Is unionism really ready for all the changes heading our way? You wouldn’t believe that was the case when you consider the past performances of some of their politicians in these past months and years .The world is rapidly changing in these past fifteen years since the Twin Towers bombing in New York. Europe and the Middle East are in uproar ; war roars across the east and refugees are pushing against fences as they try to escape to new lives; American politics have descended into a freak show since then with the likes of Donald Trump mugging outrageously on television like something out of a comedy show…..but still ,incredulously ,winning votes ; Scotland has threatened to leave the UK when the time is opportune and the UK is debating leaving the EU.
Changes are at hand.
In Ireland,as an island , Sinn Fein is gradually building itself up in a steady climb to be the biggest political party on the whole landmass.Having embraced the idea of eventually promoting and finally re-connecting the entire island to the ideals of a true egalarian republic as opposed to the current state of affairs pertaining in Southern Ireland , with its consistantly conservative outlook and its jobs for the boys. They hope to eventually have both An Taoiseach and a Joint First Minister in power north and south.They see it as part of a process to better eventually unite the hearts and minds of citizens across the land , north and south.
They have a plan.
Gerry Adams at some stage, away back some thirty-odd years ago was already thinking ahead and eventually convinced the SDLP’s John Hume that he thought the spiral of violence had become a dead-end and was merely a self-sustaining politically – motivated masturbation. I suppose it really was and It actually suited the British in some respects because it stymied real politics, real debate … and it certainly kept nationalism and republicanisn offguard and largely divided. It also provide a playground and training ground for the military -minded in the British Establishment. In a game like that the ordinary malleable man either English, Welsh , Scottish or British , was perfectly expendable and part of a revenge process.
Adams was already thinking beyond that scenario… out of the box … if that was what he believed was actually happening and Hume simply wanted a peaceful resolution to the street -savagery that was already self-sustaining .It took many years to convince anyone else and many are still not convinced. Many on the unionist side were happier when they could use violence to maintain their political crown as they had in the past and a percentage on the nationalist side still think it is best to physically attack unionism and by default “the British State”. Neither of these two factions were preparing themselves for a very different future . Sinn Fein soaked up virtually all of John Hume’s SDLP followers as soon as the IRA were no longer the violent face of republicanism. Voters would never have jumped otherwise and the republican project would never have evolved. The essential “republican ideal” appeared a better prospect when not associated with a brutal and unwinnable wargame which neither they nor the British could really win outright.There would always be another disaffected generation fed on the romantic glories of past conflicts to re-invent the conflict for another generation.
Sinn Fein were ready to then make slow inroads into both southern politics and the politics of the Norneverland adjoining it. They knew already that the climb would be a slow one. Dissident republicans do not appear to have any such plan at all, other than to inflict hurt to anyone perceived to be against them ..should that be political republicans , unionists, the police or the British in general. You’d imagine they had not experienced where that led last time it was tried.If you looked at it with a cool gaze you’d already know it was a pointless thing to do.You’d know how it panned out in the past.
On the unionist front there seems to be no appreciation of how Sinn Fein has made politics work for them. Sinn Fein are not slipping back .They have been successful. They are a growing party and each time they approach an election they make inroads and get better results.They envision a new kind of Ireland which unites them in politics , completely, with a hopefully newly – evolved unionism, some time in the future.There will be a census taken again in 2021 , some five years hence and if trends continue as they are now running, Irish nationalism and Irish unionism will be evenly balanced and the probability is that nationalists will actually outweigh unionism for the first time since this little statelet was deliberately forced and formed to be a specifically unionist haven. Those are the hard facts. There will be more nationalists available to vote for the first time.
The DUP , in the form of their leader Arlene Foster, appear not to countenance or be even aware that radical change of some sort will inevitably come and that the balance of power in favour of unionist hegemony will eventually tip over and slip back down that hill.That is coming as sure as the oncoming sea was lapping about King Canute’s sandals. There’ll be no pushing it back . At the moment there is not another alternative in sight.It is not cut and dried that every future “nationalist” will vote for a republican party , but people tend to back winners as they follow football teams, so there is some previous “form”. The same thing has happened in unionism when voters vote . Ian Paisley offered himself as a “winner” and went on to gather unionism around his hem. Donald Trump is attempting something similar in the USA.
