Would you die for Ireland?

Edward Hopper · 29-03-2016 12:28AM

I wouldn't die for any country, I'd die trying to protect loved ones but not a land mass, that'd be silly.

chrissb8 · 29-03-2016 12:28AM

I would die to protect my freedom and liberties. Ultimately meh about dying for Ireland. I care about me, my family and friends like anyone does. Ireland goes way down on my list of things to die for.

donegaLroad · 29-03-2016 12:34AM

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

he was a member of the IRB, and supported the Home Rule movement.. ok, Maud Gonne probably influenced much of his Republican leanings.

My point was a nation's culture, is it's identity... not it's flag.

Junkyard Tom · 29-03-2016 12:41AM

Without question - I wouldn't want to die but would accept it as a probable consequence.

29-03-2016 12:41AM

Fight for my countrymen, friends and family? Sure. Fight for this state? No.

MarkY91 · 29-03-2016 12:46AM

I woukdnt die for anything or anyone.

I have 1 shot at life and I intend to live it.

Junkyard Tom · 29-03-2016 12:49AM

chrissb8 wrote: »

I would die to protect my freedom and liberties. Ultimately meh about dying for Ireland. I care about me, my family and friends like anyone does. Ireland goes way down on my list of things to die for.

What is Ireland without your freedom, liberties, family and friends? It's nothing but a barren forested piece of land.

People don't really fight for their country they fight for their nation as in their people, their friends, their family and their kinfolk.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 29-03-2016 12:53AM

I would if I didn't hate practically every single person I've ever met. Why should I die so they can live and become west Brits in years to come? Nah feck that, each man for himself

Scuid Mhór · 29-03-2016 12:54AM

Politically speaking, the only thing more fleeting than life is ideology. Therein lies my answer.

Permabear · 29-03-2016 12:55AM

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dashdoll · 29-03-2016 01:04AM

It makes me very sad to think how few people would stand up and be counted nowadays if a similar situation to 1916/war of independence was to arise (which I'm sure it wont)

Think what you like about it 1916 and the brave people that paid with their lives to further their beloved country but I really do believe every a Irish person has a lot to thank them for.

Ronaldinho · 29-03-2016 01:08AM

Hammer89 wrote: »

Imagine the Queen, in a very hypothetical situation, turned around and said: 'Here, lads, go over to Ireland nick those other 26 things back, would you?'

What would you do? Would you kiss your wives, girlfriends and children goodbye and risk your life for this country? Not trying to stoke any fires here I'm genuinely interested in knowing how many people would be willing to die in order to save the country.

Personally, I wouldn't. I'm not very patriotic in the first place, which you can probably tell, but even if I was, would I love Ireland more than life itself? I doubt it. I quite like being alive.

My immediate response was Yes - in a heartbeat, but having read through some of the dross (from my point of view) in the rest of the thread I'm not so sure. If so many people feel little attachment to (a free) Ireland than maybe there simply isn't anything worth fighting for.

Judging by the replies people seem to take their freedom very much for granted.

It would be interesting to get the opinion of somebody from Eastern Ukraine or Crimea given what has happened there over the past 2 years.

old_aussie · 29-03-2016 01:10AM

Hammer89 wrote: »

You'd have to find me first. I'd be in hiding as soon as the first bomb landed.

Runs off, leaves family to fend for themselves?

Junkyard Tom · 29-03-2016 01:12AM

dashdoll wrote: »

It makes me very sad to think how few people would stand up and be counted nowadays

We shouldn't judge the majority of Irish people by what we read in a thread in AH. I'd bet the vast majority of people would resist by many means if we were returned to British rule by force. In fact I'd say the resistance would be so ferocious it would make the troubles in the north look like a pillow-fight.

Permabear · 29-03-2016 01:13AM

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old_aussie · 29-03-2016 01:14AM

chrissb8 wrote: »

I would die to protect my freedom and liberties. Ultimately meh about dying for Ireland. I care about me, my family and friends like anyone does. Ireland goes way down on my list of things to die for.

When your country falls ya family and friends will be at the mercy of the enemy.

Maximus Alexander · 29-03-2016 01:14AM

Cheaper motor tax and insurance, an improved health service and better public transport. Those are the only practical differences I can think of. Would I die to avoid those things? Eh... probably not no.

