Legitimising the Occupation

national | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis

Friday March 11, 2011 15:27

by Liam Mac Sheamais

Sinn Féin and the defeat of Irish Republicanism

With the vitsit of the British Monarch to Dublin due to take place in May 2011, many Irisih Republican's consider this to be the last part of a process which has been aimed at solidifying the partition of Ireland and legitimising the continuing British occupation of six northen counties. A process that began with the establishment of a 'friendly' (in British terms) leadership of the Irish Republican Movement in 1986, continuing through ceasefires, decommissioning, treaties and open support for the British colonial police, referred to as the PSNI. The visit by the British Monarch to Dublin is seen by many as the concluding part in this drawn out process.

Sinn Fein have issued a statement regarding the English queen visiting Dublin this year but the statement says nothing beyond the fact that they think the visit is "premature". Are they Republican? Will they oppose it? Is this their final statement on the issue?

How sad to see a political party that holds onto such an historical and proud name distance itself so decisively from Republicanism. Their abandonment of Republicanism is the price of power. To get into power and appease the British and the West Brit establishment, they had to dismantle the IRA, reestablish and participate in the Stormont assembly, support British policing and be cheerleaders for the continued occupation of part of our country.

This whole process has been aimed at defeating the Republican people of Ireland. Many see this visit by Elizabeth Windsor in May as the final stamp of approval on what has been a huge victory by Britain.

To quote a few lines from a poem by Pádraig Pearse, which for me sums up the Sinn Fein position today "....they have bartered strength for weakness...courage for cowardice, hailed as heroes no longer" (On the Fall of the Gael). The conflict between Ireland and Britain remains unresolved. Simply because people who call themselves "Republican" are administering British rule does not mean British Rule is acceptable.

Pearse’s words at the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa still hold true, "they think they have purchased half of us and intimidated the other half .... but the fools, the fools, the fools they have left us our Fenian dead and while Ireland holds these graves Ireland unfree shall never be at peace".

Re-negotiation of the various treaties, to re-establish an independent 32 County Republic must take place to bring about a lasting peace in our country and therefore resolve the conflict between Ireland and Britain.

Until the British administration in Ireland is no longer then and only then will there be peace. A section of the Irish people may have been bought over by power and money but there will always be a section in Ireland who will oppose British rule in any part of this country.

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Comments (11 of 11)

visit

by Holofernes

Sat Mar 12, 2011 01:30

Hasn't the Queen of England been in Ireland several times before? Was she not here last October?

I can see why the idea of her visit would upset people, and I am not against protests. But why such a big fuss about this visit?

silly

by Tim Johnston

Sat Mar 12, 2011 03:07

"many Irisih Republican's consider this to be the last part of a process which has been aimed at solidifying the partition of Ireland and legitimising the continuing British occupation of six northen counties. .. The visit by the British Monarch to Dublin is seen by many as the concluding part in this drawn out process."

Those "many" are clearly deranged, then. Since when does Republicanism mean "not letting any queens visit"? Somebody needs a new dictionary.

No Monarchy

by Ruairí

Sat Mar 12, 2011 14:13

Obviously, Republicanism would be against any Monarchy - that's the point of being a Republican.

The west brit attempts to masquerade this "official visit" as harmless is a nonsense. This is a blatant political move, it is an attempt to draw a line under the Irish Republican struggle for complete independence and the establishment of a 32 County Republic.

Sinn Féin's failure to show any leadership to those who consider them 'Republican' - speaks volumes about were they are as a political entity.

The most progressive section of the Irish people, who have not been bought or intimidated, will be out in force to oppose this Royalist parade. Anyone who considers themselves Democrats must oppose this Monarchist visit in May.

queen's visit

Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:31

sorry Ruairi but that's nonsense. What royalists? It's a state visit like a visit by any other head of state. If you don't like the Queen, don't go and watch. What evidence is there to suggest there is any political motive behind the visit? If anything it represents an Ireland that has made peace with its history and moved on, like 99% of us have. If this was some stunt to "legitimise the occupation" or something, wouldn't she be visiting Northern Ireland?

