Posted by Jim on August 9, 2014
From The Irish Times
Thu, Aug 7, 2014, 12:01
It’s more than a pity John Bruton has never been much of a one for mischief. He might have contributed to the gaiety of the nation if he’d ended his contribution to a debate in the Irish Embassy in London last month on the significance for Ireland of the first World War by bursting into a sardonic rendition of that most rousing of republican ballads: “Take it down from the mast, Irish traitors/That’s the flag we Republicans claim/It can never belong to Free Staters/You have brought on it nothing but shame.”
Leave aside for a moment the competing analyses of the 1916 Rising and speculation about the trajectory events might have taken had the Rising never happened. The point is, there’s a rough overlap there between the perspective long held by Bruton and the viewpoint now of the cheerleaders for the IRA’s 1971-1998 campaign in that both believe that the 1921 partition settlement fell so far short of the aims of the Rising as to reduce the event to an exercise in futility.
The shift in the official republican position has since smoothed some of this roughness away.
Blandishments of the British
Bruton’s conclusion is that the partition settlement was as much as was achievable at the time and could have been secured without an uprising. On the other hand, the tradition which the Provos set out to revive on the back on the civil rights campaign held that much more could have been won had Griffith and Collins not fallen for the blandishments of the British: the task now was to take up arms to save honour and complete the job.
“Leave it to those who are willing/To uphold it in war or in peace/To the men who intend to do killing/Until England’s tyrannies cease.” Used to raise the rafters at closing time, that.
Bruton leaves a lot out of his account. Insofar as useless waste of life is at issue, he might have mentioned – although no surprise that he didn’t – that the tens of thousands of Irish who died in the first World War died for no good reason. Indeed, he appears to believe that the unspeakable bloodletting of 1914-1918 was rather a splendid affair.
Given the ideology he espouses, Bruton cannot acknowledge either that the Rising was a genuine strike against imperialism, whereas the Great War was a clash between rival robber gangs, with the proles as expendable fodder. (The Oh, What a Lovely War account remains the most accurate of the narratives.)
Nevertheless, specifically within the context of Irish history, the common ground between the Redmondite ex- taoiseach and modernising Sinn Féin is considerable – and more considerable now than in the days when only songs of struggle sufficed.
All respectable heads now bow in remembrance of the fallen of the Great War. No longer the shout of rage against those who bribed and bewildered them into service of king and another country.
The dead of 1914-1918 should, of course, be remembered, but never without anger against the recruiting sergeants, political and military, who gladly dispatched them to their dreadful end in cloying trenches. But to show disrespect for the Last Post and Chorus would now be seen as reprehensible disruption of peace.
It’s said the Irish soldiers who fought for Britain were ignored and insulted when they – some of them anyway – straggled home. There is truth in this, but not all of the truth. Some of us can remember being taught, literally at our father’s knee, of the Catholics who went over the top in hopes of a united Ireland and the Protestants who died to preserve the union and the contempt for working-class lives which this signified. The fallen were not forgotten on our street.
We hear none of that bitter disillusionment from John Bruton, and rarely hear it any longer from official republicanism. In the interests of peace, it seems, we must eschew or at least moderate condemnation of war.
Ireland wasn’t alone in averting its eyes from the maimed who made it home. Legless veterans begged on the streets of England, then saw their suffering sentimentalised in a ubiquity of poppies. Same as ever. Kipling’s thin red line of ’eroes earned their place in history and literature at the Battle of Balaclava in 1854 in Crimea. “It’s Tommy this, and Tommy that, and ‘chuck ’im out, the brute’/ But it’s ‘Saviour of his country’ when the guns begin to shoot.” (Crimea. There’s another place we sorted out.)
Those who railed against the traitors who’d brought nothing but shame to the cause have now accepted partition until such times as peaceful efforts can usher in unity – Collins was a bit more belligerent than that – which surely brings them and Bruton by circuitous route to agreement at last. Meanwhile, the anti-war tradition can be said to be more needed and relevant as ever.
