Sinn Féin are Captured by Woke Ideology – by Carl Duffy

If you think of Sinn Féin as ideologues opposed to critical thinkers that actually listen to the

public, then their actions start to make a lot more sense. Some would refer to their

ideology as ‘woke’ or progressive liberalism. How it functions in their decision making is

more important than whatever label one pins on it. It is effectively an obsessive pre-

occupation with rights, especially the rights of women, ethnic minorities, trans people and

homosexuals.

All of this sounds good and noble. It conjures up the spirit of the 1960s civil rights

movements which were badly needed in places like the North of Ireland and the USA. One

can apply this animating spirit towards the plight of Palestinians or for Catholics in the

North of Ireland remaining trapped in a gerrymandered sectarian statelet.

The desire to side with the ‘underdog’ is admirable in many respects; that is until this

impulse comes into conflict with other rights. When most Sinn Féin TDs voted in favour of

the Hate Speech bill, this indicated they favoured ideology over free speech. This bill that

ostensibly sought to protect certain groups had enormous Government overreach. It would

have permitted An Garda Síochána to search our devices for ‘offensive content.’

Sinn Féin, who were once victims of censorship by an oppressive state, now started to

resemble their oppressors. The ending of, ‘Animal Farm’ where the animals could no longer

distinguish between the pigs and their human oppressors, seldom felt more apt.

Their ideology also peppers any discussion surrounding immigration. Despite genuine

concerns around the scale, sustainability and the need for integration, many protestors are

dismissed as ‘far-right.’ The instincts are more concerned with ‘protecting’ the newcomers

over listening to the Irish who deserve a democratic say over immigration policy.

Recently, Sinn Féin MEPs voted against an amendment stating that, “only biological

women can get pregnant and bear children.” The fixation on ‘protecting’ trans people is

more important than accepting biological reality. Just like the oppressive ideologue,

O’Brien, in ‘1984’ who insists that Winston accepts 2+2=5, Sinn Féin also insist on obvious

untruths.

Some may dismiss these concerns as stoking a ‘culture war’ or trivial, but affirming the

central tenets of gender ideology has serious ramifications for women’s safety and for

children suffering with gender dysphoria. The immorality of confusing children with this

harmful nonsense should be plain to see for anyone who can think freely.

Yet, the most egregious example of orthodoxy ruling over rationality came just a few days

ago when every Sinn Féin TD present voted, in favour of restoring a bill which effectively

sought to decriminalise abortion up until birth.

The fixation with women’s rights and viewing abortion through this narrow prism paralyses

their ability to consider the rights of the baby. Abortion is seen as a women’s rights issue

opposed to a human rights one.

Yet, if one is able to park their moral disgust at potentially removing any legal safeguards

for the right to life of a fully developed baby, how did this make any sense in electoral

terms? The overwhelming majority of the public are opposed to late-term abortions and

both Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Lochlainn were elected to represent Donegal, which

voted against repealing the 8ᵗʰ amendment.

Many of the Irish public value free speech, support the right to life of fully developed babies

and have genuine concerns around how immigration has been managed. Yet unfortunately

many of our elected representatives will blindly follow ideology over genuinely listening to

our concerns.

Shortly after the brave and courageous Charlie Kirk was murdered, one member of the

band,’Bob Vylan’ joyously celebrated his death. Charlie’s perceived ‘crime’ was having

different political views which he defended peacefully with impressive arguments. Sinn

Féin decided to host this band at the Oireachtas not long afterwards. This is an indication

that at best the party is indifferent about welcoming someone who celebrated his death, or

at worst they consider such a heinous cretin as an ally. Afterall, they behave in a way

completely intolerant of anyone who criticises their worldview as evidenced by refusal to

engage in good faith with their political opponents.

PBP, Social Democrats, Greens and Labour are all largely captured by the same ideology.

Fortunately, none of these parties are the leading voices for Irish Unity, whereas Sinn Féin

are.

James Connolly once said, ‘I have long been of the opinion that the Socialist movement

elsewhere was to a great extent hampered by the presence in its ranks of faddists and

cranks, who were in the movement, not for the cause of Socialism, but because they

thought they saw in it a means of ventilating their theories on such questions as sex,

religion, vaccination, vegetarianism etc… and I believed that such ideas had or ought to

have no place in our programme or in our Party.”

Likewise, gender ideology, speech restrictions, decriminalising abortion up until birth and

open borders should have no place in the Irish Republican movement.