What WIllie O'Dea said one year ago today.

by jeff Tue Jan 27, 2004 19:56

He'll get elected all the same, either through that electronic vote system, or just the plain oul' rural mentality of his constituents.

Not meaning to run down country folk, but the truth is, all dem folk care about is whether or not their previous lad got dem dere firestation/cop shop/ whatever built.

The real change will come through the mass mobilisation of civil society on crucial issues. Mass society is fickle, and only gets awakened from it's slumber by the likes of Primetime, etc.

by Observer Tue Jan 27, 2004 20:06

You obviously have a good knowledge of the stupid rural people of this island. Unfortunately for your cogently argued case, O'Dea happens to represent one of the more urban constituencies in the state; Limerick East. No dobut you will have to amend your post to include some ignorant abuse of the citizens of Limerick.

by Eoin Dubsky - Refueling Peace Wed Jan 28, 2004 13:05

Willy O'Dea doesn't put on any pretence of liberalism or anti-imperialism, and you know where you stand with the guy.

On Thursday, 30 January last year Willy said this in the parliament about Shannon protesters: "...I do not doubt the sincerity of those who are protesting peacefully in Shannon at present. While I do not condone criminal damage, I admire the fact that they are so sincere...."

He was defending the Minister for Foreign Affairs against the accusation made (by someone in the Greens of Labour?) the previous evening that he has "blood on his hands". His argument was stated clearly too, without any false sympathy for Iraqi people or anyone else: "We did not create the impasse between America and Iraq and can do nothing to stop it. If we refuse the Americans the right to refuel, it will not stop the war in Iraq." i.e. What America wants, America gets.

by jeff Wed Jan 28, 2004 21:53

Observer

Can you not just stay in reading the Sunday Indo, where you can snort and chortle along with Jim Cusack, Breden O' Connor, and the rest of that ilk. Your all probably right though, the Gards are great, great lids...and shore, wit is der point in prootasting, begor? Dats fer hippies, so whet ef pipple are dying in wars, shore?!?

You are all very sensible people.

However, let me ask you this, seriously now. Do you or do you not agree that certain events can compel a large body of people, not the whole country mind, just a large group, to assemble on the street and march?

Do you not think that history shows a number of mass actions have instigated change in certain areas?

Whether you agree or not, my point is that "mass mobilisation" is not just some fanvy leftist soundbite, but an actual phenomenom. If does not always involve violence, and it does not always involve change.It is indicative of a wide variety of groups, circumstance and context.

However, empirical evidence shows that it is a sometimes succesful occurence.

Though it would probably disappear if we engaged in the seemingly proto cynical mindset that seems to be yourself.

Anyway, haw!haw! There is nothing wrong with anything. If you say otherwise, you can easily be catogorised as a moany leftist/ anarchist,/trot/ maoist,/strasserite/ ring wing gun nut hiding in a shack in Idaho...

Chirly MayCrivvy is grit.