Speaker's Square, Dublin 2006.1.8. audio

by Colin Hatchett Wed Jan 11, 2006 03:10

Why on earth does Dublin City Council think it's doing, hosting this kind of brazen ranting and raging from a man with a history of convictions for violence against peace-loving airoplanes?

Oh, well, at least there were some good interjections:
"What happens if you get charged with two-and-a-half million, how do you pay it back?"

BTW, any photos?

by Ciaron Wed Jan 11, 2006 13:02

Well that's the problem isn't it. That the Dublin City Council could have the right to give and take democratic rights like free expression. Rather than rights being so intrinsic that they can't be legislated away by temporary administrations. So ridiculous is the situation presently that the initial act that created the Irish state - the posting of a poster on a wall is now a criminal offence in Dublin.

That free speech has been reduced to a tourist attraction in London's Hyde Park rather than a phenomenon that is common to every campus and village square is also indicative to the demise of democratic practice. That democracy is reduced to choosing between tweedly dum and tweedly dumber every four years is a sad joke. As the old saying goes "Free speech - use it or lose it!" In modern Ireland it has largely been lost as folks embrace their designated roles as passive consumers rather than active citizens.

Dublin's Speakers Square of a Sunday in Temple Bar was a wonderful experiment in democracy. Initiated, and carried largely, by Rossa around May Day 2003. Speakers Square ran consistently for the best part of two years with folks from near and far enjoying the spontaneity, humour and stimulation of robust debate in the streets. We also took the show on the road, doing speakers squares in Cork, Galway & the Electric Picnic. Although these experiments were greatly enjoyed by the locals they were not sustained by the activists.

The speakers corner has gradually petered out in Dublin. Largely because we never had the critical mass of regular speakers to sustain it. Left groups, NGO's, single issue campaigns remained
unconvinced on the worth of providing a regular speaker form their organisations. A sad reflection on the peace and justice movement along with its reactionary, campaign sirfing, ambulance chasing modus operandi.

Rossa is relocating from Dublin, so we went in last Sunday as a kind of finale and send off. I imagine there will contiue to be spontaneous efforts in Temple Bar, but it's kind of sad that it didn't take root as it should in Dublin.

Free expression is important to me personally as I grew up without it in the most authoritarian state in Australia. The link below is a text I produce in 1983 about the role of soapbox speaking and the struggle for free expression on Brisbane.

by Colin Hatchett Sat Jan 14, 2006 01:20

that private citizens should have the brazen cheek to take unto themselves the rights granted to them by the state, with the grace of the good Lord!

What in goodness' name would happen if we all acted like that, just speaking our minds in the street whenever it took our fancy?

Just who do you think paid for the so-called "free" speech that you so blythely call your own? Well? Have you ever thought about that, have you?

I'll tell you who paid for it: Pearse and Ceannt and all them brave boys paid for it, and paid for it dearly - WITH THEIR LIVES! And then you have the Gaul to invoke their names to your unholy cause!

If you spent as much time thinking as you spend shooting your mouth off, you might have second thoughts about this outrageous taking liberties with Irish freedoms, born and reared.

Standing on a soapbox, bold as a brazier!

I'll give you free speech! See if I don't!

by Supporter Sat Jan 14, 2006 03:03

I think it is a great idea and I just wanna say fair play to you guys for doing what you do.
Will speakers square be a regular thing every sunday?

by Ciaron Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:12

Mr. Hatchett,

I'm not sure what Pearse's position was on free speech. I do know i have to sign on at a cop shop named after him once a week. Free speech is for those who seize it and defend those they disagree with exercising it.

There was some confusion that might be replicated here about my reference on the box to 1916. My point was that it is a joke that the FF Govt. make any reference to nationalism when they don't have (or desire) an independent foreign policy and host 900 foreign troops daily at Shannon Airport on their way to an illegal war.

It was also not my choice to have the sppech last Sunday recorded and posted up here outside of real time.

by Colin Hatchett Sat Jan 14, 2006 21:21

Da's what Pearse would of said!

He would of said he hoped yis'd use da' soap instead of just emptying it out and standing on da empty box!

You say free speech is for dose who seize it and defend dose dey disagree wit exercising it, and I tink da's a great laugh! Da' means yous can stand on your soapbox and I can come and take de mickey and yis have got to defend my right to do da'! Sher, where's de sense in da'?

I agree wi' ya on one ting: I tink de speeches should never of been published in digital format. I don't dig it at all, if ya know wha' I meun. It only gives bowsies like me a chance to slag yis off under cover of some invented name to me heart's content.

How long can dis unnecessary and unwarranted provocation go on?