Comments for Mister mysterious's Weblog http://mistermysterious.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:23:26 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Letter to the Irish Independent by 73man http://mistermysterious.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/letter-to-the-irish-independent/#comment-5 73man Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:23:26 +0000 http://mistermysterious.wordpress.com/?p=16#comment-5 As if Latvian builders are not as 'highly skilled'. Because they don't have skills where they come from - just Ladas and blonde women. As if Latvian builders are not as ‘highly skilled’. Because they don’t have skills where they come from – just Ladas and blonde women.

]]> Comment on Letter to the Irish Independent by Hibernia Girl http://mistermysterious.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/letter-to-the-irish-independent/#comment-4 Hibernia Girl Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:59:24 +0000 http://mistermysterious.wordpress.com/?p=16#comment-4 Absolutely right, Mr. Mysterious. I didn't get to see the letter myself (not online, I think, and I missed the paper edition), but I saw the headline which appeared on the Indo site for a few hours. My reaction was similar to yours -- that there is not a "bubbling current of racism" in this country, but a concern over mass immigration -- which, for anyone who's read enough of my ramblings, is just the import of cheap labour to this country. 59 per cent of people polled in a recent RedC poll said that they want to see "much stricter limits" on immigration to this country. That is in large part due to the competition for work/decent pay that the working classes are noticing. Absolutely right, Mr. Mysterious.

I didn’t get to see the letter myself (not online, I think, and I missed the paper edition), but I saw the headline which appeared on the Indo site for a few hours. My reaction was similar to yours — that there is not a “bubbling current of racism” in this country, but a concern over mass immigration — which, for anyone who’s read enough of my ramblings, is just the import of cheap labour to this country.

59 per cent of people polled in a recent RedC poll said that they want to see “much stricter limits” on immigration to this country. That is in large part due to the competition for work/decent pay that the working classes are noticing.

]]> Comment on Who’s to blame? by nigel http://mistermysterious.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/whos-to-blame-for-the-murder-or-emmette-shiels/#comment-3 nigel Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:45:22 +0000 http://mistermysterious.wordpress.com/?p=7#comment-3 we must fight and die and the innocent will fall in the name of freedom,32csm we must fight and die and the innocent will fall in the name of freedom,32csm

]]> Comment on Who’s to blame? by Geri Timmons http://mistermysterious.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/whos-to-blame-for-the-murder-or-emmette-shiels/#comment-2 Geri Timmons Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:29:59 +0000 http://mistermysterious.wordpress.com/?p=7#comment-2 Unfortunately, history has proven that the deployment of armed struggle or militarism is at times a necessary tool for revolutionaries. Certainly as the Italian socialist activist, Gramsci observed, for those who seek radical change and social justice, armed struggle can be a blunt weapon in the modern western "democratic" societies that we live in. However, it is also self evident that the six county state that gave birth to the sustained period of conflict from the late 60s to the mid 90s was in no shape or form democratic. When the civil rights movement was so violently suppressed, the writing was on the wall. The IRA' s campaign was sustained over the best part of 30 years because they commanded the support of the community they acted for. It is clear today with one brief examination of the profile of those elected for Sinn Fein in huge numbers that their struggle had popular support. They were clearly accountable to and representative of their respective communities. The label of neo liberal to Sinn Fein or the "provisional movement" as you refer to with patent disdain is trite nonsense. Indeed, the arguments deployed by that party in their recent leading role in defeating the Lisbon Treaty in the 26 counties clearly counters your assertion. Sinn Fein sit proudly allied to those community and political groups opposed to neo liberalism across Europe. Back to the discussion in question. The murder of Emmett Shiels. All of us share responsibility in addressing the underlying history that led to a tiny minority of young people in this community to carry out this deed. There are no grounds or necessity for the use of military means to achieve republican objectives any more. Republican communities are confident, assured, and facing the future with a level playing pitch. The Six County Assembly, St Andrews, and the GFA,, however limited compromises that they are, have at least guaranteed equality. This is the platform for further positive change. It is up to all of us to ensure that Emmetts legacy is an end to any confusion about militarism as a tool for change and to build a confident grass roots, unstoppable dynamic for more positive change. To lay the blame for militarism at the door step of republicans is like blaming the offence on the victim. Its time for the petty squabbling amongst republicans to end and the commonality of purpose to commence. Unfortunately, history has proven that the deployment of armed struggle or militarism is at times a necessary tool for revolutionaries. Certainly as the Italian socialist activist, Gramsci observed, for those who seek radical change and social justice, armed struggle can be a blunt weapon in the modern western “democratic” societies that we live in. However, it is also self evident that the six county state that gave birth to the sustained period of conflict from the late 60s to the mid 90s was in no shape or form democratic. When the civil rights movement was so violently suppressed, the writing was on the wall.

The IRA’ s campaign was sustained over the best part of 30 years because they commanded the support of the community they acted for. It is clear today with one brief examination of the profile of those elected for Sinn Fein in huge numbers that their struggle had popular support. They were clearly accountable to and representative of their respective communities.

The label of neo liberal to Sinn Fein or the “provisional movement” as you refer to with patent disdain is trite nonsense. Indeed, the arguments deployed by that party in their recent leading role in defeating the Lisbon Treaty in the 26 counties clearly counters your assertion. Sinn Fein sit proudly allied to those community and political groups opposed to neo liberalism across Europe.

Back to the discussion in question. The murder of Emmett Shiels. All of us share responsibility in addressing the underlying history that led to a tiny minority of young people in this community to carry out this deed.

There are no grounds or necessity for the use of military means to achieve republican objectives any more. Republican communities are confident, assured, and facing the future with a level playing pitch. The Six County Assembly, St Andrews, and the GFA,, however limited compromises that they are, have at least guaranteed equality. This is the platform for further positive change. It is up to all of us to ensure that Emmetts legacy is an end to any confusion about militarism as a tool for change and to build a confident grass roots, unstoppable dynamic for more positive change.

To lay the blame for militarism at the door step of republicans is like blaming the offence on the victim. Its time for the petty squabbling amongst republicans to end and the commonality of purpose to commence.

]]>