Protest in Galway today : Guantanamo Bay, Gaza & Shannon Warport

by TD - IPSC Sat Jan 26, 2008 21:01

More !

Andy and Niall from Food Not Bombs

Dette (SWP)

Niall (GAAW)

by TD - IPSC Sat Jan 26, 2008 21:04

3

Treasa

Martha

Val Handley

by Sue Sat Jan 26, 2008 21:48

Val hanley homophobic ex fianna fail mayor who refused to custom to gay people when he was landlord of a city center pub in galway. also made racist remarks concerning black people living
in galway having the potential to spread aids.Val hanley was playing the race card in galway today
must be an election very soon by standing shoulder with rebublican sinn fein to display his nationalist
credationals while he will be canvassing in support of the eu treaty whose intention is to abolish
the irish state and replace it with undemocratic european totalitarian state

by TF Sat Jan 26, 2008 22:21

"As long as we looked upon ourselves as being independent we could appeal to the outside world...... certain of receiving sympathy and help"
Mellows in the Dail.

If only the people could show some sympathy and come to Palestines aid today.
fair play to you all in galway.

by Impartial Reporter Sun Jan 27, 2008 00:09

They came, they saw, they disgraced themselves.

RSF ferried them in from Sligo and Cork to strengthen the Galway battalion. And there they stood between 15 and 20 of them, side by side, with a huge force of Gardaí, plus Galway’s crème de la crème of Fianna Fail gombeenism. No Pasaran. Together they would defend Liam Mellows’ statue to the last man.

But against what? An orange piece of cloth that local peace campaigners wanted to use to symbolise Galway’s and Liam Mellows’ solidarity with those incarcerated in Guantanamo.

RSF just seemed to have missed the plot. At this moment Cathal Goulding’s comment seemed so appropriate: “We were right too early. Adams was right too late. And Ruairi O Bradaigh will never be fucking right!”

The Galway Alliance Against War had intended to dress Liam Mellows in an orange boiler suit to highlight the macabre 6th anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo. Six years since “extraordinary rendition” entered the dictionary and six years since Shannon airport had become an integral part of the term’s definition.

The intention was to hammer home the point that people were being kidnapped, tortured, drugged, chained to the floor of a plane and transported through Shannon airport to Guantanamo or to one of the other US torture holes dotted around the world, and that the Fianna Fail-Green Party coalition, was openly colluding with these US torturers and murderers.

GAAW had made it publicly clear that it held Mellows in high esteem because of his anti-imperialist credentials: the leader of the 1916 Rising in Galway, which was “a blow for Irish Independence and a blow against Ireland’s involvement in the imperialist 1st world war”, the statement had read. “Mellows had refused to bow to the superpower of his day and for that had paid the ultimate price. If alive today he would stand side by side with us in opposing Ireland’s subservience to the US war machine.”

There was no ambiguity in GAAW’s appreciation of Mellows’ legacy. Indeed, Niall Farrell of GAAW in his address stated that it was time for the progressive forces in Galway to reclaim Mellows “from the ministerial hypocrites of Fianna Fail who parade here with their gombeen councillors every Easter”.

Farrell had harsh words too for the Green Party Ministers: “one of the reasons why we are here is that it was agreed at our AGM that there was an elephant in the room – Shannon airport – and we had to confront it publicly. That elephant is at every cabinet meeting too. The Greens can change the light bulbs; they can save even more energy by turning the lights off – but that big bloody elephant – Shannon airport - remains in all its horror.” In his view the Greens contribution to saving the environment lacked any credibility while they allowed “an oil guzzling superpower wage a resource war via Shannon airport”.

Green councillor Niall O Brolchain would have felt particularly uncomfortable if he had appeared at the protest, especially when Farrell reminded his audience of the “bare faced lies the Green Party had told the electorate before the election”.

Dr Philomena McKenna who has lived and worked in the Middle East focused on the silence of the Irish government over the present crisis in Gaza. She deplored the fact that “the Irish government had not sought to assist the people of the Gaza, the biggest open prison in the world.” And instead followed the cue from the EU and US and stood idly by.

She reminded her audience that Archbishop Tutu having visited Palestine had said life for Palestinians was even harsher than it had been for the Black majority in Apartheid South Africa. Dr McKenna called for people to get involved and to boycott Israeli products just as South African products had been boycotted during the years of apartheid.

This was the third time GAAW has held events at Mellows’ statue. To mark the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising the Galway peace group had invited the brother of a Guantanamo prisoner Omar Deghayes to address their ceremony. Omar was released in the past few weeks and he sent a message to today’s protest in which he thanked GAAW for its support: “Your letters and work are important and mean a lot to the prisoners in Guantanamo. Please keep the good work going until that terrible place is
either shut down or demolished. Even the guards in prison were concerned by your letters and actions…. There are many memories that will not leave me particularly my three friends who were poets, and all sang very beautifully. They all died in that place in the last year. I hope to tell their stories accurately one day. Now my thoughts are with Binyam Mohammed and Ahmed Belbacha both of whom we must campaign to have brought home.”

Appropriately, after this message two poems written by Guantanamo prisoners were read. The first poem was by Osama Abu Kabir a Jordanian water truck driver and poet Rita Ann Higgins read this. Poet and novelist Fred Johnston read the next poem by the imprisoned Al-Jazeera cameraman, Sami al Hajj.

People were asked to send postcards to the prisoners and after the meeting there was an opportunity to write cards.

The meeting was not all talk. Treasa Ní Cheanabháin sang a song at the beginning of the meeting and her daughters, Zara and Nasrín Elsafty – both accomplished seanos singers – sang the anti-warsong “Ali”. There was also a wonderful lament to conclude the proceedings played by a local piper.
********

It would appear the Galway Alliance Against War considered the event a huge success even with the foolish intervention of RSF. Although, many of the GAAW supporters felt the barbed comments emanating from Niall Farrell left the RSFers feeling incredibly uncomfortable. Before the meeting began Farrell told the crowd that this March would mark the 20th anniversary of his sister’s murder by the SAS in Gibraltar. Mairéad Farrell was killed along with two other IRA volunteers while on active service. Mairéad had only been released from prison 18 months previous having served a 10 year sentence.

