Arlene Foster plans to mark a “second century of Northern Ireland” in haughty tones implying more centuries of a British-ruled ‘Northern Ireland’ to follow.
British officials think they set up cosmetic structures which will, over time, make nationalists content within a six-county British Ulster. Why call Laurence O’Neill or anyone “twisted... motivated by hatred” and the like, merely for questioning whether the British have it right? (Anne Quinn, ‘Time to move on Laurence’ November 11).
Why reach out to British royalty, implacable unionists and former enemies, but impugn sincere republicans who merely question where we are headed?
Admittedly Sinn Féin has a strategy, ‘towards an agreed Ireland and reconciled future’. They have put undeniable efforts into meeting English royal family members, standing behind Arlene Foster no matter what, facilitating Orange parades in Ardoyne, giving the constabulary platforms in west Belfast, ‘sorry’ initiatives and ‘uncomfortable conversations’. Why is it hateful or twisted for any republican to ask whether this strategy is actually working for us?
Where are the signs that any segment of unionism or loyalism is being converted towards voting for a united Ireland in a six-county border poll?
How long before we can ask whether, instead of winning over unionists, they seem to be reconciling nationalists, who see them alongside the DUP taking up jobs and positions, to agree that British rule does not look so bad for more generations?
Gerry Adams made a point last February which should be remembered. He said: “We are not going to go in and prop up a regressive and negative old conservative government whatever the particular party political complexion.” He was warning against being used to front anti-republican policies in a Dáil coalition. Why then continue to prop up and front a British Tory austerity regime in tandem with the DUP?
As Pearse, Clarke and, Connolly might have put it, the alien government carefully fosters – meaning the British government – its sectarian veto. Because the interests of the DUP and Sinn Féin are diametrically opposed, the DUP will never agree on key issues with those they regard as ‘rogues’ ‘renegades’ or ‘remoaners’. The British can then serve their own interests, while hiding behind the fiction that Westminster was forced to act because there was no agreement. The denial of legacy inquest funding is just one obvious example.
Thinking readers deserve serious answers to questions like these. Replies like Mr. O’Neill received seem to say they have no better answer.
MARTIN GALVIN
New York
Trump is right about globalisation
There has been much negative coverage of Donald Trump in The Irish News. For sure he has many faults and flaws but he has hit the nail on the head as regards globalisation.
Imports produced by low wage economics have destroyed American industry. So-called ‘free trade’ deals like NAAFT have led to the loss of millions of well-paid jobs in the US.
Many people voted for Brexit for the same reasons.
The steel industry in England and Wales is on its knees because of cheaper Chinese-made steel. Think of all the great British brands which have disappeared because of globalisation – Rover, Talbot, Morris, De Hovilland Vickers, British Aerospace, PYE, Ferguson etc.
Most of those who survive are survive are no longer ‘British’. Raleigh bicycles are now made in the Far East and Leyland vans are made in China.
The Irish News has highlighted how Ballymena has lost two factories to globalisation and Belfast is becoming what they call a ‘post industrial city’.
Down here in Cork thousands were once employed in Veromle shipyard but like Harland & Wolff it is now a shadow of its former self.
All over America, Europe and from the Lagan to the Lee globalisation has led to huge job losses.
MICHAEL O FLYNN
Cork City
There are no objectors to safety at Casement
The adage ‘a little knowledge is dangerous’ applies to the points raised in A Lavery’s letter (November 21) but in this case his proposals really could be potentially mortally dangerous. He refers to a once upon a time 50,000 capacity and not many safety issues which is contrary to the Blue Light Agencies January report that limits the site to 18,300 maximum.
The Hillsborough disaster introduced strict safety limits but he advises 50,000 is okay. Fingers crossed there are no crushes as children, women and pensioners wouldn’t stand a chance. Nobody wants another Hillsborough.
The GAA only ever claimed 32,600 and 50,000 is a figment of his imagination.
A Lavery refers to a limit of possibly three concerts but again he is wrong as the new design refers to five non-sporting events.
As to ‘the group of local objectors’ – which are thousands of residents – then wasn’t it just as well the High Court declared the first design as unlawful otherwise a potential death trap would have been built. This new design is no different but again A Lavery, like
Joe Brolly, appears to know very little about Andersonstown, just as I know very little about Lurgan and Dungiven but we live beside it and we wish to protect our homes, neighbourhood, community and family way of life.
We don’t want concerts, the drunks and the anti-social night time activity they attract.
So that’s my agenda and if the Safety Technical Group doesn’t approve the new design then they will be the objector not the residents.
JOE QUINN
Belfast BT11
Our history, our language
According to a report in The Irish News (November 11), the DUP’s education minister Peter Weir has stopped translating publications and correspondence into the Irish language.
What is the so-called deputy first minister doing about it? What are the other leading lights in Sinn Féin and the SDLP doing about it?
They are so hamstrung by the DUP they are afraid to speak out in defence of the language. Is there no-one to fight the nationalist/republican cause? Our history, our language, our culture are being systematically eroded without as much as a whimper of objection from those who are supposed to have our interests at heart. Are we to just roll over and accept whatever the DUP decides for us or is it more important for our representatives to scrape and bow to British royalty.
Is it any wonder people are getting fed up with the whole thing. The term ‘croppy lie down’ comes to mind.
VAL MORGAN
Newry, Co Down
Ambassador’s visit was in bad taste
Two Irish Embassy representatives recently visited the Nottinghamshire Museum’s galleries of justice exhibition.The Bow Street Dock exhibition showcases Roger Casement’s life and legacy, among that of others.
This was bad taste, especially because it involved the Irish ambassador laying a wreath to the Sherwood Foresters Nottinghamshire regiment. The ambassador went on to acknowledge the role they played in quelling our glorious revolution of 1916.
I wonder if the ambassador is aware that Casement’s brave compatriots were executed in Kilmainham Gaol by a squad hand picked from the Sherwood Foresters?
Should the embassy not at least have sent a representative to our fitting commemoration for Roger Casement held outside Pentonville Prison on August 3, the 100th anniversary of his execution there?
FRANK GLYNN
Cricklewood, London
