The Paradoxes of Ireland
Day 827, 15:13
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Published in Ireland 
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by
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by dh219
tl;dr version: Ireland and the US were founded on the principles of rebellion from an imperial occupier, yet their citizenry fights to preserve an empire. The Irish PM calls bad faith after engaging in several provocative acts.
You may have noticed there's a resistance war going on in Northern Ireland. This, so the received wisdom taught in the Republic goes, should be a good thing. After all, the people of Northern Ireland should rise up against their English oppressors and join with the Republic, yes?
The evil UKball rolling into other people's territory.
The only trouble with this school of thought is that the majority of the people in the real life Northern Ireland want nothing of the sort to happen and so, when eRepublik drew up its countries, Northern Ireland remained attached, as it was since its inception, to the United Kingdom.
This leads to paradox no. 1: the citizens of of Ireland, a country whose very existence came about through rebellion, are opposing a rebellion in Northern Ireland they would normally clamour for.
Irish student protests at the thought of liberating The North.
The English occupation of the six counties of Northern Ireland, as it's believed to be, is an example of imperialism: the taking of another's territory by the long-since discredited Right Of Conquest.
Imperialism, so it goes, is bad in all its forms. Witness the outcry against perceived US economic imperialism in the Middle East or the unease with the cultural imperialism the Francophone world sees the Anglosphere as perpetrating.
Looks nice, sounds terrible: in France, there's a limit on English songs on the radio for fear of linguistic imperialism.
Part of the conditions for the US rendering aid to the Allies in WW2 was the dismantling of Imperial assets by Britain. The nascent Republic of Ireland refused to lend airbases to the Allies during the Battle of the Atlantic, with Nazis sat 23 miles from England for fear of Imperialism by the back door.
Thus, in Ireland, imperialism was considered a greater evil than Nazi Germany running rampant across Europe. According to the very national soul of the Republic, The English should leave Northern Ireland as their presence there is purely imperialism.
In eRepublik, Northern Ireland is, and its population and business owners wish it to be, a part of the United Kingdom. However eIreland has invaded and conquered the north, and fought to put down a resistance. Northern Ireland is now a part of the eIrish Empire.
Paradox 2: Imperialism is now OK as we're doing it to our neighbour.
In eRepublik, the UK and the nation of Ireland (to distinguish it from the Island of Ireland -- the island's name came first) have had cordial and friendly relations since the dawn of V1. When in-game treaties were believed to be enforceable by contracts, there was the Raleigh accord:
* Ireland and the UK could never enter into a state of war;
* they would respect each others' territorial integrity;
* they would materially aid the other in the event of an invasion.
Three months ago, Admin declared country-country contracts were invalid in all but the most contrived circumstances. Raleigh could no longer be enforced, but remained on the respective countries statute books.
eIreland and eUK's top eRugby lads bonded in friendship and about to lose to someone.
Then the US finally invaded the UK. Ireland chose not to aid the UK either fiscally or militarily and thus the treaty was finally seen to be dead in spirit as well as on paper. The UK may have viewed this as not particularly friendly behaviour. To rub salt in the wounds, Ireland signed an MPP with the USA. Again, signing up to the UK's greatest enemy may have been viewed in some circles as a not all that friendly gesture.
The big one. The UK retreated Northern Ireland to Norway. Ireland, spying a chance to launch its imperial career, negotiated for the acquisition of the north from Norway, and the Empire of Ireland was founded.
General feeling in the upper echelons of the eUK population was this was a good thing as eIreland would, despite the slightly obtuse behaviour above, make friendly custodians for the duration of the war, and would doubtlessly return Northern Ireland once the US hordes had been repelled. After all, UK and Ireland are still friends, yes?
As it turned out, no.
The Irish PM, upon learning that the eUK had had the temerity to stump up the cash to start the liberating rebellion, delivered this article.
Paradox number 3: despite three acts that could be viewed by many as overtly hostile rather than those of closest friends and buddies, the Irish prime minister accuses the UK of false friendship.
Hey, Dish! I took one of your arms and didn't help when you got the black eyes. Why aren't you being friendly?
eIrishmen and eAmericans who hold Ireland dear, ask yourself this: have you argued all your life against the conquest of others territories, the occupation of foreign lands and against old-fashioned gunboat imperialism to throw that all away and fight in a war to preserve the forcible occupation of another country's land? The Irish, with American help, are empire-building.
That's not just a paradox: it's a betrayal of your nations' most fundamental values.
You may have noticed there's a resistance war going on in Northern Ireland. This, so the received wisdom taught in the Republic goes, should be a good thing. After all, the people of Northern Ireland should rise up against their English oppressors and join with the Republic, yes?