Niall Farrell asked: “How come none of these great, brave, republican heroes of RSF who are surrounding this statue of Liam Mellows today did not volunteer for the Gibraltar mission? Indeed, why are you here today boys, why aren’t you up North waging war?” There was nothing but an embarrassed silence from the fundamentalists.

by Tim Sun Jan 27, 2008 02:53

"Green councillor Niall O Brolchain would have felt particularly uncomfortable if he had appeared at the protest"

He was there. He is pictured in the photo second from top!

by paul o toole Sun Jan 27, 2008 16:46

Well done to all in GAAW for not remaining silent. Where no voices can be heard the silence deafens. Politicians in government want to maintain an air of 'normality' on this little Isle, innocent, vunerable, humble and caring..they are anything but. Our leaders are parasites, capitalist and facist-warmongers who loose not a nights sleep for the innocent blood they spill in the name of democracy.
Our boys may not pull triggers and watch innocent people fall to the ground. We may not fly WMD to drop on villages. What we do is worse. We provide ariport facilities for this to take place, we supply guidance systems for their 'smart' bombs and profit 5 billion Euro each year, our media (rte-Refuse to Tell the Electorate) stays silent, our churches asked for our fucking prayers before we killed them as those who claim to lead us hypocritaclly fly our neutral flag and talk of peace.
And, sadly, for the most part it has worked. The Irish have remained a docile lot. But for the likes of GAAW, the Plowshares and Mary kelly and a handful more there would have been little else to mark our repulsion.
Well done once again to all in Galway

by Maura Harrington - S2S; Davitt League Sun Jan 27, 2008 17:34

Well done to all in GAAW. I'm sorry I couldn't attend but with you in solidarity.

by Christina - GAAW Sun Jan 27, 2008 19:38

It takes little imagination to visualise life in a prison. The confined cell, the bare walls, the silence, the feeling of isolation.

Many have no family members and as a result they have become despondent and desperate. In one case, a detainee was actually seeking permission from a scholar to commit suicide until he began to receive letters from the public, which renewed his desire and motivation to live.

It is not enough that we feel sorry for what they are going through.
It is not enough that we cry when we sit down and think about what they are experiencing.
Nor is it enough that we lay down and wait for others to take on the responsibility of reaching out to them.

We must not fail them at this critical time. We must hasten to comfort them, and support them at a time when they need us most.
We must write letters to give them hope, strengthen them and motivate them to persevere in remaining patient. We must be their link to the outside world, a link that shows that they have not been forgotten.

Letter writing campaigns have roven to be extremely successful with the 8 Belmarsh detainees receiving 60 letters in the first week of their campaign, and with Babar Ahmad receiving over 50 letters in his first week in prison.

Therefore we urge you to all make it a regular practice to write to a prisoner and to encourage your friends and family to do the same.

These letters can be as short as a few lines:
- encouraging them to be patient
-reminding them to have hope and that they have not been forgotten
simple messages of goodwill

This will not take more than a few minutes and will cost you only a couple of cents.
However, it will bring hope to a prisoner for whom half an hour is like half a year

by Mary Kelly Sun Jan 27, 2008 23:32

are always colourful and steadfast. Well done for holding the torch of outrage blazing! Great report and photos.

by Jim Brown Sun Jan 27, 2008 23:52

U.S military machine industries are being centered in Galway. CTL, headed by Dr. Conchur O Bradaigh is there:

http://www.entemp.ie/press/2005/20051006.htm

And Declan Ganley, the right-winger behind Libertas is also based in Galway.

http://www.rivada.com/about/keypersonnel/declanjganley.htm

These two companies are part and parcel of the U.S. military industrial complex. Whatever political organizations the leaders of these companies are associated with should be treated with the utmost suspicion by all who value Irish democracy.

by Barry - 32 csm ( personal capacity) Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:37

why are RSF members wearing easter lilies ?

If during 1981 for example people from another country draped a blanket around a statue of one of their own martyrs or political prisoners while protesting against injustice in Ireland, I dont for one minute believe that an Irish republican would regard that as a desecration . Therefore I fail to see how this is a desecration of Liam Mellowes .

by Gearóid Mon Jan 28, 2008 13:59

Niall Farrell posed the rhetorical question 'Why aren't you up north fighting the Brits?' to the heroes of right wing republicanism in Galway.

Following the surrender and capitulation of the Provisionals, it would appear that the remainder of the republican movement are content to sing rebel songs in pubs and harrass left wing and progressive forces in Galway. Less risky than confronting the British State occupation of six Irish counties.

Congratulations to all the Shannon, Gaza, Guantanamo and anti-war protestors in Galway. You are proudly honouring the memory and philosophy of Liam Mellowes. Ignore, but be wary of the MI5 and Garda Special Branch directed rump of right wing republicans.

by mary k Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:29

Is the first post on this article {from dunlo} the official position of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign in relation to rsf?
as a strong rsf supporter i won't be taking part in any more ipsc campaigns or work and neither will dozens of others that have raised this issue with me until we know where we stand
if the disgusting comments from dunlo remain , we're gone.

is dunlo just a loudmouth or is he speaking on behalf of the ipsc?

by Louder Mouth Wed Jan 30, 2008 16:05

"Dunlo" is the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The RSF contribution to any issue in Ireland is minimal; you will not be missed. Your stance against the protest last week was despicable. If the party had an issue with this action why didn't they get in touch with GAAW and talk about it in reasonable manner.

Shame on you and all your comrades who turned up to the GAAW protest!

by Louder mouth Wed Jan 30, 2008 16:17

Correction; "Dunlo" is the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Galway.

I think your attempt to smear Dunlo stinks. Trying to seperate the Dunlo" from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign as a tactic betrays you as a low level thinker little removed from the tactics used against your movement.

"Dunlo" is streadfast in his campaigning and as one man has done more to highlight the plight of Palestine, the Rossport Five and the trials of Mary Kelly that the whole of the organsiation you support.

Shame on you.

by Sharon. - Individual . Wed Jan 30, 2008 23:36

Hi 'mary k' !

" Is the first post on this article {from dunlo} the official position of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign in relation to rsf?
as a strong rsf supporter i won't be taking part in any more ipsc campaigns or work and neither will dozens of others that have raised this issue with me until we know where we stand
if the disgusting comments from dunlo remain , we're gone.
is dunlo just a loudmouth or is he speaking on behalf of the ipsc? "

Apparently , despite what 'Dunlo' and 'Louder Mouth' and others have claimed or insinuated , the overall leadership of the 'Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign' are not of the opinion that RSF are 'the enemy' .
An RSF supporter in Clondalkin , Dublin , contacted the IPSC through their website and brought this issue to their attention - today , that RSF supporter (and the fact that he was an RSF supporter was made clear in his e-mail) received the following reply :
" John, thanks for getting in contact with us. As you can probably guess, this most certainly isn't the position of our organisation. IPSC is non-party, and takes absolutely no position on any Irish political parties. Individual members may have opinions, but this is not IPSC position.

