It’s an under-rated play in the political game: if you don’t mention a topic for long enough, it will wither, fade and eventually vanish. It simply is necessary to keep schtum on the subject and what was a hugely important issue simply ceases to exist.
The integrity of the national territory is a core requirement for a country. If a bullying neighbour butts in, the attacked/occupied country is encouraged to resist, claim back what is rationally yours. We see this in Ukraine, we see it in Iran. Bigger neighbours simply do not have the right to step in and claim part or all of a smaller nation’s territory.
On Tuesday, Irish ministers and politicians north and south fanned out throughout the globe, reminding people of Ireland and what it has given to the world. Only one man spoke – even in a jokey way – of Ireland’s integrity, or lack of it, and that was Donald Trump. He mused for a smiling moment or two about a ‘merger’ between the two parts of Ireland. Nobody else – not Micheál Martin, not Jim O’Callaghan, not Michelle O’Neill or Mary Lou McDonald. They talked about all sorts of stuff, but not a syllable about the injustice of the forcible carve-up of our country over 100 years ago. There are all sorts of ready-made excuses for not mentioning that Britain and British troops (and M15) are firmly planted in the north-east of Ireland. Keep not saying or mentioning something for long enough, and it achieves a kind of conjurer’s trick: when you whip back the covering, the issue is gone.
Except that it hasn’t gone away, you know. Like it or lump it, we in the North are governed by Britain. We pay Britain taxes. Britain has established army barracks in NEI. It’s blindingly obvious that Britain has bullied NEI into existence.
And – sad fact – to even mention this permanent British incursion into Ireland is seen as primitive, bad form, akin to breaking wind in public.
The Irish people have the means available to rid all of Ireland of British control. All that’s required is enough people saying how the present situation stinks and then organising for a referendum.
Simples.
Imagine Jude – you would be an antisemite now for writing the above, if it was Israel that partitioned Ireland and not Britain!
I think Nationalists/Republicans can afford to play the (slightly) longer game. After the conclusion of the armed struggle the desire for Irish unity and proper independence still burns bright. My generation (sorry for going all The WHO) remembers the horrors, gallantry, sadness of the period 1960s to 1990s. The way to freedom is to win the votes of the immigrants, socially ostracised and sexually discriminated against. Unionism offers next to nothing to them so it should not be that difficult.