The beginning of the end of the GFA

[Breadan O'Connor]

I am convinced we are seeing the unravelling of the GFA. Due to unionist minimalism we see that the young people in nationalist areas are becoming increasingly disenchanted with the political process as it has been a failure for the Irish people over the last ten years. We have not seen any substantial cultural recognition.

The promise of an united Ireland by 2016 is increasingly seen as a line. It now appears that SF has been sold a pup and cannot go back, they are trapped in a partitionist solution with no escape route and no willingness to seek one.

The political impotence of SF's position has been exposed in areas such as the Irish Language Act, the never ending pantomine that is education under Catriona Ruane and the silly traitor remark of McGuinness.

The SDLP are unable to make capital from this debacle which shows that they are a busted docket.

That leaves the only method the disenchanted have of expressing their frustration with the political situation and increasing alienation from the political process to be the path of violence.

In the immediate the only way to stop this descent, which may or not be to their advantage, is for the unionists to be generous and give way to non-threatening requests of nationalism such as the Irish language act, which would give out a message that the unionists recognise nationalists sentiments.

However I do not believe that unionists could do this due to intransigence blinding them from seeing what is in their best interests.

From a nationalist point of view it is very bad that the DUP now dominate unionist politics.


The UUP would be far more preferable partners.

However the dissidents have nothing to offer except a return to murder and reopening sectarian hatreds.

[HanleyS]

What is Sinn Feins strategy for a united Ireland Factual?

What's the dissident strategy? Ethnic cleansing?

[odie1kanobe]

From a nationalist point of view it is very bad that the DUP now dominate unionist politics.


The UUP would be far more preferable partners.

However the dissidents have nothing to offer except a return to murder and reopening sectarian hatreds.

Better the DUP inside rather then outside trying to destroy it.

UI is on its way and now its just a question of time.

[Truth.ie]

The GFA was doomed from the start. It was built on lies, smoke and mirrors.
The Unionists claimed it secured the Union, and defeated Republicanism.
The Constitutional Nationalists claimed it was a step towards unity.
One of the two was lying to it's base.
Seems the Unionists prediction was more accurate.
Draconian legislation was promised to be scrapped, yet it's worse now than the time when Civil Rights protestors were marching in the early 70s.
With Articles 2 and 3 done away with, we are left with some wishy washy aspiration to Irish sovereignty, and Hume like gobble-de gook claiming we can be Irish citizens in the North providing we accept British interference as part of life.

[Truth.ie]

Wat's the dissident strategy? Ethnic cleansing?

No. but you knew that anyway.

[HanleyS]

No. but you knew that anyway.

Actually, it's unclear. Clearly the dissidents don't believe in democracy at least.

[factual]

Sinn Féin's strategy for a united ireland is a democratic one based on persuasion of a majority of the people of the six counties that this is in their best interests politically culturally and economically. Persuasion involves encouraging the development of unionist participation in all Ireland politics and in this context we see the DUP and the Dublin government much more engaged than ever before. Peace opens minds and thus allows for an evolving situation that can benefit nationalists, while violence as well as being the wrong way to get a UI - and a way that would store up problems for the future - is likely to impede progress by alienating broad society from those who commit the violence. It is counterproductive to use violence as it is actually more likely to turn people away from a UI than anything else.

[Truth.ie]

Actually, it's unclear. Clearly the dissidents don't believe in democracy at least.

They believe the occupation of their country by a foreign State is undemocratic.
They also, unlike Factual, believe partition effects the whole island, and that the Unionist minority on the island cannot veto Constitutional change or progress.

[mutley]

What's the dissident strategy? Ethnic cleansing?

What are you asking me for?

[factual]

They believe the occupation of their country by a foreign State is undemocratic.
They also, unlike Factual, believe partition effects the whole island, and that the Unionist minority on the island cannot veto Constitutional change or progress.

They seem to ignore the GFA which is supported by just about all democratically elected respresentatives in Ireland.