The evil UKball rolling into other people's territory.
The only trouble with this school of thought is that the majority of the people in the real life Northern Ireland want nothing of the sort to happen and so, when eRepublik drew up its countries, Northern Ireland remained attached, as it was since its inception, to the United Kingdom.
This leads to paradox no. 1: the citizens of of Ireland, a country whose very existence came about through rebellion, are opposing a rebellion in Northern Ireland they would normally clamour for.
Irish student protests at the thought of liberating The North.
The English occupation of the six counties of Northern Ireland, as it's believed to be, is an example of imperialism: the taking of another's territory by the long-since discredited Right Of Conquest.
Imperialism, so it goes, is bad in all its forms. Witness the outcry against perceived US economic imperialism in the Middle East or the unease with the cultural imperialism the Francophone world sees the Anglosphere as perpetrating.
Looks nice, sounds terrible: in France, there's a limit on English songs on the radio for fear of linguistic imperialism.
Part of the conditions for the US rendering aid to the Allies in WW2 was the dismantling of Imperial assets by Britain. The nascent Republic of Ireland refused to lend airbases to the Allies during the Battle of the Atlantic, with Nazis sat 23 miles from England for fear of Imperialism by the back door.
Thus, in Ireland, imperialism was considered a greater evil than Nazi Germany running rampant across Europe. According to the very national soul of the Republic, The English should leave Northern Ireland as their presence there is purely imperialism.
In eRepublik, Northern Ireland is, and its population and business owners wish it to be, a part of the United Kingdom. However eIreland has invaded and conquered the north, and fought to put down a resistance. Northern Ireland is now a part of the eIrish Empire.
Paradox 2: Imperialism is now OK as we're doing it to our neighbour.
In eRepublik, the UK and the nation of Ireland (to distinguish it from the Island of Ireland -- the island's name came first) have had cordial and friendly relations since the dawn of V1. When in-game treaties were believed to be enforceable by contracts, there was the Raleigh accord:
* Ireland and the UK could never enter into a state of war;
* they would respect each others' territorial integrity;
* they would materially aid the other in the event of an invasion.
Three months ago, Admin declared country-country contracts were invalid in all but the most contrived circumstances. Raleigh could no longer be enforced, but remained on the respective countries statute books.
eIreland and eUK's top eRugby lads bonded in friendship and about to lose to someone.
Then the US finally invaded the UK. Ireland chose not to aid the UK either fiscally or militarily and thus the treaty was finally seen to be dead in spirit as well as on paper. The UK may have viewed this as not particularly friendly behaviour. To rub salt in the wounds, Ireland signed an MPP with the USA. Again, signing up to the UK's greatest enemy may have been viewed in some circles as a not all that friendly gesture.
The big one. The UK retreated Northern Ireland to Norway. Ireland, spying a chance to launch its imperial career, negotiated for the acquisition of the north from Norway, and the Empire of Ireland was founded.
General feeling in the upper echelons of the eUK population was this was a good thing as eIreland would, despite the slightly obtuse behaviour above, make friendly custodians for the duration of the war, and would doubtlessly return Northern Ireland once the US hordes had been repelled. After all, UK and Ireland are still friends, yes?
As it turned out, no.
The Irish PM, upon learning that the eUK had had the temerity to stump up the cash to start the liberating rebellion, delivered this article.
Paradox number 3: despite three acts that could be viewed by many as overtly hostile rather than those of closest friends and buddies, the Irish prime minister accuses the UK of false friendship.
Hey, Dish! I took one of your arms and didn't help when you got the black eyes. Why aren't you being friendly?
eIrishmen and eAmericans who hold Ireland dear, ask yourself this: have you argued all your life against the conquest of others territories, the occupation of foreign lands and against old-fashioned gunboat imperialism to throw that all away and fight in a war to preserve the forcible occupation of another country's land? The Irish, with American help, are empire-building.
That's not just a paradox: it's a betrayal of your nations' most fundamental values.
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Newpapermaxx.
It is sad that a country such as eIreland would be reduced to RL prejudices and politics.
Empire-Building....LOL
It's all fun and games until the Brits get puckered. Then cries of foul are aplenty. Maybe there would be some sympathies, but after the action surrounding the start of the RWs, good luck...
A gem of an article amongst all the emotion-fuelled propaganda.
Great Article, the Irish have dissapointed me.
Ireland for the Irish. All of it.
FIGHT GREEN!
"It is sad that a country such as eIreland would be reduced to RL prejudices and politics."
If we don't have RL stuff, all we have are the dick size comparison contests of the governments of eCountries, and those are no real fun for anyone.
