Loyalist reactionaries. On the cusp of the reactionary festival held all across the occupied six counties of Ireland, loyalist youths have crossed the peace line to steal a religious icon from their neighbours across the divide. The people of Beechmount, of course, feel violated because the perceived safety of the peace wall has been smashed and an icon of their religious belief will be set alight on a bonfire only streets away. However, much like the Garth Brooks debacle, this is merely a smoke screen to distract the proletariat from more important issues at hand. Throughout history, religion has been a capitalist construct used to defend the position of privilege held by the upper class. During the time of the Russian revolution, tsarists were backed up by imperialists across the globe in their fight against the bolsheviks. Religious leaders backed the tsarists. In Ireland, we have seen, time and time again, denounciations of the Republican movement by Religious oligarchs of the time. We need not forget both churches roles in the collapse of the workers strike of 1934 in Belfast. Of course, local politicians will cater to their own people by pandering to their sectarian war cries. However, sectarian tensions have always suited the powers that be in Ireland. Religious sectarianism is a device used by the capitalist enemies of the people of Ireland to keep the Irish people subjugated. Sectarian division helps preserve capitalist order in Ireland, keeps the Irish under foot and disrupts the organisation of the proletariat. Much like racism and xenophobia in working class communities across the world, sectarianism fosters hatred and mistrust which makes cooperation an unobtainable objective. It is imperative that Republicans focus on ending sectarian divisions as well as British rule in Ireland. When the working class works side by side, victory is achievable. We have seen this in Russia, in Vietnam, in Cuba and in every struggle against imperialism across the globe.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 12:27:11 +0000
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