The Rusty Wire Service welcomes Fintan O’Toole’s speech and 10-point plan but surprise, surprise, the hurler in the Deptford ditch has a few thoughts of his own on the subject....
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"On one side of this street, in 1913, James Larkin was arrested as he addressed the workers of Dublin who had stood up to claim their dignity as citizens rather than serfs. On the other side, in 1916, Ireland was declared to be a republic under the control of its own citizens." Dublin 2010 |
Not sure however if I would have gone to the extreme lengths of one Major Fred Crawford, who in 1912, famously signed Ulster’s Solemn League and Covenant in his own blood. But, health and safety apparently being what it is, I’m guessing there will be few sanguinary signatories.
This certainly doesn't have the drama of a pact of blood, and while it’s all a little bit ‘Meh’, people should undoubtedly sign this petition. If, for no other reason than right now, it seems pretty much to be the only game in town with any remote hope of achieving some critical mass as a broad front.
This certainly doesn't have the drama of a pact of blood, and while it’s all a little bit ‘Meh’, people should undoubtedly sign this petition. If, for no other reason than right now, it seems pretty much to be the only game in town with any remote hope of achieving some critical mass as a broad front.
Mr O’Toole’s analysis of the situation after all is as scholarly, rational and pragmatic as any I have seen or heard over the past few months. The language employed is appropriately inclusive and aspirational and it is also sufficiently ambiguous to be all things to all men (and at least 30% of women).
To be fair, it is a good, honest start and there is a ring of truth and conviction about Mr Toole's position. It is all the more welcome because ironically, in a nation where the stereotype of the loquacious rabble-rouser is played up to with pride (as much as it is bemoaned), everyone has been remarkably reticent about stepping up to the plate. That said, this 10-point plan is not without some fundamental framing problems.
Now, as the old adage goes (at least in the cleaned-up version), ‘Opinions are like rectums; everybody has one' (the real trick I guess, is not to express said opinion through said orifice). And of course, if the Deptford Croppy had as many rectums as he did opinions, he’d probably have more dodgy ring-pieces than a dysentery epidemic.
Here are just a few: While I have sense of solidarity with this solemn, fledgling covenant, there are a few significant omissions for me. Firstly, there is a marked failure to address the National Question.
Now The Deptford Croppy is much more ‘Wrap the Black Flag round me boys’ as opposed to the green one, but on any analysis, a manifesto that fails to acknowledge its centrality to the whole Irish experience is missing a trick in this humble scribe's opinion.
If one is serious about changing the politics of Ireland, the rooting out of graft and corruption is certainly a good place to start, no arguments from the Croppy on that one.
Except perhaps to wonder whether 'cronyism' might not be some endemic and curiously human trait which will always find its way around legislation or censure.
That notwithstanding, on re-reading the ten points, one is struck by the preponderance of 'anti-graft-measures' at the expense of more meaty issues.
Lao-Tzu is reputed to have said; "The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be." He was only half-right, he forgot about the lawyers. The Deptford Croppy rather suspects that this 'crony-hunt' will only lead to a lot more legislation and tribunals.
It's as if '10 points' was settled upon as a catchy (or, if you like, marketable) package-cum-slogan. Let's have it right, that's not a cynical appraisal or even an allegation of impropriety but rather the reflection of a political and campaigning reality.
The problem however seems to be that certain elephants in the room had to be avoided, with the result that several of the 10 points could easily have run together to make room for more rights.
It would appear that the only positive award of rights to the Irish people in this document (both a welcome and potentially significant reform) is in the shape of affirmative action on the political gender divide.
If one is serious about changing the politics of Ireland, the rooting out of graft and corruption is certainly a good place to start, no arguments from the Croppy on that one.
Except perhaps to wonder whether 'cronyism' might not be some endemic and curiously human trait which will always find its way around legislation or censure.
That notwithstanding, on re-reading the ten points, one is struck by the preponderance of 'anti-graft-measures' at the expense of more meaty issues.