IrishTrajan · 29-03-2016 01:15AM

Hammer89 wrote: »

Imagine the Queen, in a very hypothetical situation, turned around and said: 'Here, lads, go over to Ireland nick those other 26 things back, would you?'

What would you do? Would you kiss your wives, girlfriends and children goodbye and risk your life for this country? Not trying to stoke any fires here I'm genuinely interested in knowing how many people would be willing to die in order to save the country.

Honestly? Yes. I wouldn't plan on dying, but yes. I am a nationalist, being Irish is a very defining part of my personality. Call me naive or stupid, but I believe a person's nation should come second only to a person's family, and definitely ahead of one person's own self.

JackieBauer · 29-03-2016 01:17AM

I suppose I would and I'm far from patriotic

IrishTrajan · 29-03-2016 01:17AM

Permabear wrote: »

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You're conflating all wars with wars of patriotism, that's simply untrue. A Patriotic War differs from a religious or a war for resources, or realpolitik.

29-03-2016 01:18AM

IrishTrajan wrote: »

Honestly? Yes. I wouldn't plan on dying, but yes. I am a nationalist, being Irish is a very defining part of my personality. Call me naive or stupid, but I believe a person's nation should come second only to a person's family, and definitely ahead of one person's own self.

You're a Nationalist and you'd die for this state?

Permabear · 29-03-2016 01:20AM

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IrishTrajan · 29-03-2016 01:22AM

Deleted User wrote: »

You're a Nationalist and you'd die for this state?

There are things I don't like about the country, there are things I would change, but yes. Absolutely. It's not the Government I would fight for. It would be for the people and the spirit of the nation.

IrishTrajan · 29-03-2016 01:24AM

Permabear wrote: »

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Yes.

IrishTrajan · 29-03-2016 01:27AM

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

That's just bull****.

Selling the country? Eh, what?

Anti langauge? They simply suggested making it optional for the last two years of to allow students choose for themselves where their interests lie - a very practical and sensible educational approach - ad suddenly they're "very much anti the Irish language"...?

It's not all of a sudden, it has been a long, slow death of the language. The Government was charged with promoting the language, not simply preserving it. If it was up to me, all senior members of the public sector would require to be at least competent in both Irish and English, and those applying for citizenship (one Irish parent or for naturalisation) would also need to be competent in both languages.

Glenbhoy · 29-03-2016 01:30AM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

Cheaper motor tax and insurance, an improved health service and better public transport. Those are the only practical differences I can think of. Would I die to avoid those things? Eh... probably not no.

The fact that the dole would slashed to about 40% of Irish levels could incentivise some though.
Dulce est decorum est, pro alto dole money.

IrishTrajan · 29-03-2016 01:31AM

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

That's precisely why making it optional doesn't make sense.

Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam

Sariah · 29-03-2016 01:35AM

I heard a noise downstairs one night and made my 9 year old son go down ahead of me. I questioned then whether I would instinctively save my child or myself or just run away if something were to happen. I remember having a conversation about ISIS and if they gave me an ultimatum - convert or die. I think I would probably say praise be Allah. Same with the Brits I wouldn't mind it too much. Would probably just get on with it.

Its different though if you or your family or friends or neighbours were under physical or other direct attack. Then I think you would have to stand up for your freedom or it would be very hard to live with yourself.

Supergurrier · 29-03-2016 01:35AM

I would be horrified.

First thing i would do after watching Emmerdale is make a facebook petition and have it out of the way before corrie started.

IrishTrajan · 29-03-2016 01:38AM

Sariah wrote: »

I heard a noise downstairs one night and made my 9 year old son go down ahead of me. I questioned then whether I would instinctively save my child or myself or just run away if something were to happen. I remember having a conversation about ISIS and if they gave me an ultimatum - convert or die. I think I would probably say praise be Allah. Same with the Brits I wouldn't mind it too much. Would probably just get on with it.

Its different though if you or your family or friends or neighbours were under physical or other direct attack. Then I think you would have to stand up for your freedom or it would be very hard to live with yourself.

Why would the Brits be making you convert to Islam? Have things really gotten that bad over there?

Would you die for Ireland?

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