No we are not an empire we are not imperiallistic there was 100 citizens in Northen Ireland and most were inactive and even if all were active and opposed it, it was still only 100 citizens the only people opposed to this was the mainland brits who wanted he territory only as an extra region to there empire. Us Irishmen only want are island unified nothin more nothing less and it does have are name written on it dosent it?
Blah blah blah. Let's do the cliff notes version of this article.
"Northern Ireland should belong to the English because the admins have a sick sense of humor about national borders. Oh, and the Irish actually want to be British. So please stop fighting back as we try to spread our stain on your fair island."
Next time try doing some concern trolling that isn't complete clownshoes. Ireland is United, as it should have always been, and as it should remain.
Well said Dismortis
Excellent article. Voted and sub'd.
@Risk201: There were 100 citizens in Northern Ireland because most had left to defend London. Besides which, what does it matter if there were 100, 10 or 1?
As a person from Northern Ireland, I can tell you it wasn't only the "mainland Brits" who wanted it. We Irishmen wanted it too.
As for the name: The Republic of Ireland has our name in it too - maybe we should take it all.
Northern Ireland for the Irish: fight RED for the resistance!
@Dismortis:
"Next time try doing some concern trolling that isn't complete clownshoes. Ireland is United, as it should have always been, and as it should remain."
So sayeth the Plastic One!
Risk201: Your not an empire or imperialistic for wanting Northern Ireland, but the eUnited Kingdom is?
So what your saying is, if Ireland wants a region its okay because it has their name in it, but if the UK wants a region because its historically and politically accepted that its theres and the admin put it in as their region, its not okay and imperialistic to DARE to keep your home region? The BLASPHEMY!
I agree that Ireland should be the entire island, I just like having a good old fashioned argument. XD
But I think Ireland SHOULD have a united Island so I'm here to keep the limeys away 😛
"As a person from Northern Ireland, I can tell you it wasn't only the "mainland Brits" who wanted it. We Irishmen wanted it too."
Unionists aren't Irish, they say so themselves...
But it feels so gooooood
@Henry Black: Amusing. You're incapable of attacking the message, so you try to attack the messenger. A rather feeble attack too, why not try "I know you are but what am I?" next time.
Oh, and here's golf clap for your transparent efforts to misdirect good Irish partiots into fighting for your English masters. I tried not to laugh at someone rocking an English flag avatar claiming to be Irish, but damned if I didn't chuckle.
It's easy to remember: Green for the lands of United Ireland, and Red for the Redcoats. I wish I could be surprised at such craven deception, but I assume you're attached to the eUK government. Lying seems to be a habit for that pack of jackals... they told PHEONIX that they'd fight, for one.
Fighting Green in Ireland is the only natural, logical thing to do.
Dismortis
That is a Union Jack
Henry tried to misdirect nobody.
We did Fight
It is spelt 'Phoenix'
eUK and eIreland have been allies for an entire year before you were e-born.
@Brian Boru
If you use RL motivations, you just end up spiraling lower than the Phoenix trolls.
If you want Northern Ireland, take it! Don't just say it is your right as Irish, say it because you want the damned thing!
It is time for Ireland to stop being pansies, and start doing what you need.
Oh, and slán abhaile, eEnglish... GTFO of Eire.
Its sad the British subugated so many people for so long 🙁
Excellent article. Nice change of pace from all the other bs.
NI for the UK together!!!
@Tomazim:
The name of your flag is irrelevant to the argument. It has no place on Irish soil. Other nations shook off British imperialism, but the Irish do not have the luxury of long distances to shield them from the predations of the English rulers.
Your man Henry has been doing the same as many other English agents, misrepresenting the lines of battle. I assume it's because the British government has no confidence in it's own people to achieve victory. It wouldn't be the first time they sold the British people short. Last week, anyone?
The British people fought nobly right up to the point that the eUK government showed a yellow streak and spat in the face of your Phoenix allies AND the proud English military.
Picking out a typo? A typo means nothing. One could address your failure to use complete sentences, but sort of meaningless posturing is beneath me.
Attacking my relative youth instead of my message only further shows your desperation. As for previous alliances... I've read that England was allied to Canada and the US in the past too. Oh, and of course there's the current alliance with PHOENIX. You remember them, right? They're the ones who invested blood and treasure to support England. Right up to the point where your government bent at the knees.
Well Trent Lawrence you have controlled that region for 2 Erublik years and 400 real years just think of it as a rebellion and we are taking back what has long been held from us
@Brian: "Unionists aren't Irish, they say so themselves..."
This has to be the most ill-informed comment from you yet, Brian.
True, you may find a few hard-core orangemen who will deny they're Irish, or say they 'NordIrish' or something, but if you're from the island of Ireland, you're Irish in the same way as if you're from the Isle of Man, you're Manx. 95% of those from the North can comprehend this.