Can you give me more information about this comment - where was it published - so that we can deal with it.

Thanks
David Landy
Secretary
IPSC "
Contact with Mr Landy is being maintained and any extra available information has been sent to him by the Clondalkin RSF supporter .

'Louder Mouth' has stated on this thread that "Dunlo" is the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Correction; "Dunlo" is the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Galway."
It seems , 'Louder Mouth' , that your big mouth has bitten off more than it can chew .
Watch you don't choke yourself !

Thanks!

Sharon.

by Jimmy Thu Jan 31, 2008 16:28

I attended the GAAW demo with a group of IPSC activists to stand in solidarity with and show my support for all those enduring the rath of the US led “war on terror”. As a newcomer to both Galway and the IPSC and GAAW, not only did I not expect, but was also shocked at the blatant xenophobia and overt racism displayed by certain members of the RSF group. I personally was subjected to verbal abuse when I was told to “go back to my fucking country you Arab…don’t bring your problems here” and then threatened with physical abuse if I did not lower the flag I was carrying and raise the Irish flag instead. Furthermore, I do see the GAAW action as a “desecration”, but rather a stance against imperialism and injustice. What is clear to me is that the “IPSC Galway” is a small group of dedicated activists trying to elucidate the plight of the Palestinian people to the citizens of Galway. I applaud your dedication and conviction; the same is also true for the GAAW. What I have learned from this demo is that I want nothing to do with the RSF as I found their message (that of intolerance and ignorance) and tactics offensive. Keep up the good work IPSC Galway and GAAW !

by Dunlo - IPSC Thu Jan 31, 2008 19:54

"IPSC is non-party, and takes absolutely no position on any Irish political parties. Individual members may have opinions, but this is not IPSC position" (David Landy. IPSC secretary).

Point taken, that being said, I certainly take a position, an unforgiving one, when it comes to racism and its acolytes; from the Zionist manifestations of it, [Palestinians] are "two-legged beasts" (former Israeli PM, Menachem Begin) and ... "cockroaches in a glass jar" (Rafael Eytan, former Israeli chief of staff), etc, etc, to the malodorous parading of it last Saturday by the RSF ; "Fuck off! back to your own country," etc, etc.

I also take a position, an intolerant one, against an outfit (presuming "M Mac Ghiolla Cheallaigh"speaks for RSF?) that wallows in pitiable denial of egregious US and UK crimes against humanity and slimes Galway Alliance Against War (strong supporters of IPSC) for raging against such criminality; "Any and all perceived or suspected violations of human rights by Britain or the US is met with their (GAAW) hysterical condemnation. What a sham!".

See Related Link for M Mac Ghiolla Cheallaigh's "opinings" and Niall Farrell's (GAAW) letter to the Galway Advertiser

by Unknown Soldier Thu Jan 31, 2008 21:14

Bravo Republican Sinn Fein for pulling out of the IPSC circus. True patriots can not support the outright lies and misinformation circulated by the SWP front IPSC.

by Sharon . - Individual . Thu Jan 31, 2008 21:17

.....and not , as you have done , in a manner which belittles yourself and the organisation you claim to represent.

'Dunlo' , you are an absolute disgrace . You are more blinded by your obvious hatred for RSF than anything that organisation is alleged to have done . And I quote - " Unfortunately, the only blot on an otherwise pristine day was the ugly, aggressive, racist presence of RSF, the stated purpose of these troglodytes, these Spinal Taps of republicanism...."

There is much more I would like to say in this post , but I will refrain for now , as I understand contacts are on-going in Dublin between IPSC people and RSF and I have no desire to jeopardise those talks .
It's called knowing when to vent your opinions . You badly need lessons in knowing when , where and how to vent those disturbing opinions you hold .
Thank God that Dublin IPSC are not as politically immature as you are .

Sharon.

by Yousuf Loughnane - NUIG Fri Feb 01, 2008 00:52

To attempt to defame a lion of a man, who has constantly put his neck on the line to raise awareness of those people who are suffering around our world, is downright disgusting. Fuck RSF, they have no use, they failed in their purpose, and they are failing now to get noticed, but to attack a man like Dunlo just to justify the racist actions of your party at an event meant to unify such groups, is the smackings of a lame dog trying to lick the arse of those in power. But remember this, that statue cannot be guarded 24/7 can it? So keep watch for the time when Liam Mellows joins Meteor! Racist comments against those who have suffered the same intolerance which the RSF are supposedly meant to be standing against, just goes to show how small-minded these old fuckers who were standing around that statue are. Keep an eye out!!!

by Sharon . - Individual . Fri Feb 01, 2008 07:43

....the louder the 'lion' roars .

People like you , Yousuf , are usually planted or encouraged by the opposition in , or to join , a specific organisation , with one objective : to do as you are now doing ie to discredit that organisation from within .
Your comment - " But remember this, that statue cannot be guarded 24/7 can it? So keep watch for the time when Liam Mellows joins Meteor! Keep an eye out!!! " is proof that you are trying to earn your keep .
Your objective now (?) is to 'have a go' at republicans , whatever the cost.
The protest at the Mellows statue last weekend was your opportunity then - now you don't need an excuse , as you prepare to show your true colours . You are a paid-for trouble-maker , a 'loose cannon' available to the highest bidder .
I hope your bid to sabotage the Mellows statue back-fires on you , you political tramp .

Sharon.

by mary k Fri Feb 01, 2008 15:48

the comment above about mellowes's statue and metorise shows the real aim of those who have been attacking republican sinn fein
it is republicanism in general they bear a grudge against and have been trying to use rsf as a whipping boy
to even consider now draping the mans statue in an orange jump suit , even though their protest was last weekend , shows there real agenda
just out to sow division

by Sharon . - Individual Fri Feb 01, 2008 17:30

Hi again , 'mary k' !

It now appears that you and I (and others) might have hit the nail on the head by stating that Dunlo's comments in Galway were employed 'just to sow division' .
The Clondalkin RSF supporter that I referred to earlier (see my post above entitled ' 'Dunlo' has smeared himself , it seems') today received a second e-mail from Mr Landy , in which the latter stated - " As for dissociating IPSC publicly from Dunlo's comments, when I turned to the indymedia site, I found my email to you posted there, doing just that.....so this email is just to confirm my previous email - IPSC takes no position on Irish political parties of whatever hue. Any such comment does not represent our group.
I hope that clears things up."

I hope so too .

