Educational Lesson
The model known as Irish terrorism (IRA) is also a model for nationalistic terrorism, but here, we will only consider the religious elements of it, and patterns that have emerged between the Catholics (GREENS) and Protestants (ORANGE).
Historically, most Catholics were republicans living in the South, and Protestants were unionists (also landlords and industrialists) living in the North. Each side had been arguing and arming themselves since the 19th century. The first major conflict erupted on Easter in 1916 when the unionists called in British help, and the town of Dublin was demolished by British artillery.
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) was formed that day, and led by Michael Collins, a student of Russian anarchism and terrorism. Murder and mayhem followed until a brief peace came after creation of independent Southern Ireland (the Republic of Ireland) in 1921. The struggle then shifted to Northern Ireland, where the British tightened their hold by creating the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), a sort of semi-military police force, which became the favorite target of the Provisional IRA (a Northern Ireland spin-off group affiliated with the Sinn Fein party -- another spin-off group being the Irish Continuity Army, dedicated to international terrorism, not just within Ireland). The Provisional IRA committed sporadic acts of terrorism until 1994 when peace talks began, and a cease-fire was agreed to. During the cease-fire (which some see as surrender), another spin-off group emerged - the Real IRA, which is the group officially recognized as the present foreign terrorist organization although there are still active elements of the Continuity IRA.
There are many theories of the Irish conflict, but any understanding must admit that religion, politics, and economics are inseparably mixed. The three main denominations in Ireland are Catholic, Church of England, and Presbyterian - all religions of providence that emphasize the need for God's approval of secular affairs. Competition for political influence runs high, and people vote along religious lines.
Economic discrimination (for jobs) also tends to revolve around religion. Everyone wants to control the state for reasons of deeply felt religious and economic deprivations, and this desire permeates all aspects of everyday life. Religion may not be the root cause of Irish conflict, but it is definitely the fuel that flames the passions. Most Irish terrorism is in the name of retaliation or retribution, and this kind of retaliation is driven by spiritual conceptions of vengeance. The GREENS believe they are protecting their homeland from human rights abuses at the hands of an illegitimate British government which is unaccountable under any rule of law (Bloody Sunday being a reminder of this). The ORANGE believe they are being betrayed by a peace-seeking British government and must retaliate for more lethal, indiscriminate, and evil terrorism (the Omagh bombing being a reminder of this).
Linkie
I swear, the most bitter, religion hating folk were fed Catholic dogma. :shrug:
