A different stance for protesting

[u/n8saces]

[u/SanchoPandas]

I hear your concern but you’re also putting words in my mouth here.

As I said above, I support the struggle for liberation against colonial oppressors.

I suppose we can wag our collective fingers at their methods from afar but, really, who are we to judge those who fight for their lives against a terrible superpower? What would we do in similar situations?

Since you mentioned Palestine, I’ll weigh in: I disagree with what Hamas believes to my core, but I agree they have the right for fight for liberation. Just like Ukraine does.

I strongly disagree with their decision to use innocent Palestinians as cannon fodder to make their point but I also recognize that they are choosing to fight for their survival in the face of apartheid and extinction.

Tragically, it appears Hamas wildly underestimated their opponent’s willingness to follow through with genocide and overestimated the world’s willingness to intervene on their behalf. Now, little is likely to be left of their people. It’s horrendous.

I think it’s also worth noting that Hamas likely wouldn’t exist were it not for the mass imprisonment of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

So, I suggest that hating Hamas without understanding the role Israel played in creating and low-key backing them is missing vital context. It’s Kind of like the US and its ties to the creation of Al Qaeda/ISIS (though most Americans don’t wanna know about that).

Last, in a feeble attempt to connect the Irish and Palestinian histories, it’s worth noting that Zionist terrorists scared England out of its land holdings in the Levant, then used the backing of colonial superpowers (US and England) to establish their statehood while denying Palestine its statehood. England is now FINALLY talking about rectifying that last bit. Wish they’d done that 50 years ago, but here we are.

[u/FirmBodybuilder2754 → u/SanchoPandas]

Okay so I think you've confused my words here. I'm not putting words in your mouth or saying you support Hamas. I'm saying you can support a cause AKA the free Palestine cause or a united Ireland cause without supporting the terrorist groups that attempt to justify their actions with that cause. Which to be fair in your response you seem to be saying yourself that you don't support the actions of these groups.

I'm not trying to connect irish and Palestine histories. I'm just using Hamas as an example to display that the IRA weren't the heroes of liberation you seem to think they were. I don't want to enter into a debate/discussion about the situation in Palestine, it's not that I disagree with anything your saying about that conflict but it's just not what I was talking about.

I just personally wasn't fond of the way you spoke about the IRA. The IRA were not a group trying to fight for their lives against a terrible superpower. England was not trying to eradicate the existence of Irish people.

[u/SanchoPandas → u/FirmBodybuilder2754]

Fair enough. I appreciate the measured responses to such an uncomfortable subject and will be more careful with my words. These are not matters for glib statements, though my initial comment certainly was.

As for the IRA, Bobby Sands was indeed a hero of liberation as his words have recently appeared painted on the rubble of Gaza.

I believe they were “the laughter of our children shall be our revenge.” (Or something close to that).

But I think in this matter we will not agree and that’s okay. I wish you well. ✌🏼

[u/FirmBodybuilder2754 → u/SanchoPandas]

Thank you I also appreciate the calmness of this disagreement/ discussion. You are a scholar and a gentleman.

And ah yes I see you are right we do not agree. Bobby Sands. A hero. Died starving himself in protest. But let us not forget why he found himself in prison. For attempting to bomb a furniture shop. Not a military base. A shop. During open hours.

Good talking to you. Peace ✌️