By John O’Riordan
July 27, 2009
The Irish in San Francisco gathered for a community meeting in the Sunset District on June 27th to discuss the goal of a united Ireland. The community spoke with one voice and made clear that the Irish in San Francisco and throughout California maintain a determination to strive for a united Ireland.
Subsequently, The Irish American Democratic Club, supported by the Irish American Caucus of the California Democratic Party, took the initiative of writing a resolution that would make Irish unification part of California Democratic Party policy.
The Irish American Democratic Club is one of the largest political clubs in The City and takes its role as the voice of the Irish in San Francisco politics very seriously. Since the club’s foundation, it has been consistently committed to the peaceful unification of Ireland.
The resolution co-authored by Jeannie Maher, President Irish American Democratic Club states in part that “the California Democratic Party strongly supports Irish reunification and urges both the State Legislature and the California Democratic Congressional delegation to support all peaceful actions that support the final reunification of the island of Ireland [Eire] by all electoral and diplomatic means necessary.”
The resolution was co-sponsored by Senator John Burton, Chairman of the California Democratic Party. It was debated by the Irish American Democratic Club on July 14th. A motion to adopt the resolution was made by legendary Democratic Party activist Jane Morrison, and seconded by Joan Simmons, President of the Democratic Women’s Forum. The motion was passed unanimously.
Senator Burton was previously responsible for introducing SB-105 that required the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and the State Teachers’ Retirement System (STRS) to annually investigate the extent to which U.S. corporations operating in Northern Ireland adhered to the MacBride Principles. The MacBride Principles, consisting of nine fair employment affirmative action principles, are designed to undermine the systematic practice and endemic nature of anti-Catholic discrimination in the north of Ireland. SB-105 was signed into law in 1999.
The California Democratic Party executive board meeting in Burlingame was attended by Jim Wachob, John O’Riordan, Jeannie Maher and Mary O’Riordan from the Irish American Democratic Club board. They were supported by Linda Post, past Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, along with Hene Kelly and Michael Goldstein, members of the San Francisco DCCC.
The California Democratic Party executive board unanimously endorsed the unification resolution on July 19th, thereby making it official policy of the California Democratic Party. A copy of the resolution will be forwarded to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
This resolution reflects the desire of the Irish to attain the goal of the political unification of the island of Ireland. It is expected that this resolution will act as a source of inspiration to Irish people throughout the world. It demonstrates that while not living in Ireland, it is still possible to support and encourage the continued development of the island.
Britain has stated that it has no selfish or strategic interest in the north of Ireland. It is thus clear that the road to a united Ireland lies on the island of Ireland. It is the Irish people who will create the parameters within which a united Ireland can exist. But they will do so knowing that they have the support of Americans, and especially the California Democratic Party.
In the era of Obama, can we be successful and see the dream of a united Ireland converted into reality?
Is f̩idir linn РYes we can!
John O’Riordan sits on the board of the Irish American Democratic Club.
The Hunger Site
February 16, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Re: ‘Alex Beck’ and ‘James67’
You cannot automatically assume that the ‘majority’ of the NI population want to remain a part of the UK, without taking this into account:
the majority happen to be made up of those who originally settled on the land (with no legitimate rights to it) – Similar to the Jewish settlers on the Palestinian land. In this case, pro-british settlers got ‘free’ land taken off the native Irish in the 6 counties – thats why you want to remain a part of the UK.
Also, the north of Ireland belongs to the Republic because its their country. No settler is going to prevent that from happening, PERIOD!
September 16, 2009 at 4:15 am
we are part of the UK because we want to be not bc we are being forced to be part of the UK its been decided on the principal of consent just because we share an Island does not mean we should unite does this mean that in the future the people of Canada will vote to “Unite ” with the United States of America … ? I very much doubt it I wish people in America would keep their noses out of Our business we aint being occupied by the “Evil British” we are British !!!! Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom based on the principal of consent simpe if we want a UI (United Ireland ) we can vote on it but it will never happen so dont hold your breath people in the Rep of Ireland have no desire for a United Ireland end of story…
July 29, 2009 at 6:25 pm
To “Truth”:
If the UK government of Northern Ireland was replaced with government from the Irish Republic (Dublin) there would be an all out WAR. The Ulster people will fight for there FREEDOM. More than one million people who are the majority will not be occupied by a Southern government. “Truth” if you really believe your lies, try actually going to Belfast and talking to the real people on the Shankill Road. They will tell you where to go!
July 28, 2009 at 10:52 pm
“Britain has stated that it has no selfish or strategic interest in the north of Ireland. It is thus clear that the road to a united Ireland lies on the island of Ireland.”
Sure, if you are naive enough to accept Britain’s word that it has no selfish or strategic interest in the Occupied Six Counties, which is laughable.
To “Democrat”: “The whole of Ireland” has not voted on anything as a single unit since the General Election of 1918 when it voted overwhelmingly in favor of Sinn Fein. As Sinn Fein’s platform was for a sovereign 32-County Irish Republic, free of any British interference, then so-called “Northern Ireland” is inherently undemocratic. It was undemocratic for the British to force a treaty upon the Irish people, against their wishes and under threat of “immediate and terrible war”, which ceded six of their 32 counties to British control. The British simply created, via gerrymandering, a new, false political entity and called it “Northern Ireland”. It’s illegitimate and it’s undemocratic.
July 28, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Since Ireland was only ever united under the British crown “RE-unification” seems a bit strange since a fraction of a % of Irish people in the Republic of Ireland would want to rejoin the United Kingdon.
Using the term REunification is simply trying to make it sound like it is the way it was meant to be before the bad Brits got involved. The truth is that prior to the Act of Union with Great Britain, Ireland had never ever had a single jurisdiction.
The whole of Ireland has democratically mandated Northern Ireland to remain in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, unless at some point in the future there is a situation where the majority of people in Northern Ireland vote to leave this Union. Why does a party in the USA interfere with silly Policies like this against the democratic will of both jurisdictions in Ireland?
July 28, 2009 at 1:20 pm
When will Americans learn to stop medaling in other countries–be it Korea, Vietnam, Iraq or Northern Ireland. I was born and raised in Belfast and can assure you that the MAJORITY of people in Northern Ireland do NOT want to be united with the Irish Republic (Eire). We have already had several democratic referendums on this question and the voters say NO! Fix your own country first, before screwing up the rest of the world. By the way, if your not born in Ireland–your not Irish. Butt out and we will not have to yell Yankee go home!
–A proud Ulsterman