more than our bodies. It’s great to be active and healthy but it’s not okay if we think about it 24/7.
I already regret that I spent so much of my life in my negative headspace, consumed by thoughts about my body. Imagine looking back at your life and that’s one of the main things for you too. I think you’ll regret that.
So, from today, take the power back and own who you are; not who anyone else thinks you are or should be, but who you are! We all have the power within us. Trust yourself and trust the next chapter in your life – because you’re the one writing it!
Jennifer Carroll is best known for her Instagram page ‘Jen’s Journey’, in which documents her journey to healthier living. She lives in Tallaght with her son, Carter. Jen will be signing copies of her new book on Sunday 2 April at noon in Easons in The Square, Tallaght.
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Free speech for things that I agree with
@Imnotrodten:
I dont agree with Israel, However this is ridiculous these muppets and the regressive left are helping push people to the extremes such as Trump, Le Penn and Wilders.
@Imnotrodten: It’s gone beyond a joke. You can’t even attend an Israeli film in Dublin without there being a bunch of loons outside shouting and roaring at you.
Remember when a PBP Councillor climbed up a flag pole to pull down the Israeli flag at a children’s sailing event in Dublin Laoghaire? Can’t believe the nasty Zio-fascists didn’t surrender there and then!
There doesn’t seem to be much gender equality amongst the group.
They are of the same ilk that wrecked a lecture room and pizzed in the room for “fun” in Mary I last week!!!!
All these silly remarks about freedom of speech miss the point clearly made in the piece above. The objection was based on the imbalance of having only one viewpoint presented, an important point since the victims of Zionist terrorism rarely get equal airspace. Had there been a speaker for the other side they could all have spoken freely! But without that it would have been more propaganda. When people objected to selling goods from South Africa because of the apartheid state there, others asserted their right to shop wherever they wanted to. Such people are part of the problem, not the solution. Fair play to the students.
Protesters didn’t cancel it. They are within their rights to protest same way the ambassador has a right to speak.
@Noirin Kavanagh: Are you saying that the only permissible form of public free speech is a debate?
@Imnotrodten: They don’t need an ambassador here and its not long ago when most people here didn’t want one either.
Having said that. If I were a student there I would have wanted to see Zionist evil defend itself so its pretty shitty to get it shut down.
Great news, representatives of racist, apartheid and rogue states should be given no platform in this country to espouse their evil lies. Nothinh to do with free speech whatsoever.
Free speech in Ireland is history,do not dare to express a contrary view on refugees,same sex marriage,or anti EU then you will be called everything under the Sun
In that case Noirin every time a Palestinian gives a talk on the oppression they suffer at the hands of Israel there should be an Israeli there to give the ‘other side’. That’s bullshit.
@No Borders: So by facist rouge states I presume you mean Palestine. You mean the Palestinian protesters should be stopped?
The state that refuses to accept any Jews to live within its borders and also the state who’s leader is into year 11 of his dictatorship from a 4 year elected term. Sounds pretty facist and rouge to me!
@jane: Victims are not subject to the same rules. They won’t be “no-platforming” an Islamist Hamas supporter, calling their speeches propaganda, or insisting that their public speech must take the form of a debate with those who oppose them any time soon. It’s the racism of low expectations.
@Imnotrodten: Students afraid to have a debate? How are they going to cope in the real world when they figure out they will have to work with people with different views to them. Imagine the shock when the realise no-one cares if your snowflake mind is offended.
@Imnotrodten: This isnt a free speech issue. Trinity is a university where people learn by the Socratic method. Balanced discussion is essential to learning otherwise its just agenda floating which has no place in a learning institution and in itself is contrary to free speech.
Whats the academic usefulness in asking the Israeli ambassador to discuss his side of the situation if they have no intention of asking the Palestinian one to give balance within good time.
If the Israeli wants to ‘give insight’ under free speech hes perfectly entitled to stand on any street in Ireland and do so. He can wave a little blue and white flag and spin in circles while hes shytting rhetoric out of his mouth for all anyone cares.
Not giving the Palestinian a chance to speak is the same thing as these students shutting down the Israeli. A lot of fickle mush heads on here today.
Wahh wahhh Trumpy Lefty La Peny Free Speechy wahh wahhhhh
@Cillín Ó hEadhra: Students learn by many methods of which the Socratic method is only one. ‘Balanced’ discussion is not the Socratic method. ‘Agenda floating’ is a nice vague concept that you just invented rather than use the word propaganda and engage with the obvious problem that one man’s propaganda is another’s facts. No one group of students should be the arbiters of what is or is not ‘academically useful’.That’s ultimately for each student to decide for themselves as individuals. Nor should universities restrict the right of students to hear speech on the basis that the university deems it to be ‘academically non-useful’.
