The IRA and the current state of things - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Anxst · 08-28-2005, 07:38 PM

So, the war on terror has been going on for a few years here in the US (apparently we used to just ignore it altogether) and things are changing in Ireland a bit. Although the loyalists don't want to believe it, the Provisional IRA is laying down its arms and attempting to go about things in a peaceful political manner. I know that they are in fact working to make this happen, as I have cousins who are quite involved with SInn Fein.

As a backer of Sinn Fein myself, I think this is a wonderful development. Although I've always backed the ideals of the republicans, sometimes I doubted there methods. Still, I wasn't there, and I know part of the reason my parents left Ireland just before I was born was because of things they saw going on there related to the conflict.

My question is, how do you feel about this? I have felt it's been coming for quite some time, so I don't see that it's necessarily caused by American opinion, although that may have sped up the timetable some.

Also, the Loyalists, especially Ian Paisley, are of course denying it will ever happen, despite the fact that the Provos have always kept up their side of any bargain or declaration they have made. Do you believe it is actually going to happen?

How do you see the Provisional IRA based on this? Do you still see them as terrorists, or do you feel they were freedom fighters who are finally seeing that political methods are the only way to get what they want?

tecoyah · 08-29-2005, 03:46 AM

I personally see the IRA as a chimera in some ways. The use of Terror tactics in the past left a bitter taste in my mouth, and honestly lowered my respect (and thus support) of the movement. I certainly feel for the ideology involved and can see the reasoning (as I try to do for Muslim extremists) but I did not accept the bombings/killings as a legitimate form of dissent.
My opinion of the IRA has improved dramatically as this new approach has become legitimate within the leadership, and proven (to me anyway) as a new direction to achieve the goals they have.

08-28-2005, 07:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Anxst Condensing fact from the vapor of nuance. Location: Madison, WI	The IRA and the current state of things So, the war on terror has been going on for a few years here in the US (apparently we used to just ignore it altogether) and things are changing in Ireland a bit. Although the loyalists don't want to believe it, the Provisional IRA is laying down its arms and attempting to go about things in a peaceful political manner. I know that they are in fact working to make this happen, as I have cousins who are quite involved with SInn Fein. As a backer of Sinn Fein myself, I think this is a wonderful development. Although I've always backed the ideals of the republicans, sometimes I doubted there methods. Still, I wasn't there, and I know part of the reason my parents left Ireland just before I was born was because of things they saw going on there related to the conflict. My question is, how do you feel about this? I have felt it's been coming for quite some time, so I don't see that it's necessarily caused by American opinion, although that may have sped up the timetable some. Also, the Loyalists, especially Ian Paisley, are of course denying it will ever happen, despite the fact that the Provos have always kept up their side of any bargain or declaration they have made. Do you believe it is actually going to happen? How do you see the Provisional IRA based on this? Do you still see them as terrorists, or do you feel they were freedom fighters who are finally seeing that political methods are the only way to get what they want? __________________ Don't mind me. I'm just releasing the insanity pressure from my headvalves.

08-29-2005, 03:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	I personally see the IRA as a chimera in some ways. The use of Terror tactics in the past left a bitter taste in my mouth, and honestly lowered my respect (and thus support) of the movement. I certainly feel for the ideology involved and can see the reasoning (as I try to do for Muslim extremists) but I did not accept the bombings/killings as a legitimate form of dissent. My opinion of the IRA has improved dramatically as this new approach has become legitimate within the leadership, and proven (to me anyway) as a new direction to achieve the goals they have. __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha