I
wrote this last year, but unfortunately, it is still
true. I have, in desperation, turned to the Green
Party, who are much more willing to work with me...such
a shame!
I
was glad to hear of the meetings in May of Irish
republicans in Belfast. There are problems that
have developed over years that need addressed; in
particular, I refer today to the ongoing "cliqueiness"
in certain SF circles.
As
a volunteer of my local independent radio station
for over 10 years, Ihave had the privilege of presenting
Sinn Fein's platform to interested Irish Americans
every week. My programme has been enomously popular
with the wider human rights community here, and
I have made an effort to connect activists here
with the tools to become active on behalf of Ireland,
as well.
It
has been largely satisfying, with one glaring exception:
my inability to interview high level Sinners who
come to the West Coast. With the exception of Mairead
Keane (when she was head of the women's dept., many
years ago), I have been perfunctorily shut out of
all the events hosting the leadership, unless I
wanted to (and could afford to) pony up at high
priced fund raisers.
While
I appreciate the need for such functions, as an
interested journalist I was embarrassed to my listeners
not to be able to provide them with a personalised
interview. This inability to grant access to the
local press, as well as a rather neglectful attitude
towards a useful and hardworking supporter, is terribly
frustrating to me, as I have lobbied hard to bring
the republican message to this part of the country.
It
is an attitude I have seen demonstrated towards
others working in the States, especially American
born activists, but I, and others from the North,
have seen it as well.
It
would behoove the leadership to reassess the manner
in which stateside support is utilised, and perhaps
make an effort to reach out to the many disenchanted
activists they have left in their wake. Unless,
of course, the only function perceived to be of
use here is the raising of large amounts of money.
While
this is perhaps the most important aspect of American
support historically, big donors are not the only
reason for a republican presence in the U. S., as
the widespread public demonstrations during crucial
times demonstrates.
I
have always kept these feelings to myself, as it
is my opinion that the leadership has plenty on
its plate, but, as long as we're talking...
