One irony is that the dublin southsiders who were willing to accept the opprobrium of voting SF back in the nineties when they would get about 1% of first preferences then faced the opprobrium of Sinn Fein in the noughties and got kicked out for their socially catholic and pro life views.
I agree with a lot of your take but I don't think the Electric Picnicers are really cheering in favour of something. I think they are enjoying, enormously enjoying, putting the wind up their respectable betters.
It's the countercultural nature of "ooh ah up the ra" more than the republicanism of it.
And speaking of... the up the ra chorus of "sam missiles in the sky" is way better.
This piece is excellent as always, thanks for writing.
I continue to be amazed at the parallels between the upwardly mobile, privileged class in America with that in Europe. I blame the smartphone but maybe it’s always been this way.
One (superficial) difference is these folks in America wouldn’t be caught dead publicly belting out patriotic or rebel music!
There's also another dynamic coming in sideways. Middle class socially conformist southsiders are a tad on the white, rich side. A touch of victimhood helps ease the guilt - you can't be a member if the oppressor class if you side with rebels, can you.
One irony is that the dublin southsiders who were willing to accept the opprobrium of voting SF back in the nineties when they would get about 1% of first preferences then faced the opprobrium of Sinn Fein in the noughties and got kicked out for their socially catholic and pro life views.
I agree with a lot of your take but I don't think the Electric Picnicers are really cheering in favour of something. I think they are enjoying, enormously enjoying, putting the wind up their respectable betters.
It's the countercultural nature of "ooh ah up the ra" more than the republicanism of it.
And speaking of... the up the ra chorus of "sam missiles in the sky" is way better.
https://youtu.be/cpl-MZP4j1I?si=dgsCvDWEKPIh5wFz&t=65
This piece is excellent as always, thanks for writing.
I continue to be amazed at the parallels between the upwardly mobile, privileged class in America with that in Europe. I blame the smartphone but maybe it’s always been this way.
One (superficial) difference is these folks in America wouldn’t be caught dead publicly belting out patriotic or rebel music!
Nicely observed Conor.
There's also another dynamic coming in sideways. Middle class socially conformist southsiders are a tad on the white, rich side. A touch of victimhood helps ease the guilt - you can't be a member if the oppressor class if you side with rebels, can you.