Posted by Jim on July 28, 2014
The Pensive Quill
Carrie Twomey with the first of two pieces taking Boston College spokesman Jack Dunn to task over his comments in a recent WGBH radio interview
Jack Dunn unwittingly hit the nail on the head in his snide reference to my husband’s 18 years in Long Kesh as an IRA prisoner. He called the difference in approach to protecting the oral history archives of the IRA held at Boston College a clash of cultures. He couldn’t be more right.
Interrupted on his Cape Cod vacation to deal with responding to the fears of participants of the project, who now feel they are living under threat of death as documented by Kevin Cullen in the Boston Globe, he left his beach bonfire of marshmallows while in Belfast the bonfires of hate ignited effigies of Gerry Adams, images of Stormont, and Irish flags defaced with slogans like “Kill All Taigs [Catholics]”.
In Belfast, the government turns a blind eye to these displays, and ignores – in some cases even facilitates – the intimidation of the gunmen. It is left to the isolated few to raise their voices, resist, and call attention to the wrongs that need righted.
In Boston, or at least in Boston College as explained by Mr Dunn, questioning the action of the governments is not needed nor even countenanced. Ironic that, in the birthplace of the American Revolution. But this is not just evidence of a clash of cultures between Boston and Belfast, resistance and compliance; the clash over the handling of the history of the Troubles is also very much a clash of the decisions of a powerful elite and the powerless people who have to live with the consequences of their arrogant and entitled ignorance.
Jack Dunn’s Ivory Tower is very far removed from the reality that led to the creation of the archives and the reality that needs those archives to both exist and be protected. It explains why he and those in the Boston College administration don’t seem to have a clue at the disaster they have wrought. And sadly, what we are experiencing in this case is not that different from what many on the powerless side of the widening gap between the realities of the Jack Dunns of this world and the rest of us go through every day.
The Belfast Project documented the lives of resisters – both Republican and Loyalist. No matter Boston College’s illustrious past of involvement in Ireland and its peace process – Jack Dunn has exposed how out of touch the College is with reality. Naively entrusting the voice of the powerless and a history of resistance into the hands of the powerful blasé was one of the biggest mistakes of all in this ongoing nightmare.
Boston College is quite content to adorn itself in Ireland’s Troubles as long as it brings prestige and lucrative funding. It makes a fortune off of the US State Department doing so, and used to refer to the Belfast Project as the ‘crown jewels’ of the Burns Library. But when it is time to pay the piper for the Wearing of the Green, Jack Dunn shows exactly what BC’s true colors are made out of: the blood red of Ireland’s past and the yellow streak of Benedict Arnold.
Posted by Jim on
by Patrick Counihan at Irish Central
Molly Malone in a burqa among graphic images and warnings.
The Israeli embassy in Dublin has been slammed after grotesque images and warnings of an Islamic invasion of Ireland were posted on its Facebook page.
The images depicted the Molly Malone statue in Dublin wearing a burka and the embassy’s Facebook page claimed that Ireland would be the next state to fall under Islamic influence. Israeli media reports have accused Ireland of being far too pro-Palestinian in the current Gaza conflict.
Images of the Mona Lisa in Paris wearing a niqab and carrying a rocket launcher also featured in the propaganda.
Other images posted on the Dublin embassy’s Facebook page included Michelangelo’s David shown in Arab headgear and wired up as a suicide bomber with a warning to Italy and Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid shown holding a gun.
A spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Dublin has confirmed to the Irish Sun newspaper that the offensive images were posted from his embassy’s official social media accounts.
They have since been removed by Facebook and the report says Dublin was not the only city to come into the Israeli propaganda sights.
The Irish Sun reports that the Israel In Ireland Facebook and Twitter accounts have been blasted for sharing the series of controversial posts.
An embassy spokesman told the paper: “Yes they were sent from the official Facebook but they were taken down, I don’t know why.
“Often things get deleted for space reasons but it wasn’t taken down because of any complaints.”
Sinn Fein foreign affairs spokesman Sean Crowe told the Irish Sun he was shocked by the latest images.
