Interesting to see absolutely no Sinn Fein posters or banners on yesterdays large anti war march

by Cork Anti-War Campaign supporter Sun Mar 30, 2003 23:08

Do we really need this nasty, sectarian griping? Let's try working TOGETHER for a change.

by Mick Sun Mar 30, 2003 23:30

You don't have to be a delegate to go to the ard fheis, ordinary members can go as well.

Nice try though.

by US ambassador to an unfree state Mon Mar 31, 2003 00:16

I was at this march and I also did not see any SF posters or activists and is case some more of the politically inexperienced mistake my comment for sectarian slagging of SF it is not that, it is simply a statement of fact.

by Dublin antiwar marcher Mon Mar 31, 2003 01:00

I'm a bona fide Dub and i must be highly sensitive too cos i couldn't give a shit how many sinn feiners were there - there were some actually, i saw them! - and i reckon posting above is exactly as cork comrade puts it: sectarian slagging. why bring it up otherwise, and what political grouping do you represent anyway - probably sp, swp, wsm, or other such outfit.

by ball & chain Mon Mar 31, 2003 01:41

but still you gotta ask which is more important? ard fheis or anti war march? to be honest and i dont mean to be sectarian or anything here but as kieron allan was saying yesterday how can sinn fein be involved in the anti war movement when they have such obvious ties with american warmongers and do things like invite the american ambassador to the ard fheis? is sf were really on board with iawm they would have being the biggest group in attendance yesterday, but you get the feeling adams and co. are only paying lip service to their dublin activists.

by Anti-Trot Mon Mar 31, 2003 04:06

Ball and Chain is obviously an SWP clone, and all I want to say to him is: NO WAR BUT THE CLASS WAR! BACK TO SHANNON AND LETS TEAR DOWN THOSE FENCES! ANARCHY IS FREEDOM!!

by Anonymous Mon Mar 31, 2003 11:48

They were all in the RDS
by Mick Sun, Mar 30 2003, 9:30pm

You don't have to be a delegate to go to the ard fheis, ordinary members can go as well.

Nice try though.

Give it a rest!
by Cork Anti-War Campaign supporter Sun, Mar 30 2003, 9:08pm

Do we really need this nasty, sectarian griping? Let's try working TOGETHER for a change.

by Joe Murphy Mon Mar 31, 2003 11:49

Considering that Adams et al where having dinner in the White House the weekend before the war began, in full knowledge that America was going to take unilateral action, I am annoyed that SF was at the march at all on Saturday.
I do not think that their representative should have been allowed to speak on stage before the march. I thought it was for people who wanted a regime change in Washington, not those who go there to be wined and dined.

In general, the less politicians speaking at rallies the better, fair play to the man who got up on stage after the speeches in Parnell Square to make that very point. Political parties are welcome to take part in the march but I don't need to hear a bunch of vote grabbers lecturing to me. Likewise from Labour etc. Let's have more NGOs, Iraqis and ordinary decent citizens instead. More music and poems and less talk.

by Justin Moran - Sinn Fein Mon Mar 31, 2003 12:42 maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

Just under 2,000 Sinn Féin delegates and non-delegate members attended the Ard Fhéis over the weekend, that's more than most anti-war parties have in their entire membership. Most of Dublin Sinn Féin, including myself were working as staff to make sure it ran smoothly. I truly regret there weren't more SF people at the anti-war march but we couldn't do both.

As for the American Ambassador being at our Ard Fhéis, I'm not actually sure that he was, though there was certainly a representative, as there was a representative from many states with whom whose governments we have problems. Considering the representative was present during speeches which condemned the Americans every which way including calling them terrorists, fascists, warmongerers etc.

I know people a lot of people seem unable to realise that the anti-war movement is not the only political thing happening in the world today, that there are other issues, such as a Peace Process that we are tied into and that, like it or not, America is a part of.

Newsflash, we don't like the British either, but we work with them. Loyalists killed dozens of our members and their families, but we work with them. Unionists cheered when our people were buried, but we work with them. Not because we like to, but because we have to.

by republican Mon Mar 31, 2003 15:01

I know that there was a couple of hundred delegates at the Ard Fheis, and no doubt Justin is right about something for once, when he claims that some of the membership were helping out there. But that still leaves thousands of members and supporters that could have participated in the National anti war march. And before the idiot from Cork starts whining about 'sectarian' rubbish I am a republican but I have not given up my right to observe that there were absolutely no Sinn Fein posters or banners on last saturdays march and that is disgraceful and unforgivable and no amount of whitewash from Justin or Mick will cover this up.

by Mick Mon Mar 31, 2003 23:57

How do you know there weren't ANY members or supporters there? Just because they weren't carrying banners?

by gobshite watcher Tue Apr 01, 2003 13:13

If they were serious that is, why do party gobshites keep ,defending their stupid sects and lying when they know they are not fooling anyone with these solly lies and excuses for doing nothing.

by Magneto - Labour Hacks Tue Apr 01, 2003 14:04

The SP should have had banners and placards and leaflets at the ICTU SDC. They should not have opposed the proposed lobby at an IAWM conference.