THE contents of columns by Brian Feeney and Allison Morris (February 5) were worrying. Brian Feeney writes one in a long line of articles demonising people of a pro-union outlook, while Allison Morris sees truth recovery primarily as a process focussed on state involvement in the Troubles rather than the murderous deeds of paramilitaries. It is absolute nonsense to suppose that everyone who supports northern Ireland's place within the UK can be painted with Brian Feeney's broad brush. As for Allison Morris's piece, it is clear that efforts to deal with the past cannot be focused only on the security forces and various alleged informers or agents. The vast majority of murders were committed by paramilitaries while policemen and soldiers, from either side of the border, saved an enormous number of lives. The focus of truth recovery and justice must be on all instances of lawbreaking during the Troubles. If the community here is to have a hopeful future, we have to be constantly wary of attempts to demonise 'the other', whether through George Chittick's ignorant comments about irish culture or Brian Feeney's sweeping generalisations. Northern Ireland belongs to all of us. Expressing contempt for one another is simply not healthy.
TREVOR RINGLAND
NI Conservatives, Holywood, Co Down
