British Unionism, Nationalism In Denial

In a glorious example of the Irish political rhetoric known as “whataboutery” the columnist N.R. Greer takes to the pages of the Newsletter to attack the critics of the sectarianism and racism that is at the heart of the ideology of British Unionism in Ireland (and perhaps inevitably so given the origins of political Unionism in the foreign colonial invasion and exploitation of this island nation). Everyone from Moslem preachers to Chinese-Irish politicians are the problem not those who encourage and electorally prosper from fundamentalist politico-religious hatred as part and parcel of their politics and identity.

“There has been an on-going effort to ensure that Unionists are branded “bigots”, read the online comments section of any local newspaper and you will clearly see that to be the case. That “racist” is now being added to the pot is not a surprise.

The danger is that this relentless campaign to smear Unionists will provoke a backlash. If you stoke up tensions and scream “racist” at people long enough, some of them are eventually going to get fed up with it and lash out.

When this happens the anti-Unionist brigade will of course say “told you so” and admit no complicity in fanning the flames.”

So if the British terror gangs in Ireland start murdering Irish men, women and children again because of their perceived nationality or ethnicity, race or religion, it will be a “backlash” provoked by those in that community protesting at the hatred being directed towards them by the very people who would threaten them with violence? It is the equivalent of an argument blaming a woman for being raped because she publicly protested against the prevalence of rape.

I wonder if some young Moslem-Irish lad foolishly attacked the home of the self-styled evangelical preacher James McConnell would Greer regard that as someone “fed up” with being demonised and blame McConnell for fanning the flames which were brought to his own door?

No, probably not.