@OpenBorders: racist, apartheid and rogue state, really? I don’t know what state your talking about but if its Israel your are 100%, like all antisemites, wrong and you have no proof of apartheid or racism against the State of Israel, now if you were talking about Gaza or the West Bank I would totally agree with you, no Jews or Christians allowed there, now that’s apartheid and racist.
@Marlowemallow: Socratic learning is exactly that. Co-operative argument.
And the near sole method of learning in universities is the socratic method because its practically unavoidable.
We’re doing it now.
You furthermore realise the paradox of free speech or did you ever actually get to have balancex discussion on it in Trump University?
Everyone bytching about the students exercising their right to free speech is the same thing as they’re complaining about.
And yes. If he’s standing in a university, a collegiate of learning advocating a viewpoint unopposed, it is agenda floating and has little value.
You couldn’t make this up. Pampered students object to Israel setting ultimatums – so set their own. It’s like an outtake from “The Life of Brian”…
@Jed I. Knight: Except the pampered students ultimatum was ‘give balanced discussion’ while Israels ultimatum is ‘give up and just let us cleanse Palestine.’
@Cillín Ó hEadhra: Socrates is rolling in his grave.
So called liberal left preventing free speech !
The protesters are entitled to free speech too, and they didn’t object to the event proceeding, or prevent it proceeding. They objected to the imbalance of the panel.
There are many forms of free speech, people are free to object and protest events too.
Can you find this state of Palestine you refer to on a map of the world Mick? No? Is that because it doesn’t exist any more because it’s called Israel now? So which state’s laws were you referring to then? And do you recall that this country was also occupied and its people oppressed by foreign powers? Luckily you can still find Ireland on the map.
@Noirin
If this shower of muppets had been banned by Trinity from organising a similar event with a pro-Palestinian speaker they may have a point a point about lack of balance.
As it stands though I’d be pretty sure that they’re perfectly at liberty to organise a counter-event of their own with a speaker who’s message is more agreeable to their own narrow viewpoint.
Do you include your pals in the Muslim brotherhood Liam
@Cillín Ó hEadhra: I have yet to see a talk by a Palestinian group cancelled by Israeli objectors. While their may be hostilities between the two last year 180,000 Palestinian citizens were treated in Israeli hospitals, while Hamas and the Palestinian Authority pays jailed terrorists and the familes of ‘martyrs’ for their attacks on Israelis from international aid and tax income.
Here’s some follow-the-money reality about academia:
“Trinity is to establish a Centre for Islamic Studies, The University Times has learned, which will be entirely funded by a €5.5 million donation from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation.
According to the proposal for the new centre, which was approved in principle at a meeting of the College Board on January 27th, the donation will be provided over a period of ten years and will be used to create four-and-a-half new academic posts within the centre. These staff will be required to teach on the new course, and in other courses within the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Studies…
…The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation was established in 2007 by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, current Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates.”
And this is the reality of the UAE:
“Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest source of funds for Islamist militant groups such as the Afghan Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba – but the Saudi government is reluctant to stem the flow of money, according to Hillary Clinton.
“More needs to be done since Saudi Arabia remains a critical financial support base for al-Qaida, the Taliban, LeT and other terrorist groups,” says a secret December 2009 paper signed by the US secretary of state. Her memo urged US diplomats to redouble their efforts to stop Gulf money reaching extremists in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“Donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide,” she said.
Three other Arab countries are listed as sources of militant money: Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates….
…The other major headache for the US in the Gulf region is the United Arab Emirates. The Afghan Taliban and their militant partners the Haqqani network earn “significant funds” through UAE-based businesses, according to one report. The Taliban extort money from the large Pashtun community in the UAE, which is home to 1 million Pakistanis and 150,000 Afghans. They also fundraise by kidnapping Pashtun businessmen based in Dubai or their relatives.
“Some Afghan businessmen in the UAE have resorted to purchasing tickets on the day of travel to limit the chance of being kidnapped themselves upon arrival in either Afghanistan or Pakistan,” the report says.
Last January US intelligence sources said two senior Taliban fundraisers had regularly travelled to the UAE, where the Taliban and Haqqani networks laundered money through local front companies.
