What can we learn from Northern Ireland

"No Justice No Peace!!" if you are at all familiar with protests or rallies there is little doubt you have heard this being shouted in the streets. For some the rallies, the chants, and everything that goes along with them is nothing more than another annoying distraction. Even for some participating it is rather hollow, just another slogan for the hour or so before they go back to their seemingly comfortable existence. They have no intention of actually disturbing the peace now or anytime in the future. I have some theories about why this is, but I will save them for a different time. Today I want to focus on the spirit of this particular mantra, mainly because in other parts of the world it is anything but hollow. There are countless examples one could point to as evidence to back this up, lets use the most recent, the real IRA attacks in Northern Ireland. Now for the record and to clear up any accusations of..." I'm just an anarchist rebel who only wants to see chaos." I am in support of a free and sovereign Ireland, but I do not know enough about the real IRA to say I am a supporter. This actually brings me to the point. The argument about whether or not the attacks were justified is a fruitless conversation, and misses the underlying truth, there will never be peace in occupied territories.

It does not matter if we are talking about Belfast or Baghdad, Gaza, Oakland or north Minneapolis there will never be peace when the people of the area have no control and are constantly being manipulated and oppressed for the benefit of others. This occupying force can come in a number of forms: the United States military, the Police, or multi-national corporations, but without exception the common bond is control for selfish purpose. Our history is rich with instances of the United States (and other European white countries) using its military powers to impose policies beneficial to them but harmful for the invaded country; for a prime example look at our seizure of Mexican land we now call California, Colorado, Arizona etc. etc. you get the gist. The police perform much the same task on a smaller scale. Instead of a country the police control a specific population mainly poor black communities, but specifically poor. Whenever these communities have joined together to demand equality without exception the police are there to put them down. Still perhaps the most dangerous form of occupation comes in the form of multi-national corporations that operate for the sole purpose of profit, leaving entire populations living in conditions of crushing poverty. You only need to look at the effects of World Bank and IMF policies to see the proof of this. What is interesting is that in all cases without exception violence plays a major role in implementing these systems of control. Either through military attacks (Iraq), police violence(murder of Fred Hampton) or sponsored coups so favorable policies can be implemented (Pinochet in Chile) violence is an essential ingredient to maintaining the order, even when those dissenting are doing so non-violently (Civil Rights Movement, Gandhi in India). So, does it make sense then to expect those that have been the victims of constant violence to not react in the same way; I would say no. We can see this playing out currently in Northern Ireland and all across the globe in groups like the real IRA, Hamas, and the Zapatistas. In our own country we can see this manifested in street gangs; which are largely a response to domestic oppression and an often times justified feeling of marginalization due to exclusion from opportunities such as quality education, jobs, and healthcare. There then becomes an overwhelming feeling of anger, disrespect, and worthlessness that all get fulfilled with- in the gang. All of these are very real and current examples of the cause and effect relationship between imperialism and its resulting occupation and the violence that is seen in reaction to it (which interestingly enough dominates the news and mainstream discussion on the subject).
I want peace just as much as anybody and I know the only way to reach peace is to stop the manipulation and exploitation of those countries and peoples that do not have the privilege of a lack of melanin. Only when all peoples have the right to self-determination can there be realistic talks of sustainable peace world wide. But until then you can count on very real cries of "NO JUSTICE NO PEACE!!"