Opinion

Anti-Semitism is not the oldest recorded form of racism

Andrew J Shaw’s assertions (January 10 cannot go unchallenged. He claims that anti-Semitism is the oldest form of racism. I was unaware that he was such an expert in the San people’s relations with the Khoikhoi more than 100,000 years ago and, if that is the case, could he enlighten the rest of us in the interests of cultural anthropology?


In any case he ignores that Dr Martin Richards of the University of Huddersfield proved that Ashkenazim were of European Aryan Caucasian origin in a study reported in Live Science thus they are not Semitic. That does not excuse racism against Ashkenazim regardless of origin.

He continues from his allegation of racism to an aggressive accusation of sectarianism.


The fact that Leviticus and Deuteronomy explicitly forbid a Jewish state thus the concept of Medinat Yisrael is illegal under Halachic law is completely inconsequential to his zealous ideology of Zionism.


I could point out his ideology


is racist as it is predicated on the genocide of the Palestinian people and that the former is sectarian as it requires the murder of Christians and Muslims.

He parrots the myth that Medinat Yisrael is the region’s only democracy. One closed list proportional representative constituency with limited suffrage is not democratic. In Iran tens of millions of people mobilise to vote in legislative and presidential elections. Can the same be said of Israel or it’s far right Wahhabi allies on the Gulf? Of course not.

It is wrong to question the sincere motivation for supporting the survival of a people and country mentioned in the hieroglyphics. Palestine and Palestinians are in the hieroglyphics but Medinat Yisrael and the Israelis are not yet supporters of Zionism continually assert the myth that Palestine never existed.

On his concluding point there are people who do say there should be no Irish Republic. They’re called British imperialists, Free Staters, unionists and loyalists. The Irish Free State and six county state exist for the raison d’etre of preventing the Irish Republic. Did he overlook the War for Independence, the Civil War and Troubles?


In case people did not notice there are individuals in all of the aforementioned groups with strong rhetoric of an anti-Irish pedigree.

EAMONN MacGRIANNA


Beal Feirste BT11 

Arlene has displayed surprising lack of leadership

I am a 71-year-old father and grandfather who has lived all my life in Northern Ireland. I am not a member of a political party nor have I ever been a member of a political party.

I am sure Arlene Foster has listened carefully to the advice from her family, friends and colleagues with regard to the Renewable Heat Initiative scheme. Her public utterances on that subject matter would indicate that she has had nothing but whole hearted support from those around her.

I myself, however, see her actions in a different light. I have watched and listened carefully to what she has said and read what she has written in the newspapers. Consequently I have concluded that her approach, her tone and the skills she has displayed, indicate a surprising lack of leadership.

The message she projects is one of bluster, belligerence, lack of humility and a complete misunderstanding of the self-inflicted damage to the body politic in Northern Ireland.

She has demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of the seriousness that the financial cost of the RHI scheme will make to our public finances.

It defies credibility that as the minister in charge of the department when the RHI scheme was set up that the faults in the scheme are due to everyone else but her.

With so many of our citizens, especially in the younger age groups, switched off by the actions or inactions of our local politicians, I would contend that her patronising approach will do nothing but further damage democracy and the institution of government in Northern Ireland.

For her to describe her opponents as being motivated by misogyny rings hollow. 

PETER GRAHAM


Newtownabbey, Co Antrim

Use right to vote wisely

Nationalists/republicans always seem to be split in their opinion of Sinn Féin/Good Friday Agreement and sometimes brandish the GFA as ‘selling out’, believing nothing has been achieved.

What has been achieved since the GFA? Well the biggest winner is peace for one and here’s a few pointers of what I don’t see when in the north.


I’ve been travelling to Tyrone for 14 years. I’ve been in all six counties at some stage in that time – ‘heartlands’ of Belfast and Derry included. I’ve never seen a British soldier on the streets. I’ve never seen a checkpoint. I’ve been told where once an army base was, but now stands modern houses.


There is a generation of young people in the six counties who can say the same. People must be satisfied that their children/grandchildren will never witness what they did. Investment and tourism has obviously increased as a result. That’s an unbelievable achievement post Troubles.  

Progress was always going to be slow and the last few years have been hampered by DUP arrogance. Martin McGuinness and Sinn Féin have now brought Stormont down. Enough was enough. Sinn Féin is a party that has evolved over the years. How many other parties can you say that about? Everything evolves in life and so too should politics. Sinn Féin have led the way. However, nationalists/republicans have been very lazy in voting in the last number of elections, they need to use their right to vote, after all the hardship to gain that right.

SEAN O'CONNELL


Listowel, Co Kerry 

Legislation on abortion

Allison Morris commented during her piece on misogyny in political life (January 5) that: ‘For a party, that has repeatedly blocked changes to legislation, that would allow women in crisis pregnancy to receive proper medical care, to play the sexism card quite rightly sounded the distraction siren among many sceptical commentators’. 

Could I ask Ms Morris if by ‘proper medical care’ for ‘women in crisis pregnancy’ she is in fact referring to abortion? 

If this is the case why did she use such a bland and euphemistic term for what is basically the murder of an unborn child?

The ongoing debate surrounding the flawed Renewable Heating Incentive scheme is an important one and clarity, thoroughness and transparency will be required to sort out the apparent negligence. However, the potential cost to the taxpayer of an estimated £490m over the next 20 years will be nothing compared to the long-term damage to society if legislation on abortion is amended or relaxed.

SEAMUS HENRY


Draperstown, Co Derry 

DUP should be punished

This election should be used by those of a unionist tradition to punish the DUP for not only their incompetence in not having the political nous on how to manage a crisis but also and – more vitally – for their cosying up to English nationalism and hard Brexit. 

MARTIN KEENAN


Belfast BT11