One report singled out a Kabul-based “Haqqani facilitator”, Haji Khalil Zadran, as a key figure. But, Clinton complained, it was hard to be sure: the UAE’s weak financial regulation and porous borders left US investigators with “limited information” on the identity of Taliban and LeT facilitators.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/05/wikileaks-cables-saudi-terrorist-funding
Paul McDonald, the State of Israel came about because along with the UN, the British “gave” it to the Zionists, who claimed it as their historic homeland, which, through no fault of their own, most of them left 2000 years previously. Some remained and I have read reports where it seems those who did remain are also judged to be second class citizens by the mostly European Zionists. Giving the Zionists a home of their own was one thing, maybe they should have considered donating a part of England but instead they gave them land inhabited by the Palestinians for generations. Maybe they were salving European guilt for the attrocities of the concentration camps by making the Palestinians, who had nothing to do with the camps, pay. This was not just, even if it was legal since the laws themselves are unjust. The Zionists have claimed the land as their own which is not historically verifiable, as they were more than likely nomads originally like most of the people of the region, and have systematically broken agreements about boundaries, zoning of land, human rights. They are defended by their very powerful friends and allies who arm and fund them to shoot stone throwing children. They have continued to build settlements they had previously agreed were Palestinian lands, stealing water supplies for their own use and discriminating against the native Palestinian population. They refuse them permission to build houses while the Israeli settlements increase continually. So yes, it is apartheid. Whether or not you agree with the customs and traditions of the Palestinian people, or you object to their politicians or indeed armed militants, it doesn’t excuse the behaviour of the Zionists.
Avina, the narrow viewpoint here is yours. If a pro Palestinian event was organised I’m sure some other group would object and that would be their right. The protesters objected to the one side only and I can fully understand this since I have heard and read on mainstream media the same tired excuses being trundled out by Zionists where they repeatedly complain of the horrors of bombing by Palestinians even though they have a state of the art defence shield provided by the US, while they can and do decimate hospitals and homes in Gaza, which is basically an open prison. They even shot someone on a peaceful flotilla trying to enter! So I would have no objection if media coverage was balanced but it isn’t and this was just more of it.
@Noirin Kavanagh:
“Avina, the narrow viewpoint here is yours.”
Not quite sure how you figure that one out. I’d be happy to listen to an Israeli Ambassador give his take on the situation and particularly to see how he would answer the inevitable hard questions. Equally I would be just as happy to listen to a high-ranking Palestinian representative give his opinion and take questions.
This is the very definition of open-mindedness – to respectfully listen to both sides of an argument and make one’s mind up according to what one hears. It seems you’re the one who has the closed mind here Noirin.
Avina, I believe your view is narrow, or possibly naive, because you seem to think that people attend these talks with a blank slate open mind, which a tiny few may but most are already heavily influenced by media depictions of extremist terrorists. Unbalanced presentations provide a platform to present biased, selective facts and half truths as truths. Yes there may be hard questions put, but these are often dismissed with more propaganda and then it moves on to the next question. Giving equal airtime is the way for a balanced debate on such a fraught issue. This is the time when propaganda comes of age, with lies, spin, “alternative truths”, respectfully listening, as I too would try to do, may not be enough to find out what is really going on.
Disgraceful. The deplatform nonsense is arriving in Ireland it seems. I don’t support Israel but universities are the place to hear argument you may not agree with. They are also the place to protest but not shut down debate.
Did you not read the article? There is no debate. Simple. That’s the problem. The Israel governments views do need need any more unanswered free speeches attempting to justify the kind of treatment that started world war II. Ironically by the mistreatment of the Jews. Now if that’s not crazy I don’t know what is. We are all humans and have rights.
I expect to see you out protesting for Jewish rights in the Palestinian territories so. “We are all human and have rights” – isn’t that right Cathal?
Cathal there was to be a 45 minute Q&A, that sounds like a good opportunity for debate. There was a chance to ask the Ambassador hard questions
When there’s a constant barrage of information from one side; having an ambassador speak to give the opposing side is the only way to give balance.
What a sad indictment that security had to be dictated by the embassy.
@Cathal Leonard: Are you saying that when the Students for Justice in Palestine invite a speaker they invite a counter pro Israeli speaker for balance? At best they invite an Israeli (or former Israeli) more extreme than the Palestinian.
Well said Cathal!
