Southern Guilt

[LeDroit]

As a working class Dub I grew up with an affection and kindred sympathy for republican ambitions in the North. There was even, at the very least an acceptance of, or at most an agreement with, the IRAs campaign. The theory was, well the native Irish are being put down and denied rights by the British who had invaded. It was all very simplistic I know, but that was why it was probably such a pervasive belief, certainly as I say in working class Dublin.

However, we were also concious of the fact that we personally, and we as a nation, were doing bugger all to physically assist our fellow Irishmen. Locals who joined the IRA, and everyone knew who they were, were respected. And in general I think I kind of felt an element of shame or guilt because 'we' were doing nothing.

As I grew older, and was able to analyse the behaviour of the IRA, Bloody Friday, Enniskillen, Warrington, the Hyde Park bombings etc, I realised that they were wrong in what they were doing and that it didn't advance the cause of social injustice or reunification at all. This helped me resolve my own juvenile feelings of guilt.

But I wonder if that sense of guilt still persists in the psyche of some southerners. Is this why there is still support for SF in areas like Kerry and working class Dublin and Limerick? Or is SF's support more down to disaffection with the establishment's parties or good local activism? Either way, I wonder if there is merit in FF/FG addressing this sense of guilt in trying to reconnect with this electorate in trying to take those votes back from SF?

[Aristodemus]

The Provos copperfastened partition through their actions.

[sharpcut]

I think you need to address the issue of Southern 'brain washing' rather than Southern 'guilt'.

[sharpcut]

The Provos copperfastened partition through their actions.

You can say that again! Unionism's biggest friends. First they spent 30 years alienating Unionists and then they decided the best way forward was to disarm, disband and take part in administrating UK rule in Ulster! It would be hilarious if it wasn't so tragic.

[LeDroit]

I think you need to address the issue of Southern 'brain washing' rather than Southern 'guilt'.

True enough perhaps. They're probably tied in together. Although I doubt there was only brain washing going on on one side.

[sharpcut]

True enough perhaps. They're probably tied in together. Although I doubt there was only brain washing going on on one side.

Touche.:mrgreen:

[dazzler]

As a working class Dub I grew up with an affection and kindred sympathy for republican ambitions in the North. There was even, at the very least an acceptance of, or at most an agreement with, the IRAs campaign. The theory was, well the native Irish are being put down and denied rights by the British who had invaded. It was all very simplistic I know, but that was why it was probably such a pervasive belief, certainly as I say in working class Dublin.

However, we were also concious of the fact that we personally, and we as a nation, were doing bugger all to physically assist our fellow Irishmen. Locals who joined the IRA, and everyone knew who they were, were respected. And in general I think I kind of felt an element of shame or guilt because 'we' were doing nothing.

As I grew older, and was able to analyse the behaviour of the IRA, Bloody Friday, Enniskillen, Warrington, the Hyde Park bombings etc, I realised that they were wrong in what they were doing and that it didn't advance the cause of social injustice or reunification at all. This helped me resolve my own juvenile feelings of guilt.

But I wonder if that sense of guilt still persists in the psyche of some southerners. Is this why there is still support for SF in areas like Kerry and working class Dublin and Limerick? Or is SF's support more down to disaffection with the establishment's parties or good local activism? Either way, I wonder if there is merit in FF/FG addressing this sense of guilt in trying to reconnect with this electorate in trying to take those votes back from SF?

Register your vote in NI if you feel guilt. Its more important up there

[LeDroit]

Register your vote in NI if you feel guilt. Its more important up there

As I said in the OP I don't feel guilt at all but I think it could explain why you guys, 'the republican party', have lost ground to SF in working class areas.

[dazzler]

SF are on 6% in the south. Reason: Economic policies are a disaster. You dont have to be SF to be a republican

[devnull]

SF are incapable of fulfilling the role of Ireland's left because they're not _primarily_ a left-wing party - they're about eternal trench warfare in Northern Ireland, where politics is war by other means. As the Troubles wind down into name-calling, parliamentary disagreements about obscure school tests and electoral sectarian head-counts Southerners are losing interest.

But SF are successful enough to ensure there isn't space for a party that could threaten the left flanks of FF and Labour.