NORAID

Lauren Journet

Professor Shirk

Global Politics of Terrorism

14 March 2018

NORAID in the United States

The Irish Northern Aid Committee group was founded in the United States in the late 1960s. Michael Flannery was the initial director of NORAID, with the goal of the group to provide funds for the Irish. The group was later known for providing money for the Provisional Irish Republican Army, an army that promoted violence and civilian casualties. But in its original intent, NORAID was a group working towards protecting the people of Ireland. Insofar as the United States is helping others with the purest of intentions, governmental organizations can and should exist in the United States.

In its time, the United States have used many groups, both international governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, to foster the ideas of human rights. The U.N Human Rights Council, the International Labour Union, Amnesty International, and the International Committee of the Red Cross are all examples of international governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations. Both groups groups play an important role in developing norms and protecting human rights in and out of the country. In its origin, NORAID was such a group.

Because the group NORAID was initially used to help those abroad, the ideals of NORAID are reminiscent of the Near East Relief in the early 1900s. This group helped save hundreds of refugees that otherwise would have died as a result of the ongoing genocides by the Turkish government. This group brought the news of the genocides to Hollywood, and they immediately received profits to help those in need. At the time, it was a great way to raise awareness about matters happening abroad and to get more money to help the refugees.

Governmental organizations that concentrate on peacekeeping and human rights such as the Near East Relief start their organizations with the intent of peace and never give up on their intentions. This is something that NORAID cannot say for itself, as this group later funded a violent army, which plagued the country with bloodshed. If a governmental organization is not involved in promoting violence, is should be allowed in the United States. But once the organization turns into a group like NORAID, which not only allowed but funded violence abroad, it should be removed from the country’s funding.