This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0020_01BDB00F.FC971640 charset="iso-8859-1" Hi Comrades There has been much controversy surrounding the question of the Orange parades marching down roads such as the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, Ireland. The view of Sinn Fein, Michael Farrell, co-chairperson of the civil rights association, is that it is valid for these parades in general to proceed once the local residents dont object to them. This position is one that obscures the real nature of Orangeism in the North of Ireland. The point is that Orangeism and its parades are of a cultural, ideological and politically reactionary character. Consequently they are opposed by all revolutionary communists. However that does not mean that communists simply take to the streets opposing such marches whether the march proceeds down a staunchly Orange area or non-Orange community. Practical opposition is a tactical matter and must be considered in context such as the kind of support that exists on the ground among the local masses. As a tactical matter how the practical opposition is to be organised and under what slogans are vitally important. As of present much of the Sinn Fein and Garvagy/Omeau form of organising against marching has an opportunist character which rather than attempting to raise political consciousness reinforces sectarianism even further. However communists can engage in propaganda against such marching at any time. To conclude: The view of Sinn Fein and others seems to be that that Organism has a civil and democratic right to march, but not through areas where the marches are found to be offensive to the local community. This position reinforces the existence of Orangeism and its parades and essentially undermines the call for an end to Orange parades down Garvaghy and other areas. The issue of civil rights and democracy in this context is an illusory one that merely obscures the real state of affairs. The point is that Orangeism and its parades, irrespective of the localities, they toddle through are culturally, ideologically and politically reactionary. Consequently universal opposition to both Orangeism and its theatricals is correct --whether the parades proceed through staunchly Orange or non-Orange communities. Warm regards Rebecca ------=_NextPart_000_0020_01BDB00F.FC971640 charset="iso-8859-1" <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.71.1712.3"' name=3DGENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV>Hi Comrades<BR><BR>There has been much controversy surrounding the = question=20 of the Orange<BR>parades marching down roads such as the Garvaghy Road = in=20 Portadown, Ireland.<BR><BR>The view of Sinn Fein, Michael Farrell,=20 co-chairperson of the civil rights<BR>association, is that it is valid = for these=20 parades in general to proceed<BR>once the local residents dont object to = them.=20 This position is one that<BR>obscures the real nature of Orangeism in = the North=20 of Ireland.<BR><BR>The point is that Orangeism and its parades are of a=20 cultural, ideological<BR>and politically reactionary character. = Consequently=20 they are opposed by all<BR>revolutionary communists. However that does = not mean=20 that communists simply<BR>take to the streets opposing such marches = whether the=20 march proceeds down a<BR>staunchly Orange area or non-Orange community.=20 Practical opposition is a<BR>tactical matter and must be considered in = context=20 such as the kind of<BR>support that exists on the ground among the local = masses.=20 As a tactical<BR>matter how the practical opposition is to be organised = and=20 under what<BR>slogans are vitally important. As of present much of the = Sinn Fein=20 and<BR>Garvagy/Omeau form of organising against marching has an=20 opportunist<BR>character which rather than attempting to raise political = consciousness<BR>reinforces sectarianism even further.<BR><BR>However = communists=20 can engage in propaganda against such marching at any<BR>time.<BR><BR>To = conclude: The view of Sinn Fein and others seems to be that that = Organism<BR>has=20 a civil and democratic right to march, but not through areas where=20 the<BR>marches are found to be offensive to the local community. This=20 position<BR>reinforces the existence of Orangeism and its parades and=20 essentially<BR>undermines the call for an end to Orange parades down = Garvaghy=20 and other<BR>areas.<BR>The issue of civil rights and democracy in this = context=20 is an illusory one<BR>that merely obscures the real state of affairs. = The point=20 is that Orangeism<BR>and its parades, irrespective of the localities, = they=20 toddle through are<BR>culturally, ideologically and politically = reactionary.=20 Consequently<BR>universal opposition to both Orangeism and its = theatricals=20 is<BR>correct --whether the parades proceed through staunchly Orange or=20 non-Orange<BR>communities.<BR><BR>Warm=20 regards<BR>Rebecca<BR> </DIV></BODY></HTML> ------=_NextPart_000_0020_01BDB00F.FC971640--
[PEN-L:215] Orange marching season
Rebecca Peoples Wed, 15 Jul 1998 16:45:34 +0100boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0020_01BDB00F.FC971640"