Much ink has been spilled over the years to highlight the acute disappointment in those who should know better when discussing the Irish language. That Mrs Arlene Foster MLA should unashamedly berate those who hold dear the notion of equality in language use is nothing short of an insult to those among us who enjoy being Irish, our Irishisms and our
Irishness. No citizen should be denied the protections and enjoyment of identity. In her lack of cultural generosity, Mrs Foster displays a desire to live in toxic arrogance and ignorance in equal measure. This saddens most right-thinking and community-focused people.
The question arises as to the desire to deny rights to Irish speakers but one argument for sure is not valid – that providing language rights to Irish speakers ‘weakens the union’. Mrs Foster’s party did not oppose the (Gaelic) Language Acts in Scotland or Wales. Indeed, academic research I carried out shows that there was no interference by any political party in Northern Ireland in these matters. Globally, bilingualism is valued and heritage languages are nurtured – not here though. We continue to suffer the dredges of a colonial mindset that would have a language that pre-dates both the Reformation and Christianity dragged into arguments perpetuated only by those with limited intelligences in the field of societal transformation and community building.
I would ask two very basic questions of Mrs Foster (and of her supporters). In which language are sectarian slurs reported in the media or sprayed on gable walls? It certainly is not in Irish. Who first ‘politicised’ the Irish language? It certainly was not the Irish (according to eminent English historians).
Mrs Foster has failed in all areas but one – she has succeeded in embedding a political doctrine underpinned only by a need to undermine the foundations of the work being done at grass-roots level by popular, mature and people-centred unionists eg in East Belfast.
As a bunscoil principal, I am very dismayed that a figurehead of unionism can be so limited in goodwill and so short-sighted as to appear to thrive on division. If the queencan use Irish when attempting to build bridges, why would a prominent, loyal subject use the queen’s English to rubbish her gestures?
I was delighted with, and support, Mrs Foster’s suggestion that a Polish language act be introduced. I am confident that the Irish Language community will support her also – we do not see languages as a threat but as life-enhancing and, importantly, employment-creating. People threaten – languages don’t.
I feel strongly that the bilingual/multilingual readers of this letter will not see the wisdom in the DUP leader’s position but I’m absolutely sure that Mrs Foster values bilingualism for relatives in the same way I do for mine.
Finally, I don’t know a single Irish speaker who would deny language rights to a single speaker of English if so desired. That would really leave me lost for words.
SEAMAS O DONNGHAILE
Principal, Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain
Fionnuala’s snide description of ‘passionate lay people’ offensive
Fionnuala O Connor, in her article (January 24), referring to the Catholic Church, said that ‘like other anti-abortion (she wrote ‘anti-choice’) campaigners, the unborn are their first concern’. My human rights association, Cherish all the Children Equally, would accept that. The unborn are our first concern – they cannot choose whether they live or die.
The abortionist chooses – they die. We are with them in their innocence. We are with them all whatever their origin, the life-limited babies and the healthy babies, the Down Syndrome babies, female and male babies, black and white babies, rich and poor babies, in their simple, instinctive asking to be born and to live.
Later in her article Fionnuala describes the Catholic Church as ‘one of the most unchanging voices against any and all moves towards safe and legal abortion, north or south’. This suggests to me that while she acknowledges that the unborn babies (she did not use the word babies) are the first concern of pro-life groups, they are of no concern at all to her. She may consider that she deserves some credit, however, for advocating that the little human being in the womb be killed safely and legally.
Cherish all the Children Equally are very happy to be associated with Belfast-based umbrella group Both Lives Matter, which provides a forum for pro-life bodies from all religious, political, professional and business backgrounds. The title reflects the deep concern and compassion of each of the affiliated groups for mothers faced with crisis pregnancies, agonising over the terrible option of abortion or, sadly, dealing with post-abortion trauma. At least one of the groups associated, Causeway Crisis Pregnancy Initiative, deals exclusively with mothers in just such harrowing circumstances.
Her snide description of ordinary Catholics campaigning for the lives of the unborn as ‘passionate lay people’ is offensive. Along with people of all other religions and none they are motivated by the humanity they bring to their religion and to their kind.
The abhorrent crimes of some priests and the attempted cover-up of those crimes by their superiors has been shocking and distressing for the ‘passionate lay people’.
Fionnuala’s look-who’s-talking jibe at those good people is cheap and unworthy. They have every right to declare their belief in the sanctity of human life, born and unborn.
FRANCIE BROLLY
Dungiven, Co Derry
PBP’s class war politics achieve nothing
Once again we are in the midst of an election campaign and yet again People Before Profit (PBP) are claiming to be an ‘anti-cuts’ party. This though only exposes their double standards as they supported Brexit, which in the coming years is going to cut billions of pounds of investment from Northern Ireland’s economy that would have come from the EU. It’s incredible that this far-left party were in agreement with UKIP and the Tories.
Here, they’re in league with the DUP as Brexit will inevitably lead to a hard border which will damage trade and consequently the economy in both parts of Ireland.
It isn’t surprising therefore that PBP’s incoherent policies are uncosted as PBP don’t care about how they are going to pay for all their socialist utopia. Parroting simplistic slogans highlights their lack of political maturity. Their two invisible MLAs have not created one job nor have they done anything to improve the lot of the people. Hopefully this time those who were naive and gullible enough to vote for PBP will realise that they wasted their vote in last May’s election as PBP’s old-fashioned class war politics achieves nothing.
P GORMLEY
Belfast BT15
Lights beam brightly at redundant BHS store
The phrase ‘lights out’ is a common enough expression often used in children’s bedrooms, school dormitories, workplaces etc. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in a now redundant large retail store in central Belfast namely BHS.
From the moment the premises were vacated every light as far as the eye could see had been left on. The financial output of this must be staggering if ordinary common folk’s electric charges are anything to go by.
I enquired recently as to who would be footing the bill and was told the administrator. What about the entire staff of BHS who have not only been deprived of their jobs and livelihood, but also of their pension entitlement.
One wonders if the lights are still beaming brightly in all of the other BHS stores dotted throughout the various cities and towns.
Surely this waste of money could be redirected towards paying ex-employees the pension that they so rightly deserve and are entitled to.
S REGAN
Belfast BT15