This visit is an affront to the Irish people

by V for vendetta

Wed Mar 16, 2011 01:34

In a time of chronic unemployment, forced emigration, cuts to crucial public services etc, miss moneybags decides she wants to take an all expenses paid ( by the Irish taxpayer) little holiday to the colonies to stay in a fine hotel, eat the finest foods, sweet meats and wines and bask in the forelock tugging adulation of simple minded masochists who know no better.

Total estimated bill to the taxpayer: EIGHT MILLION EURO!!!

Fuck her. And fuck you too Tim for (surprise surprise) defending this pointless economic travesty. In so many ways this visit is an affront to the Irish people. It should not go ahead.

Interesting puff gossip piece about the prince in the sunday tribune. You'd love it Tim. Check it out.
Gives you some idea about the kind of people we are dealing with and the circles they move in.
Bunch of Pathetic inbred human beings living in cloud cuckooland on the backs of the taxpayers, swanning around with all their ultra rich corrupt dodgy friends and doing dodgy insider financial deals.

correction...

Wed Mar 16, 2011 13:35

I meant the sunday times. Sorry Tim.
But then again I suspect you are probably an avid sunday times fan anyway.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/
see the "princely playmates" article under "news review"

like all things royal, of course, it will cost you money

Hey!

by pat c

Wed Mar 16, 2011 17:54

The Sunday Times Culture section is vgood.

I remember the visit of Prince Charles in 1995, they took him to meet oaps in Pearse Street who sang For Hes A Jolly Good Fellow. If he'd come to meet oaps in Sean McDermott St he would have been bottled. Never trust a southsider.

I still say we could have a big demo if we think outside of the box. Make it into a protest against cutbacks North & South and against the cuts in Britain. Lets have an Internationalist protest. Its something which the 1% Network could take up.

Barbarians "bottle" people.

by Dublin Four.

Thu Mar 17, 2011 18:05

Quote:
"For Hes A Jolly Good Fellow. If he'd come to meet oaps in Sean McDermott St he would have been bottled. Never trust a southsider."

Never trust barbarians who "bottle" people they disagree with.

Real Barbariana

Thu Mar 17, 2011 18:10

Real barbarians shoot down civilians in the street like the paras do. Charlie is the colonel in chief of the paras.

Dear V

Thu Mar 17, 2011 21:54

No, and fyi I don't particularly think spending that much money right now is a good idea AND I have little personal fondness for the royals NOR, you'll be pleased to hear, the Sunday Times - but, the article is called "legitimising the occupation" and not "we can't afford the visit" so was able to conclude that neither the cost factor, nor the concept of constitutional monarchy as a political form are what irk the author.

What I don't understand, and after 30 years living in the Republic of Ireland never did, is how the fact that the majority of the population of Northern Ireland actually want a monarch - for reasons best known to themselves it must be said - can be so easily dismissed as an "occupation" in this way. I mean, intellectually, philosophically, ideologically or whatever, how do you actually deal with what may be an uncomfortable - albeit incontrovertible - fact?

And how can someone in all seriousness think the Queen's visit to the Republic has any bearing on that - and is anything other than a state visit similar to that of Bill Clinton a few years ago, which I attended? Bear in mind I understand the bitterness it might cause for a certain segment of the population and that is not to be dismissed - but legitimising the occupation? really?

this is all not just rhetoric to us Tim

Fri Mar 18, 2011 04:08

Fair enough Tim. But why, may I ask do you feel the need to argue against the premise of this thread when by your own admission, you are so much in agreement with the conclusion of the author (and myself) that this visit is ill advised. Your reasons may differ but the end result, that the queen should not visit, is the same. How about a little solidarity for once Tim. I mean...why do you keep coming here. thats really what I would like to know.

It's not just a "teach yourself rhetoric 101 using issues that matter to other people but not to you" site here y'know! Its real life we are talking about. And real people died as a result of the english colonisation of this island. And real money will be squandered needlessly by this parasitical upper class twat on her little five star junket. Some of us poor working class slobs around here actually care about these issues and they are quite personal.

So maybe do your rhetorical apprenticeship elsewhere. I hear politics.ie is a nice sociopathic right wing rhetorical sandbox. Either that or maybe show a little more humanity from time to time

shalom.

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Comments (11 of 11)