The Threat of the Civil Rights movement and terrorism on Great Britian

The Civil rights movement by the Nationalist became a threat to the country and hait not been for British intervention, the breakdown and destabilization of the government would have occured. The Nationalist claims that they were being discriminated upon and under-representated were completely false and were just a ploy to challenge the British law and rule. The Nationalis sought unification of Ireland without British influence but the majority of Northern Ireland wanted to remain part of the British country.

Additionally, instead of engaging in productice bilateral talks within the existing parliament and the British governement, the IRA sought and accepted support from terroristic groups such as the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Defense Association (UDF). Acts of terrorism against the innocent in Ireland became a problem and instead of resolving the issues peacefully, the IRA reverted to violence supported by non-legitimate groups.

Peace

On Wednesday December 15^th of 1993 the Joint Declaration on Peace (AKA) “the Downing Street Declaration” was issued by then Prime Minister of Britain, John Major and then Prime Minister of Ireland, Albert Reynolds, on behalf of the British and Irish Governments.

• The British government had no selfish strategic or economic interest in Northern Ireland.
• The British government would uphold the right of the people of Northern Ireland to decide between the Union with Great Britain or a united Ireland.
• The British and Irish governments would work for an agreement among all the people of Ireland, embracing "the totality of relationships".
• The Irish government recognized that "Irish self-determination" (meaning, in this context, a United Ireland) required the agreement and consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland.
• The Irish government would try to address unionist fears of a united Ireland.
• A united Ireland could only be brought about by persuasion.
• Peace must involve a permanent end to the use of, or support for, paramilitary violence.*

From this we can see that Britain was trying their hardest to bring peace to the conflict.



* Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/northern-ireland-peace-process

Unjust war, since they aren't really soldiers

The position of the the citizenry and "militia" of Northern Ireland might be more palatable as a justified struggle if they had behavde as more than gang members in an ever increasingly violent conflict with their own people. If the IRA was supposed to represent the true will of the Irish people to be free, why did they often destroy property and lives of Irish citizens. Most notably civilians?They cannot even claim that their supposed stance on moral highground stems from the conflict between Catholic Cathcetism and the Church of England. In 1979 Pope John Paul II asked the IRA to lay down thier arms and seek peaceful resolution of grievances. The IRA rejected his advice and declared that it had widespread support and that Britain would only withdraw from Northern Ireland if forced to do so: "force is by far the only means of removing the evil of the British presence in Ireland ... we know also that upon victory the Church would have no difficulty in recognising us".27 February 2005 IRA members in a bar claim another bar patron made a lewd comment to a female companion. The bar patron and one of his friends were then drug into the streets by the IRA members and and stabbed. McCartney was fataly wounded. McCartney was a civilian, a fiance, a father an Irishman and most notably a Catholic. The IRA members then threatened all the bar patrons and staff with further violence should anyone call for police, testify to police or in court, or administer aid. Female members of the IRA were then called to clean the crime scene with bleach to destroy forensic evidence. Are those the actions of civic minded patriots, who mean to bring greater good to their people or rough shod hooligans with violent tendencies?

Team Britain Post number 1

Northern Ireland has demanded independence from Britain since the 17th century. Religion has been a major cause of this conflict. The conflict is over rule by different religions, catholic and protestant. Nothern Ireland should not fight and rebel against Britain because of religious leadership. Religion should not play such a major role in a countries leadership where non believers rebel and cause unrest throughout the country. The rebellion has no good cause as it only causes problems throughout the country especially in Northern Ireland. If the Northern Ireland rebellion would try to compromise instead of having to have their certain way things would be better for both Britain and Ireland as a whole. Peace talks should be able to be done and the rebels should stop and come upon a common agreement with us, the British Team!

Derek McCrea
Team Britain Rocks!