Kneecap

[steviewevie]

4 minutes ago, TheDayman said:

As has been said before, one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.

problem is...the law and that whole counter terrorism investigation. Not sure they will take the freedom fighter argument into account, but also not sure they will take the whole thing that seriously anyway.

[lazyred]

11 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Or - far more likely - not at all.

Maybe, as of course  it will all be filmed. I think they are deliberately provocative for the attention but don't want to be cancelled. Even so if it was me I'd want to make a statement somewhere.

Edited May 1, 2025 by lazyred

[TheDayman]

8 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

problem is...the law and that whole counter terrorism investigation. Not sure they will take the freedom fighter argument into account, but also not sure they will take the whole thing that seriously anyway.

I was specifically responding to previous posters' reference to the IRA. As I've said before, that narrative ignores the political and cultural context of West Belfast. I don't believe Kneecap are glorifying violence but rather challenging the dominant narratives about resistance, colonialism, and who gets to be called a freedom fighter.

[CaledonianGonzo]

5 minutes ago, lazyred said:

Maybe, as of course  it will all be filmed. I think they are deliberately provocative for the attention but don't want to be cancelled. Even so if it was me I'd want to make a statement somewhere.

 

I'm sure there will be plenty on the current furore and on the genocide of the Palestinians - but they can do all that without crossing / getting close to the line the way that the Hamas / kill your MP comments did.

[CaledonianGonzo]

13 minutes ago, TheDayman said:

Didn't think I'd get a tv show recommendation out of this thread, but I'll happily take it! 😂

Thanks!

 

It's got the added benefit of making all the people arguing the anti-Kneecap position sound like they're in the Imperial Military.

[xchan]

40 minutes ago, doogie said:

 

Even if we overlook their past comments about Hamas and Hezbollah, some would say that wearing IRA style balaclavas is sympathising with and glorifying the IRA.

The IRA didnt wear tricolour balaclavas

[steviewevie]

8 minutes ago, TheDayman said:

I was specifically responding to previous posters' reference to the IRA. As I've said before, that narrative ignores the political and cultural context of West Belfast. I don't believe Kneecap are glorifying violence but rather challenging the dominant narratives about resistance, colonialism, and who gets to be called a freedom fighter.

Yeah maybe...I'm sure to some Al Queda and ISIS are also freedom fighters....but in this country IRA and Hamas/Hezbollah are proscribed terrorist groups, and support for them is illegal.

Edited May 1, 2025 by steviewevie

[TheDayman]

12 minutes ago, lazyred said:

Maybe, as of course  it will all be filmed. I think they are deliberately provocative for the attention but don't want to be cancelled. Even so if it was me I'd want to make a statement somewhere.

They’ve already made their statement, and it’s clearly provoked the kind of attention and debate they intended. Expecting them to keep repeating “Up Hamas” etc. misses the point entirely. They’re not promoting Hamas, they’re using provocation to draw attention to the double standards in how resistance, violence, and oppression are discussed. It’s not about support for Hamas, it’s about forcing people to confront uncomfortable truths.

Edited May 1, 2025 by TheDayman

[steviewevie]

2 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

It's got the added benefit of making all the people arguing the anti-Kneecap position sound like they're in the Imperial Military.

because they're just cooler

[CaledonianGonzo]

6 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Yeah maybe...I'm sure to some Al Queda and ISIS are also freedom fighters....but in this country IRA and Hamas/Hezbollah are proscribed terrorist groups, and support for them is illegal.

 

But - again - focussing on what is and isn't legal is only one dimension of the issue.

 

In one sense, because what's legal and illegal doesn't seem to matter to western and Israeli leaders

 

And in another because - if you've seen the movie (which, while obviously fictional, does I'd reckon attempt to capture the spirit of their philosophies) -  it doesn't much matter to Kneecap either.

[steviewevie]

3 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

But - again - focussing on what is and isn't legal is only one dimension of the issue.

