Were U2 pro IRA?

[david]

A guy on a Moby message board seems to think they were. Were they?

Click here to read the thread about Political Bands, and U2.

 

[Reggie Thee Dog]

Wow this incredible. U2, to my knowledge have never supported the IRA. On the contrary 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' was always introduced as a song that was NOT pro IRA, or not a rebel song. The IRA being the rebels. People get things confused obviously.

 

[david]

Wow this incredible. U2, to my knowledge have never supported the IRA. On the contrary 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' was always introduced as a song that was NOT pro IRA, or not a rebel song. The IRA being the rebels. People get things confused obviously.

Yeah, I didn't think they were either.

 

[what a bomb!]

Isn't it obvious in Bono's "Fuck the revolution speech" in Rattle and Hum? I think Bono has said he is a republican at heart, but would like to see a united Ireland by peaceful means.

 

[IWasBored]

i do beleive he said that, what a bomb.

that guy needs some sense beat into him...uh, not like i advocate violence...


i'm kind of glad i don't post there--i'd probably be forced to hate people after a while

 

[david]

i do beleive he said that, what a bomb.

that guy needs some sense beat into him...uh, not like i advocate violence...


i'm kind of glad i don't post there--i'd probably be forced to hate people after a while

Yeah, I could see how that could happen. I mean just now in that same thread someone is saying The Clash were "manufactured like any boy band today." I think this person is just misinformed, or is confusing The Clash with The Sex Pistols.

 

[IWasBored]

yeah, especially cos i'm a really big clash fan as well...

i'd want to kick some heads in...

 

[melon]

I set the Moby board straight.

Melon

 

[Bono's shades]

ARGH! I can't believe people are so stupid. That's not the first time I've heard someone claim U2 supported the IRA. It blows my mind how anyone could be so ignorant. It seems to me anyone that even knew a little bit about U2 would be able to figure out they would never support terrorists.

 

[IWasBored]

I set the Moby board straight.

Melon

googd, good, good. judging from other posts i assume you handled it intelligently and made them sound stupid. glad i refrained from trying cos i would have made an ass out of myself. and we don't want an ass representing u2 fans, now do we?

 

[verte76]

Damn, that's stupid. U2 supporting the IRA?? I remember running into some anti-U2 nut on an undisclosed mailing list, and the idiot thought they'd put out three albums. Some people.......opinions are cool but some people aren't.

 

[rjhbonovox]

yeah I think any band thats politically aware and comes from Rep of Ireland, like U2, are always tainted with the pro IRA tag. Its very obvious to anybody who is a fan of U2 that they have never supported the IRA, as pointed out above, the Rattle & Hum Sunday Bloody Sunday speech where Bono says Fuck the Revolution and goes on about all the Irish Americans that come up to him talking about the glory of the revolution back home, you can see that he really means what he says. Whoever says U2 are pro IRA talks out of their arse!!!!!

 

[verte76]

yeah I think any band thats politically aware and comes from Rep of Ireland, like U2, are always tainted with the pro IRA tag. Its very obvious to anybody who is a fan of U2 that they have never supported the IRA, as pointed out above, the Rattle & Hum Sunday Bloody Sunday speech where Bono says Fuck the Revolution and goes on about all the Irish Americans that come up to him talking about the glory of the revolution back home, you can see that he really means what he says. Whoever says U2 are pro IRA talks out of their arse!!!!!

So true..........

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

Yeah...how can anyone even think that?

Perhaps we should take that person who thought that, sit them down, and make them listen to Bono's speech from that "Sunday Bloody Sunday" performance.

I don't know if I've ever seen Bono as angry as he was that night before. He was pretty pissed off when he made that speech (and rightfully so).

U2 being pro-IRA would be like Charlton Heston being pro-gun control.

Angela

 

[bonoman]

Ok why is everyone getting so upset over this. Not everyone are U2 nuts. Not everyone knows exactly what Bono has said over the past 20 years.

I have many friends from NI and the south that think SBS is a rebel song. Any Irish person that hears a the title Sunday Bloody Sunday is going to be inclined to think it is a rebel song. Also the speech Bono does in rattle and hum really in my opinion doesnt only focus on the IRA. If anyone in this thread actually knows all there is to know about the troubles in Ireland you would know there have been more catholics killed then prodestents more republicans then loyalists. I dont excuse the IRA but it really pisses me off that everyone likes to focus on them alone and doesnt like to check the facts about the UDA UDF and the other loyalist terror groups. All we (we being NA) see are IRA attacks when in actuallity there are just as many instinces of attacks on Catholics. If you would like to look into the subject with a great easy read look at Behind the Mask: IRA and Sinn Fein.

PS: Iwasbored...love the pic of Gerry...best movie ever!

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

LOL, I just came back from viewing the Moby board. Whatever you think of him, that guy has an excellent site. I don't post there by the way, and couldn't be bothered to read the whole thing. The first post about No Logo was a carbon copy of something Nicky Wire told Q...ahh, Manic Street Preachers. My guilty pleasure.

What have you learned? Nothing. And no-one's going to post anymore in this thread because I have just posted. Aha!

Nah, seriously, I think it's the Ireland tag. If it was the Corrs, B*Witched or Ash, of course we won't think they're IRA-supporting, because they aren't singing about politics. But U2 are, and I think they felt the need to clarify that they did not support the IRA with the 'this is not a rebel song' speech in the 80s.

 

[Joshua_Tree_Hugger]

Being Irish I can confirm without doubt that U2 were 100% ANTI-I.R.A.