I don’t agree with anything the Israeli govt is doing but they are entitled to speak. What is it with the left or left leaning people? They have to prevent, stop, exclude, disenfranchise anyone or thing that doesn’t fit their narrow world view. This is fascism.
@Austin Rock: Well said Austin
A lot of women protesting there. Of course, if they lived in Palestine they wouldn’t be allowed out of the house.
Sorry Austin, but it’s about balance and fairness. If you think that the Palestinian voice is heard in all of this, and I mean the ordinary Palestinians struggling to live in a state where they often don’t even have equal right to water and housing, then you’re deluded. America supports the state of Israel with weapons, money and influence. Zionist propaganda is not challenged. We know from our own history what happens when injustice is perpetrated by those supposed to uphold it, and those who object are vilified. It shouldn’t, but violence follows. Nothing fascist about calling bullshit on Zionism!
Noirin, any thoughts on the oasis of human/ political/ social rights that the Palestinians currently enjoy under the current governments? Its funny who folk like you howl against “zionism” but are suddenly struck dumb when it comes to how palestinians treat other palestinians. Its very strange.
@Noirin Kavanagh: I hear Palestinians speaking all the time, down the barrels of mortars that are sited in schools and hospitals, where Israeli reprisals will kill the maximum number of children. I hear a constant barrage of anti-Semitic propaganda. I am amazed at how a small group of Jewish diaspora who banded together to create their own nation changed from concentration camp Jews in 1947 to Fascist Nazi’s in 1948 just because they successfully defended themselves from an Arab invasion. The Palestinians themselves are pawns in the larger Islamic struggle for power that pits Shia against Sunni, Hezbollah against Fatah and Al Aqsa against Hammas. More Palestinians die at the hands of Palestinians than die by Israeli actions.
@Noirin Kavanagh: It would answer you better to question the propaganda coming from the terrorist run Gaza strip where the hundreds of missions of dollars and euro being pumped into it every year for the people,and infrastructure by the US and the EU, is squandered by Hamas and the PA (PLO) on making themselves rich and purchasing arms to start another war against a nation that they cannot possibly win against. But the truth is they know this, the war is not to win militarily, but to win the propaganda war which they so brilliantly execute, and have people like you, who are uninformed and ignorant as to the real situation believing them, and the real enemy of the Palestinian people, who are not Israel, but their own leaders and the likes of the BDS movement, who have cost more Palestinians their jobs, earning 4 times the average wage working for Jews than for Arabs, by business having to be shut down, the BDS pats themselves on the backs thinking “victory” while the poor Palestinians who have just lost their jobs because of the them are now on the breadline. so well done, who’s the real enemy.
@Austin Rock: Define “the left” and “left leaning people”. Swooping generalisations get you nowhere in an argument in my opinion. Let me remind you I could also say the same about some conservatives and alt-right snowflakes like Donald Trump who write off any opposing statistics as “fake news”. This isn’t really an issue with one particular side anymore, groups of people in all areas of the political spectrum have become locked down and bunkered in when it comes to their opinions.
The regressive left is the true face of 21st century fascism.
I just can’t with these social media, echo-chamber millennials anymore. What happened to critical thinking?
Listen to them chanting we are all palestinians. They are but not in the way they think. Maybe theyll look up the suppression of political opposition in the Palestinian territories. Typical regressive champagne lefties. lol
Where were the terrorist supporters of the sjp last week when the Turkish ambassador was there? Will they organise similar demos if the Chinese or Russian ambassadors are invited? Where are their condemnations of the vile human rights abuses of Hamas and Fatah, the teaching of hate to children, the glorification of terrorists, the use of young children to build terror tunnels, the death sentences handed out to rivals, the persecution of Christians, the abuses of LGBT, the abuse of power by Abu Mazen now 11years into his 4 year term of office, the corruption. Of course they won’t say anything because strip away their mask and they are anti-Semites at heart.
Abuse of stateless Kurds isn’t worth getting upset about for some reason
@Richard Keogh: You have such a strong argument that to mention the “a” word weakens it!
Completely on your side but you don’t need the last bit!
“#activism” the journal signalling it’s support for this sort of censorious conduct.
@John Smith: Yes… And notice the little explainer they put in: ‘objecting to the “format” of the talk’.
So they don’t object to free speech, just the format of talks hosted by a society on campus
Unbelievable that they got away with this. What happened to free speech. That bds movement is full of thugs and bullies.
The intolerance used to be all on the right wing of politics. Now, there seems to be more of it on the left. Sad…..
Actually it has always been so!!!
