There is much to learn from their efforts. Sinn Fein was successful because they based their politics over many decades on grassroots organizing on what people were concerned with the most: housing, police reform, civil rights, combating drug addiction, and other working class issues. What seemed like a terrible defeat turned into substantial victory. The unification of the country - once considered an absurd utopian dream - has never been more popular and seems to be on the verge of happening soon when a referendum is called as part of the Good Friday peace agreement. Today, Sinn Fein is the largest party in both the Republic of Ireland and (the British dominated) Northern Ireland. In response, the British then dissolved the Parliament. This led to the quick rise of the radical Irish republican party known as Sinn Fein (I am a proud member), and which led to their landslide victory only a year later where the party won 73 out of 105 seats in Parliament. While many Irish did not initially support the fight for an independent Republic at the time of the Rising, they soon became very sympathetic to the cause after the bloody defeat and the repression that followed. The Irish revolution was all but declared by the establishment to be as dead as their executed leaders. What is particularly important, and a lesson I think we can all learn from, is what happened after the failed Easter Rising. Ireland - and England - would never be the same. 1,836 men were sent to internment camps where they were held without trial. This included the great Irish labor leader James Connolly (who had to be propped up in a chair, due to his wounds, in order to be shot) and Patrick Pearse, poet and Irish language and cultural teacher. 14 of those those who signed the proclamation declaring an Irish Republic were executed by firing squad. A secret court martial was convened without the rebels being allowed a defense (later ruled to be illegal) after which 90 were sentenced to death. Many unarmed civilians were shot by the Brits out of revenge or frustration, leaving the rebels to eventually surrender “in order to prevent the further slaughter of Dublin citizens.”Ī total of 3,430 men and 79 women were arrested. The overwhelming majority of those killed and wounded were caused by the British Army. More than 2,600 people were wounded (mostly civilians) including about 40 children. The result was the killing of 260 civilians, 126 U.K. The response by the British crown was the savage bombardment and destruction of the Irish capital by English warships and the deployment of an overwhelming force of English army squadrons to wipe out all resistance. While there had been significant risings and rebellions in past Irish history, one of the most significant occurred in 1916 with what was known as the “Easter Rebellion” when 1,200 Irish rebels took over important sections of Dublin and other areas of the country, and declared an independent Irish Republic separate from foreign domination. “They took away our land, our language, and our religion but they could never harness our tongues.” But as the great rebel writer Brendan Behan once said: The Brits tried everything to thwart the native population’s quest for independence: brutal military occupation, banning of the Irish language and culture, the use of informers to ferment divisions, and a forced famine that killed millions and exiled more. While those conditions in that small island are drastically different than what we face in Tucson, there are some historic lessons of inspiration which I think can be learned from those happenings “across the pond.”įor over 800 years the Irish fought British colonialism and did so against the greatest of odds. Those who know me, know that I primarily take my political inspiration from the Irish movement for national unification, but that has never been referenced or a focus in Bog News. What will undoubtedly be an increased arrogance by their win will be met with increased resistance by the community. As the dust settles, concerned citizens will continue to expose the city government’s arrogant and destructive behavior and fight even harder against the current status quo. Those that supported the campaign - both directly and indirectly - will remain a fierce (and loyal?) opposition to the ongoing corruption at city hall. While I am sure this one electoral defeat in the local movement for transparency and accountability is a disappointment to some of the volunteers and activists who worked tirelessly for a change in the city council, we all stand together, neither broken nor bowed. Well the smoke hasn’t quite cleared, but the results are in for the Democratic Primary Election where the incumbents and “Duh Machine” were victorious once again (although the pendejos had to work for it this time, no?). Post-Election Thoughts and a BIG thank you to Miguel Ortega!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |