According to media reports, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he expects to see a united Ireland in his lifetime. I think he’s wrong but he’s entitled to his opinion. However, some of his following remarks are objectionable and need to be challenged.
Varadkar claimed that in a united Ireland “there will be roughly a million people who are British.” That is false. There may – or may not – be a million Irish People who consider themselves British in a united Ireland, we’ll see. But they will be Irish Citizens.
And they should have equal rights with all other citizens. They should have an equal right to vote, to housing, to their language, without any special restrictions, not to mention pogroms – in other words, nothing like the way their statelet treated its large Catholic minority.
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| A British soldier stands in front of a section of the burned out houses of Catholics in Bombay Street, Belfast in 1969 (which the Army did not try to prevent Loyalists burning). The arson was the Loyalist response to demands of Catholics for civil rights (while the colonial police response was batons, bullets and gas). (Photo source: Clonard Residents’ Association) |
I agree with Varadkar that the quality of a country should be judged “by the way it treats its minorities.” So Varadkar, how did and does your Gombeen State treat its probably oldest ethnic minority? You know, the Irish Travellers?
It is true that “a Republican ballad, a nice song to sing, easy words to learn for some people can be deeply offensive to some people.” Presumably he means to Unionists and Loyalists. Yes, and antifascist and anti-racist songs can be deeply offensive to fascists and racists.
It is also true that some people in the Southern States sing songs about the Confederacy and Robert E. Lee and call it their culture. And the comparison fits – but not with Republicans but with Loyalists!
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| One of the charming annual expressions of Loyalist culture: a huge bonfire to burn Irish Tricolours and representations of Catholicism. Palestinian flags and representations of Celtic FC are frequently burned too. Slogans such as KAT (‘Kill All Teagues [i.e Catholics]) are often displayed also. (Photo source: Wikipedia) |
It’s not Irish Republicans who spread racism and sectarianism: the Republican creed came into existence precisely against sectarianism. And we know Varadkar actually knows that because not long ago he made some remarks about the wide embrace of the Irish Tricolour.
The Irish Tricolour: a flag presented to revolutionary Irish Republicans by revolutionary French Republican women in Paris in 1848. Not a flag of monarchism, sectarianism or collusion with imperialism or colonialism.
While we uphold Republican principles we don’t have to apologise to anyone, least of all in our own country, Varadkar. It’s you and your party (and the rest of them serving the Gombeen class who threw away independence and slaughtered Irish Republicans) who need to be ashamed.
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| Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the current Coalition Government, who made the remarks this week. (Photo sourced: Internet) |
People living in Ireland can think and feel what they like, good or bad. But in public, we will celebrate the valuable things in our history and culture. And we’ll do so proudly without apology to anyone.
On the other hand, public displays of Orange sectarianism, racism, homophobia, fascism and anti-LGBT targeting won’t be tolerated in an independent, reunited Ireland. Not for one minute.
⏩Diarmuid Breatnach is a revolutionary, singer, writer and anti-imperialist socialist activist.
Genuine question, how should the loyal orders and their marching traditions be accommodated in a new/united Ireland?
ReplyDeleteShould the North have a regional assembly? A different police force?
I ask in good faith, by the way.
Brandon - you have been here long enough for people to conclude that your questions and comments are genuine.
Delete"Varadkar claimed that in a united Ireland “there will be roughly a million people who are British.” That is false. There may – or may not – be a million Irish People who consider themselves British in a united Ireland, we’ll see. But they will be Irish Citizens."
DeleteCan they be British in this United Ireland or is the author saying something else entirely?
Why should the Six Counties have a different political and policing structure? Why should we consider partitioning along those lines after we have struggled to reunify our nation?
DeleteObviously it would need to be a very different public safety organisation for the whole nation, not just the Six Counties.
I am not entirely certain as to whether their sectarian loyalist parades should be banned or permitted. Certainly any overt sectarian behaviour or language should be dealt with through the people's courts.
Brandon,
DeleteIn this scenario Eire Nua is the only thing that almost works. I don't think a separate police force is required. A new accountable state wide force saves on bureaucracy . The author seems to be under the misapprehension that the Republic of 1916 is still on the table though.
A remarkably quiet 12th this year too. Can't think of any major hostilities? I was at a few parades when over and there was no anger around them. Much quieter than when I was a wean. Everyone packed up after and went home. The cleaners came and the next day you'd hardly know they'd been. If that's a price to pay for a few parades in their own areas there's far worse in living memory.
Ireland North&South has moved on from a lot of the nonsense at least that's my impression from my last visit.
@ Diarmuid, Steve
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't believe the word "should" is beneficial in this scenario. There are justified historical wrongs that some may see as only being reversed with their removal. I don't think that's a good place to start.
I'm broadly in agreement with Steve that a neo-Eire Nua model could be a least worst option.
In terms of policing, the North has unique challenges and policing unique baggage. I don't think the GS would be accepted in the North by a significant section of the public.
I have to say irishness being foisted upon unionists would have pleased me at a certain stage of my life. Not any more. I think it's a terrible idea. I'm not against it because of the civil unrest that would follow - I think I would be easily contained, but simply because nationalism and Republicanism should lead by example and care for all citizens, especially former enemies.
Brandon - that raises the question of obligatory nationalism and whether it should be any more obligatory than say Catholicism.
Delete