Thursday, July 21, 2011

SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UNITED AT LAST.

"We shall not forget you; and, when the olive tree of peace is in flower, entwined with the victory laurels of the Republic of Spain --- return!"

(La Pasionara) - Farewell speech to the International Brigades. Barcelona November 1St. 19 38.

I am often accused of being harsh on Scotland I prefer to regard what I say as the truth as I see it and as I see it a recent event shows that Scotland has every reason to be proud of a famous episode in its past. The recent event was the release by MI5 of all the names of those British volunteers who joined the International Brigades to fight Fascism in Spain in 19 36. Scotland and Ireland supplied many volunteers, more than other countries going by population; they remain an inspiration to everyone who strives for a better more equal society. As I began to read and learn about politics in my early teens I became besotted with 'Spain' and these events. A statue stands in Glasgow at Custom House Quay of one of the most famous Spanish Republicans Dolores Ibarruri: known as "La Pasionara" a fierce and brave politician who rallied the troops against Franco's fascists with her mesmeric oratory and courage. The legend on the statue says "better to die on your feet than live on your knees" and it is an honour and privilege to have this statue of such an inspirational Socialist Heroine in Glasgow, a place where she would have felt at home.

Spain elected a Socialist Republican Government and the army staged a revolt to bring it down led by General Francisco Franco, backed by Hitler and Mussolini. Britain, France and America to their undying shame did nothing although many French and Americans volunteered as well for the International Brigades the American volunteers were called "The Lincoln Battalion" It is strongly hinted that Cafe owner Rick played by Humphrey Bogart in the classic movie Casablanca was a veteran of the Lincoln Battalion such was the romance which surrounded the cause. The fascists won and the green light was given to Hitler for what was to follow, an estimated 200,000 were killed in the fighting and in the couple of years that followed double that, 400,000 were executed. A male prison in Madrid was converted to a female prison to hold Republican women prisoners many of whom were executed. You can get a flavour of the times when you learn that the prison was run by an order of Catholic Nuns who dragged women prisoners to the Gallows kicking and screaming.

Approx. 4,000 British volunteers went to Spain 534, 65 of whom were Scottish paid the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for the Democratic Spanish Republic. Many artists went such as Orwell and Hemingway who wrote about it and the great Spanish genius Pablo Picasso captured on canvas the terror of unarmed civilians being attacked from the air by German planes in the town of Guernica the painting of that name is now one of the most famous ever painted.

The unfinished lists are now complete and all of the valiant comrades who fought in Spain are at last united in the complete roll of honour. Scotland should be proud of the volunteers who went there and at a time when some people are arguing about the lack of history taught in our schools we should put aside the myths and legends and teach our children about these real flesh and blood heroes. Irish singer Christy Moore pays tribute to the Irish Brigade in a song called "Viva La Quinte Brigada" someone should do something similar for the Scottish volunteers, you can catch it on U Tube.


30 comments:

Anonymous said...

British surely Terry as Scots don't exist as separate ethnic group in all your previous uneducated rants.

Not turning are we in your old age?

quick everyone, a rousing chorus of Rule Britannia or 'rebellious scots to crush' before he slips away completely.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Anonymous on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... at 15:14

I don’t come from Scotland, I come from Paisley is that what you mean, like I’m from Paisley which is a part of Renfrewshire which is a part of Scotland which is a part of Britain.

There's an irony here Scottish members of the International Brigades, do you see the word International there? these guys wouldn't touch Scottish Nationalism with a barge pole.

Byeck said...

She also said 'When the life of a people is in danger, it is better to convict a hundred innocent ones than to aquit a single guilty one.'

A sentiment you agree with, Councillor?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Byeck on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... on 24/07/11

You are a lazy, incompetent liar, do you work for News International by any chance?

Alex said...

Byeck is correct although he only gave you part of the statement.

Actually the full quote is as follows.

"If there is an adage which says that in normal times it is preferable to acquit a hundred guilty ones than to punish a single innocent one, when the life of a people is in danger it is better to convict a hundred innocent ones than to acquit a single guilty one."

Doesn't make it more acceptable.

This is a statement that she made at a rally in Valencia.

