Pictures - SHANNON DEMO - GRASSROOTS AGAINST WAR

by Stacy Wed Apr 02, 2003 05:10

Let us review:

Protesters came, they sat, they talked, and a few may have gone to jail.

Those who went peaceably to jail (if there were any), I respect. Them, I would listen to, if they called the police to join them. They alone have a moral high ground.

Everyone else was just as complicit with the policies of the government as the police themselves--you remained within the laws of a government whose policies you personally oppose, in a situation where to break those laws would have been highly effective, symbolically. So let's not point fingers, nor follow hecklers into irrelevancies like unemployment.

I speak as someone who knows very well she hasn't the moral courage to go to jail for practicing civil disobedience, nor the moral cultivation not to be embittered towards those who would arrest me. Hence, I do not do it, and do not disgrace or defile a beautiful movement. Civil anti-war protest is also beautiful, but only if we refuse to heckle those who are only doing their jobs. Appeal to conscience--well and good, but you have no right to expect them to listen when you are merely doing as citizens have a right to do (, gather, protest, sit down at a roadblock and talk about your views--all perfectly permissible).

Let's not fool ourselves, wherever we live: being an anti-war protestor who engages in civilly obedient protests is not something to boast about--it's like voting: an exercise of civic duty that is only virtuous in comparison to apathy.

And to the sergeant who posted--thank you, but please elaborate on your point. Are you trying to say that anti-war protestors are just rebellious kids with nothing serious to say? Is this just a note that you think their credibility is poor? What is your position in all of this, and how do you justify it?

by The Holy Mugger Tue Apr 01, 2003 23:14

I am completely against the war and have taken part in protests and will take part in more. However lets get real with regard to the Gardai. Yes, some of them have in the past used violence against demonstrators. Yes, plain clothes detectives have hassled the Shannon Peace House out of existence. etc. etc. However we have to start looking at the ordinary guards such as those who lined the barricades on Sunday. These are simply doing their job. You cant blame them as individuals. You dont know what their true beliefs are and you will never know. There is no point in trying to make fools of them by asking stupid questions such as asking them to put their hands up if they are against the war. It is a fact that they were protecting what is essentially private property. The public road ends at the entrance to the airport. At the request of Aer Rianta they dont have a choice but to do this. Maybe if some protesters hadnt behaved so badly in the past (such as climbing onto the roofs of buildings at the airport, or trying to take down the perimiter fences)then we would be allowed to march to the terminal buildings. Some of the people making comments here are only interested in confrontation. (Others such as The Catholic Workers are only interested in having their photos taken). Can you blame the Guards for getting jittery after what has happened in the past ?

by jm Tue Apr 01, 2003 14:07

this isn't 1798 and this isn't 1916. this is 2003. the gardai are employed by a government who favours the accumulation of profit over people. if the police were so torn apart inside, maybe they would join in. or better still, quit.

by publo Tue Apr 01, 2003 13:30

I dunno about the consciences of the guards myself - they havent always seemed so bothered about such niceties as the constitution before, however on sunday at shannon, the march was stopped at a garda barricade and could go no further. therefore we all sat down and people were free to take the loudspeaker and say their piece. Anyway, rather than talk to themselves many if not most people addressed themselves directly to the guards, challenging them on their actions which entailed assisting the passage of US troops on their way to iraq. Two speakers called for prayers or rfelection on behalf of the guards that they may find the strength to refuse to serve the US war machine in such a manner.

UnfortunTELy no guards repiled to ay of the speakers - refusing even to state why the road had been blocked far before the entrance to the airport. but after an afternoon in which they had the opportunity to hear our side of the argument if they are to continue the harrasment of planespotters and suppression of protest at shannon in future, then do no not deserve much sympathy. If israeli soldiers are willing to serve jail rather than in the OPTs and if Brits are being sent home from iraq for refusing to fight than theres no excuse why gardai cant also take a stand and refuse to protect US troops from breaching our suppossed neutrality.

by Grace Mulreidy - ISFA gaillimh Tue Apr 01, 2003 13:17 orahreid at hotmail dot com

One would have to get into the court systems to find out what's really going on with the Irish Constitution. But this requires a degree of literacy that seems to leave most protestors in the dust. The dust of 1798 and the dust of 1916. So we are doing just what Robert Emmett requested that we do not. We are writing his epitaph.... And we are doing just what the 1916 leaders requested that we do not. We are editing them out of history.
Did it not occur to you that most members of the Guarda Siochana love this country? Did it never occur to you that their guts are twisted over what is happening to the Irish Republic and the Irish Constitution?
What have you got to have to be hip in this movement? Rich parents sending you to college in Limerick?
Give me a blessed break!!!!!!!

by Irish Worker Tue Apr 01, 2003 11:09

"Ordinary Joe Soap" seems to have a problem with unemployed people. Maybe he's never had to work himself because he has obviously never known what it is like to lose your job and be unemployed.

A friend of mine at the Shannon protest was hit by a woman outside Lidl who objected to his peace banner and called him an "unemployed lout who should do a bit of work for a change". Ironically he is one of the hardest workers I know who has to work overtime and lose holidays in order to attend anti-war demonstrations.

Looks like the supporters of the US/UK Killers are trying to infiltrate our movement. (They have been spamming Indymedia too, but it's not working).

by ordinary joe soap Mon Mar 31, 2003 21:08

I dont support the war, but I most certainly dont support people like your organisation who are engaged in a constant anti establishment, anti police and as far as I can see anti work agenda, the majority of your supporters who ARE unemployed or unemployable have no difficulty in collecting state social welfare payments.

by lone gunman Mon Mar 31, 2003 20:26

Where were the armed up riot police?Where were the army equipped with live rounds,the CS gas?The cops cracking heads with nite sticks?Mass arrests?Water cannons?etc,etc.Which would suggest "repression" of a riot?Try a anti Saddo demo in Bagdhad

by Sgt. Shoneen - Garda Cogadh Mon Mar 31, 2003 14:47

Just outside Shannon Town Centre the Cork Bus (run by the Cork Peace Alliance) was boarded by gardai who were stopping all traffic.

A ghettoblaster played "We Shall Overcome" and the crowd joined in. A Garda Inspector asked for the music to be turned off. Instead it was turned up and the crowd sang louder. The gardai searched the bus and left bewildered.

Remember the full name of the Shannon area is "Shannon Free Airport" - Ha, ha!