Protestant Propaganda Essay -- Ireland Propaganda Essays

Protestant Propaganda What do you think of when you hear the name Ireland? Ireland is a relatively small island off the coast of Great Britain with a land area of 32,424 square miles (Delaney 2). There are several things that you may associate with this country such as St. Patrick’s Day, shamrocks, beer, and strife. The source of the bitterness behind this conflict began centuries ago, when Britain came over and forced Protestantism on the Irish Catholic inhabitants. For this reason there has always been an animosity between the Protestants and the Irish Catholics. The island is broken up into two distinct regions. The Republic of Ireland consists of twenty-six counties, which make up the southern region. This area is predominantly Roman Catholic. Northern Ireland is made up of the six northern counties, which are under British rule and predominately Protestant. Both sides use propaganda to spread their ideas and gain support. They each have organizations, such as the I.R.A., in the south, and the U.V.F., in the north, which use peaceful methods such as newspapers and murals along with violence to fight for their cause. In Northern Ireland the Protestants used their position in the government to spread anti-Catholic propaganda and persecute the Catholic citizens. One way the Unionists, supporters of British rule whose majority is Protestant in faith, used the church is to help spread their anti-Catholic propaganda. Some Protestant ministers such as the Reverend Ian Paisley used pulpit to express his opinion. Catholics. Once while preaching in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, Reverend Paisley â€Å"calls down contumely on ... ... deadly. I do not think that the peaceful methods such as the use of newspapers, poetry, and film are as bad because they are nonviolent and do not physically harm anyone. However, I do not agree with the use of violence, such as, that on Bloody Sunday, nor do I agree with the use of the Lord’s house to teach hate and discrimination. It is not right to use the church for this purpose. One should not teach hate under the guise of God. It is also wrong to pass laws in order to persecute a minority. I can understand the reasons they did this, to gain and keep control, however that doesn’t make it right. The Protestants and Unionists were not the only ones who used these methods of propaganda; the Catholics and Nationalists did as well. Some of these methods have been used since the beginning of the conflict and will most likely continue for generations to come.