Now maybe you you can answer his question instead of being a lazy, incompetent liar.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Alex on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... on 26/07/11

“Byeck is correct”

That makes you a Lazy, incompetent liar as well. You might think you have found something which probably took you a couple of minutes while I first knew about this speech approx. 40 years ago; you are making a fool of yourself.

I know exactly what ‘Byeck’ is trying to do and I will continue to treat him and you with the contempt you deserve.

Ryan said...

What was left of the POUM leadership was put on trial in Barcelona on October 11, 1938. Referring to the arraignments Ibárruri is often quoted to have said at a rally in Valencia, "It is better to convict a hundred innocent ones than to acquit a single guilty one."
However that is a partial quote. The full sentence she spoke is:
"If there is an adage which says that in normal times it is preferable to acquit a hundred guilty ones than to punish a single innocent one, when the life of a people is in danger it is better to convict a hundred innocent ones than to acquit a single guilty one."

Extract from Wikipedia entry on Dolores Ibárruri.

The same quotation is available on many other websites, however, in the deranged world of Terry Kelly they are all lying.

In fact everybody lies except Terry.
I honestly think that he even believes his own inane mumblings even when it is demonstrated irrefutably that he is wrong.

Terry you are indeed a lazy incompetent fool who is devoid of any kind of intelligence.

You must try harder!!! Now go and stand in the corner until I tell you that you may come out

Byeck said...

One more time, councillor, did she not say the words I quoted?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Ryan on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... at 15:10

“however, in the deranged world of Terry Kelly they are all lying”

OK Ryan I might as well try educating you as well. Byeck quoted La Pasionara out of context, he lied by omission, he’s a liar, the fact that he thought that I would miss that makes him also a fool.

Alex then blunders in saying that Byeck told the truth so he is the exact same as Byeck he is also a big enough idiot who; like you; tries to give me a history lesson on the Spanish Civil war you are both idiots, but you are a wee bit special and here’s why.

The La Pasionara speech that you seem to think I am unaware of is known to just about every single person who ever heard of or read about the Spanish Civil War and you accuse me of denying that she made that speech. Just who is the lazy incompetent liar here? It seems that there are 3 of you now.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Byeck on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... at 15:27

If you quote the speech to me again I will read what you write and answer you accordingly or put another way I am giving you a chance to recant and tell the truth. I am more than happy to answer you if you tell the truth.

Byeck said...

Councillor, did she make the speech, did she make that comment?

Anonymous said...

Terry, re the comments.

Seems to me the boys are absolutely right, so why dont you do a Murdoch, hold up your hands and admit you got it badly wrong.

You should never have used that homicidal cow to illustrate your very good point about the International Brigade.

By the by, I suppose you know, the song should really refer to the 'Quince' Brigada, not 'Qinta,' or, as you put it, 'Quinte?'

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Byeck on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... on 26/07/11

I have already told you that if you stop telling lies and send me the quote I will comment, you are first going to have to admit that you lied.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Anonymous on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... on 26/07/11
Publish

Anyone who thinks that their comments are right is a liar just like them.

Christy Moore sings Viva La Quinta Brigada, Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners sings Viva la Quinte Brigada and Pete Seeger sings an entirely different song called Viva La Quince Brigada, so what?

It fascinates me to see that when people like you write in and they have the chance to criticize Franco, Mussolini or Hitler they choose to criticize a heroine of the Spanish Republican left. It’s very illuminating indeed. Have you put up your picture of the big Norwegian Nazi poster boy yet?

Byeck said...

Kelly @ 12.06

Hysterical and vile comments, linking a reply to the Norwegian tragedy, really don't hack it laddie, in Renfrew or anywhere else.

Anonymous said...

Kelly, even by your abysmal standards, the Norwegian crack is as sick as it was uncalled for. Using something as terrible as that to try and make a cheap point puts your Blog firmly in the gutter.

You are a disgrace to your position, your party and, I hope, your family

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Byeck on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... at 12:36

The position you are in is not my fault it is of your own making. I have dealt with you long enough to know that it is not possible to concede the moral high ground to you. So stop bleating.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

“You should never have used that homicidal cow”
I am of the opinion that people like you and Byeck, and Alex are fascists so don’t try for the high moral ground you conceded that a long time ago that’s why you are afraid to go public. I can say anything I like to people like you and I don’t have to worry about your delicate feelings either.

