1. personal opinions, why should we care.

Posted at 8:28PM on Sep 18th 2008 by Myles

2. I agree tottaly

Posted at 2:44PM on Sep 22nd 2008 by Maddie

3. "I imagine, had I grown up in Belfast, I would 100 percent have been in the IRA"

""I imagine, had I grown up in Boston in 1776, I would 100 percent have been in the Continental Army"

""I imagine, had I grown up in Soweto Township in 1985, I would 100 percent have been in the African National Congress"

""I imagine, had I grown up in Paris in 1944, I would 100 percent have been in the Resistance"

"I imagine, had I grown up in Gaza City in 2008, I would 100 percent have been in the PLO."

I'm not sure I see a difference in freedom fighters here.

Posted at 9:23PM on Sep 18th 2008 by Joseph J. Finn

4. Don't forget Al Qaeda in 2001.
As someone who lived through the IRA terror campaign on British Soil I'm not sure I see a difference here.

Posted at 2:53AM on Sep 19th 2008 by mten

5. One committing a terror attack against a country that wasn't occupying their country (Al Queda against the USA, and one that was (Irish Vs Britain). A wee bit of difference right there.

Posted at 10:41AM on Sep 19th 2008 by Joseph J. Finn

6. Finn: One of the reasons the IRA never gained widespread acceptance in the US beyond Irish Catholic Americans is Republican embrace/idolization of Palestinian terrorists. I suggest that you read up on that conflict before comparing it to N.I. One major difference you may want to keep in mind: the PLO and other Palestinian groups purposefully targeted civilians, including children. Yes, they shot children. The Provos made great efforts to target only combatants and to limit civilian casualties of either religious/political affiliation. (For other readers: Omagh was carried out by a splinter group not affiliated with the Provosional IRA and not part of the peace process.) Rose McGowan is a stupid cow for making her comments because she's a spoiled millionaire princess who lives in La La Land and is served breakfast in bed on a silver tray. She has not legitimacy to any opinon on the Troubles because she did not live through it. It's an academic question. But the real reason it was so silly of her to make the statement is that she glorifies war. Only an ass who has never had to suffer war would stand up and make grand statements about "the cause." I'll wager every IRA soldier, now grateful to be peacefully retired, thinks Rose McGowan is a fool. But back to the main point: you're a fucking idiot for comparing the IRA to the PLO.

Posted at 12:56PM on Sep 19th 2008 by Kevin O'Leary

7. why should we care.....lets see.....are we human....do you know anything about ireland......it's people....this terrible conflict that has killed and maimed so many people.......that a silly child should be so bold as to make the statement without truly knowing what they are speaking of..that they would have belonged to something...that has torn a country...a people apart...

Posted at 9:35PM on Sep 18th 2008 by jen

8. This film is nothing but a fluff piece from one person's perspective which will most likely show everything based on their opinion. Jen, as someone who DOES know Irish history, and knows it fairly well, I can tell you that I would agree with Rose 100%. The IRA were no more terrorists than the Continental Army was when they destroyed ships and supplies belonging to the British. In fact, in Britain they WERE called terrorists, which is exactly the case here. The British were the ones in power, the ones who controlled all media from the area, and are the ones who wrote the headlines and wrote history.

I may not have joined the IRA, but they would have had my support. And I mean the IRA, not one of the many splinter groups who had no official affiliation with the IRA and were no more than gangs. These groups used the IRA name to commit crimes, not fight for their freedom.

Posted at 10:29PM on Sep 18th 2008 by Ryan

9. I stand with rose 100%. I would have joined in also. As a matter of fact I consider it un american to bash her for her comment. After all we did basically the same thing to free ourselves from British rule. What would you do if another country was trying to un-fairly rule the country you lived in?

Posted at 10:33PM on Sep 18th 2008 by Bob

10. Yeah, who cares about all those dead, INNOCENT people that died at Enniskillen or Omagh when you can fight in a glorious revolution. American Ignorance is disgusting. You don't know what you're talking about so shut yer face. Being of Irish blood, I believe in a united Ireland but I do not believe in shedding the blood of the innocent in order to achieve it. Do some reading before you open your stupid mouth...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Troubles_in_Enniskillen

Posted at 3:50AM on Sep 19th 2008 by Marty J

11. Marty, just to be clear, you are talking about the Provisional IRA not the IRA.

And just to be balanced, you really should also put the wikipedia link to the article on the UDA. These are the terrorists who were fighting for the other side, helped in part it seems by the British Government.

I would hate to think that you believe that the Provo's were the only ones capable of murder.

[url] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Defence_Association#References [/url]

Posted at 3:59AM on Sep 19th 2008 by Gary

12. As usual, total American ignorance of any other countries culture or history. Rose has no idea what she is talking about, and no concept of how her naive comments have offended people.

To the people that say they would have joined the IRA, would you join Al Queda?? Didn't think so.

