To accept the British state as the legitimate guardian of sovereign power is to focus ones desire on the British state on the basis of not having sovereign power. On the other hand, to contest sovereign power on the grounds that the British state has it in Ireland because it has deprived the Irish people of it, is to open the possibility of a permanent claim based on the fact that the Irish people can have it, and, in fact, have the right to it.
Anyone who accepts that the British state holds legitimate sovereign power in Ireland must always address his desire to the British government. All questions must be addressed to the Crown - particularly the question of his own desire. The Crown's answer must always be waited on. Such an Irish person, I do not say Irish citizen, is alienated in waiting for this answer, as the child is alienated in its mother's expectations, or the worker is alienated in his boss's commands. In each of these cases, the desire of the individual is subjected to the desire of another - another who has been put in the position of the Master.
Soon the individual begins to anticipate his Master's desire, and base his own desire on that anticipation. Thus the road to identification has begun - and how many of the world's Slaves identify with their Masters? Nearly all. In fact identification with the desire of the Master is the very hallmark of the truely enslaved. Identification is always alienation, always moving away from yourself, losing yourself - using the language of YOUR CHOSEN Master. Such identification may even provoke acts of rebellion - but it is always rebellion within the context laid down by the Master. Ultimately it is a demand to the Master for another answer - be that answer civil rights within the Master's law or so many positions in the Master's state structure.
In short, the GFA is such a choosing of a privileged Master, choosing of one who will provide structure and provide answers. How many times have the British government been called on to sort out the nasty Unionists, and get things back on track? How desperate is the alienated individual to believe that the chosen Master really can give such an answer?
The desperation increases when the British government show how little real aptitude they have for the role. The desperation becomes painful until the Master can demonstrate some little magic trick to re-confirm his position of Mastery - such as the St. Andrews masquerade and the reigning in of Ian Paisley with a few well timed threats and bribes. Its yet another alienation; reveling in the mastery of the Master. Its a short road then to blocking young Nationalists from commemorating internment, while refusing to vote against the British army parading through an Irish town. Total loss of self.
Originally Posted by mairteenpak
