Easter 1916 should not be celebrated with a military parade

[coconut]

On a related note, though I am not referring to merle in this regard, but it occurred to me that many of the "republicans" who post on here actually have no vision fo an United Ireland that could occur by any other means than ethnic cleansing or mass genocide.

Such as?

He's a fool! Republicans in the majority now fully support the peace process in the six counties and the democratic process in the 26 counties, especially now that they may be king makers. The removal of Section 31 etc. and the belated realisation by the British government that they can't stand by and allow Unionism to oppress Nationalists with impunity, without some backlash (thanks in no small part to the ever decreasing potency of the Unionist veto) meant that Republicans saw a "way out" of the armed struggle, and are fully committed to a Republican government by democratic means.

Only a schizophrenic paranoic would make such ridiculous comments. Even if you look at IRA targets during the war you will find no evidence of "attempted ethnic cleansing or mass genocide", preposterous suggestion!! Paisley has made comments more in tune with that sort of rhetoric.

Now, produce quotes from Republican leadership that indicate anything even close to your ridiculous suggestion.

The language is provocative, but you've missed the point. Yes, you march on towards some version of a United Ireland - it maybe that Unionism is in decline - there remains a significant Protestant culture in the North that is villified by Republicanism through their actions and deeds. The very nature of the Republic many speak of is not as an inclusive Republic, the overtones are distinctly you're either hundred percent "Irish" (Irish as laid claimed to by Republican dogma), or as Merle put it above, you're against us.

There is in my opinion a clear lack of vision about where we want to get to - in political terms, there is the endless diatribe about a United Ireland (but no Protestants please, unless of course they entirley agree with a united Ireland), but beyond that nobody seems to actually aspire to a society along positive lines - e.g. equal, just and fair and where people regardless of colour, creed, orientation etc aspire to live in peace and prosperity, and be able to present their opinions, regardless of whether it goes against the majority or even if it offends the majority (e.g. FAIR marching in Dublin).

The failure of Republicanism to articulate a positive vision of a United Ireland beyond the peasants at the crossroads analogy, is unfortunate, but reflects their world view which sees achieving a United Ireland as the primary objective above other considerations such as eliminating poverty and other (in my opinion) more worthy causes.

As I said above, I think political nationalism is an inherently zero-sum game - you either win or you lose - I don't see how Unionism and indeed Protestant culture could be accomodated in the UI envisaged by Republicans - hence the reference to ethnic cleansing or genocide - the failure to establish a world view which sees no way of accomodating them sees no other possiblilty. I'm not suggesting that members of the Republican 'Leadership' would ever say or be allowed to commit genocide. I am saying that their aspiration for Ireland is one which implies a mono-cultural version of Irishness - I do not see their vision as being accomodating of hyphenated forms of Irishness - it's too exclusivist.

For god sake, judging by these boards, most republicans are extraordinarily sensitive to any criticism of the dogma and very intolerant - e.g. to the suggestion that Easter 1916 might not be best served with a display of military prowess - not even saying anything like 'that it should not be acknowledged/celebrated' - It's for that reason I would ask as to whether or not the version of Ireland trumped by Republicans is a version that many Irish people might not be comfortable living in?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but have several Republicans here not expressed dislike for the idea of commemorating 1916 with a military parade? Myself included. Frankly I believe our government has no right to associate itself with the Rising or the Proclamation. They may as well ************************ on a copy of the latter, since they've practically done everything else to disgrace it. And I am opposed to any state in general holding a military parade or demonstration.

[badinage]

And I am opposed to any state in general holding a military parade or demonstration.

if you're opposed to state's holding military parades, I assume you're even more opposed to non-state groups holding military parades? (e.g. republicans)