[Themanwiththeplan]

We could sit here for weeks and discuss this but in truth people will always have their own opinion of the situation. I live in Northern Ireland and as I sit typing this a police helicopter is hovering not far from my house. Why? Because there is rioting going on 3 miles from where I live.

Why is there rioting I hear you ask? Well because today, two IRA terrorists who shot and killed a policeman, were brought to justice in court and sentenced to prison. So parts of the Republican community in the town that I live in are out in force. So far 4 vehicles have been hijacked and burnt out and its only the early evening. It will get worse during the night and indeed over the weekend.

To some republicans these two men were freedom fighters, but to Loyalists they are terrorists. There will always be two sides and its not something we can ever fix/cure/whatever.

In my opinion they are terrorists, worse than Al Qaeda, scum of the earth, prison is too good for them, they should be shot. Most people do view these people that way these days, even most of the republican community which is proved by the leader of the republican movement condemning the killing and attending the funeral of the murdered police officer. It is just small parts of the community that still see these disgusting things (I say things because IMO they don't deserve to be called humans) as freedom fighters, fighting for a cause.

Northern Ireland sure has moved on a lot and is continuously getting better, but I really can't see a way to completely remove these extremists from our society.

[EDIT] Here's a link to the news story about the trial of the police officer if you guys want to read it.

This post has been edited by Themanwiththeplan on Friday, Mar 30 2012, 19:33

[Irviding]

QUOTE (Themanwiththeplan @ Friday, Mar 30 2012, 14:29)

We could sit here for weeks and discuss this but in truth people will always have their own opinion of the situation. I live in Northern Ireland and as I sit typing this a police helicopter is hovering not far from my house. Why? Because there is rioting going on 3 miles from where I live. Why is there rioting I hear you ask? Well because today, two IRA terrorists who shot and killed a policeman, were brought to justice in court and sentenced to prison. So parts of the Republican community in the town that I live in are out in force. So far 4 vehicles have been hijacked and burnt out and its only the early evening. It will get worse during the night and indeed over the weekend. To some republicans these two men were freedom fighters, but to Loyalists they are terrorists. There will always be two sides and its not something we can ever fix/cure/whatever. In my opinion they are terrorists, worse than Al Qaeda, scum of the earth, prison is too good for them, they should be shot. Most people do view these people that way these days, even most of the republican community which is proved by the leader of the republican movement condemning the killing and attending the funeral of the murdered police officer. It is just small parts of the community that still see these disgusting things (I say things because IMO they don't deserve to be called humans) as freedom fighters, fighting for a cause. Northern Ireland sure has moved on a lot and is continuously getting better, but I really can't see a way to completely remove these extremists from our society. [EDIT] Here's a link to the news story about the trial of the police officer if you guys want to read it.

Very interesting case. If you don't mind me asking, I notice you use the rarely seen Northern Ireland flag as your flag picture on GTAF. Do you think there is a distinct Northern Irish identity up there?

[Themanwiththeplan]

QUOTE (Irviding @ Friday, Mar 30 2012, 21:29)

QUOTE (Themanwiththeplan @ Friday, Mar 30 2012, 14:29) We could sit here for weeks and discuss this but in truth people will always have their own opinion of the situation. I live in Northern Ireland and as I sit typing this a police helicopter is hovering not far from my house. Why? Because there is rioting going on 3 miles from where I live. Why is there rioting I hear you ask? Well because today, two IRA terrorists who shot and killed a policeman, were brought to justice in court and sentenced to prison. So parts of the Republican community in the town that I live in are out in force. So far 4 vehicles have been hijacked and burnt out and its only the early evening. It will get worse during the night and indeed over the weekend. To some republicans these two men were freedom fighters, but to Loyalists they are terrorists. There will always be two sides and its not something we can ever fix/cure/whatever. In my opinion they are terrorists, worse than Al Qaeda, scum of the earth, prison is too good for them, they should be shot. Most people do view these people that way these days, even most of the republican community which is proved by the leader of the republican movement condemning the killing and attending the funeral of the murdered police officer. It is just small parts of the community that still see these disgusting things (I say things because IMO they don't deserve to be called humans) as freedom fighters, fighting for a cause. Northern Ireland sure has moved on a lot and is continuously getting better, but I really can't see a way to completely remove these extremists from our society. [EDIT] Here's a link to the news story about the trial of the police officer if you guys want to read it. Very interesting case. If you don't mind me asking, I notice you use the rarely seen Northern Ireland flag as your flag picture on GTAF. Do you think there is a distinct Northern Irish identity up there?

By up there I assume you mean Northern Ireland? Yes there is. There is just as much Loyalists in Northern Ireland as Republicans. Difference is, Loyalists are completely happy that the troubles are over and that we have a peace process. On the other hand, a few Republicans still think that they have a right to this country and that the way to achieve a "United Ireland" is through violence and bombs.

[Irviding]

Who do you believe there are more of? (i.e. loyalists or republicans)

What about those people who want to have a totally independent Northern Ireland?

[AlexGTAGamer]

For me when it comes to Northern Ireland becoming independent I look at it in the same way I do with Scotland becoming independent, if they have the resources and believe they can do things for themselves I say go for it.

But on another hand when it comes to Northern Ireland, for me and mostly my dad, it comes down to very personal matters. You see a friend of my dad was caught in one of the many IRA bomb attacks in London, luckily he survived. Not to mention the fact that the IRA were responsible for many other bomb attacks all around Britain that took many lives and were also responsible for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten and others on board the Shadow V. And so handing independence would in a way be like kicking dirt in the eyes of the lost and their families.



I don't know, it's all very confusing and I believe this debate will carry on going long after other debates have finished.

[Straznicy]

The Republican movement does not seek Northern Irish independence; they want re-unification with the Republic of Ireland. The notion of independence for NI is held by fringes of the Loyalist community.

The IRA and its offshoots do not equate the entire Republican movements, and vice versa. It's unfair to base rejection of the case for unification on the actions of Republican paramilitaries. They fought a guerilla war against the British. People die in wars, and atrocities occur, it's the nature of the beast. There's no point trying to ascertain who 'was worse' because that's simply a counter-productive and illogical way to look at things. The PIRA were not an extremist group who enjoyed supported from the fringes; they were widely supported by Republicans for a long time, and viewed as the legitimate defenders of the Irish Catholic community in NI, justified in their actions.

Like Themanwiththeplan said, your opinion on this is fairly steadfast. You are born into your side, you don't choose it based on much consideration. But even still, I do think Irish re-unification is inevitable.