Do extremist Republicans deserve oxygen of publicity?

Wanted Man

Maybe this belongs on another part of boards...I just think that with the 1916anniversary coming up, should we be celebrating violent republicanism or should we be ashamed of it? While it is possible we might still be a part of the Brittish Empire if it wasn't for violent republicans, is there a limit to what they should be allowed do.

And did those who rioted on O'Connell street believe they were acting on behalf of the majority? After all it was a sizeable crowd and they have been described as opportunists, football hooligans and Celtic fans, largely middle class I'd have to say...You have to wonder who was responsible for creating most of the havoc...working class people or middle class people and would the media really highlight the role of middle class yobs or play it down?

I suppose I have asked too many questions.

Zebra3

Well, I don't see why any country would want to not celebrate an attempt at winning their freedom just because a bunch of thugs decided to throw petrol bombs at the police one day.

stevenmu

Wanted Man wrote:

I suppose I have asked too many questions.

Probably, are you asking if we should not celebrate 1916 because of what a small group of scum did last saturday ?

saado

Celebrate? No. Commemorate? Absolutely.
It's a vital part of our history. Just some people are too thick to realise that it's just that, history.

TheVan

By Reublicans I assume you mean SFIRA in this context??

Well if by oxygen you mean "anthrax" and by publicity you mean "of doom" then yes!

meditraitor

pikey mikey wrote:

The riots have nothing to do with celebrating the 1916 rising...other countries celebrate days like this..namley the US....people die in war.


The riots involved a bunch of skangers looting...the 1916 celebration will be just that..a celebration

I think you will find that an awfull lot more looting went on during the 1916 rising than on saturday!
http://www.chapters.eiretek.org/books/1916/stokesdiary.htm

Wanted Man

I think Eoghan Harris does be on about retrospectively exhonorating people who use violence to get their way. And really if you exhonorate the rebels of 1916 then you probably have to do it for the rebels of the 1970's on....and people might argue that the riots were a statement against British Imperialism as can be seen today in Iraq....a nationalist and republican statement...I don't think you can argue that violence is right in certain circumstances such as a long time ago...maybe it should be argued that it is either right sometimes or never right...But I think the rioters were not entirely faultless. After all a lot of unionists presided over nationalist bashing in the north for decades without any prick of conscience...

meditraitor

pikey mikey wrote:

I know what your saying, but be fair, times were different and the circumstances were completely different.
I not even going to get into the politics/history of it...its a silly comparison to make.

It was a silly statement to make!

DaBreno

Do they deserve oxygen, never mind publicity.

Dilly1

I saw some pretty awful incidents 3 years ago after a 1916 parade was finished and the republicans went on a bender. put me right off the whole Easter Sunday thing. after a feed of drink they started attacking foreigners.
And they werent kids, these guys were in their 30's and with republican badges n scarfs clearly visible. idiots !!

MooseJam

A 90'th aniversary is a silly time for a big commemoration, should wait till 2016for a big one

meditraitor

pikey mikey wrote:

what was silly statement????????..to say the riots on Saturday and commemorating 1916 are separate issues....?????????
i
f thats how you felt why did you compare the riots of 1916 with the riots on Saturday??...imo there is no comparison....1916 was a movement throughout the city supported by thousands to oppose foreign rule in our country...
Not a bunch of wa#kers in tracksuits throwing rocks at the bizzies and robbing air max from footlocker.

The statement you made that

"The riots involved a bunch of skangers looting."

This happens everytime there is social upheaval, how can you use this as an example of the difference between 1916 and saturday,

You will have to do better than that!

meditraitor

pikey mikey wrote:

I was at the so called "social upheaval" on Saturday and the majority of the rioters were just exactly that skangers wrecking the place and burning peoples cars....in 1916 there was a cause, a movement and it involved more than a few hundred throwing rocks..you should read the article you posted for my benefit...the events of 1916 led to a movement which led to our independce....is that not difference enough for you!! your starting to wind me up now

1916 didnt lead to any movement, it was only part of a movement that started hundreds of years before it, it did have a major impact all the same with regard to the end result!
As for the people who rioted saturday, of course they deserve oxygen,
they were just ill informed malcontents,

The original question/s was should we celebrate violent republicanism as it has had a major impact on who and what we are today as a nation.

My answer to this is No... but I acknowledge the need for it at the time...