What happened to Je Suis Charlie?
@Paul Fahey: This crowd would never have said that. They would be the ‘yes, but whaddabout French colonialism and racism….’ types. They want hate speech laws to limit free speech so that only speech they deem to be “helpful” is permitted.
One of the chants was
“From the river to the sea
Palestine will be free”
Free from what, I wonder? And what will happen to this jews currently living between the river and the sea?
@Emeralds: They haven’t really thought about it. Most of them couldn’t find that river on a map. They just like the sound of the word ‘free’ and also it rhymes.
I don’t remember you asking what would happen to the Palestinians that lived there before their homes were bulldozed to make way for Israeli settlements. Where was your empathy then?
Exactly Colin Pumper, no one here addresses the behaviour of the Zionist occupiers of Palestine. The comments here mirror the sort of media coverage we are exposed to. The Zionists are good really, they do their best for those ungrateful Palestinians who bomb them for no reason. If only they would learn their place, realise that although they have been there for 2000 years, it wasn’t theirs because the god of the old testament said so. Not in person mind you, but through his prophets, and writings, and angels. Hmmmmm, forgive me if I’m somewhat sceptical about their claim to the land! So when the Palestinians bomb and shoot (as happens anywhere people have the human rights abused) they are violent terrorists, but when a peaceful movement like BDS is launched, that’s the Palestinians bullying the peace loving Israelis. People here need to wake up and smell the coffee. The state of Israel is founded on highly questionable moral grounds and their continuous expansion of settlements and appropriation of Palestinian lands has been condemned by human rights groups and the UN. This is not about whataboutery. Yes, the Palestinian leadership is corrupt, I’m still looking out for an administration that isn’t, and we certainly can’t talk here in Ireland. But that doesn’t excuse what the Zionists are doing to ordinary people who are just going about their daily lives. Human rights are rights for humans, all of them, not just the ones who share my moral, political, social outlook.
While I’d definitely be pro Palestine they should have just let the man speak. It’s not clear if they went out with the intention to actually stop it from happening on the day, but they are representing their college and should show a bit of maturity and leave a visitor (an ambassador not some evil dude) come in say his piece and leave without incident . Could have organised a pro-Palestine speaker themselves a different day where the terms and topics were set by them!
I don’t see why they didn’t do that instead. Except that it’s so much easier to be one of the hecklers.
So now it’s OK to persecute Jews in Ireland? When did that happen?
It’s nothing to do with religion, they were protesting against the state of Israel. Easy for you to confuse the two I’m sure.
That’s always the fall back for treating behaving like animals. Built a bridge get over it. Plenty of nations and people’s have dark histories of oppression like the Irish but it’s no longer an acceptable excuse to behave like bullies shooting children. Grow up.
Are these kids in college to learn, or are they there to inflict their already intransigent views on everyone else? Seems they’re missing the point of “higher” education.
@Ian Forde: Higher education in the humanities today mostly teaches postmodernism. When successful, that dissolves students’ ability to think.
I don’t actually blame the students involved per se, I blame TCD authorities. People have a right to free speech, which works both ways. Or not, as in this case. Shame on Trinity.
@Ian Forde: Yes, the responsibility for ensuring student’s have a right to hear what they want to hear rests with college authorities. They won’t do it partly because it’s easier not to. But partly because most academics are left-leaning and sympathize with the protestors.
This event should absolutely not have been cancelled. The simple solution is that the SJP crowd should organise an event with a speaker from the Palestinian Representative Office. But no, these people would rather close down anything that conflicts with their narrow vision of the world. What do they think the Izzy Ambassador was going to ? Incite racial hatred ? Declare that Israel’s policy is to wipe every Palestine from the face of the earth ? Freedom of speech me arse. Balance me arse. I’m going to keep an eye on these muppets’ FB page and see if they organise an event that is not, ahem, ” balanced “. Then I could mount my own protest and get it cancelled. Well, why not ? Given that my taxes are going in some part to educating at least some of these people, should I not have a say in what goes on ?
@Ig Clarke: They don’t require balance, or standards of any kind, from those who are lower on the privilege ladder. That’s the ideology behind this. They divide the world into oppressors vs. Victims. If you’re a member of a designated Victim group you can pretty much do what you like and it will be overlooked or excused. If you’re a member of a designated Oppressor group the opposite is true.
@Marlowemallow, I’m with you all the way! Looking at what’s happening around the world I’ve finally decided I want to be a victim.