To avoid probable future confusion , could I suggest that the IPSC leadership vet/clear all press releases /comment pieces etc which are tagged as being from them (as in Dunlo's case - see the first post on this thread) before said comments etc are released to the public . It would save all concerned a lot of time .

Thanks!

Sharon.

by Dunlo - IPSC Fri Feb 01, 2008 18:50

Salutary advise by any paradigm, for any situation?,Unfortunately, not the case for RSF, just alarming ad hominem abuse, ad nauseam, and a lamentable inability to explain its case?.

"Sharon", sorry, but I can't acquiese in your wicked contention that I'm benighted with "obvious hatred for RSF," not, not, not the case, I assure you, but RSF's shabby performance in Eyre Square and you and your Indymedia fellow travellers execrable inability to address and condemn the overt racism flouted there has engendered "obvious derision," let's say.

What's with this "Individual" tag?, out yourself, if you're RSF, say so, and stop skulking and sniping from the long grass?.

RSF or not, to clarify matters, do you disown or stand by the "blatant xenophobia and overt racism displayed by certain members of the RSF group" last Saturday (see Comment from Jimmy above)?.

Your opinion, please, on whether the gross torture and murder of prisoners (some of them boiled alive), in Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and an unknown number of CIA Black Sites, worldwide, is a figment of Galway Alliance Against War's "hysterical" imagination or do you abide with RSF's "ideologue" and in-house "philosopher"; M Mac Ghiolla Cheallaigh's contention, that, by implication, these egregious violations of human rights are only "perceived or suspected ".

So far, these serious contentions have not been addressed, in other words, the racist elephant trumpeting Guantanamo Bay denial in RSF's parlour is being ignored, instead, low libelous abuse is indulged in; "blinded by your obvious hatred for RSF," "absolute disgrace" and heaped on my "politically immature" shoulders. Tsk! Tsk!.

To boot, Yousuf, whose pristine spirit and powerful activism, I'm much enamoured of, receives a similiar junkyard dog mauling; "political tramp" "paid-for trouble-maker available to the highest bidder ".

How low ! How contemptible! How true to form!

by Yousuf Loughnane - NUIG Fri Feb 01, 2008 18:54

Sharon, if my aim was to discredit Republicanism, surely I would I have just taken a copy of the Poblacht na hEireann & wiped my ass with it? My dear, you know nothing about me, I am not politically all over the place, protesting at the US Ambassador was because he spreads injustice, defending Immortal Technique is because he alerts the youth to injustices around the world and backing up Dunlo and aiming to eventually dress Liam Mellows in orange is merely to fight the injustice srved up by Guantanamo Bay. It is you and RSF who have given yourself importance, had it been the Labour Party who had barricaded that statue on saturday it would be them who me an others would be attacking now. I have no issues with you, but you guys have decided to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Gardai and Fianna Fail, to try and mainstream yourself and get a foot in the door of centre-right politics. I am no political tramp, no one has employed me, I see Dunlo evey weekend highlighting the injustices around the world and to see him being defamed here is disgusting in my eyes. He will get no seat in government for his work, he gets no monetary gain, he does it because someone has to. Any cause I involve myself in I give my fullest attention to, I don't believe in being half-hearted, being passionate comes naturally to me. I stood side by side with Ogra Sinn Fein members when the Israeli ambassador came down to NUIG, we shared our belief that this man was trying to justify wrongful acts, the same was being done on saturday. Liam Mellows would not have wanted his so-called followers to prevent those who are trying to raise awareness to injustice from imperialism from doing their job. However as I said before, if the only way to show the average Galway person that Guantanamo Bay is still up and running is to drape a famous statue in a piece of orange cloth, then so be it, I will do it. If you honestly believe that there is something significant by the cloth being orange then you really are putting too much importance on yourselves.

by Sharon . - Individual Fri Feb 01, 2008 21:09

Dunlo ,
You talk about "ad hominem abuse, ad nauseam" ! You hypocrite !
Read the first post - your post - on this thread . Then come back and apologise.
What's with the " Sharon" business ? Trying to sow more division , are you ?
Those you described as my "Indymedia fellow travellers" are people , like me , that voiced an objection to your disgraceful anti-republican rants on this thread . How quickly you attempt to dismiss us!
I post here as an 'individual' poster , not on behalf of any organisation .
The same as you do , apparently , even though you claim to speak on behalf of the IPSC .
And no , I don't support "blatant xenophobia and overt racism" : as I have stated on this forum before , I care not what colour , religion or gender a person is . You , on the other hand , only 'care' for those that support the same political outlook as yourself . Short minded , not to mention in this particular case , short-sighted .
If you are interested in campaigning in support of those that have been/are subjected to "gross torture" , could I suggest you need not travel too far from here ? Perhaps you could divide your time better.
Again , your comments re RSF and "low libelous abuse" are impossible to take seriously , considering your introductory post on this thread . How careless of you to so blatantly attempt to pass the buck like that . And how typical . Tsk! Tsk!

Your friend Yousuf went out , similarly politically blindfolded like you (also self-imposed , I might add) , and , again like you , bit off more than he could handle .
A true friend would point-out a flaw of that nature to his pal . But , then again , when - as stated - the pal is equally as politically ignorant of the homebase political situation , what can you expect except a 'Laurel and Hardy'-type blunder.

Thanks!

Sharon.

by Sharon . - Individual Fri Feb 01, 2008 22:25

Yousuf -
Re your post title "Fight Injustice" : who was it that said ' Yes I fight injustice . And the further away it is , the harder I fight...' ? Oh never mind . It'll come to me eventually...

Wiping your ass with said document would discredit you , you idiot . Not the document.
"My dear" , I know all I need to know about you politically , , which is all I need to know . Perhaps your idol , the rapper 'Immortal Technique' , could write a rap song (suggested title - 'Yousufwipeshisownass') in which he could explain to his fans the power of a search engine when searching for information on a political activist ?
How did you and Dunlo , and others , manage before last Saturday in "fighting the injustice served up by Guantanamo Bay " without attempting to avail of the Mellows statue ? Or was that your first outing ?

You wrote - " It is you and RSF who have given yourself importance..." : read the first post on this thread and then tell me that !

" I have no issues with you, but you guys have decided to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Gardai and Fianna Fail, to try and mainstream yourself and get a foot in the door of centre-right politics. "
lol ! 'Centre-right politics' indeed ! That's what happens when you concentrate too much on politics in another country at the expense of keeping informed of what's happenning , politically , at 'home' . By the way - the Special Branch and PSF members and supporters were also present on that day as well : were we 'standing' shoulder-to-shoulder with them , too , do you think ?

