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ireland, irish, ulster, ireland, irish, ulster, Sinn Féin, Irish America

Shinners just a gang of commies — Truth behind party exposed

(John Coulter, Irish Daily Star)

We've got reds under the green bed as the Shinners have finally been exposed as a bunch of Russian-lovin' commies.

Need proof of these Shinner Soviets? Then get an eyeful of leading Sinn Féin activist and Ard Comhairle member Eoin O Brion's latest masterpiece, Sinn Féin and the politics of left republicanism.

Just when we radical Right-wing Unionists saw Sinn Féin as a fascist party with strong ultra Catholic ideals more akin to Opus Dei or the Jesuits, along comes O Brion and blows that perception to hell.

Ok, so the Stickies and 'Erps' (IRSP) both claim the mantel of being left-wing republicans.

And top writers such as Henry McDonald and ex-Provo inmate Anthony McIntyre have produced excellent books knocking seven bells out of the Shinners' peace strategy.

But when a current high profile Shinner of O Brion's standing links republicans to lefties, then people should sit up and take notice.

O Brion said: "In my view, Sinn Féin is part of a distinct left republican tradition in Irish society.

"Our origins lie with the republicanism of the United Irishmen in the 18th century, and the political radicalism of Young Ireland and the Fenians.

"However, it is the left republican tradition started by Connolly and continued by Mellows, Gilmore, O'Donnell, the Republican Congress, Clann no Poblachta and even the Workers Party to which we belong.

"Sinn Féin's future must be a left republican future, taking our place in the globally radical democratic left of Europe, Latin America and the wider world."

O Brion's well documented and comprehensively written work is at odds with an interview I conducted as a News Letter hack in 1985 with the then South Belfast UUP MP and Orange Order boss Rev Martin Smyth.

Headlined Sinn Féin and Fascism, Smyth outlined what he said were a number of significant characteristics which Sinn Féin shared with historic Nazism.

Smyth said: "Sinn Féin and historic Nazism share a common inspiration. Behind them lies the mythical, even romantic, concept of a master or 'super race'.

"On one hand it is Aryan and on the other it is Gaelic. So their identity is safeguarded by a particular cultural and sporting tradition."

O Brion's book is even at odds with republican icon Padraig Pearse, who signed the Proclamation in 1916. Pearse was a fanatical Catholic with no time for Godless Marxism.

But the real benefit of O Brion's work to Unionism is with June's Euro vote not only threatening to allow Sinn Féin to top the poll, but allow nationalism the chance to clinch a second seat.

If as many Unionists as possible could read O Brion's book, it would instantly cure Unionism of voter apathy. The mask has slipped, and they would see Sinn Féin for what it really is.

Is it any wonder Biffo Cowen has told the Shinners to piss off when it comes to coalition government.

Sinn Féin has lost its direction and purpose and is wandering aimlessly around the green fields of Ireland. Red is dead, and Blue is down the loo with the demise of the Blueshirts.

Meanwhile, Save Our Sammy! I don't care how many bloody polar bears fall off icebergs because of global warming, just as long as our Minister for the Buff and Tree-hugging is not forced out of office as part of some nutty Euro election stunt.

Environment Minister Sammy Wilson is a breath of fresh air in what is now the stuffy, middle class DUP.

His witty speeches bring a warm glow to dull debates as his words streak across the Chamber with the speed of a nudist at the Arctic Circle.

There have been many grumblings in Reggie's Ulster Unionists that the Tory link signals the party saying piss off to working class loyalists.

Just because Red Sammy chucked freezing cold water on some daft Government adverts about climate change, doesn't mean he has to be hung out by his political balls.

If the DUP dumps Streakin' Sammy, who will Labour-leaning Protestants look up to as their socialist saviour? Surely not Gopher Brown's version of Labour.

February 24, 2009
________________

This article appeared in the February 23, 2009 edition of the Irish Daily Star.

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