He said: “On one hand it’s childish and lacks maturity, but when you consider 1,050 people have been killed, it’s wrong to be making light of the situation,” he said referring to the Gaza conflict. Criticism of the Israeli invasion has been wide-spread and fervent in Ireland.
“This is such a sensitive time, you would think an embassy would treat it as such and would send out messages of reconciliation, not fan the flames.
“I can’t understand why anyone would take time to post stuff like this.”
Posted by Jim on July 13, 2014
British Direct Ruler Theresa Villiers has intervened to block a new
inquest into the deaths of eight IRA Volunteers and a civilian shot dead
by the SAS almost 30 years ago in a decision branded as “profoundly
wrong” by Six-County Attorney General John Larkin.
It was confirmed to human rights group the Committee on the
Administration of Justice that Villiers issued a certificate blocking a
fresh inquest last month claiming it was “against the interests of
national security”, with the British Attorney-General being assigned
authority over the matter.
The eight IRA Volunteers were ambushed and killed by the SAS while on
active service in Loughgall, County Armagh on May 8 1987. Civilian
Anthony Hughes from Caledon in County Tyrone was also killed when he
drove unknowingly into the ambush.
The British government ultimately apologised to the Hughes family and
confirmed he was “wholly innocent of any wrongdoing”, but always denied
that the eight Volunteers were victims of a pre-planned ‘shoot-to-kill’
massacre.
In their letter to the CAJ, Mr Larkin’s lawyer said: “The Attorney
General wishes me to inform you that he considers the Secretary of
State’s decision to be profoundly wrong in principle and is currently
reflecting on the appropriate response to it.”
Relatives of those killed in Loughgall have spoken of their
disappointment at the decision. Mairead Kelly, whose brother Patrick was
one of the eight IRA men shot dead, said she wasn’t surprised by the
move.
“They don’t have to provide proof, do we know that there is something
there to prevent this going ahead,” she said. “The truth is going to be
damaging or they would let it go ahead.”
Director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice, Brian
Gormally condemned the decision.
“There is a relentless campaign, led by the UK Government and supported
by some elements in Northern Ireland, to suppress the truth about the
activities of state agents during the conflict,” he said.
“The aim is to ensure impunity for any crimes and human rights
violations committed by servants of the state, whether policemen,
soldiers or secret agents. This is the latest stage in this epic
cover-up, using the deliberately undefined concept of ‘national
security’ to stifle a proper investigation.”
Attorney General John Larkin had been considering the request for a new
inquest for almost two years after the European Court of Human Rights
previously found that there had been no proper investigation of the
deaths.
Mr Gormally said his organisation will challenge the move. �There is a
relentless campaign, led by the UK Government and supported by some
elements in Northern Ireland, to suppress the truth about the activities
of state agents during the conflict,” he said.
“The aim is to ensure impunity for any crimes and human rights
violations committed by servants of the state, whether policemen,
soldiers or secret agents. This is the latest stage in this epic
cover-up, using the deliberately undefined concept of �national
security� to stifle a proper investigation.
He said his organisation “don�t know” why the Loughgall case has been
singled out for the �national security� veto. “Is it because the SAS
were involved, or did a UK Minister give the green light for the ambush?
The point is, we don’t know and we won’t know if the UK Government has
anything to do with it.
“This situation is not just an assault on the right to truth and
transparency in a democratic society, but the lack of a proper
investigation is a continuing human rights violation. We will contest
this decision by all available means.”
Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Michelle Gildernew accused
authorities of “denying truth and justice to the families of those
killed in the Loughgall massacre” and said she agreed with Larkin’s
description of the intervention as ‘profoundly wrong.’
“This is yet another example of the British government denying families
the opportunity to get to the truth about the deaths of their loved
ones,” she said.
“Once again this exposes the lie that the British government was not a
protagonist in the conflict. The British government is denying the
families of those killed at Loughgall their basic human rights by
blocking access to the truth.”
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Donald Clarke. Irish Times. Friday, July 11, 2014.