And you are your buddy Dunlo 'highlight the injustices around the world every weekend' , do you ? Like the Lone Ranger and Whatshisname ?
What about the injustices on your own doorstep ? Like the political injustices , for example , in the six north-eastern counties of this isle ? What do you "highlight" there ? Where do you 'highlight' it ?
And it's ok for you and Dunlo 'to do what you do because someone has to' , is it ?
But daren't anyone else do the same...

" Any cause I involve myself in I give my fullest attention to, I don't believe in being half-hearted, being passionate comes naturally to me."
You might perhaps direct some of that 'passion' to understanding why Irish republicans might just not agree with those who seek to interfer with a republican memorial statue by dressing same in US prison-issue garb ?

" Liam Mellows would not have wanted his so-called followers to prevent those who are trying to raise awareness to injustice from imperialism from doing their job. "
"So called" , you say ? Did the Lone Ranger feed you that garbage ?
Here's another 'great idea' , Yousuf - bring twenty or thirty Orange boiler suits with you to Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin and 'dress' the gravestones in the Republican Plot therein . Now who could object to that as a means of 'raising awareness to injustice from imperialism' ?

" However as I said before, if the only way to show the average Galway person that Guantanamo Bay is still up and running is to drape a famous statue in a piece of orange cloth, then so be it, I will do it."
As I asked previously : how was that objective achieved in the past in Galway ? How is it achieved elsewhere ?

" If you honestly believe that there is something significant by the cloth being orange then you really are putting too much importance on yourselves."
The ' RSF-objected-because-the-cloth-was-orange' remark was made by the other Lone Ranger , Niall Farrell , not me or any other RSF supporter . If you had been following developments you would have known that .

Thanks!

Sharon

by Yousuf Loughnae - NUIG Fri Feb 01, 2008 23:31

Sharon, if I concerned myself solely with the situation close to home, then I would be open to be referred to as narrow-minded. Are there people dying on a daily basis in these 6 counties? No. Are the catholics living in fear of persecution and do they have to fight just to get by? No. Therefore, this is not my fight. I concern myself with situations that are occuring right now in our world, places where thousands of people are dying, where everyday severe injustices are being carried out, where people have to fight to be on the same level as there oppressors. Before Saurday, I was involved in protests where we dressed in the clothes of the inmates of Guantanamo Bay in Dublin and Galway, but we decided that to really bring it to the attention of the minds of the Irish people, we had to make a connection between their struggle and a wider struggle THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD, INVOLVING MUCH MORE VIOLENCE AND DEATH AND MUCH MORE PEOPLE. You don't know me, any info you have on me is stuff you have of me commenting on a particular topic or pure hearsay. You have never lived with me so please refrain from making unjustifed comments. All I can say is this, I was born in this country, and on saturday i was representing this country as a voice against injustice, but when a RSF member turned to me and said "Fuck off out of here Paki", its then when you start to realise these goons are nt who they say they are, we were meant to stand together, but the RSF have taken it upon themslves to fight on behalf of the rich Irish who are benefitting from the passing of US troops through Shannon.

by Sharon . - Individual . Sat Feb 02, 2008 00:29

Yousuf -
As well as exhibiting your ignorance regarding political affairs on this isle , do you also suffer ignorance of the written word ?
Where did I state that you should "solely" concern yourself with the situation closer to home ? Here's what I said - "You might perhaps direct some of that 'passion'... " It may start with the same letter ('S' for 'some') but it's a different word.
How utterly selfish of you to state that what is happenning on this isle is "not my fight" .
Why , then , should the people of Galway or , indeed , the people of this isle , show concern for that which you hold important ? After all - by your reckoning - it's "not their fight" . And you call me "small-minded" ?
You idiot .
And you state that there are other ways - besides dressing representations of our republican dead in prison uniform - by which you can get your message across .
But the 'cheap shot' is easier , isn't it ?

" THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD, INVOLVING MUCH MORE VIOLENCE AND DEATH AND MUCH MORE PEOPLE. "
To paraphrase you , Yousuf - " IT'S NOT HAPPENNING TO ME . THEREFORE IT'S NOT MY FIGHT" .
Snookered by your own ignorance!

" You don't know me, any info you have on me is stuff you have of me commenting on a particular topic or pure hearsay."
You underestimate yourself , Dude . You and that rapper chap 'Wipemyass' or whatever his name is, are legends.

" You have never lived with me so please refrain from making unjustifed comments."
lol!

"All I can say is this, I was born in this country, and on saturday i was representing this country as a voice against injustice, but when a RSF member turned to me and said "Fuck off out of here Paki" ..."
It appears to be the case that in practically every post you make here a different comment was made to you , and all by "RSF members" . After these people allegedly made a remark to you , did you ask them what organisation they were from ? You did ? And they all replied "RSF" ?
Well , I never . Imagine that .

" RSF have taken it upon themslves to fight on behalf of the rich Irish who are benefitting from the passing of US troops through Shannon."
lol !
DAMN IT ! The game's up , eh ? And to think we were just about to coin it in bigtime by selling those same troops Orange boiler suits . No fooling you , Yousuf . No need to , You do that all by yourself .

Thanks!

Sharon.

by betterworldman Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:23

The protest last saturday could not be more hypocritical. Liam Mellows was instrumental in fighting a war and an organisation pretending to be against war is using him for their own ends.

by Sharon . - Individual . Sat Feb 02, 2008 13:42

Yousuf Loughnane - "This is not my fight" (said on this thread in relation to the political situation in the six north-eastern counties on this isle).

Yet the organisation which the same man supports / is a member of / campaigns on behalf of , 'The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign' has , on its website 'masthead' , the following quote from Martin Luther King -
' Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. '

Not as far as at least one of its activists is concerned , it seems .

As this thread stands now , I have no more to add to it .

Sharon.

by Spinal Wag - Dunlo Appreciation Society Sat Feb 02, 2008 14:46

Following confirmation that the Ballinspittle statues (this time, attired in orange Guantanamo Bay boiler suits) are astir and galloping again and frightening the bejaysus out of the good people and every horse and banshee in the barony, it is reliably rumoured that the Special Branch is, shortly, going to employ the specialist statue-busting skills of the RSF to corall the fuckers.

As such, RSF has put the call out to their, let's say, "activists" to peel their beer guts and fat arses away from the couchs' and bar high stools, respectively, and form ASU's (Active Statuary Units).

