LettersNational Graves Association CeremonyI would appreciate if you would publish in your next issue the National Graves Association (Teo) commemoration at the Republican Plot in Glasnevin Cemetery on Sunday, June 8 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Volunteers executed, or killed in action during the Civil War. Those attending should meet at the main gate of the cemetery at 2.45pm. This commemoration will be held at the Republican Plot in the main cemetery (the one taken over by the Military) not at our 1916 Plot in St Paul’s. We look forward to a good attendance to show disapproval of the sinister action in the take-over of the Plot purchased for the interment of Republican Volunteers as well as honouring our dead.
The usual Sunday Tours of the Historic Graves will take place each Sunday from June to the end of August. Servile Abasement Of Mayo County CouncilWhile pottering around outside I often catch myself humming or trying to recall the words of some old Irish tune or other. I remember well the other day going over those two grand ones Hurrah for the men of the West and The Boys from the County Mayo, the latter with its proud line . . . don’t show the white feather wherever you go. Then I went in the house, sat down and read what those ingratiating amadáns on the Mayo County Council had done regarding the “Famine Memorial” in Killala. What a downer! What a kick in the head for me, the proud son of a father from Ballaghadereen, Roscommon, and on the mother’s side, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo. Two of the hardest hit famine-ravished counties of those sad and sombre days. Never would I have believed that hallowed spot could have spawned such craven-heartedness. Although galling enough, I’ve gotten somewhat used to the simpering two-faced platitudinously “political correctness” of a large portion of the so-called Vancouver “Irish” whenever anything of Ireland’s particular scenario is mooted; and especially when it refers to that imposed, universally-condemned partition of that respected nation. But this consummately abject, servile abasement to the wishes of Ireland’s still implacable enemy on the part of Mayo County Council boggles the mind and assaults one’s sensibilities. If by some poetic act of justice these miscreants were themselves banished from Paddy’s green shamrock shore for their perfidious act of betrayal of those earlier unfortunates, so innocent of malice towards anyone else and in whose memory the Killala Memorial was erected, what foreign land would be pleased to extend a hand of welcome to them? I can’t think of any so lacking in its own self respect which would deign to do so. While still reflecting on this sorry business it occurs to me that this year was to have seen the TV showing of a four-part documentary The Voyage of the Naparime, by Great North Productions in association with several other film companies, both national and international, inclusive of the Irish Film Board. This documentary was to deal with the Irish Famine and the arrival of its wretched refugees at Grosse Ile, Quebec between 1845 and 1852. I know for a positive fact that the “Great North” people have been working on this project for over five years. It has involved everyone concerned much time, effort and money, including innumerable trips to Ireland, etc to meet with respective representatives of the Irish Film Industry and other associated parties. For some reason over this recent while there has developed an inordinate amount of procrastination and indecisiveness on the past of the Irish side. Which considering the topicality, timing and nature of the subject is to say the least puzzling indeed and in the light of what has happened in Killala leaves one to ponder the extent of this sickening desire to gratify every insulting wish or caprice of past masters and may now inhibit the Irish Film Board, also other related avenues of public information.
At the expense, it should be added, and the alienation of goodwill on the part of Ireland’s real friends. A Real Alternative NeededIt is obvious to all comers that the vast majority of crime throughout capitalist society is property-based. As such the criminal must be seen somewhat as an “illegitimate capitalist” (ie someone that has used techniques or methods of acquiring wealth not deemed appropriate by the rest of society). Indeed the illegitimate capitalist can be a major burden to the bourgeois State and may well create a State within a State or a city within a city. As was the case with the Mafia in Chicago in the 1950s. Those who find themselves excluded from or discriminated by the bourgeois State will invariably find new ways of empowering themselves. For example, during feudal times in Continental Europe the Jews found themselves excluded from the social elite of the day. Yet Jews and other groupings found new ways of attaining power and influence through the money they made from merchant shipping. The illegitimate capitalist works on a similar vein as he or she is derided by society, but is ultimately able to buy influence. Capitalism and modern technology sideline significant sections of society as people become a retardation to finance capital and the accumulation of wealth. Those discarded by the bourgeois State may form a dynasty of deprivation, founded on unemployment and relative poverty. An inter-generational rut may well emerge. However, as they are officially part of the system they’re likely to conform to the assumptions of the State which has relegated them. Therefore they are ultimately geared with the ideals of capitalism but not with the legitimate means of acquiring wealth. Drug dealing may well provide an avenue towards profiteering. The dealer knows that a market exists, and where one doesn’t, then like a normal businessman the dealer will seek to foster one. William Burroughs says of heroin: “Junk is the ideal product. The ultimate merchandise. No sales talk necessary. The client will crawl through a sewer and beg to but. The junk merchant does not sell his product to the consumer, he sells his consumer to his product. He does not improve and simplify his merchandise. He degrades and simplifies his client.” Those who are disadvantaged by the bourgeois State are further hindered by the parasitic activities of ‘death pushers’. Working class housing estates are not the hot-beds of revolutionary politics as envisaged by optimistic socialists. Class antagonism exists alright. But not along the lines of revolutionary politics as those most vocal are those who feel the State is not doing enough to protect their legitimate interests. It must be remembered that the Carsonists in Leinster House and elsewhere propagated and imbedded the values which are presently being bastardised by the flip-side to materialism. If you forward self aggrandisement, careerism and usury capital as the pillars of your social system, then you must take responsibility for the reinterpretation of those values in deprived areas. Law and order crack downs such as Dóchas (for drug-dealing) or carcus (for joy-riding) will never get you anywhere. The 26-County administration lacks any imaginative freedom as they remain prejudiced against any critical examination of the formation of their neo-colony. The Republican Movement has no such hang-ups and it has identified suspected sources of error and acted accordingly in order to draft SAOL NUA and ÉIRE NUA. Both policy documents display imaginative thinking and are designed to be enacted within the context of a British withdrawal. These documents deal with the ‘root causes’ of Ireland’s plight. Republican Sinn Féin have outlined the basic platform upon which people can empower themselves and have greater input into the decisions affecting their lives.
Unlike our opponents, Republican Sinn Féin’s policies were not drafted in crayon. They are a real alternative. Minimum Wage for WorkersOn Monday, May 12 last, Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern called for the introduction of a minimum wage for workers and stated that if returned to power after the General Election, Fianna Fáil would implement same. However, in November 1989, when he was the State minister for Labour, Bertie Ahern stated that the Leinster House administration would not support the EU “Social Charter” on a minimum wage for workers because “it would scare off foreign investors”.
Could Mr Ahern explain why foreign investors would not now be “scared off”? Or is it that Fianna Fáil have enough home-grown investors and can afford to disregard the foreign ones? Fianna Fáil/Provo Election PactI am writing after some soul searching — as a committed Republican and former resident of the Six Counties who lived there until we were burned out in the early 1970s — to inform your paper and its readers of an unannounced election pact between the Provisionals and Fianna Fáil in Shannon and Clare. People are being advised privately to vote Fianna Fáil and ignore any other candidates of like mind. Now, being a resident of Shannon and a Republican I think Clare people of Republican persuasion should be made aware of Fianna Fáil credentials on the national question and hope your paper will make them aware of it in its next issue. I believe your President, Ruairí Ó Brádaigh branded the Provisionals as the northern wing of Fianna Fáil; well it appears their northern wing has spread to Clare. And now they have taken to policing Belfast with the RUC as we can see with the abduction of a man in west Belfast.
Their betrayal is bad enough but it is how little their price was that is humiliating. |