What isn’t considered is that Sinn Fein is much more than a “republican” party. They are also much more socially progressive than their unionist counterparts who seem to be belatedlywaking to the realities of life in the 21st Century.Like Rip Van Winkle confronted with a modernism that he cannot understand , unionism is confronted with a party which is largely pro-feminist, pro Gay and pro -secular.It is a modern world very -unlike the world their little statelet was born in. Sinn Fein are also not averse to offering the hand of friendship to past enemies which makes them appear in a more positive light.In every respect modern unionism seems stuck in a time-warp.
Arlene Foster ,as “Joint First Minister” in all but name ,already in partnership government with Sinn Fein, has obviously not spelt out this simple truth to her potential voters because she appears to have an obsession in besting Martin McGuinness and Sinn Fein on a daily basis and in the coming elections ,for no other reason than to see a unionist as being “Top Dog” in a little local Assembly.It doesn’t actually matter who is “First Minister” anymore. Sinn fein will propose that the title is largely meaningless but for unionism there is a seeming need to always appear as the people in charge. In many respects the title will really be meaningless anyway, given that no matter the tiny percentage separating these two large parties, they are already co-joined in matters of governance already and probably will be in the forseeable future.It’ll not really matter which dog pulls the sleigh as lead dog anyway.
From unionism there is no talk of future , social reform; there is no apparent plan for a more secular future, the kind which many obviously want across Ireland. Instead there is that same narrow, shallow vision . There appears to be no sense either of the social revolution that is already underway a few miles south in the republic, as the electorate gradually shuck off the church and conservatism that fifty years ago also strangled them there.The Democratic Unionist Party seem to be consistant in that they still exude some formidable bigotry, homophobia and racism from within their assorted ranks by their leading political figures , so we can assume that the people they are representing might have similar personal traits.Someone out there has, I’m sure, a neatly typed list with all the dates of the various offences of past vintage ,but it would appear that it’ll have no real effect on their leader’s future “vision”, in that she has already assigned the likes of Jim Wells as candidate for South Down in the coming elections.She obviously relies on a wholly heterosexual and White Anglo Saxon vote for the future sustenance of the party.
Sinn Fein on the other hand have spent many long years attempting to try a new approach other than the tired old eye- for- an- eye which had consumed everyone ,ending eventually as a violent stalemate .John Hume was then instrumental in allowing republicanism to develop politically instead of violently , when he talked with Gerry Adams.There’s no doubt that Sinn Fein have had a strange evolution as a party but no more so than many political parties throughout Ireland and the rest of the world. Many have violent past associations in their histories.
Now Sinn Fein have developed a well-thought out “real republican” populist vision ,working steadily this past twenty years or more , which hopes to embrace everyone in every small corner of the island, including even those recalcitrant unionists whose only current wish seems to be to build a wall along the “border”. Republicans are on their way to wielding power north and south , east and west and making all those changes .They seem to be gradually succeeding so far, whether people like their vision or not so they are obviously doing something that actually works for them , unlike their political foes in unionism or dissident republicanism.
You’d think that the dissident bomb -planters and Arlene might notice and mention that little political reality and probable future forecast, if only in passing, but there was no word of it at her recent conference appearance…
Another way to look at it, Harry, is that Sinn Féin are just the latest in a long line of Irish republican parties who have given up all or most of their principles to participate in British colonial government. Like those who have gone before, their worst enemy is now their ex comrades and it leaves a sour taste in a lot of mouths to see them toadying to the Queen of England and doing roll overs for the yeomen. But then what’s the alternative? Principles or power?
“But then what’s the alternative?”
I did not like or vote for the GFA, but now that the people of Ireland have supported it, what is the alternative fiosrach?