For proof check out the 2001-10-24 New York City boot. "For the first time, I salute the people of the I.R.A." (note the 'first' and note that this was because on the same day the I.R.A. agreed to a disarmerment policy, which Bono was commending because of their bravery to embrace peace).

 

[Ft. Worth Frog]

Hey Bonoman,
You ever read "Biting at the Grave" about Bobby Sands and the hunger strikers? Its an excellent book about the hunger strikers and even talks to their families and stuff.

 

[Laura M]

Ok why is everyone getting so upset over this. Not everyone are U2 nuts. Not everyone knows exactly what Bono has said over the past 20 years.

I have many friends from NI and the south that think SBS is a rebel song. Any Irish person that hears a the title Sunday Bloody Sunday is going to be inclined to think it is a rebel song. Also the speech Bono does in rattle and hum really in my opinion doesnt only focus on the IRA. If anyone in this thread actually knows all there is to know about the troubles in Ireland you would know there have been more catholics killed then prodestents more republicans then loyalists. I dont excuse the IRA but it really pisses me off that everyone likes to focus on them alone and doesnt like to check the facts about the UDA UDF and the other loyalist terror groups. All we (we being NA) see are IRA attacks when in actuallity there are just as many instinces of attacks on Catholics. If you would like to look into the subject with a great easy read look at Behind the Mask: IRA and Sinn Fein.

PS: Iwasbored..

.love the pic of Gerry...best movie ever!

Uhhh not everyone here thinks its a rebel song

I think U2 are anti terrorism full stop.

My mum and dad are just talking about IRA movies :random:

But I agree why is everyone getting so worked up about what someone said


Theres a great book about everyone who was killed during the troubles its huge but very interesting and I dont know the name of it

 

[The Maestro]

Ok why is everyone getting so upset over this. Not everyone are U2 nuts. Not everyone knows exactly what Bono has said over the past 20 years.

I have many friends from NI and the south that think SBS is a rebel song. Any Irish person that hears a the title Sunday Bloody Sunday is going to be inclined to think it is a rebel song. Also the speech Bono does in rattle and hum really in my opinion doesnt only focus on the IRA. If anyone in this thread actually knows all there is to know about the troubles in Ireland you would know there have been more catholics killed then prodestents more republicans then loyalists. I dont excuse the IRA but it really pisses me off that everyone likes to focus on them alone and doesnt like to check the facts about the UDA UDF and the other loyalist terror groups. All we (we being NA) see are IRA attacks when in actuallity there are just as many instinces of attacks on Catholics. If you would like to look into the subject with a great easy read look at Behind the Mask: IRA and Sinn Fein.

PS: Iwasbored...love the pic of Gerry...best movie ever!

I also get sick of people being so narrow minded to think the IRA are the bad guys and everyone else is the good guys..


My opinion is people shouldn't make judgements unless they have lived and experienced life in the 6 counties....i cannot bring myself to support killing innocent people...but the IRA were needed by the Catholic community...

 

[The Maestro]

Hey Bonoman,
You ever read "Biting at the Grave" about Bobby Sands and the hunger strikers? Its an excellent book about the hunger strikers and even talks to their families and stuff.

'Ten Men Dead' by David Beresford is by far the best book about the 1981 hunger strikers, would recommend it to anyone, a great insight into the 'troubles'...

 

[Laura M]

My opinion is people shouldn't make judgements unless they have lived and experienced life in the 6 counties....i cannot bring myself to support killing innocent people

 

[STING2]

U2 reject the use of violence to solve the civil rights abuses by Protestants in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is apart of the United Kingdom, a democracy. It is easily suceptible to the type of civil rights protest by Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King was very effective at getting civil rights for African Americans without resorting to violence. Its clear that violence by both sides has achieved nothing and the vast majority of people living in Northern Ireland want nothing to do with militant Catholic or Protestant groups.

 

[bonoman]

Ya i think we can all agree about that Sting.

I got a book IRA Men, it horrible, its an American who has no idea what he is talking about and never even talks to the higher ups of the IRA, No Gerry Adams or Martin McGuinness dont read it!

The thing about Bono that sometimes frustrates me is that he does have so much power and he doesnt point out the obviuos. He should know, from living within the States and other places around the world, that people dont see the things people living in Ireland see. He shouldnt be just calling out the IRA but the other terror org. that do the same. Maybe i'm just biased.

Lara and Maestro where are you from?

 

[Laura M]

Im from Belfast I think Maestro is too

 

[bonoman]

what does it say in your locatiion?

 

[Laura M]

Ireland, Galway, Dublin, Belfast...Theres no place like home.

 

[U2Kitten]

I don't believe U2 would support any group that uses bombs. It's against everything they stand for.

 

[AvsGirl41]

I also get sick of people being so narrow minded to think the IRA are the bad guys and everyone else is the good guys..


My opinion is people shouldn't make judgements unless they have lived and experienced life in the 6 counties....i cannot bring myself to support killing innocent people...but the IRA were needed by the Catholic community...

Agreed.

And many don't look into the origins of the IRA...the philosophy was pretty different. Michael Collins was determined to avoid killing civilians, both British and Irish--his targets were those who directly had a hand in Irish deaths--when many *wanted* to target British civilians.

"Michael Collins: The Man Who Made Ireland" by Tim Pat Coogan is a really good bio/history of Collins and the origins of the IRA.
Coogan stresses throughout how much the philosophy of IRA has changed.

My professor's dad was in one of the 1920's squads...the photo he had was just...chilling, I guess, would be the word.


Elisabeth

 

[U2Kitten]

From the book Bono In His Own Words:

"I would love to see a united Ireland, but could never support a man who would put a gun to someone's head to make that dream come true."

U2 are against the violence and all the pain it has caused.