Here’s a question. Is the festival of stomping, shouting and sunburn currently being endured in parts of Ulster the only such patriotic celebration that doesn’t have a name? In Sydney they enjoy Australia Day. German Unity Day has been a holiday in that country since 1990. And so on. But the Ulster Protestant celebration is always simply “the Twelfth”.
How appropriate. This is a locale so devoted to austerity that – as evidenced this week – its bakers refuse to provide Bert and Ernie cakes for gay weddings. The non-conformist sects have always shunned frivolous decoration. There the event sits. Its well- scrubbed face is unadorned by make-up. Its blouse and tights are modest. Nothing so idolatrous as a name defies its ruddy purity.
A great deal has changed in the North over the past 20 years. The Twelfth has, however, remained largely the same. Continuing a conversation that has been going on since the time of the Trilobites, the Parades Commission was, this year, asked to decide whether the Orange Order could bark its way past the Ardoyne in north Belfast.
The commission said it couldn’t. The unionists sulked. Various politicians sighed. Meanwhile, the second Ice Age enabled the evolution of certain larger land-based vertebrates.
Yet the Orange Order and its satellite bodies will keep paying lip service to modernisation. The most hilarious manifestation of this urge occurred in 2008 when – catching up with a cultural phenomenon that emerged in the US between the world wars – a special committee devised a superhero to represent the Order’s aims and philosophies.
“There were many strong entries such as Sash Gordon, Sashman and the Boyne Wonder,” David Hume, the Orange Order’s director of services, said in a statement that immediately rendered all satire irrelevant.
They eventually settled on “Diamond Dan the Orangeman” but, sadly, the campaign fell apart when it was revealed that Dan’s image had, without proper authorisation, been plucked from a digital library. The proposed Orangefest faltered.
Fun for all the family?
The Twelfth does sound like fun for all the family. After pounding about the Province in clothes ill-suited to the summer months, you get to stand in some awful field and listen to lectures from red-necked clerics whose theological beliefs make the Witchfinder General seem like Hans Küng. Still, there doesn’t really seem much chance that the Twelfth is, any time soon, going to become this island’s version of Mardi Gras.
You can dress it up however you like, but the event remains profoundly entangled with exclusion and bigotry. “Today defending Protestantism is not so literal as it was in 1795,” the Orange Order says on its website. Yet it remains an organisation that does not welcome Roman Catholics (or their spouses). Good luck flogging that to a modern secular tourist constituency.
This is not to suggest, of course, that all Orangemen are dreadful people. Earlier this week, Dan Keenan, writing in this newspaper, addressed the challenges for Orangeism.
Neanderthal and archaic
The Rev Mervyn Gibson, Orange Order chaplain, in the course of a very civil conversation, made a comment that got to certain issues rarely addressed outside Ulster. “There are those who condemn the Order, they say it’s too working class, it’s archaic, it’s Neanderthal, it’s got a knuckle-dragging image,” he said.
They do say that. They say it within Northern Ireland. And many of those who say it were raised as Protestants. We can debate whether the Order is still fighting a religious war. But it is certainly fighting a class war, and not in the way that many Southerners might think.
Visit the leafy glades of middle-class south Belfast this week and you will discover a virtual ghost town. Along the residential avenues of the Malone Road and within the chi-chi eateries of the Lisburn Road, a soothing torpor reigns.
It is some time since these parts of Northern Ireland were Protestant enclaves. Indeed, more than 10 years ago, a Unionist politician guiltily told me: “Some of my less enlightened colleagues refer to it as Vatican City.”
But the mass exodus on “Twelfth Week” has gone on for as long as anyone living can remember. Urban middle-class Protestants in Northern Ireland have never had much time for all that marching, lemonade-drinking and empty bellowing. Seek the barristers and doctors on July 12th and you need look to the golf courses of Florida, Andalucia and Donegal.
The wealthier Northern Ireland gets, the less keen its citizens will be on irritating the blameless shopkeepers of the Ardoyne. It’s a slippery sort of argument. The Order is as much at risk from snobbery as it is from enlightened inclusivity. Oh well. You take your allies wherever you find them.