Feraliminal Lycanthropizer said:
I know its your land and all, but at this day and age, does it even matter anymore? I mean, you said you have freinds from the north and south, and the cathloics and protestants get along. Does it matter whose land it is because everyone gets along now.
(Im asking all these questions for my report)
It does when the nationalist/republican communtiy continue to be denied their rights and be discriminated against in many ways. And while many nationalists and unionists get on ok, there still remain much sectarianism in the six-counties. But it is not about catholic v protestant or nationalist v unionist. It is about the continuing occupation of Ireland.
The Irish people have the right to full independence. Would people in the US or Sweden or Norway or anywhere else accept occupation by a foreign power? I dont think so and I dont think they should. Freedom is a basic right that should be upheld, isn't it?
In relation once again to the continued existence of the IRA, it should be remembered that they have been on a unilateral ceasfire since 1994. However, many nationalist areas are vulnerable and the only thing preventing them from been overran by loyalists is the presence of the IRA. Back in 1969/1970, the IRA was virtually extinct and when the loyalist mobs, supported by the Police, tried to overrun these areas because nationalists had been demanding basic civil rights, such as one person - one vote, fair allocation of housing, a handful of old IRA veterans and young people in the areas who could get their hands ona few old guns, were all that prevented these areas between totally destroyed. Areas such as the Short Strand in Belfast and the Bogside in Derry endured intense attack but it was only the actions of these IRA men and youngsters in the area that saved these areas. That is where the current IRA was created, on teh streets of the six counties defending the lives and homes of nationalist under attack by loyalist and British gangs.
Many of these areas remain very vulnerable and the general nationalist/republican population do not want to be in a position like they were back in 1969/1970 ever again. The police force (RUC/PSNI) is a corrupt and bigoted police force that has oppressed nationalist since the states foundation and is totally unaceptable to nationalists. It has been proven, along with the British military and British intelligence, to have collaborated in the killing of nationalists with Loyalist death squads and continues to try to cover up the full truth of their involvement.
The largest nationalist party in the six counties is now Sinn Fein, a republican party and active campaigners for a United Ireland. Yet they and their supporters continue to suffer harrassment and arrest by the security forces and to be discriminated against in a way that the other parties are not.
As I said, this is about freedom from British rule. Remember, as I said the IRA are on ceasefire since 1994 in order to try to progress the current peace process that is currently underway since around 1990, while the British army or RUC/PSNI have refused to call a ceasefire at all.
Talk of the IRA going away while all these other armed groups such as the British army remain on Irsih troops is a flight of fancy that will never happen. Even if they did decide to go away, it would only mean that young nationalists would just organise a new army to defend their areas, basically creating a new version of the IRA. That will not help the situation one bit. What needs to happen is that all the groups need to negotiate all of themselves away and create freedom, justice and peace in the process.
