Colm Dalton Cumann
NUI Maynooth
Listening to people like Irish Hotels Federation’s Chief Tim Fenn and Tourism Ireland CEO Niall Gibbons you would almost think that the British Queen’s visit was all we needed to get the country back on it’s feet. IMF/ECB bailout? I don’t think so, bring old Liz over, according to many of the leading “experts” the tourism sector will boom, and sure what else could you want?
I don’t think that I nor the speakers themselves have the patience or expertise to try and tease out the reality from these golden nuggets of speculation however the fact of the matter is the only boost to the Irish economy we are likely to see will be a one day spending spree on lollypops and tiny Union Jacks. I’m sure the country will prosper after such an anti-Paddy’s day. Bearing in mind of course that our taxes are likely to pay for the security of such a high and mighty visitor, one is forced to ask during a time of such economic hardship can it really be justified? I don’t know about you but I don’t want to see my taxes (yes I have paid taxes) pumped into high powered rifles designed to prevent Elizabeth’s jewel encrusted Crown from being damaged by some unruly protestor.
Denounce me as a political zealot if you will, but here are a few of the reasons why I am totally opposed to the Visit of her majesty the Queen. The British Queen is the head of the British armed forces. I hear people constantly question the limits of her power in relation to this debate. To clear things up, while she is not commanding ground forces in Iraq, she is the sole person who can declare war and conclude wars on other countries. At present, the British armed forces act as an occupying force in Iraq. The conflict thus far has claimed an estimated 122,483 civilian deaths. In Afghanistan where the queen’s forces are also present, 8131 Afghan civilians have been killed or injured in the past 2 years alone with casualties adding up even as I write this. Bear in mind that the original invasion took place in 2001, that is a quite a damning number of civilian deaths in just 2 years. I’m not sure about you but I’m not a huge fan of either conflict and I certainly won’t be there to shower the head of said armed forces with red, white and blue confetti.
The programme for our unelected visitor recently published by both Buckingham palace and Áras an Uachtaráin shamefully includes a visit not only to Croke Park, but the Garden of Remembrance. To add insult to injury her trip to Dublin occurs on the anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Aside from being downright bizarre it seems simply to be an attempt by southern politicians to bend over backwards in order to show how “pc” they can be while totally dispelling memory of our recent history. How will our imperialist visitor conclude her visit, with a stroll through the Bogside, or perhaps afternoon tea in Ballymurphy?
It ceaselessly amazes me that once the visit is mentioned, people go on the defensive, the Good Friday agreement, a sign of our political maturity, great for the country are terms bandied about from all sides. I however fail to see the merit in celebrating a visit by the Chief of the British armed forces when said forces happen to be occupying 6 of the 32 counties of our country. With the ink on the Saville report not even dry and the Ballymurphy massacre not even given mention, I find it a tad stinging that my Government and President would welcome a woman with honorary title in the Paratrooper Regiment responsible for the acts, to the south of our country with such open arms. The invitation is immature. The wounds from the Irish conflict are far too fresh. And while the North remains under British control I couldn’t see myself supporting such a move.
3 comments:
excellent article, i think there should be a ósf protest
"...she is the sole person who can declare war"
And how many wars has the Queen declared exactly?
You mention recent British involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan but the British monarch had no influence in the decision by the (democratically elected) governments of the day that decided to enter into these conflicts. So why mention them?
"(British) forces happen to be occupying 6 of the 32 counties of our country.”
Er, but Northern Ireland remains a part of the United Kingdom because a majority of its population have expressed – via the democratic process – this very desire. Further, this right to self-determination was enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement which – as I’m sure you’re aware - was passed in referenda held in both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.
To argue that it’s “our” country is to do so without any form of democratic mandate. So yes, perhaps you are a zealot.
Opposition to the visit on the basis of cost I can understand. But something tells me you’d be opposed even if the hated Brits were footing the entire bill…
Fantastic article. Let alone the fact she heads a state that occupies 6 counties of this Island , as a republican , I refuse to recognise the legitimacy of any monarchy.
Therefore , I believe the party shouldn't meet her , we didn't meet the prince of Monaco , why meet her?
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