All the RL Northern Irish people I know are happily Irish, only one of which could claim to be a republican. Of course they're *also* British (since Unitedkingdomish doesn't work as a word).
"despite three acts that could be viewed by many as overtly hostile rather than those of closest friends and buddies, the Irish prime minister accuses the UK of false friendship."
This is my favourite bit.
Ooooh this is totally hilarious!
Just imagine for a moment that any of you had some real power or influence, in the real world? Now that would be big fun, wouldn't it?
/me is enjoying my mini-break back home, munches sodabread toast, drinks Lyon's tea, and bangs out some rebel songs in me battle-boots.
Ach Men, such strange wee creatures.
😃
"The name of your flag is irrelevant to the argument. It has no place on Irish soil."
It's the national flag of the country Northern Ireland is a part of. It contains the Cross of St Patrick. It exists to symbolise the union of the Islands of Great Britain and Ireland. It has *every right* to be on Irish soil. The soil of the six counties at the top of Ireland that are part of the UK.
I think you miss important points in this matter my friend.
You say there are so few British in NI because they had to move to London recently. You forget that all the Irish in NI had to move to the southern counties AS SOON AS THEY STARTED playing. They were down here all along mate!
We'll pass over the fact that to date, Ireland has never attempted to take another country's land, a claim our brothers in the UK can't begin to make. Which is why when a mob of angry countries came calling at your door we didn't get involved. You reaped what you sowed.
You claim that as the admins based possession of NI upon the world of today, the Irish are wrong for feeling it belongs to them.
If this game had been made 100yrs ago would you feel that the Irish would be wrong for wanting a sovereign nation at all?
Roll the clock back a little further.
Would the Americans be wrong for wanting a nation?
How about India?
I could literally go on for a whole page with this, but it's more simply put in these terms:
The UK using the term 'imperialism' is about the same as a white guy using the 'N' word. It just doesn't fly mate!
Having said all that, I like nearly all the Brits I meet both here and RL. Some really cool guys by and large.
Still
@Trent Lawrence: "I agree that Ireland should be the entire island, I just like having a good old fashioned argument. XD"
Ireland is the whole island.
The Republic of Ireland isn't though.
@Brian Boru: "Unionists aren't Irish, they say so themselves..."
Don't bother trying to tell me who I am or who I'm not - you know frig all about it.
Yours,
A unionist.
@Dismortis: "Amusing. You're incapable of attacking the message, so you try to attack the messenger. A rather feeble attack too, why not try "I know you are but what am I?" next time."
Obviously my point went right over your head. Of course, you may not actually be Canadian IRL but, you know - the point is made: I actually live here. It's my way of telling you that we don't care what you think.
"Oh, and here's golf clap for your transparent efforts to misdirect good Irish partiots into fighting for your English masters."
English masters? WTF are you talking about? Which century are you even living in for God's sake!?
"I tried not to laugh at someone rocking an English flag avatar claiming to be Irish, but damned if I didn't chuckle."
Perhaps you'd like to tell me who has this English flag you speak of.
If you're thinking of laughing at someone, you might as well get your facts right beforehand. Otherwise you're laughing at a nonsense.
I find the irony very amusing. Maybe you should read a good history book some time. 😉
I think we're gonna have to rename Edenderry after this!
@Bristel Akina: "Oh, and slán abhaile, eEnglish... GTFO of Eire."
The English aren't in Éire. They're in England. As fellow British citizens though, they're helping us Irish get Northern Ireland back for the Union.
Fight RED for the Northern Irish!
Vive la résistance!
This is generating a lot of posts! Forgive me for answering with several posts at once, in a row.
@Dismortis: "It has no place on Irish soil. Other nations shook off British imperialism, but the Irish do not have the luxury of long distances to shield them from the predations of the English rulers."
Here's another one who lives his life in a previous century!
"Your man Henry has been doing the same as many other English agents"
Other? I'm not English mate - I'm Irish. Get it right. Read a book!
"but sort of meaningless posturing is beneath me."
And yet here you are... posturing meaninglessly.
"I've read that England was allied to Canada and the US in the past too."
Still having difficulties with the name of the country?
@Risk201:
"Well Trent Lawrence you have controlled that region for 2 Erublik years and 400 real years just think of it as a rebellion and we are taking back what has long been held from us"
The Republic of Ireland has only existed for about sixty years. As an almost independent entity, a total of about 89 years. So where does this 400 years come from..?
How the hell are you using the Gadsden flag?
@AFL: it's an American symbol of rebellion from an imperial power. Just what Northern Ireland was trying to do from its occupiers. The final paragraph was directed both to the Irish and the Americans who supported them.