Consumed In Freedoms Flame

Consumed In Freedoms Flame
By Cathal Liam


The average American does not fully appreciate the Irish cause for freedom that found a partial resolution in 1921. Nor do they appreciate the Rebel Cause that once prevailed our Colonies. The idea that to have freedom you must fight for it has gone adrift. Also not common knowledge to Americans were the atrocities committed by British agendas of the time. Agendas including not just by the egregious actions of the Black & Tans, soldiers of fortune employed the British government, but centuries of oppression. As an example in the 18th and 19th centuries when British royalty simply moved on to farms of local Irish farmers and declared themselves “landlords’, thus suppressing the Irish into involuntary servitude. The assumption was one of entitlement and "those Irish can’t rule themselves anyway"; Colonial mentality of the prime European powers of the time. This book is a novel history book that helps one appreciate the emotions and thought one rebel may go through as he case hardens in a flame of freedom.

My reading of other material caused much contrasting of historical events to the world we face today. I formed first impressions while reading the pages, contrasting a Rebel of 1916 to 1921 to today’s Terrorist. Aaron Roe O’Neil is the main character of the book where story line helps color him as a youth coming of age with impressions formed by reflections of English/Irish history. Because of his passion, competence, and dedication to freedom; rebel leaders took him under their tutelage. It is important to recognize that while the facts remain as they are, Aaron’s actions were indeed shaped by his rebel leaders, Patrick Pearse and Michael Collins. Through their tutelage Aaron knew who the enemy was and had evidence. In contrast today’s Muslim terrorists that attack numerous countries have an agenda yet to be understood by the victims. If they are being taught by the Imams of Islam, the agenda is not freedom but dominance. There is a common denominator in the name of oppression and desperation. Appreciating this difference in the numerator helps me, while remaining critical of innocent killing; understand the motivation of Irish Rebels.

This history novel also encouraged me to become guarded about bestowing any great accolades to great deeds of others before having a full appreciation of their dark side. Contrasting the pristine paradigm we hold on The British Crown, when in fact their recent historical conflicts include, South Africa, India, Ireland, and not to mention their hand in drawing boarders post WWI laying ground work for today’s world conflicts. With this report card England is further mired in the economic mischievousness in Persia and the Middle East that are reminiscent of their continued colonial mentality

According to this book the deeds of the Black & Tans, and the Auxies, paramilitary control forces where under the leadership of Sir Winston Churchill. The men were trained to walk through the street with their gun in their hand. They would shoot on sight anyone deemed an enemy to the Crown. This, when considering the world reaction, would be vaguely akin to the guards at Abu Garab being under Rumsfield. The difference is the degree, regularity and duration of egregious crime and the lack of punishment to the perpetrators in England. I will however give both leaders pass on direct involvement as I do not have nor does any one else have any evidence of a direct crime committed by other the criminals themselves. The stain however goes up and down and all around.

The stories of British crime provide a great backdrop to paint personal reactions in Aaron as he experienced the loss of his first love to British officers. He was personally gravely wounded twice, and witnessed the assignation of those rebel leaders that he came to believe in. The book spends time inside Aarons head wrestling with what would be good moral footing as contrasted against his own actions that don’t measure up to the same.

If I were to deduce a kernel of value in lessons learned in this book, it would be that Rebels are taught how to think and trained how to act. But they are motivated by oppression. They know life is not working. But they must be taught how to navigate their way to the peace they desire. In the case of Ireland, you may criticize the methods of the IRA in 1916 –21. You may criticize the continuation through the 1990’s. But one thing is for sure, they are always fighting for freedom or self-rule. In their fight they must always be in check of being consumed in their own flame. I’ll leave you with this passage to make this point.

As Shadow one of the main characters witnessed the tragic death of his wife in a shoot out where she innocently got caught in the cross fire:

“he cursed himself for not telling Helen of the trap…he condemned himself for misjudging McCoy and letting him get the drop…he dammed himself for his soldier of fortune attitude, for thinking he was indestructible, that he could go out and do battle with a hateful, dishonorable and despicable foe like the Black & Tan and not pay costs. "

Yet Shadows immediate behavior change was to go into battle with a personal death wish upon those he engaged as well as himself. He was consumed. Terrorists are also consumed in a different flame. Once one loses hope for life, death whether glorious or in regret, is the desperate option. Desperate people make desperate choices. When their consumption consumes those around you, your Bell to Toll is ringing. To this, the title is befitting of the book.

My own reaction: Answering that bell before all that is left is hope may provide the required jump to ones own freedom.