The task completed, RSF is going to rewarded, Spinal Wag has learned, with a private audience with Gerry Adams, a collective pat on the head from his noble hand and a gift of the Queen's Shilling tastily presented in box of royal blue to be followed with another private audience with good 'ole Queen Bess over in Buckingham Palace. From that establishment's courtiers, Spinal Wag has also learned that if RSF is cravenly obsequious and lickspittling enough to the good woman, it will be privileged with an invite to kiss the royal arse. To boot, one way tickets to either cloud-cuckoo-land or Palookaville are going to be provided, gratis, by the Special Branch to all RSF's - realms, let it be said, that, unfortunately, RSF is all too familiar with?.

However, some RSF's are wailing and caterwauling, ranting and raving against these proposed, kind hearted benisons, preferring instead, to stick close to their comfort zone and indulge and exult in what Spinal Tap, in comparison, does second best?.

by Galway Resident Sat Feb 02, 2008 15:23

As a non irish Galway resident I was a witness to the "go home" comments amongst others. The atmosphere was one of a stand off.
Name calling and bigotry discredits any of us who would stand against the abuse of Shannon and serves to take away focus from the people who have cause to be angry about their situation.
Maybe we would do better asking the CIA to go home.

by Tony White Sat Feb 02, 2008 16:14

Touche! Spinal Wag, I'm still chuckling heartily.

From the above comments, RSF is a suitable target for your withering sarcasm and wit, no response from them so far, but, once they return from their Ballinspittle and Buckingham Palace sojourn and the poison sacs are full again, I'm confinent, the dears will be in full weasel frenzy again.

by Betterworldman Sat Feb 02, 2008 16:34

QUOTE
Futility and cowardice
author by Gearóidpublication date Mon Jan 28, 2008 13:59Report this post to the editors

Niall Farrell posed the rhetorical question 'Why aren't you up north fighting the Brits?' to the heroes of right wing republicanism in Galway.

Naill Farrell, a member of GAAW who pretend to be against war, stirring people to fight a war!!

by Dunlo - IPSC Sat Feb 02, 2008 20:25

Ad hominem abuse, ad nauseam; Now, it seems, I have to add ad infinitum, since hectoring "Sharon" won't shift and mend her sad, sad ways?.
You ask, " What about the injustices on your own doorstep?". Well, what about them?. What about the snows of yesteryear, the dusty cobble stone in downtown Timbuktu ?. What about all the energy and conscience I invest (besides IPSC) in S2S, Cosantoiri Siochana, Amnesty International, Food Not Bombs?. What about your more holier than thou, self serving, accusatory crowing?. If "injustices on your own doorstep," concerns you, then attend to them, don't piss, patronise,shite and control-freak on my tolerance threshold, . "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". if your conceptual framework is up to it , it transends your cynical and cherry picking of it to berate me , isn't it self-evident, even to you, that I do enough to live and live up to this moral imperative?.

Galway IPSC endures enough psychopathology, inverted and perverted morality and ideology outside Lynch's castle without you getting into the act, for the jibe in question has the same stink as one of the mindless mantras that Zionists routinely visit on us; "Why are'nt you protesting against .... whatever" just the verbal effuvia of creatures who haven't thought through or don't want to think through what they're on about - they just find refuge in the delusion that if they slime, criminalise and bestialize enough, their case is proved. "Sharon", same as the Zionists, you completely miss the point.?

"blinded by your obvious hatred for RSF" ("Sharon"),. "People like you , Yousuf, are usually planted or encouraged by the opposition in , or to join , a specific organisation , with one objective : to do as you are now doing ie to discredit that organisation from within . You (Yousuf) are a paid-for trouble-maker , a 'loose cannon' available to the highest bidder" (Sharon). "it is republicanism in general they bear a grudge against and have been trying to use rsf as a whipping boy" (mary k). "RSF are 'the enemy' : The broad, paranoiac unfoundationed accusations of "Sharon" and "mary k" directed at Yousuf and myself are small potatoes in comparison to what's slung at us outside Lynch's castle; "You Nazi," "You Fascist," "Palestinians have no rights,,"etc, they don't knock us out of kilter, they only make us stronger. Unfoundationed? for instance, right up to Hillsborough, when Adams supped with the devil, as it were; Bush, and his lap dog, Blair (and GAAW, along with other anti-war groups, were sheep-penned by the RUC not even within shouting distance of the bastards), I always voted No.1 for Sinn Fein, after that, the story was and continues to be otherwise. Yousuf is as earnest and idealistic as one could dream of and it deeply angers me to see him slimed with the agent provocateur jibe.

To put it point blank, I'm not per se against RSF, just the curious Spinal Tap antics and racism of it on show, last Saturday, hopefully, in its ranks are activists and fellow travellers of a different stripe than the ones on display in Eyre Square and now Indymedia?.

by Yousuf Loughnane - NUIG Sat Feb 02, 2008 21:08

Sharon, I decided to read your comments there and what I discovered was complete bollocks. You put words in my mouth, you assume your half-wit mind off and you sidestep the things you can't answer. There, I insulted you, because I also noticed that you can't help but say 'idiot' all the time, whats wrong with you, has nobody ever engaged in conversation with you before? Firstly, I never said "Its not happening to me, you fucking made that up, secondly, I never in any of my previous posts, before the one posted before this, did I allude to being racially insulted, I only said it in my previous post yet you make out that I keep changing my story, this is just the smackings of someone who wants attention! Finally, and most importantly, what injustice is occuring in Northern Ireland RIGHT NOW? Absolutely fuck all! So as i said its not my concern, not because its Irish or it involves Catholics or the RSF but because NO INJUSTICE IS HAPPENING!!!!! Therefore, Martin Luther King's quote is not being denied by me, because it doesn't apply to NI, it did, but not any more! Maybe thats it, you people want the attention back on you, you want the left to turn their microscope away from the horrors occuring all over the world and point them on two groups of people who call each other names but have decided to live together - Northern Ireland!! I'm glad you have fucked off Sharon, you were turning the attention off the main issue here and that is that Guantanamo Bay is still in business, if that was your aim, then, what can I say, you really are something else. RSF and the fucking pigs stopped a group of people from using an innovative way to highlight a much forgotten about cause, thats the bottomline, fuck you and your what about other causes, I can see past where I live, and yes there is injustices in Ireland right now, the racial abuse meted out to African taxi drivers, and ask any of the lads in Galway on the rank and they know of my name, I immediately got involved once I head racist language being used against these African gentlemen, check the Galway papers, i wrote numerous letters, so you see, I do handle injustices in my homeland, but not the ones which are no longer occuring, it just doesn't make sense to. Good riddance to you.

by Sharon . - Individual . Sat Feb 02, 2008 22:03

....and as near as anyone ever got , I'll bet !

