This is just as true today as it was in 1916

[RB TexLa]

We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible. The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the destruction of the Irish people. In every generation the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty; six times during the past three hundred years they have asserted it in arms. Standing on that fundamental right and again asserting it in arms in the face of the world, we hereby proclaim the Irish Republic as a Sovereign Independent State. And we pledge our lives and the lives of our comrades-in-arms to the cause of its freedom, of its welfare, and of its exaltation among the nations.

[rockymountaindem]

1. I've been on DU for several years and I've never seen 3/17 spark such a row

I understand people are passionate about Irish history and all the struggle therein, but I don't know why it's cropping up so much around here this year. Most other years the posts seem to focus on partying...

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. 3/17 may cause a row here . . George Bush is supposed to be visiting Calgary that day . .

.
.
.

I think there may be a few protesters around . . .

ya think?

. :freak:

[Selatius]

3. I remember in the 1980s when I was living in Massachusetts, I talked with an Irish-American.

One of the topics I dared broach with him was Northern Ireland. He was a big supporter of the IRA. He felt all the Protestants there should be relocated back to England. He had family back home, and some were involved with the IRA. He would wire over money to family members who would then use it for whatever purpose. From what I could tell, he wasn't the only one wiring money to "family and friends" back during the bombing campaigns. I was a fool for asking.

[RB TexLa]

4. We gave our nickels and dimes for "orphans" when I was growing up

[vadawg]

6. i spoke to some friends over the pond after 911 and a few of them stated

that now mayby the idiots in NY who were sending money to the Provos for years might understand what we have been going through. It struck me at the time as absurd, but with time i understood what they meant.

[anigbrowl]

5. Sigh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belfast_Agreement#Referenda

Get with reality. 3/17 is a time to celebrate what Irish people have in common, not look for excuses to sow division. I hope you're happy with your the bloodletting last week, which is the first in 12 years. This kind of bullshit masquerading as patriotism pisses my lily-white Irish ass right off.