Firstly Im going to list and demand all my entitlements: free money, health, education, accommodation, and anything else I can think of as I go. Then I’m going to stop anyone from disagreeing with my view point. I will protest at a minutes notice and block streets and shout abuse at all those I hate.
When I have achieved all the above then I’ll be happy! Wait a minute!! I don’t want to be happy because then I won’t be a VICTIM any more.
How dare anyone try and make me happy ! You are victimising me by doing that. Hang on hang on! Make me happy so I can claim victimhood because then I’m always going to be satisfied.
@Ig
They have an event on tonight as it happens – screening of a film from a Palestinian director at 7pm, East End Room 2 in the Science Block.
Maybe some rent-a-mob should go along and picket it on the basis that they’re not also showing a film by an Israeli director for balance….
In fact they’re organising unbalanced events every day this week.
Visit “Students for Justice in Palestine – TCD” facebook group for more details…
Students for Justice in Palestine seem totally unconcerned by torture in Palestine Authority and Gazan prisons; murder and exile of political opponents and total control of the media and therefore criticism of injustice by Palestinian authorities in areas they totally control. The Arab Organization for Human Rights in Britain reported 3,175 cases of human rights violations by the PA security forces in the West Bank during 2016. Hundreds of those detained include university students and lecturers, as well as schoolteachers.
If Israel isn’t involved SJP just isn’t interested.
Fair play to the students. If the Irish can’t understand what it’s like to have your land robbed and be oppressed well who can ?
@Cathal Leonard: So if your argument is so obvious and right, why are you guys so petrified of debate and have to shout down everyone?
Would it be because it’s actually a lot more complex and you might lose the debate?
When was it ‘their’ land ? Go read a history book!
@Cathal Leonard: Oh you really really need to grow up.
I would be “pro-Palestine” if you want to attach a label, however the only way for grown ups like the rest of us to change things is by debate, discourse and discussion.
Acting like a spoilt child will NOT change anything.
But sure, you can all chat away in the Trinity bar over an organically sourced OJ and feel good.
I just hope it’s Israeli oranges. And no one’s told you.
@Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh: Spot on.
@Cathal Leonard: If you think the Irish experience of British Occupation gives us some unique understanding of the plight of Palestinians then I feel sad for you. We understand the plight of the Palestinian and Israeli as deeply as Americans bred on Fox news understand the Irish question. The history and the politics are completely different. The best way we can serve Israel and Palestine is NOT to take sides. To serve as an open ear to both sides. To do this you must be prepared to listen to both sides. Preventing the Israeli Ambassador from speaking, or any “No Platforming” stance is preventing free speech. Sadly the Islamic world does not have a good record on free speech, open debate or reasoned argument. They have a habit of adopting extreme positions rooted in religious fundamentalism. What worries me is that our best and brightest, third level students in one of our primary universities, do not seem to question the no platforming position. It’s really a bit sad.
Good these lying murders should never get the chance to spout their lies.
Used to be Jews were hated for their religion then hated for their race now Jews are hated for their state….As long as you call them Zionists ok to hate them….Europe is becoming a cold place for Jews once again…..
The are many Jews who oppose the ligitimacy of the Israeli state on ethical grounds. Jewish does not equal Israeli, even if you wish it were true.
Oh the irony of Joe saying murderers shouldn’t get a platform for their lies.
@jane: I know Jane you are abig fan of oppression, whether it be British oppression of the Irish or Israeli oppression of Palestine.
Im just not a big fan of hypocrisy Joe.
Sure, this protest would have been attended by many anti Israel fanatics who make a fetish of trying to de-legitimize Israel. Like some of the cranks on this forum who reserve a special hatred for Israel beyond anything else.
But to be fair, the Israeli embassy also recently tried to stop a debate being held in a Cork college over the Iegitmacy of the Israeli state. It’s an issue of free speech, both sides and their lobbies awant to shut down debate. Anyway, these are just colleges where these debates happen – it’s not as if they will have any material effect on the ground.
@Jurgen Remak: and of course it cuts both ways Israeli govt goes to extraordinary lengths to prevent any kind of criticism.
Well they’re doing a pretty bad job of it so, Austin
@Emeralds: really? Given the amount of pro Israeli comments, its safe to assume either.
A) they have managed to brain wash a lot of Irish people into believing, that they are slaughtering innocent Palestinian men, women and children for their own good and not to steal their land.
B) there are a lot of non Irish people who are paid to comment in articles which might show Israeli government terrorists in a bad light.
