How You Are Connected to the IRA

Conor Nelson
The Provisional IRA, though a terrorist group, is not only fighting for Irelands freedom, but also
for the most basic of human rights, such as speech and expression. Just like the Westboro Baptist
Church or any ideological nut crazy enough to make a blog stretch our free speech, and to a
greater extent the first amendment in general, rights; the Provisional IRA keeps pushing
boundaries of speech and expression, sort of like a muscle, use it or lose it. However, in the
Republic of Ireland they only allow free speech as long as it does not undermine public order or
morality or the authority of the state. Correspondingly, England allows free speech if it does not
include threats, abusive or insulting words or behavior, harassment, raise alarm, distress, or
breach the peace. Basically, both Ireland and England (including the British owned section of
Northern Ireland) do not allow free speech.
While the use of the phrase glaigh na hireann, soldiers of Ireland has been banned all across
the UK because it is used by a terrorist organization. It is a perfect example of how speech
creates freedom, not the inverse. glaigh na hireann is illegal and it still exists, despite the law.
In murals on brick corner convince stores, on flags that just happen to pop up all across the
various families owned emerald-green farms, even as tattoos that dot the many IRA soldiers
arms. Especially when violence backed, speech cannot be countered. Laws work because we
obey them, the only thing stopping me from speeding or, unrealistically, killing a random person
I find on the street is morals and the scare of jail time. Ireland is a Republic, this means that it is
a country in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and
which has an elected or nominated president and not a monarch. How can you choose a
representative, or even run for a position, if you cannot voice your opinion?
Although most everyone is not in support of a violent anarchy fueled by a suppression of
freedom, the great country we have come to know and love as America was created by such a
deprivation, i.e., a drought of opportunity. As we all know, the founding fathers were in such
support of creating a new, better country because they knew what it was like to be oppressed by
a terrible tyrannical government: England. We fought and banded together for the American
Revolution fueled by a hate of suppressed freedom. Drafting the Constitution and the Bill of
Rights was an illegal act. Treason as well as speaking freely. Not that they were not allowed to
talk; just certain subjects could not be talked about, and freedom of expression or religion, forget
it. Thats why the Founding Fathers created the government system we use today. If the
Legislative, Executive, or Judicial branches of the US government did not use checks and
balances, we probably would have had several Civil wars (instead of just the one). People are
naturally drawn to power and if they can get more, they will. It sounds more like a dystopian
novel than a possible occurrence; but imagine if instead of having the three branches of
government we use now, we have one. One branch that defeated the others in a cold war style
shadow-stabbing frenzy, it is more possible than we think but was, thankfully, preemptively
shut-down.


Even though the Provisional IRA is a chaos creating rebel group who want a united Ireland, they
are also fighting for you. Just as I have said earlier, every extremist group or person who voices
their opinion keep your 1
st
Amendment safe. No matter what your political party, the US
Government would start to tighten its grip on our rights if we stopped exercising them
righteously; such as with gun laws. Musicians, artists, protestors, and terrorists all get their voice
to an audience once something is said, it cannot be taken back.

Speech creates freedom; not the inverse. If freedom created speech then that would have to mean
that without the freedom of speech and expression, we would all be the same grayish blob
sheep; Following the same lives as everyone else, with the same views and opinions as everyone
else. Am I wrong or did we not just graduate in our governments eyes, finally granted the rights
to do and say what we will. Speech does create freedom. By pushing boundaries and rights we
advance not only as countries, but as a race moreover.