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The St. Patrick's Day War / Call for a Culture Jam national |
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news report
 Friday March 07, 2003 21:48 by Graham Caswell caswell at indigo dot ie
 What will YOU celebrate this St. Patrick's day? Britain and America have chosen March 17th as the day on which they will abandon international rule of law in favour of war. Since this day is also Ireland's national day, and for the global celebration of Irishness, Irish activists have been given a platform from which they can be heard around the world. So let the call go out: there is nothing to celebrate - wear black this St. Patrick's day. Britain and the United States have given March 17th as a deadline for Iraq to disarm or face war. Since the decision to go to war has already been made, March 17th is, in effect, the day that the pretence of legality will be abandoned. What the United States and Britain are actually saying is that war can begin at any time after St. Patrick's day. Here in Ireland we are a small, bit player in the global games that are being played - barely noticed by the powers involved. In only two ways can Ireland have any effect on events - by the statements and positions of our government (which won't happen), and by possible disruption to US military traffic through Shannon airport. Even these influences are minimal: Ireland is only one small nation among many and, even if Shannon were to be closed to US military traffic, that traffic would simply relocate elsewhere. However the date of the American and British deadline has offered another possibility for Ireland to have an influence. St. Patrick's day, March 17th is not only Ireland's national day, but a global day of celebration of all things Irish. In New York, in Moscow, in Tokyo and in many other places around the world people will parade in celebration of Irishness. From small towns in New Zealand to the cities of Europe there will be shamrock and leprechaun stickers in shop windows and people will wear green. Unlike any other national holiday, St. Patrick's day has become part of the western holiday calendar along with Halloween and Valentine's day. Nowhere is this phenomena more pronounced than in the United States, where 40 million people claim Irish ancestry. And with the green beer, and the silly hats and the shamrock come media attention. Almost every newscast, every morning show, every radio phone-in, every newspaper will have a St. Patrick day's feature on March 17th, often focusing on Ireland. In the land of corporate conformity St. Patrick's day is an automatic event between Valentines and Easter and its focus is the Emerald Isle. This is the one day of the year that it is almost guaranteed that the world's attention will be on Ireland. Except that this year we know another event that will also capture the world's attention on March 17th - the expiration of the pretence of legality and the beginning of the move to war. March 17th. and the beginning of war, St. Patrick's day and Iraq, Shamrock and suffering, leprechauns and Tomahawk missiles - all will combine this year. But imagine if, on this St. Patrick's day, Ireland told the world that war is wrong? Symbolism is important to people - often much more important than they realise. To link the Irishness of St. Patrick's day with an unambiguous anti-war message in the minds of the 40 million Americans claiming Irish ancestry could have a significant effect on American public opinion and thus on the American government's enthusiasm for war. We have been handed an opportunity to do this by the US/UK's choice of date since they have given Ireland's day as their deadline. If the activists of Ireland - the very people who use Indymedia.ie - were to make a call for people to wear black on St. Patrick's day, that would have an effect. If PANA, and the IAWM and MAMA, and the NGO Peace Alliance and other groups against the war were to make a public call for everybody to wear black on St. Patrick's day, that would have an effect. If the call went out on the websites, on the email lists, in the meetings and in leaflets for people to wear black on St. Patrick's day, then that would have an effect. And further. If, from Ireland, the call went out for people to wear black on St. Patrick's day on global Indymedia, on Adbusters, on international email lists, in phone calls and on websites - that would have an effect. If others were encouraged to pass on this call, around and around the world, that would have an effect. If the call went out from Ireland, the Emerald Isle, for people to wear black on St. Patrick's day, there would be an effect. Possibly an important effect. On March 17th are we really going to celebrate Irishness on the same day that the rush to war enters its final and most deadly phase? Are we going to celebrate the first Tomahawk missiles pounding into Baghdad? Are we going to celebrate the incineration of human beings with fuel-air bombs? Are we going to celebrate the end of international legality and rule of law? Let's jam St. Patrick's day with an anti-war message. Wear black on March 17th. |
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Comments (17 of 17)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17If they'd supported the direct actions at Shannon instead of looking for an excuse to be smug on Paddy's Day then there'd be no need to wear black on the day.
There comes a time when protesting is not enough, especially smug symbolism after you've helped the establishment to continue shunting munitions and troops through. The Independent has a report today that says 30,000 troops passed through Shannon so far (that's as far as they know).
By all means wear black and hang your heads in shame.
Mr. Hedd you do have a point(are you Cambodian, by the way?).However, any form of dissent from the impending Massacre is surely to be welcomed. With hundreds of marches throughout the world, honouring St. Paddy, the opportunities for Direct Action are multiplied.
I suppose we should welcome a protest. But we should be careful not to forget the role that the above mentioned parties and others have played.
I find it particularly galling to talk of Adbusters and culture jamming at this late stage.
The point of Adbusters and all that stuff was to change people's minds so that they could then do something.
At this stage it's quite clear that people have made up their minds and the majority don't want this war. So what's the point of trying to keep on changing their minds?
It seems like some people/organisations have lost the plot.
get yr ass down to the fourth Grassroots Gathering in Limerick see http://grassrootsgathering.freeservers.com/ for more details.
does fuck-head really think if more people supported the march 1st shannon action the war would not be happening?
lol!
join the real world!
this is the best chance for irish activists to have an effect. lets do it!
Why don't you...