Given that their ambassador can’t even fulfil a speaking engagement, I’d say criticism of Israel isn’t exactly being prevented
This is disgusting This all comes from the top in this so called University
@Bernard Lebanidze: It’s far from just Trinity – it’s the same in universities throughout the west.
“We are all Palestinians”?
All a bunch of useless idiots campaigning for a cult of misogyny, gender apartheid, homophobia, paedophilia, polygamy, theocracy, repression and murder.
Israel is the sole sane westernised civilised nation in the region.
The jews, ARE the only people that could be described as Palestinian. 3000 years of history. The Arabs muslims there are but a Plantation. It is not unreasonable to move them on.
Is the the flag of Jordan?
No
Are our universities to go the way of American & British ones and adopt politically motivated censorship? If so, then the taxpayer should consider de-funding them.
Glad to see the Shinners represented among this group of clowns , Gerry and the lads have always fought for free speech haven’t they ?
@Mike Cantwell: they let Hitler have free speech and that worked out OK..
Joe the Jews want to live their lives , your pals in Hamas want to murder them its that simple , when Hamas and the other Islamic gangs put down their weapons and stop trying to kill Israelis they will find that the Israelis will busy themselves with living and they can do the same , as Del would say stop being a plonker all your life , ok Joe
@Mike Cantwell: they want to live their lives on the Palestinian land and they don’t mind killing the men,women and children to do this, and if they succeed they will look at expanding other borders.
Mike as soon as you said “it’s that simple” you revealed yourself to be the plonker!
Some Trinity students have a bit of a history in preventing free speech. I can remember one chap standing outside the gmb with a megaphone. He has done well for himself since.
In 1860 the black anti-slavery campaigner Frederick Douglass held a meeting against slavery in Boston. It was interrupted by a group of pro-slavery activists. The mayor of Boston refused to protect the meeting and instead ordered that it be broken up. In response, Frederick wrote a brilliant defence of freedom of speech that today’s “no-platformers” and, above all, university authorities, need to get into their heads:
“The world knows that last Monday a meeting assembled to discuss the question: “How Shall Slavery Be Abolished?” The world also knows that that meeting was invaded, insulted, captured by a mob of gentlemen, and thereafter broken up and dispersed by the order of the mayor, who refused to protect it, though called upon to do so. If this had been a mere outbreak of passion and prejudice among the baser sort, maddened by rum and hounded on by some wily politician to serve some immediate purpose, – a mere exceptional affair, – it might be allowed to rest with what has already been said. But the leaders of the mob were gentlemen. They were men who pride themselves upon their respect for law and order.
Even here in Boston, and among the friends of freedom, we hear two voices: one denouncing the mob that broke up our meeting on Monday as a base and cowardly outrage; and another, deprecating and regretting the holding of such a meeting, by such men, at such a time. We are told that the meeting was ill-timed, and the parties to it unwise.
Why, what is the matter with us? Are we going to palliate and excuse a palpable and flagrant outrage on the right of speech, by implying that only a particular description of persons should exercise that right? Are we, at such a time, when a great principle has been struck down, to quench the moral indignation which the deed excites, by casting reflections upon those on whose persons the outrage has been committed? After all the arguments for liberty to which Boston has listened for more than a quarter of a century, has she yet to learn that the time to assert a right is the time when the right itself is called in question, and that the men of all others to assert it are the men to whom the right has been denied?
..There can be no right of speech where any man, however lifted up, or however humble, however young, or however old, is overawed by force, and compelled to suppress his honest sentiments.
Equally clear is the right to hear. To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker. It is just as criminal to rob a man of his right to speak and hear as it would be to rob him of his money. I have no doubt that Boston will vindicate this right. But in order to do so, there must be no concessions to the enemy.”
‘We are all Palestinians’
Yeah Roysh.
Shower of crustys
Fascists.
“No opposing view being put forward”??? They could have been the opposing view. 45 mins of questions from the floor. They could have torn him to bits with well prepared questions and arguements but instead made some childish signs out of cornflake boxes and got the thing cancelled. Morons.
I presume all the Whales have been saved then.
if you support free speech then you must also support their right to protest. They protested outside the event. Why would this stop the event? it seems the ambassador got cold feet.
@Cathal Mac Einri: They were blocking doors and the gardai were leaving them to it.
@Keith Fay: a couple of students standing in front of the door is not blocking it. wow they do look very dangerous.