Well fiosrach . I don’t believe that we’ve ever been in this kind of situation in Ireland before…ever. I tried to stress that this is an utterly unique time -frame. Most of us of a certain age have watched how things unfolded here…. and we have watched as society has changed radically too.It’s a lot different now than what it was like just before the Civil Rights marches kicked off at the end of the 1960’s .From the 1920’s to the 1960’s, I dare say that people lived much the same kinds of lives , ate limited fare at the table , listened to the same radio programmes.(there were one or two television channels in the 1960’s/1960’s so everyone watched the same stuff too)….Travel abroad was a limited affair. People generally were more tribal everywhere. People are different now.Not only that we have all seen what works and what doesn’t work. Anyone who was involved in violent groups must surely see that Sinn fein has made more political inroads and …yes have gained political power and influence than republicans could ever gain by simply blowing things up and shooting people . that only got them put into gaol to starve themselves to death. Now that might have stirred the blood and raised huzzahs and glasses but it didn’t move them any nearer their goals in any real sense.People handed them their votes when the violence stopped .That is a fact. You can only make changes from within governance.It’s no good some republicans sitting on their hands and sulking because they can’t get killing brits anymore or making big bangs . What’s that going to do? It never got anyone anywhere. As for kowtowing to royalty and the like .There’s a difference between debating a case for a better life …if that is what it will be …. and killing someone .Debate is the way to go and the only way you can get heard is to wield political power ….so you have to gather that up.You also have to convince the unconvinced (unionism) that your idea might be a better idea than theirs .You can;t do that with a club because you’ll end up with a mutinous crew sailing the Good Ship” New Republic”. We’ll always have grizzling naysayers if we cannot convince both our neighbours in the south who have neglected us all these years …and the unionists in the north who think this is still 1690. We have to constantly remind everyone that we are now in the 21st century and it is not the same as before …..all of that will take time and patience..
“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” .
Nice one, Harry. It is sad that we never hear a political unionist say, ‘let’s show some respect for our catholic neighbours.’ Unfortunately, what will assist a nationalist being elected, ie: : to show conciliation, will provoke only disapproval in a unionist electorate. That mindset is nothing to do with the IRA. It is hard wired after centuries of religious hatred. It’s hard to shift.
Unfortunately Trumps recent success may just embolden unionism. He would make a good grand wizard, perhaps a smidgen liberal, but he’d be in the running.
By way, I trust Canute refused socks with those sandals…
Ach now Freddy, you know already it would be totally uncool to wear socks with his sandals. Imagine all that wringing out too when the sea came in . No…I made that bit up.Old Canute …it is well known in certain circles ….had a hidden preference for thigh -high kinky boots , cobbled from the softest chamois leather….he was simply that kinda guy!!
The people of Ireland didn’t vote on it.
Excellent, astute observations ,Harry , of a nation’s evolution. In the space of a few years , most of Ireland and her people have progressed from a conservative , religion dominated backwater to a modern , progressive , secular society. Sinn Féin have been at the forefront of this change with an almost clairvoyant vision of how we should successfully advance towards reunification. It’s not only Unionism that’s been caught on the back foot ……but there’s enough dynamic in both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to change tack for their own survival ( I don’t think ,with either party , the good of the country enters into the equation ) . If Unionism doesn’t open the curtains soon , the show will have left town and the sawdust will be all that’s left. It’s unfortunate that their narrow ,oblique 17th century views are stagnating their political growth and threatening their very survival……I will re-iterate again…….they , if they remove their orange tinted glasses , have a natural ally within Fine Gael…..their racism and sectarianism will be harder to remove.
when you talk of inroads being made what has changed in your opinion.
Well that is fairly obvious Billy.Here’s the origin of “politics”..
It’s from .late Middle English: from an old Old French word “politique”…. ‘political’, via Latin from Greek “politikos”, from “politēs” which meant ‘citizen’, which in turn came from from “polis” which meant ‘city’.
The nub of it is that “politics” is the convincing of the greatest number of people…that is you and me…. and all those others…. out there …that the great Big Idea that’s rattling about inside your head is the best way to go and is the best thing ever since sliced bread was invented . Sinn Fein have decided to pla ythis as a very Long Game and are out to convince the greatest number of people that their idea is to one that will work best. So far they have continued to convince more people in each election than anyone else and are still growing steadily so a lot of those “politēs” out there across Ireland , must agrre with them. They are doing it very successfully to the point where they are about to be possibly the biggest party in Norneverland and quite possibly the biggest party in the southern republic ,some fine day. That;s politics and that’s what the people want …that is… those of them that want to vote . I suppose that if they don’t want to vote they don’t really care much either way..eh?
yea,but without dodging the question what has changed
That might depend on how long you’ve lived , billy and your own personal perspective of history..It might depend on how quickly you might want or desire change to happen . From a personal perspective ,i’ve lived through a lifetime of radical changes in Ireland …both socially and politically.You’d need to ask what changes you’d like to happen and how you see them happening.
