The Student Room Group

Why do so many on the Left support the IRA?

After the IRA march in Liverpool been attacked and stopped yesterday, I've noticed so many messages of support on supposed Anti-fascist and left-wing websites with Liverpool Antifa turning out to support the IRA and stuff.

Why?

How can a group of so called "Anti-fascists" and left-wingers who supposedly oppose the right-wing, fascism, nationalism, racism and intollerance show support for a group of right-wing fascists, nationalists, racists and intollerant bigots?

I find it baffling. How can supposedly intelligent people support a terrorist group who have murdered countless innocent people and brought misery to so many peoples lives?

I understand why some might support the IRA's goals, but even that is misguided in my opinion. The Northern Irish who are happy been a part of the United Kingdom outnumber the Repulican's so why should Northern Ireland be give to the Republic of Ireland when the majority don't want it? The greatest good for the greatest number and all that, the majority want to remain in the UK so what gives the IRA the right to try and force Irish rule on people who don't want it?

And why do the left support a group intending on doing just that. It would be different if the British truly were occupying a nation who doesn't want British rule but that isn't the case at all.

It's baffling and pretty disgusting to be honest, that a group of supposed open-minded, intelligent people who oppose racism and fascism can actually support a terrorist organisation who have murdered children, killed people because of their religion, try to force their viewpoints on others, dished out brutal punishments to people for petty crimes etc, pretty much done everything the left is supposed to oppose.

So, I'm sure there's some "anti-fascists" here so I ask, why do you support the IRA?How can you support an organisation who has murdered so many innocent people purely out of nationalism, hatred and religion?

Scroll to see replies

'The left'

We in 'the left' aren't as simple as 'the right' - we don't all support the same thing. Some are massively anti-imperialist and support taking Britain's perceived 'colonies' off of her no matter the human cost. Most others, such as me, support the right to choose.
Reply 2
Original post by Zeffy

So, I'm sure there's some "anti-fascists" here so I ask, why do you support the IRA?How can you support an organisation who has murdered so many innocent people purely out of nationalism, hatred and religion?


I don't support the IRA. I'm sure most 'leftists' (as you put it) will agree with me.
Reply 3
Which IRA? The two main branches are either socialist or republican anyway, so there's some link there.

More to the point, the march was attacked by fascists and nationalists, clearly requiring a response from AFA and anti-fascists in general as control of the streets has traditionally been one of the principle strategic aims of the far-right. An incident such as this where large groups of fascists have been able to gather, and more importantly, succeed in their efforts to shut the march down, sets a worrying new precedent as a propaganda victory as well as emboldening these groups and allowing their networks to develop. I haven't read the comments you obviously have but are they actually more anti-fascist or pro-IRA in nature?
Reply 4
They don't represent all the left or leftists. That small minority in the fascist anti fascist groups are not taken seriously.

The central ideology at their heart is "the enenmy of my enemy is my friend". They will align themsleves with anyone, even if that group is itself fascist and intolerant, as long as they oppose what the British State does in terms of imperialism.
I support the IRA's cause (very broadly), but certainly not their methods.
Reply 6
Original post by anarchism101
I support the IRA's cause (very broadly), but certainly not their methods.


Which cause and refresh my memory of what they are (im not being sarky I generally don't know too much apart from their anti-federalism and catholicism vs church of england)
Original post by prog2djent
Which cause and refresh my memory of what they are (im not being sarky I generally don't know too much apart from their anti-federalism and catholicism vs church of england)


Irish unification.

At the very least, I support the annexation of areas with substantial nationalist majorities in Northern Ireland to the Republic.
Reply 8
I support the IRA and im not a 'lefty'.
Reply 9
Much the same as what's written above, but the 'IRA' and 'the left' are two very different entities and your question may as well be 'why do so many on the lunatic fringes of the left support the IRA?' - I don't think you'll find 'mainstream left' supporting the IRA and would challenge you to show that they do...
The nationalists generally have closer links to working class political movements than the unionists so that's probably the reason why, along with anti-imperialist sentiment. Also don't chat **** about how the IRA are a terrorist group responsible for the deaths of countless innocents when it was essentially a civil war rather than a one-sided terrorist campaign, both sides were responsible for terrorist activity rather than the IRA bombing pubs while the UDA handed out flowers to old women and ran cafés. Lives were needlessly lost as a result of actions from both sides.
Reply 11
Original post by wozza1991
Much the same as what's written above, but the 'IRA' and 'the left' are two very different entities and your question may as well be 'why do so many on the lunatic fringes of the left support the IRA?' - I don't think you'll find 'mainstream left' supporting the IRA and would challenge you to show that they do...


I'm just going from anti-fascist forums and websites like urban75, the Liverpool Antifascist blog, indymedia etc, all of whom have many posters showing support for the IRA which seems to go completely against what they claim to oppose.