@Cathal Mac Einri: That’s the usual playing innocent. Of course they have a right to protest. ‘No-platforming’ is not about peaceful protest. It’s about disrupting and shouting down the enemy, it’s about intimidating attendees. Its goal is to stop the opposition from speaking in the first place, not to demonstrate disagreement with what they’re going to say. That’s why the Gardai and college security tried to break it up. They know how violent and disruptive the no-platformers get:
“An Garda Siochana and College security attempted to break up the protest, which continued for several minutes following the announcement of the event being cancelled.
Speaking to The University Times before the event, Jack Dykstra-McCarthy, Secretary of SOFIA responded to the proposed protest: “I fundamentally disagree with no platforming. Obviously we’ve invited someone controversial, we want to hear every single view. The protest itself is fine and good a far as i’m concerned.”
@Cathal Mac Einri: I was just answering your question, no need to pedantic. Protesting is good and we should applaud that we live in a country where we can do it.
@Keith Fay:
Protesting is fine but when it extends to shutting down free expression it is censorship.
Another example of the tail wagging the dog.
I have zero time for Israel and it’s constant kvetching, but I believe this decision is profoundly stupid. Let the ambassador speak and encourage open questioning from all sides. Ditto with any Palestinian representative. That’s the sort of mature, enquiring approach that should be the bread and butter of any academic institution, isn’t it?
Why do you never see students protesting against Saudi Arabia, yet that’s an even more brutal and dangerous regime than Israel? It’s because Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country and it’s ‘cool’ to protest against Israel.
@Colonel Buckshot: when was the Saudi speaking.
There is protesting, And there is blocking free speech. The two seem to be getting very close nowadays.
Free speech snuffed out..Gardai should be ashamed
Oh, how these protesters have a special type of hypocrisy and double standards all for themselves. I believe a Palestinian speaker is invited to speak in Trinity soon at the same location. Will there be a protest outside trying to prevent access, or anyone asking questions about the human rights of LGBT, Women and religious minorities? Will they shout and scream about the Hamas Charter and their genocidal actions, oh no — Shame on them. I hope the Gardai and Trinity College will act and ensure to prevent this type of intimidation and thuggery is kept off the campus in future.
College is a place where your opinions should be challenged. Censorship will not achieve anything positive. These delicate little petals will be chewed up and spat out by the real world.
Bunch of snowflakes ”deplatforming” anyone whose opinions and perspectives differ from theirs. Hey kids, fix the world and solve global hunger while you still know everything and before you have to live in the real world ie. without mammy picking up yer dirty kacks.
It is sad to see that the idea of free speech, on not only this issue, but on every issue around the world, seems to have given way to this. if you fear that your own arguments or convictions will not stand up in the face of an opposing view being expressed, then you don’t have a lot of faith in them, or there validity. The irony of self professed activists for freedom of expression, demanding that others be silenced speaks volumes.
The SJW liberals are learning from across the pond, so much for University being used as a space for intellectual debate.
If Trinity keeps shit like this up public funding should be cut completely. I don’t care if a 3rd level institution turns into a SJW safe spacing shit hole as long as not on tax payers time.
Well done all!
If there was no opposing view allowed in the debate then yes , totally valid to boycott and protest this ‘talk’/monologue..propaganda event.
The college of Swift and Burke seems not to believe in open exchange of opinions. Will it move on to smashing windows of those we disagree with next?
SHAME on Trinity College.Such thugishness would not have occurred in that university during the long reign of John Charles Mcquade(of Happy Memory
@Gus Dennis: McQuaid banned Catholics from attending Trinity without his express permission in each case? What are you on about?
I am Jewish and I left Ireland exactly because I am sick of all this stuff. Soon Ireland won’t have any Jews left – just lots of Muslims.
They Celebrated the fact it was cancelled. Thats the difference between being pro Israel and anti Israel, YES anti Israel. I dont believe these people are pro Palestine. If they where they would promote Palestine and its food and products. All it does it attack Israel, which in most cases causes the unemployment of Palestinians who where working in peace with Israelis and making the same wages and benefits. i.e Soda Stream. I would call myself Pro Israel, but I am pro peace. I want the best for both people. Unlike many of the simple tines at the protest I have visited Israel and Palestine. I have seen both people live and love each other in peace. It seems these people do not want to see peace, simply the destruction of Israel. I’m looking forward to seeing the IPSC condoning the actions of these individuals, LOL!
P.S They are breaking the The Vienna Convention
Those dissunsional persons!
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