Idiots.

Posted at 11:46PM on Sep 18th 2008 by SaltireBlue

13. Really? She's one hundred percent sure she would have joined IRA if she had been born there and then?


You know, Miss McGowan, as evidenced by the actual conflict, percentages may vary...

Posted at 12:38AM on Sep 19th 2008 by Batzarro

14. Well when I wrote about it just after her comments were made it was reported that she said...

"Violence is not to be played out daily and provide an answer to problems, but I understand it."

...I think that's a pretty serious quote.

It does continue to show the US romantic affiliation for what some would call "the cause", "the troubles", and so on.

Those would be words to describe bombing campaigns that kills women and children, how romantic.

It's not just Irish people who are angered at the comments though, it's British.

Posted at 2:05AM on Sep 19th 2008 by Richard Brunton (Filmstalker)

15. And how many people were outraged when most of the music world were trying to "Freeeee, eeeeeee, Nelson Mandella"?

It's the same old story, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter and the only difference is which side of the fence you happened to be born.

Hence why Western policies can be so hypocritical it is unreal. The facts are that what Britain did to Ireland over the last few centuries was atrocious. The IRA was a legitimate army, not a terrorists group, it was the Army of the Republic of Ireland and fought a bloody war of independence to free themselves of British rule.

The provisional IRA and everyone else that followed were a terrorist group, maybe one with an honest political point to make but still a terrorist group. BUT the IRA, the Irish Republican Army were not a terrorist group and I would be offended by anybody who would suggest they were.

Eric, do you mean the Provisional IRA?

Who do you think half the streets in Dublin are named after? Do you really think a country would do that for Terrorists?

Posted at 3:06AM on Sep 19th 2008 by Gary

16. You beat me to it, Gary.

Frankly, McGowan's comments may have been a bit flippant -- but
there is a VAST realm of difference from the IRA Michael Collins formed, and the splinter factions that don't care who they kill or maim, or where their money comes from. No, there's no glory in killing innocent Irish and British citizens -- but Collins' IRA was something to be admired.

I highly recommend all the "omg its terrorism!" commentors read Tim Pat Coogan's "Michael Collins: A Biography." It's a fantastic book, and sheds a lot of light on the situation in early 20th century Ireland. Collins, for the record, refused to ever take the fight to English soil and attack British civilians. Some wanted to, but he refused. He wasn't perfect, he wasn't an innocent man, he could be cruel -- but he was a soldier, who attacked British soldiers and agents. And I'm confident he would have been appalled at what atrocities have been committed by the modern splinter groups.

I would have joined Collins' IRA in a heartbeat. I think most of the people in this discussion would, had they been living in Ireland and experienced life under British rule. He's STILL a hero in Ireland, and deservedly so.

(Now, before anyone flames me -- I've been to England, I have English friends, they are not BAD people but the crown's treatment of many countries was appalling.)

A bit off the subject, but, one of the most chilling moments I ever had in a history class was when my Irish history professor proudly handed around a photo the last day of class -- an old, black and white photo from 1920 or so of one of Collins' "flying columns" that hunted down British soldiers. And there was my professor's dad, holding a rifle. There's no doubt as to what my professor thought of the original IRA...

Posted at 5:38AM on Sep 19th 2008 by Elisabeth

17. shes not a politician or a lawmaker, she's an actress and she said something about the role she played. i think its time to stop raising issues about a comment and start fighting or talking about some real problems!

Posted at 3:25AM on Sep 19th 2008 by nazia

18. I agree.

Posted at 9:16AM on Sep 19th 2008 by GL

19. There are people on here, i presume British who are drawing conclusions with 9/11. What a load of tosh.

Do you actually realize why Ireland had to fight for independence from Britain in 1921? Have you never wondered why Northern Ireland belongs to the UK in the first place?

Britain invaded ireland and ruled for over 700 years, the Irish people had no rights to govern themselves or rule their own land throughout that time. The British took land, evicted families, made it impossible for the Irish to work or own property. Irish people were treated like scum, and when the potato famine came Britain watched a million people die while another million were forced to leave ireland for the US.

This is what the IRA was fighting against. How dare you even think of comparing that to 9/11.

Northern Ireland is still part of Britain for one reason only, Plantation. That is filling Ulster with as many British (Lots of Scottish) Protestants as possible so that when it came time for a vote the Irish Catholics were in a minority. A shameful practice.

When you think of some of the worlds wrongs that Britain lectures against on a daily basis it is laughable.

Please, I know they do not teach this in British schools but go and read something about the history of Ireland and then come back and liken the IRA to Al Queda.

Posted at 3:26AM on Sep 19th 2008 by Gary

20. So, are the insurgents in Iraq justified in setting roadside bombs and killing American soldiers? Or, is it a case of a friendly invasion as opposed to the invasion of Ireland?

Posted at 7:39AM on Sep 19th 2008 by Andy