Let’s talk about Ireland, freedom, and terrorism

[JediGuy]

I’ve started digging a bit more into Irish history, and I’m curious about others’ thoughts.

I’m going to default to indiscriminate bombs = evil cowards, but I can sympathize with a majority attempting to overthrow historic oppressors.

The Irish were traditionally strong supporters of the US, which makes sense. For that matter, Ho Chi Minh also courted us before communists, as I recall.

The IRA, their terrorism, freedom fighting in general, nationalism, socialism, ancient conquered people desiring their own identity…. There’s a lot there.

[TheAlsatian]

When I was a kid in England my parents and I went on a trip to Belfast to buy furniture. This was before the "troubles." This was a common thing back in the day and I still have a bookcase my dad purchased there.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Did a family trip to Ireland in 2019. We had a driver that was probably in his late 60s. He had lived through a lot of that stuff, which I didn’t realize went on for as long as I did. He would often tell a story about how the English treated the Irish Catholics, so poorly, and he would always finish the story with, but we don’t hold a grudge but we don’t hold a grudge. I seriously think he held a grudge. He was also a huge Trump fan.

The struggle for independence, and equality in Ireland and even the Irish republic is interesting. I think the model and lessons from a civil war with zealots on either side, and people with varying levels of support in the middle, is a very interesting dynamic. Nasty stuff.

[SteyrAUG]

Like any group with legit grievances, I sympathize, until they engage in random acts of terrorism.

I used to feel bad about the Palestinians who were forced off their land, until I learned about Munich and the hijacking and the other acts of terrorism.

When somebody kills your child, who was innocent, nobody really cares about your political motivations any more.