The nationalist vote hasn’t increased that much it’s just the percentages are divided up differently and this is still a conservative country. Don’t be misled, Harry.
Yep ..I know it is a conservative country fiosrach…if truth be told , every bloody country is too conservative for my liking .Most people seem too conservative in my mind come to that.Most are slow to embrace changes in case someone might laugh at them or think them foolish.Most are afraid to learn anything new and are happy to be stuck in a comfortable rut. Most will not take a chance and jump off a metaphorical cliff …the vast majority of human beings are like that should they be looking at a painting or listening to a new kind of music … but they are led by a few who emjoy the challenge of change and some of them gradually join in when they see their peers doing likewise..
it ‘s all that we have here though …but it is slowly changing….glacially slow in my head…as it probably is in yours too , but there you have it … and if you look back just fifty years the change has been comparatively fast.
It seems in evolutionary terms there are periods of quiet….. slow…. creep …interspersed with the odd jolt of momentary change and excitement …then we return to the slow……. steady….. creep.It still holds true that in politics if you can’t win the argument or manipulate the agenda , you’ll not get the votes so you’ll never be in a position to pull the levers of change….you’ll be back in a room sitting on your hands….
Sudden changes would shake the foundations of a nation, it will cause alarm and in a country that has a partitioned territory under foreign occupation, it would dangerous to move too quickly.
Plus we need to merge two disparate economies, infrastructure, business arrangements, we haven’t even got to banking yet but will.
Most of the major changes will happen under partition, the very last step will be a referendum of the people and by that time, Ireland will already have been united in all but signed agreement.
That is the only way it can happen peacefully.
Obviously the dissos havnt an ounce of sense and/or perhaps some of those groups are being ‘directed’ by the British themselves? However I believe you are giving the shinners too much credit for the last 20 yrs. Let’s be honest here, if the ass hadn’t fell out of the free state economy in 2007 would SF have made the inroads they have made now? The free state folk, unfortunately, would’ve continued to vote for FF etc if the economy hadn’t nosedived and SF would be a seriously small party.
Up here in the north it’s patently obvious there is a sizeable chunk of the nationalist electorate who don’t bother voting. Now that may mean they are contented with things but from what I have experienced a lot of republicans are dismissive of the whole lot of them, be that SF or the dissos. These people don’t fall for the sectarian headcount anymore(that’s a good thing btw) leading up to elections or indeed cosmetic exercises like the flag dispute. In reality whether SF like it or not the British still pull all the strings no matter how many policing boards are about etc. To be frank, SF are winging it most of the time and there is no plan.
I don’t thinkI i’m giving the Shinners too much credit .I ‘m just calling it as it is and how it turned out.John Hume made much of it possible as did the events of the day. The rise of international terrorism was a red flag too, in that it would become impossible to wage a bombing war and continually import armaments against the rise of international security… as was the changing social climate.People were really ready to finish with the violence as well. aA long thirty years of living on your nerves was plenty …half a lifetime of paranoia and killing hatred… All those things converged at the right place and in the right order and in the right time-frame.
We could all argue the toss as what might have happened otherwise……an alternative possible history….a “What If ” world …. if all those ducks hadn’t been in a row. We could argue that the Clinton administration in the USA thought that a “peace” action in Ireland might look really good on their CV ,so they embraced it, or that Tony Blair thought that some sort of peace in Ireland might be a big feather in his cap too…He was as gung ho for that as he was for invading Iraq, remember .All of those things factored in at a moment in time.It’s a certainty that unionism and the southern state weren’t ready for such a convergence of unusual events …happening so quickly .They were really out of their comfort zone of “them and us” and in some respects were happy enough with the then existing status quo of a low-level war. They had any benefits such as paid membership in the army and police services on their side . They were basically being paid to fight a war for unionism, if you like.
I don’t think that Sinn Fein were geniuses(!) but their political nous was far ahead of anyone else at that point. Ask yourself why the SDLP was all but abandoned at the polls.Were they doing such a bad job for the nationalist people? They’d urbanely argued their points for years to the point of repetition and were top of the heap for many years. Then they were suddenly deserted overnight. The same thing happened when the DUP unseated the UUP after many years.You can argue too that had the southern economy not exploded Mr and Mrs Joe Bloggs wouldn’t have looked twice at theincompetance of their own political staus quo, leaving the way open for Sinn Fein to offer something different .Fact is that’s what happened …just like events happen in any other country to be seized on by someone with their nose to the wind.Good hunters have to be able to read the signs…good fishermen need to know when best to strike. Would Hitler have risen to power in 1930’s Germany in another set of circumstances , if the people in the country didn’t want him, for example?