Then of course there's the SWP who have shown support for the IRA. Ken Livingston, UAF etc have done the same and I really can't understand why. How can someone support a bunch of child killing terrorists and not feel ashamed of themselves?



Original post by JCC-MGS
The nationalists generally have closer links to working class political movements than the unionists so that's probably the reason why, along with anti-imperialist sentiment. Also don't chat **** about how the IRA are a terrorist group responsible for the deaths of countless innocents when it was essentially a civil war rather than a one-sided terrorist campaign, both sides were responsible for terrorist activity rather than the IRA bombing pubs while the UDA handed out flowers to old women and ran cafés. Lives were needlessly lost as a result of actions from both sides.


Where did I praise the UDA? I can't remember doing that at all so stop making things up. Both sides are just as bad as each other. The IRA however need to realise that the majority of people in Northern Ireland want to remain British. Sinn Fein get a small percentage of votes compared to other parties, the majority living their are happy been a part of the UK so why should the fascist IRA force change upon them?

For some reason though, many on the left are blinded by been self-loathing, anti-imperialist idiots that they completely fail to see that. Now, if the majority in Norther Ireland wanted NI to leave to UK then I would support them and I believe the British government would comply. Whilst the majority wish to remain British (as in the case in Gibralter and The Falklands) then the IRA need to **** off and stop crying and the left-wing idiots who support them need to get their heads seen too. Personally I'm glad the IRA supporters got their heads kicked in yesterday. If they don't like Britain what are they doing living here?

I'm also glad that the group who turned out to oppose the IRA had a few Irish ex-soldiers in it as well.
Original post by prog2djent
We're as diverse as each other.

Now f*** off you condescending p****.

:colondollar:


On the contrary, the right wing tend to be bigoted white middle class people. So no, not diverse at all. :cool:
Reply 13
Original post by Maddog Jones
On the contrary, the right wing tend to be bigoted white middle class people. So no, not diverse at all. :cool:


total rubbish. you scream and shout about people generalising about you, yet are happy to do it to anybody else.

The simple reason is that most of them who turn out in support of people like the IRA are 20 somethings, who think its cool to be all hippy and new age and stick it to the man.

Funny that a good proportion of these groups who turn up to protest about how evil the government are, are uni students who have no problem taking the governments money for uni fees.
Original post by c471
total rubbish. you scream and shout about people generalising about you, yet are happy to do it to anybody else.

The simple reason is that most of them who turn out in support of people like the IRA are 20 somethings, who think its cool to be all hippy and new age and stick it to the man.

Funny that a good proportion of these groups who turn up to protest about how evil the government are, are uni students who have no problem taking the governments money for uni fees.


I don't think I've ever 'screamed and shouted' about people generalising me, nice strawman.

I'm also involved in many left wing organisations (Young Labour, Fabians etc), I've met hundreds of people in real life and online associated with the left, and I've never met a single one who supports the IRA. I've met those who support a united Ireland, but only through peaceful methods.

Also, the idea of the right wing being largely white and middle class is not 'absolute rubbish' - it's fact. Go onto yougov. Look at their latest opinion poll, and click on the advanced findings. Look at the social classes voting for the Conservatives.

I can't find any stats yet for the 2010 general election, but in 2005, when Labour got 35% of the vote nationally, they gained 80% of the black vote. Whereas the Tories gained 32% of the vote nationally, they gained 2% of the black vote.

So, yes - the more right wing you are, the more likely you are to be wealthy and white. It's a fact.
Reply 15
Original post by Maddog Jones
On the contrary, the right wing tend to be bigoted white middle class people. So no, not diverse at all. :cool:


You have a very small world view.

Most wacist people I know are left wing (leftvright is economics y'know ....).

And yes, the whole of the right wing, all of it. The classical liberasl, neo-liberals, Right-libertarians, paleo-conservatives, paleo-libertarians, constitutionalists, Goldwater Conservatives, the Old-right, the Anarcho Capitalists, the minarhcists, blue Tory's, red tory's, blue labourites, Neo-cons thatcherites, voluntarists, the anti-federalists, the anti-imperialists, the non-interventionists, isolationists, the Agorists, Georgists, Liberaltarians, individualist anarchists, cosmatarians, propatarians pfff can't think of any more right now, anyway, yes you are correct, the right can be completely define by middle class white bogots ..... completely.

I don't hate the left at all, I hate people who think that the right is completely define as, well, as you ever so accurately did, and I hate people on my side who think the left = social democrats who are progressive liberals, as long as its with other people's money (thanks TSR user Classical Liberal haha) and you have your life and speech run for you.

