Comments on The Pensive Quill: Bernadette McAliskey speaks about Marian Price.

Nuala, She has a way of cutting through the guff ...

2012-04-22T21:54:48.467+01:00

Nuala,

She has a way of cutting through the guff and making the point.

Statement from the Continuity POWs, Maghaberry jail, Co Antrim, Easter 2012

Hmnn !so much for the Ireland of equals,as per qsf...

2012-04-18T18:07:11.190+01:00

Hmnn !so much for the Ireland of equals,as per qsf...

Inmates punished over Easter lillies, claims family group

From Helen McClafferty: WHEN WAS THE IRISH SPRING...

2012-04-18T13:44:33.837+01:00

From Helen McClafferty:

WHEN WAS THE IRISH SPRING?

by Michael Cummings - National Board - IAUC

Does a struggle for freedom and democracy only become ‘official’ and labeled a ‘Spring’ if America endorses street protests and regime change?

Ask anyone when Ireland’s “Spring” for freedom and democracy was and the most likely response would be April 24, 1916. That day men and women of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen’s Army engaged Crown forces and joined on the steps of the General Post Office in Dublin for the reading of the 1916 Easter Proclamation. Wrong answer. The action of the Irish rebels was condemned by the British and officially ignored by the U. S. government. Major media like the New York Times, partially owned by the Churchill family, reported the execution of the rebellion leaders with restrained jubilation.

But surely then the last General Election in all of Ireland in 1918 would come to symbolize Ireland’s achievement of freedom through the ballot box. Wrong again. Although the vote for independence from Britain was supported by 75% of the people of Ireland, Parliament declared the Irish Dail an ‘illegal association’ and at Versailles U. S. President Wilson refused to meet with a delegation of Irish leaders or to include Ireland for the Small Nation clause of the Treaty ending WW I.

After decades of indifference to the British subjugation of the Catholic minority in Ireland, widespread street protests sought to end that legacy of colonial rule. These marches were inspired by those in America but still no blessing or approval by the United States was forthcoming; only expressions of ‘concern.’ An “Irish Spring” of sorts officially began after three decades of bitter conflict followed and President Bill Clinton had the vision and guts to explain to Her Majesty’s Government America would no longer be silent about or cooperate in their Irish charade.

Today Britain struggles to meet the letter or spirit of the 1998 Belfast Agreement: political prisoners Marian Price and Gerry McGough remain trapped in that colonial mindset; a lawless police force is gradually being re-hired; and Britain remains unaccountable for the murders of hundreds of Catholics, lawyers Patrick Finucane and Rosemary Nelson and the victims of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. Unless President Obama speaks to these issues there will be no “Irish Spring’ this year.

Michael J. Cummings, Member
National Board, IAUC

I respect a lot of what Bernadette says (mostly) b...

2012-04-18T09:40:16.131+01:00

I respect a lot of what Bernadette says (mostly) but she was way off the mark when saying fingers shouldn't be pointed. The only way to put pressure on the Shitters is to point the finger at them. Otherwise we should simply ignore every dirty deed they do, and will continue to do. The Shitters don't mind pointing more than fingers at anyone who disagrees with them.

Book drive for Republican Prisoners

It is always a privilige to hear Bernadette speak....

2012-04-17T19:37:01.228+01:00

It is always a privilige to hear Bernadette speak. There is a sincerity about her that is sadly lacking in a lot of speakers.
She did not have a prepared speech that night, she just talked with the ease and perception of someone who has never stopped walking the walk.

Near the end of Bernadettes Address "Have we ...

2012-04-17T00:58:38.983+01:00

Near the end of Bernadettes Address
"Have we forgotten how to organize?

Have we forgotten how to link arms?

Have we forgotten what solidarity looks like?

Have we forgotten how we held a government to account before?

Are we just paralysed by a sense of betrayal?

Or a sense of pain?

Or a sense of loss?

Or a sense of anger that we think somehow that if we just guilt-trip former comrades they'll come galloping (scoffs) to the rescue?"

I hope everyone understands this?.

We are now going down the same road as the civil rights before Bloddy Sunday, Except, we are intrapped within the British and the Pro British, SF included, but, who intrapped SF?, the one and only, Ian Paisley, a shrewed person who knew he had what he wanted, SF under British Rule, the same party who called the SDLP traitors, yet, they were planning everything within the kesh, but, The Foot Soldiers knew nothing about it, and, we will get no help from them to get any Interned Political Prisoner Freed.
I remember Bernadete from the 60s, i remember what she and her husband went through, set up by the ruc, "royal Ulster Cowards", for the uvf to attack them in their own home,this is a person who is needed to stimulate people to go back onto the streets, to protest about these illegal "so called Diplock trials", allthough Marion was released on two occasions from them, Yet the powers that be," BRITISH", who set up these diplock courts, disagreed with the court and interned her , with others as well. to put it impolitely, People Get your finger out off your arse, get onto the streets, even if its plastic BIN LIDS, bang them like Hell, Remember the old days, those bin lids saved a lot of lives, because I REMEMBER, i wouldnt be here today if it was not for those brave women, Bernadette included, and, im sure a lot who is reading this off my age will remember, so what are you going to do about it?, TELL YOUR CHILDREN TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, otherwise, nothing will be done, and Us, You, Everyone must take to the streets once more to fight these injustices.
To the young of today, it does not matter if you are a Protestant, Catholic,Muslim,Hindu,Arab, your religion does not come into this equation, You must take a stand today, if you dont, you will regret it, Because SF do not care any more, they cant open their mouths, the have been trapped by the brits, and, one more thing, I remember Burtollet, I remember Paisley Shouting to the "B" specials, KILL THE FENIAN BASTARDS", because, "I WAS THERE", and, if the youth of today do not act, they will regret it for the rest of their lives.

SMH,s post is as always well worth viewing, might ...

2012-04-16T21:15:54.193+01:00

SMH,s post is as always well worth viewing, might have to demand her return from down under,the girls got balls...sadly lacking in this part of the world by former comrades..

Was at that talk and Bernadette was as usual excel...

2012-04-16T20:47:13.362+01:00

Was at that talk and Bernadette was as usual excellent, but I disagree here with her on guilt tripping former comrades,sitting behind us at that talk were Jennifer McCann qsf mla, and Joe Austin along with a number of qsf members,and in my opinion it done a power of good to let these people see that there is a growing sense of anger building up in the republican community,slower maybe but similar to that which jumpstarted psf into politics in the early 80,s Marians internment alongside the other prison issues would gladly be swept under the carpet if those in qsf had their way,their belated interest is not of comradely concern but more about retaining their seats in the brit stormont,we should not let them off the hook but rather put it up to them to prove they have gained some power by exercising it,and forcing Marians release and other prison reforms..

Irish Australians DEMAND the release of Marian Price