Should the term Blue Shirt be outlawed?

[theloner]

Blueshirts would never have existed if Devileire had not released IRA men from prison, and who along with FFers broke up CnaNg meetings and denied free speech. Devileire had to later deal with IRA by execution and internment himself.

Tomas Mor defending the Blueshirts! I would never have expected it!

[Tomas Mor]

[QUOTE=theloner;4750936]Tomas Mor defending the Blueshirts! I would never have expected it![/QUOTE

as an historian, just giving facts ! Period.

[theloner]

[QUOTE=Tomas Mor;4750938]

Tomas Mor defending the Blueshirts! I would never have expected it![/QUOTE

as an historian, just giving facts ! Period.

What would we do without ya?

[Johnny Boy]

It's not something I use on P.ie, I think it's very strong and refers to a period in history best to be forgotten. Obviously, it is still used widely by the public to label Fine Gael supporters. However, is it time it was outlawed or is it simply 'a term of endearment'?

[walrusgumble]

Once upon a time, in a faraway place, the IRA (the paramilitary wing of Fianna Fail at the time) decided that free speech should not be afforded to other political parties. They had a policy of beating up anybody who attended meetings of other political parties. The Army Comrades Association, a group of former Free State soldiers, decided to stand up to this carry on, and they started marshalling political meetings, and giving the IRA the kickings they so richly deserved.

For me the term Blue Shirt is one of honour - people standing up to bullies, and defending free speech.

Elements of what was known as Cumann na Ngheadheal were known for barging in on meetings of the FF in the early days canvassing. They were far more eager than the Black n Tans during the Civil War. It was only pay back.

Blue Shirts did very very very little bar parade around in fetching shirts (sometimes Shorts) and listen to pretty speeches.

Standing up to bullies? Well, I know some of its members did not really take it serious, but "standing up to bullies" and free speech falls in comparison to nazi salutes and expressions of admiration for Hitler and Mussolini and letter writing to the respective Embassies.

[walrusgumble]

They also fought against the democratically elected Government of this Country, causing death, misery, and hardship for ordinary people.

It will be argued that

1. Voting in favour of a Treaty when the threat of immediate war is hardly a great way to claim legitimacy

2. Publishing the Constitution of the State (with incorporated the Treaty) ON THE DAY OF the general election was a swindle. If that happened now, there would be calls for a new referendum .

People feel that much, then why did they vote and re - vote Republican Fianna Fáil for the rest of the decades?

Collins agreed with Dev on an election pact. Collins broke that pact.

3. The Free State Army fairly gained the reputation as the Green n Tans.

[Northtipp]

[QUOTE=Tomas Mor;4750938]

Tomas Mor defending the Blueshirts! I would never have expected it![/QUOTE

as an historian, just giving facts ! Period.

Lol. Lol. No but seriously lmfao.

[CarnivalOfAction]

Blueshirts would never have existed if Devileire had not released IRA men from prison, and who along with FFers broke up CnaNg meetings and denied free speech. Devileire had to later deal with IRA by execution and internment himself.

Here you go Moron:

Fine Gael’s Fascist Roots : Look Left
"What the 1930s and 1940s show, however, is that given the right conditions and the presence of an organisation that appeals to native traditions, the conservative Irish middle classes are not immune to the call of fascism."

[theloner]

[QUOTE=Northtipp;4752597]

Lol. Lol. No but seriously lmfao.

A glitch in the system makes people think I'm claiming to be the 'historian'. I want to distance myself from those remarks that rightfully belong to revisionist historian extraordinaire, the one and only, Dr. Tomas Mor!

[CarnivalOfAction]

Here you go Moron:

Fine Gael’s Fascist Roots : Look Left
"What the 1930s and 1940s show, however, is that given the right conditions and the presence of an organisation that appeals to native traditions, the conservative Irish middle classes are not immune to the call of fascism."

THE BLUESHIRTS DVD

Documentary telling the story of the Irish Blueshirt movement of the 1930s

Archive footage and interviews with the last surviving members as well as their opponents. Also relatives of Blueshirt leaders and those who died in street battles are interviewed. Astounding Documentary.

Transferred to DVD to preserve the material . Quality not perfect but very good.

The Blueshirts DVD Fascism in Ireland of BNP Interest | eBay