Posted on 04/16/2006 9:36:22 AM PDT by Murtyo
There was an estimated 120,000 people at the 1916 commemorative parade in Dublin today.
In a formal ceremony outside the GPO at noon, the President and the Taoiseach listened to a reading of the Proclamation and observe a minute's silence.
Ms McAleese laid a wreath in honour of those who died in 1916.
The President then took the salute as 2,500 members of all branches of the defence forces paraded in the capital.
It included the reserve force, and members of both the Organisation of National Ex-servicemen and the UN veterans' association.
The parade also included representatives of An Garda Sochána, to honour their service with the UN.
The Taoiseach earlier laid a wreath in Kilmainham Jail to the men executed after the 1916 Easter Rising.
Among those present in the Stonebreakers' Yard, otherwise called the Execution Plot, was Fr Joseph Mallin, son of Michael Mallin who headed the Irish Citizen Army at the Rising.
Mr Ahern said today's ceremonies were 'about discharging one generation's debt of honour to another'.
He praised the 'pariotism and vision' of the men who, he said, 'set in train an unstoppable process which led to this country's political independence.'
We now aspire, Mr Ahern said, to a future where the next generation of Irish men and women can confidently build on these foundations of prosperity and peace and also make their own contribution both at home and in the wider world.
And he pledged to continue to work for peace, for justice, for prosperity and for reconciliation between all who share and who love this special island.
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The "revenge of the cradle" might change the future of Northern Ireland quite naturally. I can image, in another five generations or so, when the country is 75% Catholic and 25% Protestant, a Northern Ireland that rejoins the rest of the Emerald Isle.
Whaddaya think?
I don't think this should commemerate it - it's just Propaganda for the Provos.
It also demeans the memory of the Irishmen who fought and died in the trenches on the same year fighting for the freedom of Belgium - another small Catholic country.
I was in Ireland last summer, and our guide told us that people are leaving their churches and becoming evangelicals.
We can crush the Anglofascist and Hibernofascist terrorists before then - and we need Unionist consent with a united Ireland - commemorating a bloodbath like 1916 won't reassure the Unionist people on that front.
I think that in five generations Europe will be 80% Muslim and 20% atheists pretending to be Muslim so that they can keep their heads.
I haven't seen it here in the west, I think most of it is happening in Dublin.
Well, you've contributed HEAT to the discussion, not light. Shows your mindset: acrimony.
By cracky, if ONE tour guide said it to you one time on a tour through Ireland one year, it must be engraved in granite.
the history of WWI, i think is a different animal from WWII. Irish Independence is a worthy cause. I think Ireland owns a lot to the Rebels of 1916. I don't think that an Ireland under Britain would have been a sucess. Donno about the Catholic thing either or the Beglian thing. Don't think that WWI was about Belgium or Catholicism.
Even if it's the case - under the current climate I don't believe it's a good idea to commemorate 1916, not with the IRA running amok.
Unionist consent to a united Ireland?
Anglofascists and Hibernofascists notwithstanding, lol, it will be when hell freezes over.
1. Way too many Catholics in the Emerald Isle for the Unionists.
2. Besides, I doubt if the U.K. would give up Northern Ireland, EVER, even if all of Northern Ireland became Catholic.
I think it might happen. However other demographics may cut into it. I think Ireland (Republic of) should join NATO, have joint exercises with the Brits (of course it would have to beef up it military first). This would allow young Northern Protestants to opportunity to see the ROI as a friendly Country. Other economic factors will influence this too. Protestant young people from NI will continue to come south to work and see that it's not a threat to their way of life and that a United Ireland would not trample of their traditions. Of course the thugs from Sinn Fein/IRA need to be pushed back against and shamed and shunned
Well, you've contributed HEAT to the discussion, not light. Shows your mindset: acrimony.
How does bringing up the simple arithmetic of the demographic suicide Western Europe is currently engaging in add up to acrimony?
If a nation wants to claim that in five generations it will have a Protestant and Catholic mix adding up to 100% of the total population, the people of that nation have to at least take the trouble to reproduce themselves.
The Irish, as is the case with other Western Europeans, are simply not bothering to reproduce at population replacement levels.
If you don't believe me, take it from this Irish Government, Department of Foreign Affairs site:
Even with those pitiful figures, Ireland is a baby-making machine compared to the rest of Western Europe.
In comparison:
Call those facts "acrimony" or call them whatever else you please.
The Western European civilization is commiting demographic suicide and has joined the Spotted Owl on the Endangered Species List.
Only took Ireland 60 years to come out better than before Independence. Between the more socialist Irish governments after Independence and the grip that the Roman Catholic Church had on the country the economy was poor. Ireland was the poorest most backward country in Europe until recently. Most Irish left that country for better lives in Europe, America and even Northern Ireland which until the troubles had the better economy.
I guess the Russians can say the 1917 revolution was good because like the Irish 70 years later they are doing better
I could go into what influence the terrorist victory of the IRA in Irish Independence has done for the rest of the World but it would be too easy to draw the line from 1916 to 9/11
Happy Easter IT!
In retrospect its easy to wonder what all the bloodshed was about when today you see Ireland's willingness to subjigate inself to rule from Brussels instead of London.
The Irish have learned in the past two generations to embrace their government rather than to live for tricking it.
Some lament the passing of Irish rebellioness (ie, the smoking ban) however it may be more of a maturation of a nation now blessed with properity.
Some in the US look back and wonder why we bothered to rebel against England.
People will always strive for more freedom and self governance when granted neither. They will always be in the minority. We should continue to honer them for if we forget, others may be called to take their place.
Actually, a Unionist population would have better representation in the Oireachtas [Irish Parliament] than they do in Westminster - for two reasons, a) they would form 20% of the Irish population, in comparison to less than 2% of the current British population, and b) our PR voting system gives more voting power to minority interests than the past-the-post system.
2. Besides, I doubt if the U.K. would give up Northern Ireland, EVER, even if all of Northern Ireland became Catholic.
Believe it or not - the UK has no interest in maintaining NI, the only reason it has remained in NI to date is basically because it needs an 'exit strategy'.
My point about Unionist consent is simple - uniting this island under one government will cause bloodshed if it's done without Unionist consent.
In retrospect its easy to wonder what all the bloodshed was about when today you see Ireland's willingness to subjigate inself to rule from Brussels instead of London.
There may be bloodshed against Brussels yet - and there can be no moral questions there - because the EU makes it clear that it doesn't care more majority rule!
I said it to you before on another thread - there is never any sign of the 'Plastic Paddies' on any EU threads - they only hate British Imperialism!!
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