Anonymous said...

They had one life. And what did they do? Wasted it in some palooka preliminaries in Spain, just before Hitler and Chamberlain warm up for the main event.

Arthur Kelly Chicago/Craigneuk

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Anonymous on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... on 28/07/11

It was the great cause of its day and one of the most written about ever, it was seen as a rehearsal for what was to come next and had the Republic survived we might have avoided all that unpleasantness with Adolph and his pal Benito.

Thornavis said...

How would the survival of the republic have prevented WW2 ? If we're doing counterfactual history isn't it equally possible that had the Republic survived it would have been Communist dominated and therefore hostile to the allies at the outbreak of the war ?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Thornavis on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... at 16:25

I’m not sure if you have understood what I said. Let me try again. Had the other nations like Britain and America done the right thing and supported the Spanish Republic perhaps there would have been no second world war to get involved in. And even if it had still gone ahead the idea that the democratically elected Communist Government of the Spanish Republic would have been hostile to the Allies in their fight against Fascism is quite untenable IMO.

Thornavis said...

OK, then I presume your thinking is that Hitler wouldn't have dared to continue his take over of Europe if he thought that the western democracies were prepared to stand up to Fascism, possibly but as he was hardly the most rational of people it's also possible that he would have carried on anyway. There's also the possibility that he would instead have turned on the Soviet Union first and with no western front to consider, would have been victorious. It's all conjecture as with any conterfactual history.
A Communist dominated government would quite likely have been hostile to the Allies at the start of the war ( assuming events had been otherwise unchanged ) just as the Soviet Union was. The Nazi - Soviet pact would no doubt have been supported by the Spanish government, that could have made the situation in the Mediterranean and North Africa even more difficult and if, after the Nazi attack on the Soviets, the Germans had also decided to attack Spain they would probably have been successful which would certainly have led to British defeat in North Africa. All conjecture again but assuming that a Republican victory in Spain would inevitably have turned out well is assuming rather a lot I think.

Anonymous said...

Councillor, tell us when a Communist Government has ever been 'Democratically' elected

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Anonymous on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... at 19:00

If we accept that democracy means "rule of the people" then all of them, every country as far as I know claims to be democratic, they might not all agree on the detail but that’s what they say.
The Russian Anthem e.g.
Long live our Soviet motherland,
Built by the people's mighty hand.
Long live our people, united and free.
Strong in our friendship tried by fire.
Long may our crimson flag inspire,
Shining in glory for all men to see.
Sounds pretty much like everyone else’s to me except maybe ours.

Anonymous said...

Brilliant... but at the risk of being tedious, I'll ask again...When has a Communist Government ever been 'Democratically' - meaning in a free secret ballot, with a viable opposition - elected?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Thornavis on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... on 31/07/11

“It's all conjecture as with any conterfactual history”

That’s true.

“quite likely” “would no doubt” “could have made” “and if” “they would probably” “but assuming that”

Do you teach positive thinking by ant chance?

“Republican victory in Spain”

That victory had already been achieved. There are many more and far cleverer and better qualified people than me who subscribe to the opinion that The Spanish Republic, America, Britain, France etc.etc. joining against Franco and Fascism would have killed the idea stone dead, it’s hardly original thinking it’s been out there since Franco triumphed.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Anonymous on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... on 31/07/11

Perhaps we could save some time here, you think that “our” democratic system is better than the communist system and I don’t so let’s skip the preliminaries and I will say that I think the Cuban system is far better than ours and far more democratic. Is that enough to get you started. You seem to have shifted your ground already. “Secret ballot, viable opposition” I take it you would decide what is secret and what is viable then, and as long as you make the decisions it will remain ‘Democratic’
perhaps you should revisit the word democratic.

Anonymous said...

Cuba a bastion of democracy? Please explain, Councillor.

I'd have thought being banged up in Havana Central with electrodes attached to your dangly bits made running an opposition campaign a touch stressful.

I didn't think the opposition parties got much press or TV coverage either, but if anyone can convince me I'm wrong, it's you.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

By Anonymous on SCOTLAND’S HEROES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES UN... on 01/

“but if anyone can convince me I'm wrong, it's you”

Judging by your post here Solomon himself couldn’t convince you and I don’t see the point in trying.