(a) say who you are, and
(b) say what you mean?
Who are "the above mentioned parties" and what "role have they played"? Who are 'they'? Is it really "their" fault that the war is going ahead?
It seems that you do not want this action to succeed. Why?
Say who you are and be explicit about what you mean and maybe we can have a discussion. In the meantime, have you any disagreements or problems with the idea itself?
brought to Ireland as endentured labour?
Remember the posts here about putting a curse on the Shamrock Bertie gives to Bush or whoever gives to Australian PM
and others thinking about this
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=242674&group=webcast
Remember that Leprechauns Against War will be making appearances at St. Patrick's Day parades in Dublin, Cork and New York. All leprechauns are urged to turn out in full uniform. Non leprechauns are also welcome.
Yes we have cursed the shamrock that Bertie will be giving to George Bush in the White House. Laura will not be amused.
quit stealin my name
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=30408
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=30358
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=30506
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=30793
And from the Green Party email list....
There's a lot of people thinking along these lines. It's a meme allright, hopefully a highly contagious one.
"The latest deadline in the Iraqi situation is March 17 (St. Patrick's Day).
Could we make March 17 "Paddies for Peace" day?
Given the strong Irish / American link, it could get a lot of coverage if the parades, onlookers etc. had a peace theme as much as possible.
Just a thought."
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=myopia
seek professional help, immediately.
An exellent opportunity for Irish public opinion to make itself known internationally.
Phuq’s critisisms are out of place and themselves a divisive irrelevant response to a proposal like this. In fact I agree with the substance of her criticisms of the PANA etc. divisiveness, but they're not an appropriate response to a constructive suggestion.
QUESTION:
Why don't you...
(a) say who you are, and
ANSWER:
I have no intention of making it easy for my employers of the security forces to identify me.
QUESTION:
(b) say what you mean?
ANSWER:
That would be a lack of skill on my part. Let me try it again. Your post mentions culture-jamming and emphasises that it is important to "get the message out". This assumes that there is a problem with people not getting the message that the war is a problem and needing to have their perpectives shifted by cunning meme-infection of their media ecosystem. Given that most polls in most countries show an overwhelming majority against the war it strikes me that this proposition is _not_ true. And given that we have seen some of the biggest public demonstrations in recent history and the start of NVDA involving the smashing of military equipment across Europe I think that this is a diversion of activity in a demonstrably unnecessary channel. It strikes me that those calling for "culture jamming" at this stage are the infected carrier of their own meme: this meme is a destructive one that cripples the "peace movement" and prevents it from actually doing anything from stopping the war. It subtly alters the behaviour of its hosts causing them to perform repetitive actions involving
QUESTION:
Who are "the above mentioned parties"
ANSWER:
PANA, MAMA, the Green Party, Labour, Sinn Fein, SP*, SWP**.
* doheochai spent a good week prior to the NVDA babbling about Abbeylara and armed undercover cops and asking whether there would be medics present. There has been no official distancing of the SP from these statements which were made from someone identifying their affiliation as SP.
** Richard Boyd-Barrett's scandalous radio interview can either be attributed to the IAWM or the SWP. Given that again neither of these organisations has publically distanced themselves from his behaviour it can be inferred that they both support his insinuations that the NVDA was going to be violent and small.
QUESTION:
and what "role have they played"?
ANSWER:
They have worked to sabotage and smear the NVDA actions. They have played the role of "moderate between the extremes" and find it to their advantage to have the Govt describe NVDA as violent and to paint themselves as distanced from that without clearly and explicitly rejecting this description. Sargeant (GP) especially played this card.
QUESTION:
Who are 'they'?
ANSWER:
Redundant question. See answer above.
QUESTION:
Is it really "their" fault that the war is going ahead?
ANSWER:
Absolutely. They don't bear the _sole_ responsibility, but they certainly played their part and continue to do so. It is obvious that the primary blame lies with the Dail, but they couldn't have done it without the parties that give the citizens a spectacular distraction and channelling of their activity into "culture jamming" instead of "trainstopping", "bomber busting" etc. Sargeant, Joe Higgins and their ilk have worked hard to criminalise and misrepresent those that engage in NVDA and reduce popular support for these activities.
QUESTION:
It seems that you do not want this action to succeed. Why?
ANSWER:
Succeed in what? If it turns out that wearing black on Paddy's Day stops the war I'll be the first to run out and buy a Kaftan and go Rainbow Dancing with you. If on the other hand I have to watch the same people that assisted the State suppress NVDA at Shannon wring their hands and emote about how wrong war is when the No-Fly zone is further expanded then I'd rather you all copped on and stopped playing Protestors and Politicians.
QUESTION:
Say who you are
ANSWER:
Deal with the points, not the person. I have no intention of revealing who I am. I am party unaffiliated if that's what you're wondering.
Having said all that I do think that my post was divisive and ill-timed as Fuinseog and others have pointed out. I should not have made the post.
Now, my questions for you:
What is this going to achieve? How many more people do you need to convince? Do you not accept that a majority of people are against the war and it is happening anyway as we speak? What are you waiting for? What is your/GP response going to be if the US starts bombing more than it is already? Is that going to stop the war? Isn't the whole position of the GP an ineffective positioning to merely allow claiming the moral high ground as "anti-war" in the next election?
What the hell, it's just one more tactic. Who knows, maybe it'll work and the war will stop or it'll help to stop the war in some way. No harm in trying.