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| Kathy Sheridan |
What was the purpose of Brian Stanley’s tweet glorifying mass killings in two different eras? The message, sent at 8.33am on a Saturday, was no early-hours slip into sentimentalism.
That kind of tweet requires a very particular mindset. Who was he thinking of addressing, galvanising or alienating at that hour?
Was it the lads of the old brigade? Or middle-aged boyos handy with an Up the ‘Ra slogan? Or was it for the young who tread the line between shrugging off the party’s greatest hits , as regularly resurrected by party members, and then complaining that others weaponise them to shut down young Sinn Féin voices?
A 32-year-old SF ard comhairle member from Co Leitrim enjoyed the celebration in Stanley’s tweet. “He acknowledged successful IRA operations that are matter of historic record,” tweeted Seadhna Logan.
That kind of tweet requires a very particular mindset. Who was he thinking of addressing, galvanising or alienating at that hour?
Was it the lads of the old brigade? Or middle-aged boyos handy with an Up the ‘Ra slogan? Or was it for the young who tread the line between shrugging off the party’s greatest hits , as regularly resurrected by party members, and then complaining that others weaponise them to shut down young Sinn Féin voices?
A 32-year-old SF ard comhairle member from Co Leitrim enjoyed the celebration in Stanley’s tweet. “He acknowledged successful IRA operations that are matter of historic record,” tweeted Seadhna Logan.
“Both were militarily very effective and highly efficient examples of Republican guerrilla ingenuity. For many like me, the role of the provos was every bit as important as the lads of Kilmichael.”
Continue reading @ Irish Times.
Christy Walsh has left a new comment
ReplyDeleteThe article is behind a paywall.
Most of the IR pieces seem to be - sent you an email with the text
DeleteAM
ReplyDeleteThanks for that. Sheriden's piece could have been much better had she maintained her few meanders into objectivity... just when you thinks she is making a valid point she swerves headon into emotive blackmail. Hardly the way to make a fair and reasoned argument.
My overall take of the piece was -that yes the past matters in contemporary Ireland -that is why reference to 2 seperate IRA attacks amounts to 'glorifying' mass killings that is potentially dangerous -as it can warp influential minds. She emotively uses references to the deaths of teenagers by the IRA and balances that with reference to the Shankill Butchers --not a mention of the kids killed by crown forces -- one of her reference sources was from a Netflix Series 'The Crown'
If she was not just taking a biased swipe at Irish Republicanism then she might have opened up a more important debate. For example, she failed, or intentionally avoided, consideration of other examples of 'glorifying mass killings'. Recently, 3 men from Cork were convicted of blacking out references in honour to Queen Victoria because she they held her responsible for the Irish Genocide. The men objected to her name being glorified in place names around Cork. I dare say Sheridan will not complain that these men have suffered a miscarriage of justice -lest she offend those who would glorify the oppression and mass killings of the Irish.
Sheridan is selective with who in the past should be vilified --Britons oppressive history in Ireland comes down to Netflix entertainment. She does not mention how widespread the Glorification of Britan's atrocities and oppression is throughout Ireland (in her mind mention of the Shankill Butchers was calculated to balance her one sided wingefest) Sheridan is unlikely to write any articles about the glorification of atrocities in Africa, India, Crimea, etc or venerating their Generals and other war mongers, which are all hidden in plain sight as placenames or the names of prominent buildings as a mark of respect.
Larry Hughes comments
ReplyDeleteJim Alister says Boris has placed Ulster in a waiting room for a united Ireland
He said that from a waiting room for the Stranraer ferry lol