Oh listen to you , you self-centered arrogant spotlight chaser -
"...what about all the energy and conscience I invest (besides IPSC) in S2S, Cosantoiri Siochana, Amnesty International, Food Not Bombs....isn't it self-evident, even to you, that I do enough.....etc "
What's 'evident' to me , "Dunlo" , is that if you are 'active' in the same manner with those other organisations as you are with the IPSC then the leadership of those groups you mentioned are most likely on overtime disassociating themselves from your 'activities' . You are full of your own self-importance and will , if given the opportunity , put same ahead of the objective of any organisation you are involved with , as happened with the IPSC Galway rally.

You maintain membership of an organisation which believes that an ' Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere ' yet , regarding injustices on your own doorstep , you say - "Well, what about them?. What about the snows of yesteryear, the dusty cobble stone in downtown Timbuktu ? If "injustices on your own doorstep," concerns you, then attend to them, don't piss, patronise,shite and control-freak on my tolerance threshold. " As I said on this thread in an earlier post re people like you - 'The further away the injustice , the louder they'll roar' . You have confirmed that to be the case .
And then - in your next breath , you claim that you " live up to this moral imperative.." ! lol!

"Galway IPSC endures enough psychopathology, inverted and perverted morality and ideology outside Lynch's castle....."
I'm not surprised that that is the case , considering that you're apparently one of its 'guiding lights' . You're 'Trouble' with a capital 'T' , "Dunlo" , using any and every organisation that will give you membership in order to advance your own warped agenda .

" To put it point blank, I'm not per se against RSF... "
Back down somewhere else , "Dunlo" , I'm not interested : you have , once again , burnt your bridges - " Unfortunately, the only blot on an otherwise pristine day was the ugly, aggressive, racist presence of RSF, the stated purpose of these troglodytes, these Spinal Taps of republicanism....."
This is not the place , or the issue , for the 'school-boy politics' you are obviously used to - you have put a foot onto the adult stage and now wish to withdraw it because you realise you will be held accountable for your actions . Don't expect me to cover your tracks for you .
Regarding your "earnest and idealistic" friend , Yousuf , here's the bones of his 'contribution' to this debate - "... "fuck RSF, they have no use.....old fuckers.....Poblacht na hEireann & wiped my ass........So keep watch for the time when Liam Mellows joins Meteor! .....this is not my fight..... RSF have taken it upon themslves to fight on behalf of the rich Irish who are benefitting from the passing of US troops through Shannon......"

With 'friends' like that, "Dunlo" ....

Thanks!

Sharon.

by Meirleach Sun Feb 03, 2008 00:24

Honestly completely amazed at the attitude expressed by individuals purporting to be Anti-War waging awar of Lies against republicans, Séamus Heaney springs to mind, an ex-pupil of St Colms an intellectual of critical acclaim though when his neighbours were dying of starvation in Long Kesh he wrote about "international injustice" which is fair enough and surely was a good cause but the pain of his neighbours was not his cause to bear, he was above all that nonsense and it was trendier to oppose injustice away from the back water you know?, this is what this protest reminds me of. Not in my back yard heh?
I have never heard of a Republican being racist can one exist?, your man here claims to have been called "Arab" "Paki" etc thats an emotive diatribe, who in their right minds while defending the honour of a man, in the same breath would disrespect the man by throwing out racist commentry...Its all a bit fantastic if you ask me..,someone seems to be telling Porkie pies to be honest.
Ireland isn't free yet like it or lump it but you cant deny it Laim Mellows represents a continuing struggle against oppression and injustice it isn't over there has been no closure, regardless of how you believe it will end, so interfering with his the memory of men who died for the lieration struggle of a land still struggling for liberation is disrespectful, and lets not forget Irish Prisoners of War protested for 10 months last year at injustice and no body wanted to decorate statues or come out for them? RSF were well and truely on their own as usual on Irelands own door step because it isnt trendy or retro to find enough courage to oppose injustice in ireland, but its well cool to desecrate the Irish Struggle for freedom alledgedly in the name of other nations struggles? Hypocritical nonsense.
Leave it alone and show it a bit of respect there should not have been a need for a counter-protest by the Republican Movement people supposedly dedicated to ending injustice and recognising injustice should understand current injustices on their own Door step and how their fellow country-people feel, if you cant understand the feeings of the opressed in your own land how can you hope to improve the conditions of those in foreign lands?

by teirnan Sun Feb 03, 2008 00:31

You were not there and yet you accuse someone who was of lying. Why? Because you, like the sad statue defenders of RSF, are prejudiced.

Sad.

by Meirleach Sun Feb 03, 2008 00:42

This claim about racist abuse, wich first of all came from one but nowhas manifested in to several RSF people which also changed from "Arab" to the equally disgraceful but more emotive "Paki" at the tap of a few buttons. well simply...
It doesn't add up, it seems as if some people had forgotten Ireland is still unjustly occupied by and imperial power due to a normalisation process accepted by the Majority of the Irish People, and while ducking out of challenging the injustice Ireland is suffering from, some people attempted to use what is still an inspiration to an ongoing national lieration struggle to stage a protest about other injustices. It seems they were left a little red faced at the blunder, and the defence is terrible woeful slanderous lies levelled against Irish Republicans dedicated to ending injustice in their own land, obviously those un-prepared to actually challenge injustice in their own land due to apathy alienation or cowardice, will feel threatened by the likes of RSF who challenge injustice day and daily at home and abroad but this doesnt warrant accusations of racism it is wrong and nasty.
Shame on you!

by Yousuf Loughnane - NUIG Sun Feb 03, 2008 01:29

Ok first of all for those of you who see no difference between those who are showing you up for who you really are,JIMMY POSTED A COMMENT, THAT IS JIMMY, SAYING HE WAS CALLED AN ARAB, AND ME, YOUSUF, POSTED A COMMENT SAYING I WAS CALLED PAKI, IS THAT OK? I hope i have cleared things up for you there, oh and listen, my good friend, as I said before being mixed-race, I tend to not just care about minor historical injustices carried out in this country, my sympathy can stretch further than that you see, my head is not so far stuck up my own arse that I start to attack those who were on my side, but naturally are angered by my intervention in their justified highlighting of a cause. Oh and concerning the amount of people involved in this racial abuse, well I didn't see the others telling him to stop.