 

In one sense, because what's legal and illegal doesn't seem to matter to western and Israeli leaders

 

And in another because - if you've seen the movie (which, while obviously fictional, does I'd reckon attempt to capture the spirit of their philosophies) -  it doesn't much matter to Kneecap either.

I get all that...just think what happens with this police investigation will be a factor whether they play Glastonbury or not.

[bobsacamano]

8 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

because they're just cooler

 

If that's the centrist dad uniform sign me up.

 

What's the "Radical Dad"uniform, bad dreads and scruffy clobber still? f**k that.

[Physical_graffiti]

1 hour ago, steviewevie said:

No I said the Kneecap crowd might chant Up Hamas....strictly off the back of all this media stuff.

They also might not.

I can guarantee to you 100% that Glastonbury's Kneecap crowd will not be chanting "Up Hamas"

[doogie]

14 minutes ago, xchan said:

The IRA didnt wear tricolour balaclavas

 

The IRA were famous for wearing balaclavas though. If anything, the added tricolour makes it even clearer they're wearing them in sympathy with Irish republicanism and not because they're a bit cold.

[steviewevie]

and also...whilst Hamas and co are proscribed terrorists...arrest warrants have been issued by ICC for Netanyahu and Gallant, and that was before all the latest stuff cutting off food/aid coming in...so in theory if he ever came here he would be arrested.

[Physical_graffiti]

56 minutes ago, doogie said:

 

Even if we overlook their past comments about Hamas and Hezbollah, some would say that wearing IRA style balaclavas is sympathising with and glorifying the IRA.

It's a cartoon, the ira were quite obviously not dressed in tricolour balaclavas and dj provai is quite obviously not dressed like that to seriously glorify the IRA

[steviewevie]

2 minutes ago, Physical_graffiti said:

I can guarantee to you 100% that Glastonbury's Kneecap crowd will not be chanting "Up Hamas"

I might.

[CaledonianGonzo]

2 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

I get all that...just think what happens with this police investigation will be a factor whether they play Glastonbury or not.

 

I mean, it could do - but I think that would be an extreme outcome*

 

 

*Contingent on the festival themselves not getting cold feet and pulling the plug

[CaledonianGonzo]

4 minutes ago, bobsacamano said:

 

If that's the centrist dad uniform sign me up.

 

What's the "Radical Dad"uniform, bad dreads and scruffy clobber still? f**k that.

 

Glastonbury might not be for you then

[doogie]

7 minutes ago, Physical_graffiti said:

It's a cartoon, the ira were quite obviously not dressed in tricolour balaclavas and dj provai is quite obviously not dressed like that to seriously glorify the IRA

 

Even if that's the case, it's in extremely bad taste for those of us who lived with the perpetual threat of IRA terrorism for many years

[Colorblindjames]

27 minutes ago, xchan said:

The IRA didnt wear tricolour balaclavas

Yes increasingly people are seeing things and making up things that aren’t there. 

[CaledonianGonzo]

7 minutes ago, doogie said:

 

Even if that's the case, it's in extremely bad taste for those of us who lived with the perpetual threat of IRA terrorism for many years

 

Yes - it's not particularly tasteful.  Is art required to be tasteful?

 

(btw - this statement is pretty much true of anyone over about 30 years old who lives in the UK, but most of us can live with it)

[JimiC999]

7 minutes ago, doogie said:

 

Even if that's the case, it's in extremely bad taste for those of us who lived with the perpetual threat of IRA terrorism for many years

Might not be such bad taste for those Irish people whom were treated as 2nd class citizens in their own country, simply because of what god (small g intended) they followed…….

[Tiesto13]

17 minutes ago, doogie said:

 

The IRA were famous for wearing balaclavas though. If anything, the added tricolour makes it even clearer they're wearing them in sympathy with Irish republicanism and not because they're a bit cold.

 

I would say that Kneecap's relationship with the IRA is way more complex than that of simple cheerleaders. Their name itself is reference to the punishment attacks that the IRA would carry out in their community to people just like them.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Concerned that the band who's logo is an RUC police car on fire might not have considered the sensibilities of middle England when thinking up imagery