Red Shirts Threaten to Regroup and Stage More Rallies

[Guest fountainhall]

This all reminds me of events in N.Ireland and other countries that ended up in mayhem

 

I don't see any parallel whatever with Northern Ireland. That was primarily a religious sectarian conflict whose roots stretched back for centuries.

[Guest Oogleman]

I don't see any parallel whatever with Northern Ireland. That was primarily a religious sectarian conflict whose roots stretched back for centuries.

 

The connection is the dominant party not allowing the other side a voice or equality in employment, education ,jobs etc etc. The centuries old history was used as an agitation tool. Much like the cambodia border land dispute.

 

Its absolutely nothing to do with religion as anyone who has lived there will tell you. 99% of protestants could not quote anything from the bible and only go to church for wedding and funerals.

 

The last round of violence in Ulster started with a series of civil rights marches in the 60`s that deteriorated into clashes with poice and riots followed by troops being called in. Sound familiar?

 

Then when the troops quelled street protest - the extremists took over. It lasted a heck of a long time before they managed to get them all round a table with an outside honest broker smoothing the path to deals being made.

 

I lived there until i was 21 then i left to see the real world.

 

[Guest GaySacGuy]

You know, it is really too bad!

 

I wish I KNEW as much as some of the people commenting on this thread THINK THEY KNOW!!!

[Guest fountainhall]

You're right Oogleman. I have not lived in Northern Ireland but I do have two relatives who were brought up there and did not leave till their mid-20's, rather like you.

 

Its absolutely nothing to do with religion as anyone who has lived there will tell you. 99% of protestants could not quote anything from the bible and only go to church for wedding and funerals.

 

Re your points above, I agree with the latter, but not the former. Sure, poverty and oppression of the majority by a privileged minority played hugely significant roles in starting it all off, but religion became the defining factor. For a time I lived in Glasgow which has a large Irish population, and the religious divide there was almost as prominent, although the bloodshed was confined mostly to the Rangers/Celtic soccer matches.

[Guest Astrrro]

Very interesting online Time Magazine article by Hannah Beech dated 4/14/09 re the current political situation.