Na Fianna Éireann picket: British tourist office

by The Insider Mon Jul 28, 2003 15:45

Well?

by Justin Moran - Sinn Féin Mon Jul 28, 2003 17:18 maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

Too far out. For every metre you get from the Dublin City Centre the likelihood of media coverage decreases exponentially. Also less people pass by the British Embassy than pass the Tourist Office. It's easier for people to get to, more activists are likely to turn up. It's all good.

If the Brits would have been kind enough to locate their embassy somewhere on Middle Abbey St (Sunday Independent offices should do nicely considering how many employees they have there) republicans would never have had to develope the British Tourism Office as our alternative anti-British Government protest site.

Ahh, the memories.

by F Mon Jul 28, 2003 18:39

Picketing a 'British' tourist office just highlights the xenophobia that is at the heart of irish 'republicanism' - they're just nationalists with guns. Then i suppose they have moved on from blowing up 'british' hotels, bus stations and supermarkets, it didn't really matter, as long as all the dead were 'british' who cares?
Why not picket a 'british' football club to highlight your ends, like Glasgow Celtic for example

by Mags Mon Jul 28, 2003 19:12

'F' it may have escaped your notice that the protest is about the conditions of Republican POWs held in a British jail in the part of Ireland that is adminsitered and claimed by Britain.

It would look a bit fucking stupid to protest about this at the office of the French cultural attaché, now wouldn't it.

by Joe Momma Mon Jul 28, 2003 19:44

Nice one, F, I'm waiting expectantly for Fianna Éireann to call for a boycott of all British soccer teams, including Glasgow Celtic, until political status is achieved.

Either make the trip to the British Embassy and have a proper protest or just give it a rest.

by robby Mon Jul 28, 2003 23:30

I'm pretty sure that Ireland benefits much more from British tourists than Britain gains from Irish tourists.

Hey Republicans, stick to what you know, terrorism not tourism!

by Ailín Tue Jul 29, 2003 00:57

Na Fianna have already held a protest at the British embassy. As Justin says a protest outside the Tourist office will get a bigger response from the public and turnout from activists. The tourist office is funded by the same government that is denying the prisoners political status in Maghaberry so why shouldnt it be picketed? I remember people were arguing on this after the picket at the GPO that we were wasting our time as the brits wouldnt see it. Well they are guaranteed to see this. I dont know what Glasgow Celtic has to do with anything as I dont support them and neither do a lot of the protestors.

by Seáinín Tue Jul 29, 2003 02:42

Oh, BTW I despise you so-calld Republicans, you're just the laothsome revenants of a 19th century ideology.

by Joe Momma Tue Jul 29, 2003 11:56

Unless I'm very much mistaken, British Tourism has already pulled out of Northern Ireland and only promotes tourism in Great Britain. Surely this is compatible with the aims of the 'republican movement', so why not give poor old British Tourism a break?

by Justin Moran - Sinn Féin Tue Jul 29, 2003 12:20 maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

The British Tourism Office is funded by the British Government. This same Government is responsible for preventing segregation in the prisons. Perfectly legitimate place to protest. The last protest was held outside the GPO, a traditional place for protests and political groups. For Republicans, the office of an organisation subsidised by the British Government has also been a traditional point of protest.

Palestinian organisations boycott Israeli goods and no-one raises an eyebrow. (I support that campaign btw to be clear)

Like Ailin, I'm a republican, and like her, I'm not a Celtic fan. Still, you shouldn't let real life get in the way of easy stereotypes, crap sountbites and ill-thought out cliches.

Seainin:
Republicanism is actually, in the Irish sense, an 18th century political philosophy, though the theory and writings of republicanism are centuries older.

Also, there's no 'v' in remnants, there is an 'e' in called, laothsome is the incorrect spelling of loathsome. And to describe a political movement whose support in Dublin alone for example has increased over 300% in six years as 'remnants' shows a misunderstanding of the word and what it means.

See, on Indymedia, you not only learn about politics, we correct grammar and spelling as well. With our help, you'll make your Ma proud as could be and pass that Leaving Cert one day. Then who knows where a special chap like yourself could find himself working.

On the actual protest itself, I'm up to Belfast at the weekend but best wishes to all concerned and I hope it's a great success.

by Ailín Tue Jul 29, 2003 12:32

You are about the tenth person online who has said that Justin :-)


"I have no interest in that, besides occasionally wearing the underwear, which as we discussed, is strictly a comfort thing." - Homer Simpson

by Joe Momma Tue Jul 29, 2003 15:57

Well then bleeding organise a boycott of British goods if you want to take that approach, and stop trying to make excuses for your laziness. Of course, Celtic fan or not, you might find it difficult to live without goods of British origin for long.

Also, beware of trying to appear more educated than you are: 'remnant' may not be spelled with a 'v', but 'revenant' - "One who returns after death (as a ghost) or after a long absence." - is.

"The folklore of the Irish countryside too, with its hauntings, revenants and changelings... was an integral part of everyday awareness, even in the middle-class world of Yeats's childhood."
--Terence Brown, The Life of W. B. Yeats

See http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2002/08/09.html

by Seáinín Tue Jul 29, 2003 23:07

Bit I did spell loathsome wrong so I guess I'm in line for a punishment beating.