Quote Originally Posted by Tribesman
Nah lets make it personal .....So Banquo , as someone who joined another countries military , as someone who has expressed sympathies for republican ideals (whatever they amount to nowadays but in no way implying you support republican terrorism which is quite different) . Were you tempted to avail of the oppertunity to join a British regiment that cannot serve in the 6 ?
Oh dear, I suspect my inconsistencies are about to be exposed - which is not a happy prospect on a cold morning.

My republicanism is rooted in my family's (and personal) commitment to a fully united Ireland where all Irishmen enjoy the benefits of liberty, equal rights and freedom from religious persecution or controls. It is not a party political republicanism.

My belief requires that the Protestants and Unionists of the north have just those rights - and while they desire to remain part of the United Kingdom, whilst it frustrates my personal hopes, it should be a determination left to that community - influenced I hope by good argument.

My perhaps quixotic reasons for joining the British Army were influenced by the belief that the PIRA and its terrorism fundamentally subverted the Ireland I believed in. The only way for me to be true to my ideals, was (perversely) to join the forces of the country my ancestors had fought so long to eject - though again, plenty of the men in the vault worked closely with the occupiers when it suited. Of course, young men are too idealistic, and it wasn't long after the start of my first tour in Ulster that I understood a bit more of the complexities. (Ground glass sandwich, anyone?)

So part of my reasons to join was to serve in the North - to serve the Irish people, regardless of the coloured cloth they waved on the 12th.

Yes, naive. One is at 21.

*Awaits Tribesman's scythe.*