Lao-Tzu is reputed to have said; "The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be." He was only half-right, he forgot about the lawyers. The Deptford Croppy rather suspects that this 'crony-hunt' will only lead to a lot more legislation and tribunals.
It's as if '10 points' was settled upon as a catchy (or, if you like, marketable) package-cum-slogan. Let's have it right, that's not a cynical appraisal or even an allegation of impropriety but rather the reflection of a political and campaigning reality.
The problem however seems to be that certain elephants in the room had to be avoided, with the result that several of the 10 points could easily have run together to make room for more rights.
It would appear that the only positive award of rights to the Irish people in this document (both a welcome and potentially significant reform) is in the shape of affirmative action on the political gender divide.
Now, it's moot whether you think we should dig a wide deep ditch from Donegal to Armagh or whether you believe we should be engaging with our fellow Irishmen (any colour you like) on this grave matter of common concern.
As socio-economic conditions worsen, the political landscape on both sides of the border can only become more fraught on this island and Fianna Fáil's sleepwalking republican-lite philosophy butters no parsnips here. The point is that '26' and '6' will have stop thinking like they're the only Ones.
Irrespective of economics, the National Question will remain a crucial issue for the people of this island. As 'centenary season' bears down on us starting with the UVF's inception and the Dublin Lockout in 2012/13 and then the Rising and the Battle of the Somme in 2016, there is likely to be a lot of soul-searching in all quarters.
The obvious and salutary corollary of this editing process is that we are leaving the field open (yet again) to 'unconstitutional elements' who set their bloody and barren agenda even as we profess to pursue a new politics.
As socio-economic conditions worsen, the political landscape on both sides of the border can only become more fraught on this island and Fianna Fáil's sleepwalking republican-lite philosophy butters no parsnips here. The point is that '26' and '6' will have stop thinking like they're the only Ones.
Irrespective of economics, the National Question will remain a crucial issue for the people of this island. As 'centenary season' bears down on us starting with the UVF's inception and the Dublin Lockout in 2012/13 and then the Rising and the Battle of the Somme in 2016, there is likely to be a lot of soul-searching in all quarters.
The obvious and salutary corollary of this editing process is that we are leaving the field open (yet again) to 'unconstitutional elements' who set their bloody and barren agenda even as we profess to pursue a new politics.
The Six Counties dimension therefore broadens the debate's agenda beyond the scope of Southern Ireland in isolation and demands that a wider focus be sought in seeking lasting solutions to the problems of the Irish people as a whole. That brings the Deptford Croppy to another area of personal concern (as a London-Irish citizen of the Republic/Irish Free State).
Any movement in Ireland purporting to agitate for revolutionary change needs to take account of its diaspora (see? not just a touchy-feely concept dreamt up by 'Nodding Mary'). And make no mistake, this could yet be the beginning of a movement for revolutionary change (at the very least in the conduct and institutions of government).
Failure to take account of this international dimension to the Irish experience, certainly at least in terms of historical precedent, is a miscalculation. It is always a major resource and a perenially loyal constituency.
Failure to take account of this international dimension to the Irish experience, certainly at least in terms of historical precedent, is a miscalculation. It is always a major resource and a perenially loyal constituency.
While we live outside the Republic’s geographical boundaries, for many of us (and there are still many of us), all of the ties that bind remain intact. Blood, land (and the love of it) and the never-relinquished hope of return...And our houses and communities, from Queens to Co. Kilburn, are corners of a foreign land that will forever be Irish. Do we not deserve a stake in our country?
This writer would even contend that some form of suffrage (or significant Seanad representation) be extended to all Irish passport holders living outside the 26 counties, irrespective of their place of birth or ethnic heritage.
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| O'Toole: Man with minerals |
The Deptford Croppy could go on but then again, he is mindful that he didn’t put his cock on the block; step up to try and front a movement that has the sincere aspiration of making Ireland a better place, so therefore, reservations or no, we support this petition.
The way The Rusty Wire Service sees it; the more the government ignores or circumvents the will of the people, the more real trouble they are ultimately storing up for themselves.
If you want to sign this petition, click here.
If you want to sign this petition, click here.
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