Originally posted by RedmikeArtificial yes but it was a very difficult situation. I am a pragmatist not a moralist so what was the best?
I think self-determination would be a valid position if 'northern ireland' was any sort of geographical or political entity in its own right. But it isn't - it was created artificially, purely to create an inbuilt unionist majority, so that a bit of Ireland could be retained.
I think a united Ireland would not have been accepted and a civil war would have killed many.
Was there a better solution? We botched things with the black and tans and going back on our original flexibility on the partition. But would a united Ireland worked then?
Originally posted by petrosianpupilI agree that is was a difficult situation, and it is almost impossible to understand how different things were 90 years ago.
Artificial yes but it was a very difficult situation. I am a pragmatist not a moralist so what was the best?
I think a united Ireland would not have been accepted and a civil war would have killed many.
Was there a better solution? We botched things with the black and tans and going back on our original flexibility on the partition. But would a united Ireland worked then?
From the British point of view, they still had their empire, but there was insurrection at home and in Ireland, revolution in Russia and a war to fight. The ruling class must have felt under serious threat.
In these circimstances, they're adept at finding compromises, and playing the 'divide and conquer' card. Northern Ireland was one such solution for them.
I guess what I'm saying is that when you say 'what was best?' I'm asking 'for whom?'.
The post that was quoted here has been removedWeren't there unionist plans, a decade or 2 ago, to retrench into a smaller (3-county?) state, if the demographics in the 6 counties got too dodgy? I think this was when the Republicans weren't co-operating with the British census, so nobody accurately knew the population numbers?
I don't disagree that, in the eyes of some, Republicanism has been defeated. But, as always, people on the ground (Republican supporters can see the economic benefits). It makes it difficult to climb back up that slippery slope when you start compromising.
I think, in an Irish context, if SF have chosen this approach, then I support it (self-determination). Though there is a worry about infiltration of SF.
I agree that they played their chosen game well.
The DUP have already started to claim this is not enough, and that SF must demonstrate their support for the police 'on the ground'.
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The post that was quoted here has been removedit'll be a while longer before the devil's personal representative on earth, the so-called "reverend" paisley, shuffles off his mortal coil,
so sorting-out that sick mess that is northern ireland is not going to happen soon, it will take generaations to clear the air there.
thank goodness that the romantic dream of a united ireland is over.
Originally posted by eamon oso you would be in favour of the Republc of Ireland rejoining the union then Eamon or at the very least the commonwealth
it'll be a while longer before the devil's personal representative on earth, the so-called "reverend" paisley, shuffles off his mortal coil,
so sorting-out that sick mess that is northern ireland is not going to happen soon, it will take generaations to clear the air there.
thank goodness that the romantic dream of a united ireland is over.