Opinion

Like other movements feminism should be open to criticism

I wish to reply to Mrs Wilson (January 2) where she accuses me of a ‘misogynist streak’ and an ongoing ‘pop’ at female journalists and feminism. It would seem that this lady believes that females and feminism  have a privileged position and are beyond criticism while Newton Emerson and Brian Feeney are fair game given the number of ‘pops’ against them.


Feminism like republicanism, loyalism, Marxism or Zionism should be open to debate and criticism. I believe feminism has become mainstream divisive, and beyond the original intention of seeking equality to seeking privilege, hence Hillary Clinton was entitled to become president because she is female. I am not a ‘misogynist’ and I believe in equality for all as enshrined in law. I do not judge people or assess people by their gender as feminism does. I judge their action, qualities and manners and do not look for inefficiencies on racial or gender


lines to create a divisive stereotype or excuse.


Feminism is a white, western, political ideology that has done little for the struggling women of the third world and it has bought into consumerism and celebrity culture as means of expressing female identity. It articulates well for women who suffer domestic abuse but disregards abuse to men. This is akin to saying we should be active on the murders of white people and indifferent to the murder of all races, instead of saying all murder is wrong.


Feminism as a political ideology sees nothing wrong in abusing men in the many articles churned out in national papers yet according to Mrs Wilson they and female journalists are unassailable – privileged. I listened with a chuckle to the flagship of feminism (Woman’s Hour) while driving. They invited listeners who responded in the most vile fashion to the view that men should not wear ‘Speedos’ as most women found male bodies offensive due to overweight etc. Just imagine if males were to have a similar take on the shape of some women in bikinis. Then to top it all we had a 10-minute gripe about leaving the toilet seat up – I not knowing that females have bathroom privileges and that it is harder to put the toilet seat down than up. Feminism as an ideology seeks to feminise society at every level. One leading feminist recently boasted that primary schools are now a feminine institution given the overwhelming number of female teachers, and citing the fact that boys in their school yard are not allowed to ‘run wild’ and play football but must stay in small groups and socialise like the girls.


If we look at the Sunday newspapers we find that feminism is mainstream with those on the fringes of ridicule to those on a crusade, yet those who criticise ‘feminism’ are labelled misogynistic like those who criticise Israel are accused of


anti-Semitism.

FRANCIS RICE


Belfast BT11

Double harnessed yoke requires a matched pair

Power-sharing government is a double harnessed yoke that doesn’t require a matched pair.


However, the lead horses should be sound and good-tempered – one from a unionist stable, the other nationalist.

Faulkner and Fitt, first hitched in Sunningdale, January 1974, made a good start, but soon ran into hostilities. Loyalist strikers, supported by Ian Paisley with increased IRA violence  completely destroyed that wagon.  Shouted down by Ian Paisley, and shot down by the IRA.

Not until 1998 was a second power-sharing run attempted. Selected for double harness were Trimble and Mallon. While some progress was made the DUP and Sinn Féin gave that team a very rough ride. Three times the wheels came off the wagon, before coming to a complete stop.

Then in 2003, the unlikely pair of Paisley and McGuinness was selected. Such were their track records and hostility towards each other, the best political horse whisperers in the world didn’t even try putting them in double harness. So that wagon never rolled, until the IRA decommissioned its weapons and Sinn Féin began supporting the police. Messrs Paisley and McGuinness then gave us nothing but the Chuckle Brothers’ routine. So the joke was on us.

For 43 years, since the Sunningdale Agreement, we have been waiting at the halt post, while the rest of the world has moved on leaving us behind.

Now, in 2017, it is taken for granted we will stick with the same old, same old, pairing, from the two same old flag waving stables.


An old proverb says: “Before you run in double harness, look well to the other horse.” Next time the electorate will do well to select any pair, jointly offering agreed bread-and-butter policies.

BRIAN ROONEY


Downpatrick, Co Down

Anti-semitism has so many guises

Simon Doyle’s article, ‘Warning of anti-Semitism at universities’ (December 28), has wider implications than anti-semitism in universities, whether the campus is in Britain or Ireland.

The disgraceful manifestation of, what is the oldest form of racism, anti-semitism today is partially due to hatred of the only Jewish State, Israel.

The so-called pro-Palestinian camp are largely dominated by anti-Zionists/anti-Israel activists. In other words they are against the only democratic state in the Middle East, the Jewish State of Israel. They are against the Jewish people exercising their right to nationhood through self-determination. More than even supporting the Palestinians having the same.

Anti-semitism over the millenia has manifested itself in so many guises. Today anti-Zionism has been used by anti-semites as a cloak of ‘respectability’.

However, each and every anti-Zionist must ask themselves one very difficult question: “Is my stance motivated purely in support of the Palestinians or is it something more sinister”. Not every anti-Zionist is necessarily an anti-semite. However, if someone said there should be no Irish Republic, the Irish don’t deserve a country of their own – is that not simply anti-Irish?

ANDREW J SHAW


Belfast BT10

British state collusion

I  read with interest the article outlining, in Dr William Matchett’s own words, the “decent” people within the secretive world of British state spooks and death squads (December 29).  

In my view he is trying to take a hatchet to the good work done by people like Ciarán McAirt and Anne Cadwallader. The suggestion that 16,500 lives were saved is hearsay, unfounded and based on an opinion only, not on fact. In contrast, Cadwallader’s Lethal Allies is based on research, state documents, and other testimonies etc. 

Our current police force is managed by Dr Matchett’s former colleagues, some of whom no doubt hold information on not only British state collusion with death squads, but how far up the chain the orders went. For republicans and nationalists to support such a force is inconceivable.

The extent of British state terrorism in Ireland will never be uncovered, for as long as Dr Matchett and his ilk claim that their work was for the greater good. It wasn’t.

My advice to Matchett is to actually research the role played by the forces of the British state and their agents, and to perhaps start with Lethal Allies

SEAMUS CRAWLEY


Derry City

Oldest trick in repertoire

Somebody has observed that we live a post-truth world where relativism rules. In imitation of the US we name non-storms (Barbara) and colour-code the level of threat. No matter that there was no storm, we were given hourly dosages of it.  

In the ‘cash for ash’ farce, Arlene Foster is effectively telling us ‘the truth/reality of this is as I say it is’. Then, in the oldest trick in the repertoire, Arlene, on radio, thanks her ‘many hundreds of supporters’ for their phone calls, e-mails etc, etc, etc.

AIDAN CONVERY


Draperstown, Co Derry