by FRAN Sun Feb 03, 2008 15:58

i was at the statue that saturday and seen and heard a gang of young lads that were hanging around before rsf people showed up
i heard them shouting paki remarks and other things , but they had nothing to do with rsf or nothing to do with any politics . they were just out to stir things up.
yousef , you have made a right fool of yourself here , really disgrcaed your organisation especially with those names you called sharon.
i will avoid you and your group in future

by Meirleach Sun Feb 03, 2008 18:01

"I tend to not just care about minor historical injustices carried out in this country"

Well injustice is injustice and let me tell you there is nothing minor about British Injustice in Ireland. RSF have showed grave concern about Rendition Flights from Shannon and the Injustice suffered by people in nations such as Iraq Palestine and the Basque country to name a few.
I responded to you last night on the level but it seems to have been removed. I cant think why?
I find it insulting and pretentious that you need to ridicule the injustices and the suffering of your own country to Justify your campaign against international injustice...would it not be more viable and credible to hold both as important as each other as groups like RSF do?

Personally I think your utter disregard for Ireland's struggle against imperialism could infact lead you, if you analyse it correctly to the actual motives behind RSF not wanting the Memory of Laim Mellows temporarily defaced after all as you keep telling us your at the top of your class...Well done!

by Jacqueline Fallon Sun Feb 03, 2008 18:08

Bualadh bos, to all who gathered in Galway to highlight the continuing use of the U.S. military's Guantanamo base for the torture of suspects. It is uplifting to see such a large gathering of people highlighting the plight of those detained at the base.

It is regrettable that a few misguided people thought there would be nothing wrong with attiring Liam Mellows in a US prison issue boiler-suit, and were oblivious of the outrage that would inevitably ensue. I would strongly advise people to refrain from interfering with the Liam Mellows’ statue - this is a very sensitive and deep issue (re. the Irish Civil War) - Yousuf, you are ignorance personified, and your threats speak volumes about you - bí cúramach! We cannot have people of your mentality going about the country disrespecting our patriotic statues by writing on them, attiring them with U.S. prison issue uniforms or indeed balaclavas - could people please leave James Connolly’s memorial statue alone as well! These statues were erected and paid for by the people of Ireland to mark the great esteem the Irish people hold for these patriots, who dedicated their lives and fought so bravely and died to liberate Ireland’s 32 counties from British imperialism, and should be shown the utmost respect at all times.

Yousuf Loughnane would be well advised to be more cautious in what he states, as he has infuriated many decent Irish people by insulting their intelligence (particularly, the people of Galway who he claims would not know anything at all about the plight of the Guantanamo detainees only for his proposed ludicrous action!) and also as a result of his blatant disregard and dismissive arrogant approach to the great suffering of the Irish people since 1169 to date as result of British imperialist’s actions here.

Yousuf should educate himself on current Irish affairs and note that injustices in Ireland continue to happen on a daily basis with many incidents of torture and harassment of Irish political prisoners/activists, for example, the on-going plight of the Irish political prisoners in Maghaberry Gaol, where on-going human rights’ abuses take place on a daily basis and are hushed-up by the British regime, where there exists today a high rate of suicide which goes largely unreported in the mainstream media.

p.s. The abuse you have directed at Sharon on this thread is an absolute disgrace and should be condemned by all decent people.

by please Sun Feb 03, 2008 18:33

+Sharon...

I would like to hear more about the prisons and the suicides.
I would like to hear more about the experience of racism in Ireland.

I would like to hear more about how angry people are at these years where we have watched
rendition, torture and imprisonment and our 'leaders' twist language and use media to
achieve nothing but having Irish people at each other's throats.

use the newswire in a positive manner to highlight the issues (just let it go and get on
with the work).

:-)

by Sharon . - Individual . Sun Feb 03, 2008 22:49

Hi !

Jacqueline , Meirleach , Fran and 'please' - thank you all for your comments , and apologises for 'dragging' you in to this thread , and 'forcing' such vile reading material on you.
It is a shocking and disgusting lesson in how not to 'promote' any issue .

And 'please' - I fully agree with the point you made : the political issues in the Six Counties and the disgracful on-going behaviour of 'our leaders' in Leinster House deserve to be continually highlighted , rather than following the tangents posted on this thread by some of the contributors .

Thanks!

Sharon.

by Yousuf Loughnane - NUIG Sun Feb 03, 2008 23:35

You know what, its typical of threads like these, I tell people staright out, no bones about it that I was racially abused by A MAN, NOT BOYS, who was standing close to another elderly man who was shouting about irish nationalism, these men were deeply engaged in conversation, but I was addressed like this. Threats? I made no threats, I merely said I would do anything to raise awareness fr my brothers in Guantanamo Bay, yes my brothers, my muslim brothers, being half-Pakistani, I identify with them quite closely, but of course I am made to look like a baddy, even though it was Sharon who was side-stepping my questions and calling me an oaf and an idiot, so I merely, for one posting only decided to resort to her level, unlike her who kept it up, and when did I belittle the Irish nationalist cause, I merely said that it isn't as outrageous at the moment as other issues around the world, what type of a country is this exactly? Should african-americans who protest against the war in Iraq, stop and shout about slavery, of course if they did, the response would be, move on, double standards as per usual. Should the jews who attempt to highlight the issue of poverty in Africa, stop and talk about the holocaust instead? A connection was attempted to be made last saturday but it was abruptly stopped, as usual, we care about you but don't ever think you are on the same level as us, some people on this thread are no different to those Irish people who casually racially abuse African cabbies everyday, who shout down muslims who are trying to show their face more in Galway, I see it, every single day but these people are too scared to tell the Irish what is happening to them so I decide to talk about it, I don't care who I anger, if it brings awareness then so be it, I have nothing, absolutely fucking nothing against the RSF cause, but when they get in the way of highlighting an issue, they are getting themselves involved, this thread has been a conscious effort to show up those who care about others than their own as turncoats or political whores. Since when was there rules to how you highlight your cause? I am 21 years old, I have been protesting since I was 15, I see all the apathy around me and I will not allow some small-minded individuals tell me that I am going about it wrong. I can't stand the British, they raped Pakistan as well as Ireland, why the fuck would I try to cover up their wrongs? I don't have to learn anything, I know enough about this world to know that once you are not white and you try to get a standing in this world you are ridiculed, I said repeatedly to Sharon what happened yet she never said anything, all that others have been saying is making excuses, I prefer to actually get into the thick of it, have shit thrown at me, then sit back and type bollocks thinking I'll change the world like too many people in this thread like to do.