On Loyalism again

[Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan@xxxxxxxxxx>]

It burns my ass to have to do this but I have to read O'Neill's posts if I
am to contribute to this thread.


What though are we debating?  There are several elements in it and I
suspect strongly that when they are clarified the thread will have to be
closed down by the moderator - for beneath it all is the nature of Irish
Marxism and in particular the variety which comes from the official variety
of Marxism (note small 'o'' I am trying in the interests of peaceful debate
to avoid the word Stalinist).

I will though insist on using the concept of imperialism.  That as a
Marxist is central to me. I will also insist that the Loyalist community is
fundamentally loyal to British Imperialism.  Now that community contains of
course the Protestant working class.  The latter have demonstrated time and
time again that they are loyal- very loyal.  For years they have tortured
and murdered Catholics to demonstrate that loyalty.  For years they have
voted without hesitation for the most vicious of religious bigots - Ian
Paisley - to demonstrate that loyalty. For years they have gathered outside
Drumcree to march through a Catholic area to demonstrate that loyalty.
I could go on - trust me.  But more importantly we must struggle to
correctly analyse the Loyalist community in political terms.

Who can we compare the loyalist community to?  Of course we have to go to
other pro-imperialist communities to get an answer. I mentioned the Farmers
of Zimbabwe and I did not despite the allegations say this was an absolute
comparison.  What I said was

"The harsh truth then is that British policy in Ireland is changing.
Imperialism is assuming a different face and no longer has the same need of
its old ally the Loyalist community. As a Marxist I feel deeply for the
allies of British imperialism who now appear to have fallen on harder
times. Absolutely distraught I am. The bad news from East Belfast is
distracting me from feeling sorry for the white farmers in Zimbabwe. Such a
shame."


I raise the issue of the white Farmers because they were of course so
pro-imperialist that they even were prepared to defy imperialist led
reforms.  Moreover their attitudes towards the black majority in many ways
mirrors completely the attitude of Ireland's loyalists to those who over
the centuries have opposed British rule.

But I am aware of numbers and the absence of a white Zimbabwean working
class here so I would not push the Zimbabwean farmers as a historical
parallel.  For similar reasons I would reject the parallel with the Pied
Noir (white French Settlers) in Algeria.  No to get a similar group of
people to the Ulster Loyalists we would have to travel to find a
pro-imperialist community which has a class structure complex enough to
mirror that of Ireland's Loyalists.

I would like to suggest that such a community exists in Palestine.  And
moreover it flies a flag remarkably similar to that found in Loyalist
communities of the Ormeau Road in Belfast. How strange!

There are of course differences - not simply in terms of population sizes
but more importantly in terms of the relationship to imperialism  Today the
Zionists still reflect the interests of American Imperialism.  The point is
though that Ireland's loyalists have lost touch with the wishes of their
Imperialist masters - the British.  That is the source of their crisis and
it should also determine our attitude towards their dilemma.

regards

Gary


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