When you say that …
“a lot of republicans are dismissive of the whole lot of them, be that SF or the dissos. These people don’t fall for the sectarian headcount anymore(that’s a good thing btw) leading up to elections or indeed cosmetic exercises like the flag dispute. In reality whether SF like it or not the British still pull all the strings no matter how many policing boards are about etc. To be frank, SF are winging it most of the time and there is no plan.”
…..you are probably right in some respects because many people these days want immediate change and instant gratification…not just in politics, but in everything.They have grown to expect it and are not prepared to wait for anything. It ‘s a fact that the process will be a slow one, though and if the dissidents cannot cultivate some patience they’ll simply re-run the same tired old movements that we’ve all seen before and they’ll end up spending their lives in prisons for nothing. it’s like a dog chasing its tail. What is their end -game and how can they possibly think it will work in the 21st century when every single movement of it failed in the past ?What novel idea have they got ? We are here now at this moment in time almost fifty years after the first Civil Rights march. How can they imagine that killing a policeman will get them anything? what is the logic in that?What would be their great big plan that will make the result any different?
Of course you have to ask yourself what kind of a republic they envisage as their ultimate goal.Is it a republic for everyone on the island or is it some wee narrow -focused “tribal green” republic or is it something completely new taht will be shared by everyone …no matter thier current”republican” background or “unionist” background.
“Ask yourself why the SDLP was all but abandoned at the polls.Were they doing such a bad job for the nationalist people? ”
Yes. I remember a lot of people in my own community being annoyed with them showing up for photos shots and showing their face when something happened that would get them in the papers, but all year, they wouldn’t show their face in working class estates, they in their fancy houses, driving fancy cars, must have been a lot of them teachers as I recall that being mentioned. They simply lost touch with the community they represent and that is why they suffered at the polls. I have been living long enough to remember that Harry.
Likewise, Sinn Fein are not getting votes because people like what is going on in their heads.
Sinn Fein work hard on the ground, they are seen to be making an effort, they listen to people at a constituent level and when it comes election time, that is what people will reward.
Sinn Fein do not stand in every constituency yet, but net time out they will. Of course their vote is going to grow. Why would you not vote for a party acting positively with progressive ideas and working twice as hard as the establishment parties, just as the independents do also.
That is why they get votes, not because of what is in heads Harry.
If they don’t mobilise in the remaining constituencies and keep working hard, they will not get votes. It is as simple as that.
“There would always be another disaffected generation fed on the romantic glories of past conflicts to re-invent the conflict for another generation.”
I dont agree with this Harry and in fact I find it very distasteful, but as you say, you are someone of an age who has lived through these changes, perhaps you could clarify a few things in case I have been misled and you are right and I am wrong.
I was led to believe and none of the facts seem to go against this, but post partition, apart from a strong desire to remove britain and really small scale activity, I am not aware that there was any desire to “re-invent the conflict”
In fact I was told that in 1965 the IRA leadership were considering dumping arms and moving away from physical force altogether.
It was unionists who feared the civil rights movement more than small scale assault tactics and people like Paisley used these minor IRA skirmishes to raise tensions and even rekindled militant unionism to strike fear into catholic communities and drive them out. To make the north as unattractive for catholics as possible so they would leave.
As always when you bring guns into a situation, things took a mind of their own and the gun attacks in vulnerable communities in Belfast were left undefended by the police and state.
The Irish Army met and were unable to do anything other than setup field hospitals.
Soon, the PIRA came into existence and successfully defended the short strand from loyalist attack.
The British Army having ignored loyalists gun attacks now had a non british enemy and that is where the conflict started.
Now, according to you, that is not what happened but you seem to be more on the same page as unionists who claim the conflict was started by the PIRA who were as you put it “another disaffected generation fed on the romantic glories of past conflicts”
Hence Ruth Edwards claiming the 1916 rising was the root of all conflicts since, You seem to be on the same page as her.
