Over
recent times I have listened to and read those
within various Republican circles commenting on
the St Andrews Agreement. Much of it depending
on what aspect of the various Republican positions
being listened to; many would find their words
of little surprise. Indeed in regard to one such
point - that of Sinn Fein constantly dropping
once held principles, that is of little surprise
to many given that SF anew is a constitutional
Nationalist party, in real terms, whose way forward,
they believe, is based on electoralism. Therefore
if it sees electoralism as its main avenue for
moving forward, then such principles (that are
believed to be holding it back) will be dropped
as they move ever further to the right in the
search for more votes and their acknowledgement
also of an ever changing world. And of course
some have had the experience, the support, and
the grip on the Movement to ensure that such votes
can be won regardless of the dropping of once
held principles.
Yet the reality is that the vast majority of those
long stuck on the fact that SF are constantly
dropping such principles are indeed ex-members
or members of the broader SF and Republican 'Movements',
as well as some commentators, and elements of
the left. For the vast majority of people though
outside of that and in the wider local world most
dropped principles people may care little about
let alone wanting to know more about. Also in
relation to the more prominent 'principles, well
if you ask the ordinary punter on the street would
they like to see a local accountable police service
in their area, the vast majority will say yes.
If you ask them would they like direct rule from
London or would they like to see the politicians
they have elected sitting and governing here,
the vast majority would again want local representation.
Many will not worry (or indeed even know) that
some principles from some parties over the years
are being dropped or how part of a once solidly
held ideology is being broken. And many, even
if they knew, would not care, as such developments
post-conflict presently flow with their own interests
or would not affect their daily lives for the
worse.
Many
though will worry when it comes to the centre
right governance and neo liberal consensus that
will beckon from any new assembly, where they
will at least have the opportunity to lobby and
protest on such issues at a local level. In addition
it will show up those parties who talk left and
implement right, and those who will fight for
one side or the other as opposed to those who
seek benefit for all our citizens.
The
bringing together of the DUP and the Shinners
many thought could not be moved to happen, but
Friday the 13th 2006 was a day in which it all
began, at least in word. And if it can be continued
to be moved forward we will see who are negotiating
for the rights of all citizens and who are more
especially fighting for the rights of the most
disadvantaged and vulnerable. One aspect that
has already been highlighted is the issue of the
11 plus and more especially that of Academic Selection.
Such selection affects those most from disadvantaged
and working class areas, and therefore many would
think that the Shinners would instinctively fight
the corner on this one, if it indeed really is
the case that it is to be kept. But as some commentators
have stated that as with other principles or pledges
such a stance could be dropped as bums on ministerial
seats may be of more importance.
If
the case, then as had been done previous (through
such campaigns as the Campaign Against Selection
- CAS) it will be up to grassroots activists to
push this issue forward and to remobilise and
agitate etc on this issue once again. This should
be done, rather than solely standing at the sides
constantly shouting 'Sell Outs' and 'Traitors'
at the dropping of each principle or pledge while
practically offering little else.
Of
course the Shinners have taken a well-trodden
path seen in many places and on many occasions
around the world. And in relation to the Shinners
it has seen them being moved from that once Revolutionary
War and mass street protests through to that of
Constitutional Nationalism and Reformism with
the soon to be administering and cementing, until
the majority states otherwise, of most aspects
of British rule in the North
On
the issue of such grassroots activism many such
initiatives (such as CAS) had come from the grassroots
and initial handfuls of activists over recent
years, and have highlighted, mobilised and moved
other larger forces into action. It is also through
such agitation - whether it be against privatisation,
or if the Assembly agrees to cut and close essential
services, or if they implement policies that attack
the most vulnerable and the disadvantaged, as
is being done with the 11 plus and Academic Selection
- that many citizens will see such in such light.
And in doing so they may march and mobilise with
many others as before, as they come to realise,
for themselves, how such parties' deeds are so
far removed from such words and rhetoric.
The
first such substantial fight back I believe will
be on Water Charges, and as an activist within
the We Won't Pay campaign (www.geocities.com/we_wontpay)
many of us from across 'the Divide' are preparing
the ground for such a fight back if and when required.
Therefore
as with many saying that they need a police service
many may well say well we need that hospital kept
open, or we are already paying those charges etc.
Therefore in wider society it will not be a matter
of someone dropping a long held ideological principle
(that irks many of us on the left) that may make
many come to an understanding, But it will be
a matter of something that effects them more directly
that will make them think and then acknowledge
that there is a difference between such words
of principle and deeds in action.
Similar
as with the assembly some on the 'Left' of politics
should start from a position of where the majority
are at, rather than where they wish them to be.
Some Leftist principled calls I hear include points
such as 'we believe in having no police' through
to 'we believe in a society of no money'. Yet
while many on the left may wish to see a future
society of that making the reality is that such
calls will have most people seeing such coming
from people with two heads or those who seek to
bring us back to collectives of people digging
up the earth in rag clothes with the back end
bone of a once living animal. This more so if
the calls are coming solely from those shouting
at the sides. To get a hearing it is much better
to get into the heart of such debates with the
majority while involved in and initiating activism
and struggle that relates to such, while attempting
to show up the contradictions and rhetoric of
others.
We
have come a long way from the 'war and there has
been much change, yet it is only the beginning.
With the possible cementing over the coming years
of the Assembly we will over time see bread and
butter issues taking primacy over once matters
of conflict. Of course Sectarianism will still
be there as will I believe the still continued
rise of Racism, and all such issues will need
to be tackled. Yet and at the end of the day it
is inevitable that such once 'enemies would have
to come together at some stage (as their and other
interests dictated that) in a developing post-conflict
situation. And anyone who has an understanding
of such recent post-conflict situations will know
that the primacy of peace also sees the attempted
primacy of a stable neo liberalism agenda. With
that knowledge we can be sure to know where the
Assembly is going. And on that previous recent
limited experience of Northern Ireland governance
we also know in what economic direction all the
parties are going in which deed took primacy over
word and rhetoric on many issues, as I believe
it will do again.
Whatever
the 'Left's' problems are with the proposed Assembly
the reality is that the majority of citizens will
want local representation as they will want the
police accountable and transparent at a local
level etc. That is not to say that as the 'Left',
we ride along with all of this. Indeed on many
issues the opposite will be the case. We will
need to battle against the neo liberalism that
they will espouse, we will need to mobilise against
the anti-working class policies that they may
seek to impose. Yet within it all and throughout
it all, we will need to point out the real contradictions
of those whose former words are cemented by now
the opposite in deeds - if the case, and if the
deal is done.
And
with that then some real politics will begin to
come to the fore and while it will be to the benefit
to the isle of Ireland, the struggle will continue
for the benefit that can be won through seeking
an equal, just, and libertarian society for all
our citizens.
