American misconception: IRA

KELLYMCKEE STAFFWRITER KMM732@CABRINI EDU

Recently, there has been much coverage in the news about the position of Sinn Fein as a political party in Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein basically rallies for a United Ireland, meaning the six counties of Northern Ireland, presently under British rule, being returned to Irish rule. Sinn Fein has always had associations with the terrorist organization, the Irish Republican Army (IRA); and it has been this association that has recently gotten them into trouble. Most recently, the sisters of a murdered Catholic man from Belfast came to Washington to protest at the IRA’s cowardice in not admitting blame for this incident, and Sinn Fein’s deception in their failure to encourage admittance from them. The McCartney sisters, along with many other Northern Ireland citizens, believe that the current IRAare no longer the freedom-fighting brotherhood of their origin but are now merely a terrorist organization, thigh-deep in drugs, gun-running and money laundering

With this media spotlight on my country’s situation, what has really been getting under my skin are the perceptions of uneducated supporters in this area, who support the IRAas a republican party. I’m not saying that it is wrong for people to support the republican cause because after all, freedom of choice is a constitutional right. However, I feel that outright support for the terrorist army, the IRA, is just as bad as supporting a killer on death row. Lately, I feel that everywhere I go I am slapped in the face with advertisements for this terror group. Even here at Cabrini, a catholic college of goodwill, I have seen t-shirts showing an armed, masked gunman next to the words “IRAundefeated.” When I think of the many lives that have been lost due to this organization, it literally makes my blood boil to see supporters brazenly showcasing their work.

Also at the St Patrick’s Day parade in Philadelphia, I was taken back by the open support for the IRA. I had expected to see campaigners for Sinn Fein and similar political group as I understand the strength of the Southern Irish heritage in this city. I did not, however, expect to see men, women and even young children walk with stickers of IRAsupport decorating their bodies.

What angers me even more is that this paraphernalia and propaganda must be purchased somewhere, with the profits going towards arming this organization. From brief research online I was able to find a lot of IRA websites that sold merchandise. Some items, such as street signs proudly displaying a commando with the words “sniper at work,” made me queasy. And it got worse; this item had sold in its hundreds to citizens of the U.S. Here, where only a few years ago hundreds had feared for their lives due to the Washington sniper, and here, where terrorist organizations similar to the IRA are being hunted down in Iraq and Afghanistan by their own families, citizens still support an organization that has murdered countless innocent citizens for being the wrong religion.

Although I am a Republican, I am not supportive of Bush’s plan to possibly drill for oil in roughly 9 million acres of open land in Alaska. There are many pro’s and con’s that go along with this, but the way I figure it, there are more negative effects, especially on the wildlife that is living there, than positive effects.

One positive effect may be that if oil were to be construed from Alaska’s grounds, then gas prices may possibly fall here in the U.S. Considering the drastic rise in gas prices over the last year and a half, drivers would greatly benefit from this. The U.S. would not have to depend on foreign markets for petroleum. On the downside, endangered wildlife and plant species may be overlooked while trying to make up for a lost cause.

Bush has tried numerous times to drill for oil in Alaska. His first attempt was squandered, but now the tide may be changing. Already, 20 percent of the land that Bush wants to drill in is leased to oil drilling companies. Because there is not as many environmental standards set on this piece of land, the Interior Department would not have to go through Congress to gain approval for drilling.

I feel that Bush should not continue his efforts to gain a U.S. owned oil market on our own land. While it will benefit the mainland, it will possibly kill off whole species of animals and plants that have not yet been discovered. Wildlife thrives in Alaska, and if Bush were to drill for oil on the land that he specified, these animals would obviously not prosper. They would be pushed off their land and need to survive in a new area. To me, if Bush were to get approval to drill for petroleum, Alaska will lose its heritage and wildlife that makes it what it is.

I am not just being biased towards the republican cause and the IRA. Similarly, if I saw endorsement of the extreme loyalist cause and their terrorist organizations I would be just as angered. But as it is, it is the republican cause that continues to remain the romantic, heroic cause to support. Arms are tattooed with “Ireland forever” and “Ireland will rise,” posters of freedom fighters such as hungerstriker Bobby Sands adorn dormitory walls and “Brits out” is the call of the day at local Irish bars I have visited.

So to anyone reading this that does share in these beliefs, of course support the Irish republican beliefs if that’s what you feel is right, but please don’t support this terrorist organization. Even today, the IRAviolently states their cause. Imagine if I wore a “Support Al Qaeda” t-shirt to a Cabrini event or had posters of Osama Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein on my walls. I don’t think I would be too popular. Do you?

Health insurance article

The article about health insurance at the college contained two unsubstantiated allegations by students, which were not documented, and should not have been published. The headline is also wrong. The story clearly states that Cabrini’s health insurance premium is within the national average for policies of this type whereas the headline implies otherwise.

Pierce Scholars article

The Pierce scholars were announced last summer or fall, not March 21 as the lead sentence states. They have also been in their roles as Pierce scholars throughout this academic year and are at the end of their programs now. There are currently five scholars, not four. The Pierce Scholar Program requires not just 50 hours of community Service, but rather each Pierce Scholar must set up a program linking an off-campus group that serves children at risk and an on-campus group such as a student organization or academic department or team. Mary Laver’s position is Director of Programs for Applied Catholic Social Teaching, not applied and social teaching.

The Loquitur regrets these errors.