Letter From Limerick Prison

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Tuesday March 04, 2003 19:34

by Nuin Dunlop - Catholic Worker

pitstop_ploughshares at hotmail dot com

Limerick Prison, Mulgrave Street, Limerick

Open Letter from Limerick Prison by Nuin Dunlop - U.S. citizen/Catholic Worker/Ploughshares activist

I am one of the five Catholic Workers on remand at Limerick Prison after an alleged citizen disarmament of a U.S. military plane at Shannon Airport (3/2/03). According to Tanaiste Mary Harney, I am one of those extreme left types "infecting" the "centre ground" with anti-American ideas.

In Mary Harney's view, many of the millions who demonstrated throughout the U.S. on Feb. are similarly anti-American. In her definition of "American" does Mary include two continents with a variety of nations, some of whose governments are opposed to a U.S.-led war? Is the Tanaiste aware of growing U.S. resistance toward the Bush administration’s determination to wage a resource war on the Iraqi people, causing the deaths of thousands with long lasting ecological damage?

As is currently demonstrated by many Native Americans calling for an end to U.S. led resource wars on their indigenous communities, as was once demonstrated by abolitionists calling for an end to slavery, as was witnessed during the Vietnam War when U.S. citizens held "anti-American" demonstrations opposing U.S. involvement - U.S. government policies often contradict the views of U.S. citizens.

As a U.S. citizen of Irish descent, I call on the Irish government to refuse the use of Shannon airport for U.S. military purposes. This refusal is in no way anti-American. On the contrary, it is in solidarity with a great many people globally who are actively opposing a U.S. led resource attack on Iraq.

I also refute Mary Harney's belief that "neither the United States nor Europe are imperialist powers in the world today". Imperialism is the extension of an empire's power and control over a less dominant nation through demonising the less dominant nations/people/culture, sanitising military forces to control that nation, colonising its communities to maintain control, then extracting natural resources to fuel the empire. Today, more than ever, imperialism applies to the U.S. empire with its European allies. (New word order, same old policies.)

The imperialism that for centuries has stolen land, lives and resources from Native Americans is now extending its policies to Iraq. Again, I am a U.S. citizen. I am not alone in opposing the imperial policies of my birthplace, both within and outside U.S. borders.

The Tanaiste expressed fears of being "isolated" by opposing U.S. government’s relentless stampede to war. Ireland with a proud tradition of neutrality, with a long history of resisting imperialism need not become another colony or reservation for U.S. military interests. Ireland need not fear standing up for its principles of neutrality in the face of U.S. aggression.

Many in the U.S. will be grateful.

In peace
Nuin Dunlop
Limerick Prison

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Comments (8 of 8)

WELL SAID

by Huey Lewis

Tue Mar 04, 2003 20:06

Fair play to ye mate hang in there.

Dissent in America

by Kevin-Scott

Tue Mar 04, 2003 20:22

There are 124 cities in 30 states that have passed resolutions against the Bush Administrations war policy including; Chicago, LA, Philadelphia, Austin Texas and Washington DC. Many more are pending including NY and Boston.

The web site "Cities for Peace" contains the listings and more info. http://www.citiesforpeace.org/

Anti-American American Thanks Fellow American

by GreenPartyMike - Green Party USA

Tue Mar 04, 2003 21:19

ollamhfaery at earthlink dot net

Nuin Dunlop Mo Chara,
Thank you and God bless you. There are people here in the United States who are becoming rabid "Anti-Americans" also, including this writer. By Anti-American of course we mean opposed to the complete corruption of the political process and society by those with wealth and power. However, we must clarify one point here. This is not Bush's war, this is a corporate war. Corporate power has completely corrupted both the Republican and Democratic Parties. This explains the patheticely weak Democratic response to the insane Bush cabal in the White House. Likewise this is why the corporate "mainstream" media is continuing it's pro-war propaganda.

Corporate Media, Corporate Political Parties, Corporate War. Do The Math.

Why Mary can't listen......

by dowtcha

Tue Mar 04, 2003 22:26

As leader of the Regressive Demoncrats the likes of Ms. Dunlop scare the shite out of me. They exist in a country whose government does things against the will of the people (having previously stolen an election). Hmmmmm, personally I kept a bunch of factories open with grants for multi-national (US) capital, also had to support IFI for a while too (can't remember if I used the workers pension fund or not), then climbed back in with cuddly Bertie........

So the people I represent say one thing, and I slur them with the anti-American brush, because that's the level at which I operate. Please go away Ms. Dunlop you're really messing up my politics. Want a grant?

One fight, one enemy.

by Tom Barry

Tue Mar 04, 2003 23:44

Anglo-American Imperialism is right now in Belfast completing the IRA surrender process. Key players, collaborators, in this are Aherne and Adams, and ye expect them to oppose imperialism in Iraq?

Muppet behind Bars

by Mick

Wed Mar 05, 2003 21:10

Prison's the best place for you ya feckin' muppet. If you had a life you wouldn't have bothered with your vandalism, assault on a garda and trespass. If you can't do the time don't do the crime.

Mick is rite

by Mick's frendz

Wed Mar 05, 2003 23:35

first when I read yer woman's letter I was struck by her intelligent and coherent arguments, and her compassion and strength of her beliefs,

but shure, Mick says she's a muppet, and y'know... you just can't argue with that.

(other than that the assault on the Garda is fiction and that Mick the moron wouldn't dare repeat himself in court)

Prison

by Seanin

Thu Mar 06, 2003 05:12

Feel lucky that you're not in a third world/middle eastern/fucked-up country's prison? At least you know your rights will be respected.
I wish they left ye to rot in there for disregarding the law of the land and damaging private property. These freedoms you piss all over, you ungrateful little whelp, have had to be won at the point of a sword over centuries. And as GWB is demonstrating, the struggle is not over yet.

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Letter From Limerick Prison

Comments (8 of 8)