"The Lost Revolution: A History of the OIRA and Workers Party"

[SevenStars]

I am unaware of any documents being removed from Cedar Lounge. Are you talking about the Smullen document that was put up recently? It is still there. The introduction was by Brian Hanley. There may have been a gap between WP policy on the issue and the majority of its voters. These things happen. I'm sure there were gaps on other areas. It seems unlikely the majority of voters were completely committed to all aspects of WP economic policy for example.

I read it recently...just couldnt find it now.

But I voted for the SP even though Im opposed to their cypto-unionism because I felt that they would defend my economnic interests. Im sure a lot of people voted for the WP for the same reason. I think though this was a rather important gap. Republican Socialism strikes a cord with a lot of Irish working class people and thats why the IRSP meet with so much state repression in the 26 counties.

[SevenStars]

Do you believe that killing Catholics for their religion is a crime? Can you name any Prod who was killed because of his religion?

As for regarding Prods as lesser Irish people than Catholics, what is wrong with regarding as non-Irish a person who denies being Irish?

You wanna be part of the UK? That might also define you as an non-Irish person?

Go away....

And those at Kingsmill were killed because of their religion.

[Garibaldy]

I read it recently...just couldnt find it now.

But I voted for the SP even though Im opposed to their cypto-unionism because I felt that they would defend my economnic interests. Im sure a lot of people voted for the WP for the same reason. I think though this was a rather important gap. Republican Socialism strikes a cord with a lot of Irish working class people and thats why the IRSP meet with so much state repression in the 26 counties.

I'm sure that cold war paranoia had something to do with the reaction to the IRSP on its foundation (although the lost revolution book shows just how little support Costello actually took from SF in the south).

I am absolutely sure that the overwhelming majority of WP voters voted for it because it put class issues right at the top of its agenda, and onto the political agenda in the south. Others voted for it because it was the most militantly secular party in the state. Others for its line on the north. It is quite clear that the overwhelming majority of people right across the island - and especially in the south - opposed the violence. The WP's position from 1972 on violence was in tune with popular opinion in the south, and that was especially true when it was most electorally successful.

[Glennshane]

I mean by anti-sectarian republicanism the kind of republicanism that has never engaged in killing people for their religion. And the kind of republicanism that recognises that it is only through the unity of the Irish people that the connection with England can be broken. The kind of republicanism that talks about the working class, and not the nationalist working class as opposed to the loyalist working class.

The Workers Party advocated:-

a) the restoration of Prod rule in Northern Ireland;

b) letting defenceless Ulster Catholic children fall into the clutches of Prod teachers.

To the Workers Party, non-sectarian class politics meant letting Prods walk over Catholics. Is it any wonder they were heavily rejected by the victim tribe in Northern Ireland?

[Glennshane]

[QUOTE=SevenStars;2159633]

"You wanna be part of the UK? That might also define you as an non-Irish person?"

So what?

"And those at Kingsmill were killed because of their religion."

They were killed in reprisal for the killing of Catholics. Please mind your manners. If the Kingsmills operation had been carried out in support of a United Ireland, it would be your business. It was carried out in order to protect Ulster Catholics. It was and is none of your business because you are not an Ulster Catholic. Let us victims of Prod tyranny do our own thing in our own province.

[SevenStars]

Was there an anti-revisionist wing in the WP?

What was the general consensus in the WP on comrade Stalin?

[cactusflower]

No its not because those people were actually at a rally celebrating British Militarism, they werent targetted just for being protestants. The IRA unit that carried out that attack were forced to step down afterwards while as the raision d'etre of Loyalist death squads was to target innocent RCs in the hope of breaking the will of our Volunteers, a stratergy that ultimately suceeded.

Why were they "forced to step down" ?

[cactusflower]

Oh come on the Provo campaign had a lot of sympathy in the 26 counties and you know aswell as I do that there was rather a lot of empathy for it in the CPI.

The bombings were a propoganda disaster and a disaster for anyone opposed to sectarianism.

[cactusflower]

Did the WSM abstain? I thought they called for a vote that supported the maintaining of articles 2 and 3 in Dev's consituation? Anyway their positition of the Trade Unions leaves a lot to be desired though they do support the IWU which I guess is a step in the right direction.

I voted for Joe Higgins and am close to regretting it now.

As always the IRSP opposed the GFA on solid anti-sectarian grounds.

I was going by their article I posted earlier, comparing the positions on the left. Perhaps someone would be able to confirm or otherwise.

There are a lot of claims that if the GFA hadn't been passed there would have been some kind of sectarian bloodbath. Is this in any way credible ? What is the evidence. On the Provisionals side, all they would have needed to do is have a cease fire.

[SevenStars]

Why were they "forced to step down" ?

I dont know the ins and outs of it. One poster for the 6 counties posted that here.

Maybe Merle would have more details.