愛爾蘭共和軍和巴勒斯坦解放組織長久以來一直是我對於革命一詞最具體的對象。在那個資訊仍然封閉，或者比較不那麼封閉，但媒體仍然怯於（或者僅是無知）報導世界新聞的年代裡，共和軍和組織的消息總會在一則則關於恐懼的報導中，以全然邪惡的面目洩漏出其最純粹的理想。相對於他們的邪惡，是佔據著先進角色的日落國大不列顛（美國），以及在軍訓課中一再被重述擁有小國奇蹟戰力的以色列（美國）。於是我和教官和共和軍和組織在同樣的時間裡一同沈溺在對抗大鯨魚的夢幻場景中。

這種夢幻，在2001年我以陪讀名義到英國玩耍之際達到最頂點。我慎重地抄寫與剪貼過幾則關於愛爾蘭共和軍的新聞，其中之一是愛爾蘭共和軍解除武裝的聲明，請容我再次抄錄於下：

The IRA is committed to our republican objectives and to the establishment of a united Ireland based on justice, equality and freedom.
In August 1994, against a backdrop of lengthy and intensive discussions involving the two governments and others, the leadership of the IRA called a complete cessation of military operations in order to create the dynamic for a peace process. ‘Decommissioning’ was no part of that. There was no ambiguity about this.
Unfortunately there are those within the British Establishment and the leadership of unionism who are fundamentally opposed to change. At every opportunity they have used the issue of arms as an excuse to undermine and frustrate progress.
It is for this reason that decommissioning was introduced to the process by the British Government. It has been used since to prevent the changes that a lasting peace requires.
In order to overcome this and to encourage the changes necessary for a lasting peace, the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann has taken a number of substantial initiatives.
These include our engagement with the IICD and the inspection of a number of arms dumps by the two International Inspectors, Cyril Ramaphosa and Martti Ahtisaari.
No one should doubt the difficulties these initiatives cause for us, our volunteers and our support base. The Political process is now on the point of collapse. Such a collapse would certainly and eventually put the overall peace process in jeopardy.
There is a responsibility upon everyone seriously committed to a just peace to do our best to avoid this. Therefore, in order to save the peace process, we have implemented the scheme agreed with the IICD in August.
Our motivation is clear. This unprecedented move is to save the peace process and to persuade others of our genuine intentions.

Signed: P O’Neill

（多年後我才知道這聲明是以筆書寫，而非蒙面者朗讀於攝影機前或以電腦或舊式打字機印刻）

在那年諸多關於北愛和平進程的消息中，這則聲明其實並不那麼重要，但對於中途才插隊的我來說，在「國內版」讀到這篇聲明，卻是真正的感傷。「一個革命時代結束的遺憾」。

我一向認為要求（所謂的）恐怖組織們必須「先解除武裝再來談接下來該怎麼辦」，就像禁止核武器和大規模毀滅性武器一樣，絕對是陰謀。在這個只允許（某類）國家擁有暴力的時代裡，要透過純粹制度內或純粹和平的手段來達成不太可能被制度所允許之目標–簡單來說就是分裂國土–的可能性實在太低。以武力威脅來達成目標和威脅把自己餓死相較，前者顯然要積極多且不求人憐。

不過有一些部份我還沒有想得很開。雖然我覺得如果達悟放炸彈來控訴漢人壓迫著他們不給獨立又把核廢料偽裝成罐頭埋在海邊，而承繼漢人和開冷氣睡覺原罪者如我恰好就給炸到時，應該要摸摸鼻子認哉，但多少還是遺憾以為自己還算良善，應該去炸政府高官，畢竟幹掉他們也比較有力…

好了，為什麼在多年後的今日又想起多年前一則無舉足輕重的報導？
其實只是由於近日IRA又再度出現在台灣相對來說佔較多篇幅的國際新聞中。關於兩個共和軍成員在酒吧外醉酒鬧事殺了人的消息。老實說不管任何理想高尚的團體中總有幾個會不小心做出不合時宜舉止的成員，問題在於共和軍竟如江湖兄弟說那我們把這兩人槍斃給你個交待如此這般。見證一個革命時代結束且漸漸腐敗，果然感傷。

這是一齣人類的戲劇，眾神在舞台下興致盎然底觀看。「爆米花吃完了，再去賒一包來」，宙斯正對雅典娜這樣說著。