I respect you have been around longer than me, but please let me know if the conflict was truly started by the romantic glories of past conflicts or by intolerant unionism as I would most certainly not support any violence brought about purely for romantic notions.
I believe you are very wrong, but I would appreciate your thoughts on this as how the conflict started is extremely important to my point of views and it is important that it based on accurate truths which you seem to contradict.
Hi jessica I think you grabbed the wrong end o the stick here…..i really haven’t got the time to go into each phrase except to say, strangely enough , that I largely agree with much that you say which is why I wonder how you can interpret it in any other way.
I have to totally disagree with your statement….
“Now, according to you, that is not what happened but you seem to be more on the same page as unionists who claim the conflict was started by the PIRA who were as you put it “another disaffected generation fed on the romantic glories of past conflicts”
…..because I don’t know where you get that at all. I have to tell you that the conflict was not started by the PIRA because they did not exist when it kicked off. It is that simple and if unionists think otherwise they are simply wrong.
There was no talk of the PIRA at all and as you say the original IRA was pretty much defunct and meant very little to most people growing up as teenagers in the 1960’s. There might have been talk like…”so and so blew up that old police-station on the corner there …back in the 1950’s ” or a joke would be made about “Nelson’s Pillar ” in Dublin( where the “Dublin Spire” now stands) being blown up in 1966…i remember a comedy song about that….
Apart from that republicanism meant very little to many people.Yes Paisley pretty much stirred the pot and it went from there. You might say that Paisley revived republicanism all on his own. He lit that touch-paper and stood back….so unionism started the whole show.Of course Gusty Spence had tried to revive that same paranoia a few years before Paisley really got going but that stuff was obviously rattling around in peoples’ heads at the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising in 1966.
A couple of years after that with the Civil Rights Movement (again led by teachers and the like…one of my own primary school teachers was in the thick of that movement) people like Eamon McCann and Bernadette Devlin appeared in television debates and were head and shoulders more eloquent and intellectual than anything confronting them in unionism at the time and they were the kind of people making waves in debate.These were the people that nationalism was listening to.
The SDLP were led by teachers and there were probably many well-educated people within that party .That is how things developed .That is totally correct…John Hume and Seamus Mallon were teachers…but what of it? They weren’t rich people .What teacher is? Your very own blogmeister supremeo , Jude ,has been a teacher. What have you got against teachers? They are usually more connected to a community through the children , than anyone else. More than they sometimes care to be , I’d imagine .As for them being rich and driving fancy cars …well …somehow I don’t think so.Plenty of plumbers drive fancier cars. Whether or not the SDLP did enough for their voters is another question and is the one i was asking or implying with regard to them losing votes . There’s no doubt that as violence took over instead of debate the SDLP were not wanted within some areas controlled by paramilitary groups. There’s no doubt , though , that John Hume helped Gerry Adams to cross-over . The price was to be seen getting rid of guns. As for Sinn Fein developing …why should n’t some in Sinn Fein be teachers, doctors , dentists, architects, plumbers, builders or whatever ? Remenber , all those people who voted for them are the same people who voted for the SDLP before.
I know that Sinn Fein are incredibly active on the ground and i know how effective they are.Anyone can see the way they work hard at it.What i am saying is that there is nothing romantic about violent conflict or dying for a cause so that shouldn’t be the driving force. Constructive politics are the only way so i’m left wondering what exactly is the plan for anyone continuing shooting and bombing as the dissidents currently are . Where is that going?Somebody would need to explain that one to me.
Hi Harry,
This line was taken from your post.
“another disaffected generation fed on the romantic glories of past conflicts”
I agree that it is more in line with what unionists portray which is why I was surprised you wrote it and was asking for clarification.
I am relieved by your response, thank you for the clarification.
I agree completely that there is nothing romantic about conflict, not living on the run, not living with deeds you would never have contemplated in a normal society, not missing the best years with your family, rotting in jail, death of injury. It eats away at your soul and leaves you a shell of a person. And that is just the personal side of it. The ramifications are then felt across society which lead to bitterness and resentment, not just across the divided community but creates division in your own community, which leads to mistrust and betrayal. It also provided cover for state forces to infiltrate communities and impose negative influence through agents through criminal activity.
There will be state agents recruiting this year pretending to be republicans so would strongly advise anyone to stay well clear of anyone romanticising violence and recruiting for any group.