Oh, I notice you have the Labour party symbol, you do realise that you yourself are right wing, Jay?
(edited 12 years ago)
Reply 16
Not sure. Makes em feel rebellious?

Loads of liberals love jumping into bed with muslim extremists too. I think it's just a middle finger to "the man".
Original post by prog2djent
You have a very small world view.

Most wacist people I know are left wing (leftvright is economics y'know ....).

And yes, the whole of the right wing, all of it. The classical liberasl, neo-liberals, Right-libertarians, paleo-conservatives, paleo-libertarians, constitutionalists, Goldwater Conservatives, the Old-right, the Anarcho Capitalists, the minarhcists, blue Tory's, red tory's, blue labourites, Neo-cons thatcherites, voluntarists, the anti-federalists, the anti-imperialists, the non-interventionists, isolationists, the Agorists, Georgists, Liberaltarians, individualist anarchists, cosmatarians, propatarians pfff can't think of any more right now, anyway, yes you are correct, the right can be completely define by middle class white bogots ..... completely.

I don't hate the left at all, I hate people who think that the right is completely define as, well, as you ever so accurately did, and I hate people on my side who think the left = social democrats who are progressive liberals, as long as its with other people's money (thanks TSR user Classical Liberal haha) and you have your life and speech run for you.

Oh, I notice you have the Labour party symbol, you do realise that you yourself are right wing, Jay?


Lol, I love the consistent straw-manning going on here by the right wing (maybe too thick to take on someone in an actual debate?)

No, I did not say all right wing people are white and middle class people. I said they tended to be.

Again, I'll point out how right wing parties in every country across Europe and Northern America are more popular with white, middle class voters. Of course, you'd rather just list many political ideologies on the right wing to make yourself sound more intelligent - the classic chest-thumping of the right winger trying to fight his stereotype of being less intelligent.

Also, I do have the Labour party symbol, and I am a member, yes. I'm not right wing though. You can argue the parties policies have been, but I'm a member to change that.
Reply 18
Original post by Maddog Jones
I don't think I've ever 'screamed and shouted' about people generalising me, nice strawman.
....

Also, the idea of the right wing being largely white and middle class is not 'absolute rubbish' - it's fact. Go onto yougov. Look at their latest opinion poll, and click on the advanced findings. Look at the social classes voting for the Conservatives.

..

So, yes - the more right wing you are, the more likely you are to be wealthy and white. It's a fact.


Oh I see, so being white and wealthy makes you a bigot?

There is a awful lot of diversity in any party following. You probably just like to believe your party is all 'fight the power' while everyone else are child eating, grave defiling, monsters.

Again, I'll point out how right wing parties in every country across Europe and Northern America are more popular with white, middle class voters. Of course, you'd rather just list many political ideologies on the right wing to make yourself sound more intelligent - the classic chest-thumping of the right winger trying to fight his stereotype of being less intelligent.


urrrr...do you not see what your saying?
'In predominantly white countries, the most likely people to vote for parties that have that have conservative policies relating to that country, are white?'
:shock:

people like you are ridiculous. Apparently not holding your viewpoint is a sign of lesser intellegence? get a grip.
Reply 19
Original post by Zeffy
After the IRA march in Liverpool been attacked and stopped yesterday, I've noticed so many messages of support on supposed Anti-fascist and left-wing websites with Liverpool Antifa turning out to support the IRA and stuff.

Why?

How can a group of so called "Anti-fascists" and left-wingers who supposedly oppose the right-wing, fascism, nationalism, racism and intollerance show support for a group of right-wing fascists, nationalists, racists and intollerant bigots?

I find it baffling. How can supposedly intelligent people support a terrorist group who have murdered countless innocent people and brought misery to so many peoples lives?

I understand why some might support the IRA's goals, but even that is misguided in my opinion. The Northern Irish who are happy been a part of the United Kingdom outnumber the Repulican's so why should Northern Ireland be give to the Republic of Ireland when the majority don't want it? The greatest good for the greatest number and all that, the majority want to remain in the UK so what gives the IRA the right to try and force Irish rule on people who don't want it?

And why do the left support a group intending on doing just that. It would be different if the British truly were occupying a nation who doesn't want British rule but that isn't the case at all.

It's baffling and pretty disgusting to be honest, that a group of supposed open-minded, intelligent people who oppose racism and fascism can actually support a terrorist organisation who have murdered children, killed people because of their religion, try to force their viewpoints on others, dished out brutal punishments to people for petty crimes etc, pretty much done everything the left is supposed to oppose.

So, I'm sure there's some "anti-fascists" here so I ask, why do you support the IRA?How can you support an organisation who has murdered so many innocent people purely out of nationalism, hatred and religion?


You clearly don't understand the IRA at all.
You actually think they're right wing ffs. Wise up.

And when was this march attacked?