cjn@calmasd.UUCP (Cheryl Nemeth) (01/13/85)
Yes, the IRA has been around since the early part of this century. (Before the IRA there was the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and the Fenians, and the Young Ireland movement, and the United Irishmen, etc.) In fact, the IRA was responsible for the establishment of Eire as an independant country. After the end of WWI, the British government held general elections in Ireland. 73 members of Sinn Fein, 26 Unionists [in favor of remaining part of the United Kingdom], and 6 Nationalists were elected. Out of the 73 members of Sinn Fein, 36 were currently in British prisions for Republican activities. None of the members of Sinn Fein would sit in a British parliment, and they promply formed the Dail Eireann [Irish Parliment]. The British refused to recognize this body, and for the next two years the IRA fought a guerrilla war against the British Army, which the IRA finally won. Sort of. Six counties were still in British hands, not all of the IRA was very happy with the treaty, and a civil war started almost immediatly after British withdrawl from the Irish Free State. It seems that the IRA, the Orangemen, and the British Army are still fighting that war. I can't support the IRA but the British government is just as bad. They appear to be dedicated to keeping the status quo in NI but that's simply not possible or desireable. I would think that Westminster would finally recognize that it's time to start trying alternatives to simply leaving the army where it is and refusing to do anything in cooperation with the Republic. How many centuries does it take to realize that British soldiers aren't the solution to every Irish problem? Cheryl Nemeth All opinions are my own. -- Cheryl Nemeth All opinions expressed in this article are my own, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Calma Company or my cats. "Life is a series of rude awakenings" R. V. Winkle
rjw@ptsfc.UUCP (Rod Williams) (01/15/85)
Thanks to Cheryl for putting the Northern Ireland situation in some perspective. I share her distaste for the IRA and frustration with the British government for doggedly maintaining the status quo, all the while refusing even to consider possible political initiatives towards peace there. The fact is that as long as 1 million people insist on remaining British (to the very great chagrin of mainland Britain :-)) and are supported in that insistence by the British government, there can be no hope of peace. On the other hand, a British withdrawal at this point would engulf the whole island in violence much worse than anything seen thus far. The Dublin government's proposals, rejected out of hand by Mrs Thatcher, deserve more respect and consideration. Clearly, any political solution will involve compromises on all sides - it's time for London and the Ulster Unionists to sit down and talk about the kind of future they want for Northern Ireland - realizing that there can be no going back to the happy Orange days prior to 1967. -- rod williams "...I said STIRRED, with an OLIVE dual!ptsfa!ptsfc!rjw ...not SHAKEN, with a TWIST!"