Illegal alien romance?

[valarltd]

Am currently working on a piece between a computer programmer and an aging IRA explosives expert. Our Fenian is in the US illegally, working and making a life. He has killed, including innocents caught in the explosions, and feels little remorse. It was 20 years ago and more, in another life and a different country.

Is there going to be a problem making him sympathetic?

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Comments

[celestinenox]

From my perspective, yes. If you want him to be sympathetic, he actually should feel some remorse for his actions. Not crippling despair, but at least a regret that it had to be done, for whatever reason it had to be done from his POV.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

He has nightmares. And he tries not to think about it by day. I'll see what I can do.

[kaethe.livejournal.com]

I have trouble with the "no remorse for innocents" bit. It's one thing to justify to yourself killing someone who's trying to kill you. It's another to be okay with killing people who have nothing to do with your fight.

The illegal bit doesn't bother me at all, if that was part of your concern. For most of us whose ancestors got into the US legally, it's more chance and timing than anything, as much as some parties would prefer to think it's moral superiority.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

I was worrying about the illegal bit as much as the killer bit. But most of the prejudice is toward brown people and not white ones.

He's not okay with anything. He just doesn't think about it. He refuses to let himself feel anything about his actions in the 80s.

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

If you're talking Britons (non-Irish), then even making a bomber who feels remorse sympathetic is going to be pretty much impossible. I have it on good authority that Fiona of "Burn Notice" was widely loathed in the UK (ex-Ireland), and she wouldn't kill children - ever.

Imagine the response if you replaced IRA with a-Qaida and that's pretty much the British perspective.

I'm not saying it's immoral, I'm just saying this requires a shitload of skill and a very balanced and real view on how things were, and you are touching collective memories and nightmares - which an author touches at his/her own peril. After a quick poll of some Brits I know, they basically would simply not read it because those cultural memories run deep.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Writers always poke the sore spots. And none of my stuff is for everyone.

I'll do my best on the balance, but it is from Joe's point of view and he stands by the idea he was fighting for his homeland.