Yesterday around lunch time along with three other republicans who work on maintaining the Duleek Hunger Strike monument, I attended a vigil in the centre of Drogheda in support of the people of Gaza. They are currently under siege from other people who in a different time and place might have been found starving the population of Leningrad or visiting ruination on the citizens of Stalingrad.
Last week my wife and I had stood on the footbridge across the Boyne in an appeal to Droghedians to keep in mind the terrible carnage being inflicted on people like themselves and their children by Israel. We were joined for a while by a Croatian woman and her son. She too was there for yesterday’s event and we hugged upon meeting up. It was a much more populated event than our own sparse venture and it was all the more welcome for that. This time my wife was speaking at the John Hewitt Summer School in Armagh so was unable to attend the Drogheda vigil. She did however manage to raise the Israeli war on Gaza during her talk in Armagh. Raise the issue wherever you go and whenever you get a chance.
And raising the issue was what everybody attending yesterday’s gathering in Drogheda was seeking to do. We stood there as a collective, a little colourful but solemn Gazan island, posters on display, Palestinian flags fluttering, and leaflets being distributed. The anger at the bombers was palpable, the solidarity with the bombed heartfelt. When the vigil ended, and with time to spare, we four put another half hour in standing outside the town centre mall.
The main event was organised by Sinn Fein, though it seemed quite a few of those in attendance had no party affiliation. Admittedly republicans have serious qualms turning up for anything Sinn Fein sponsors, feeling that the party leadership is using Gaza to promote it rather than using the party to promote Gaza. In recent days I have spoken with people who did attend Sinn Fein rallies or marches only to feel their presence had been exploited. They left feeling soiled.
While appreciating that I tend to see other factors, and the luxury of splendid isolation is not something to be embraced if all it produces is even more isolation for the Gazans. While being acutely aware of the to-be-expected Sinn Fein leadership promiscuity when it comes to fidelity to matters of supposed principle, that has to be balanced against the loud voice of Sinn Fein being added to the crescendo that is thwarting the ability of Mark Regev, the Goebbels of Israel, to have his lies transmitted. Strategically it is important to apply the maximum amount of pressure at the right time and in the most advantageous space; to have more people carrying the battering ram that is pounding every weak spot in the defences of the adversary so that a breakthrough might be achieved.
The decisive question is whether at the current juncture Sinn Fein is an asset or a liability to the suffering people of Gaza. In my view there is only one answer. Without Sinn Fein voices, the noise disorientation we are subjecting Israeli PR to would be much more muted. Listening to Sinn Fein’s David Cullinane wading in behind David Norris in the Senead debate on Thursday to slam the Israeli terror machine, left little doubt in my mind as to how crucial such persuasive discourse can be. When people on my Facebook page dismissed Cullinane’s efforts I could only respond to their accusations that:
Puppet, playing to the gallery or whatever else, is the pressure on Israel reinforced or attenuated by his voice? That seems the only question worth considering at this juncture.Republicans of every hue, despite their differences with the party, should divest themselves of hang-ups about turning up at Sinn Fein events when the party shoulder is at that collective wheel trying to force back Israeli terror. Even if the terror network cannot be thwarted or disorganised, and if all that can be achieved is the provision of relief for the citizens of Occupied Gaza, that is reason enough to continue. At this point ideological or whatever other differences exist, should not be allowed to detract from alleviating the massive humanitarian crisis besetting Gaza.
The organisers have said they will return next week. So should everybody else and more. In the meantime provisions will be collected for shipment to Gaza. Drogheda Sinn Fein is making its offices available for people who can donate clothing, footwear, tinned food, nappies and other basic durable essentials.
Yesterday those people of Drogheda making their way through the town centre were made aware of the depth of feeling about Gaza. They were better informed because the vigil occurred than they would have been had we all stayed at home justifying our absence on the grounds that somebody else might turn up. The hope is that the feeling on display at the Tholsel is contagious enough to reach viral proportions.
A very good position to take. Although my politics may be closer to Sinn Fein than most on this blog I understand the difficulties people have with them. I have a long list myself. I suppose I am closer to Sinn Fein circa 1994 than Sinn Fein today. I would only support them conditionally.
ReplyDeleteStrength in numbers is powerful and credit should be given when its due. I wrote emails of support to Unionist politicians when their stance on for example, human trafficking or the environment reflected my own views.
Some people disagree with this as it legitimises the politician generally but I work from a position of encouragement when the right position is taken.
I feel Sinn Fein are doing an excellent job on this front. More than most of the main parties at any rate.
I found this an excellent piece Anthony. Many positives can be taken from it. It would have been easy to stay away because of disagreement and mistreatment. Well for another person it would have been easy but doing so wouldn't suit your character.
AM
ReplyDeleteI feel your views about Sinn Féin on this issue are correct and courageous given your differences with that party. It is the right thing to do comrade.