Re: Palestinian flags, Loyalism, etc.

["Xxx Xxxx" <xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,
I have written about this before. i think what Gary says is right. However,
the problem here is, I think, that it is not only the catholics in the north
who are oppressed, it is working class protestants as well. At present, most
working class protestant communities are awash with unemployment, bad
housing, crime, drugs, ignorance and hopelessness. It is a situation in
which money, power and respect come from being 'top dog', from being 'mad',
from being a hard man. Now this translates, much of the time into support or
participation in Loyalist paramilitarism. The latter is effectively a
gangster movement anyway, with little respect for anything, least of all
socio-political change (with the possible exception of pogroms against the
taigs).
Now, the working class in catholic areas have a movement in their
communities (whether PIRA or INLA) that is committed to socio-political
change, that understands better the nature of the state in which we live,
that, in many cases, understands the global context in which we find
ourselves, that, in the case of the IRSP especially, understands the nature
of capitalism in our country. In my view, Catholic communities are not
entirely immune to secarianism- there do seem to be some ignorant people who
simply hate protestants because thats what they are taught. However, I would
say that the IRA is not sectarian (though it has acted in sectarian ways in
the past) and the IRSP is not sectarian (though the INLA has acted in
sectarian ways in the past). Loyalism, in contrast, is, I think, an utterly
reactionary 'ideology' (if it even deserves that politcal epithet) which
feeds off poverty, ignorance, hopelessness, alienation, hate, and a
thoroughly ghettoised mentality.
I wonder what is going to change things here. We are, I think, in for a long
hot summer. Sectarian violence, from whtever side it emanates will do
nothing but damage to any progressive tendencies in this country, yet it
seems unavoidable. When even working-class catholics have to rely on scum
such as the PSNI for protection soemthing is very very wrong. Any thoughts.
If this strikes some as naive or uninformed, maybe so, but this country, at
present, seems to have all the preconditions of near-civil-war.
all the best,
 Zak





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