Northern Ireland is in crisis. This is not just the political crisis which threatens the devolved institutions but a moral crisis which threatens to result in legalised killing of innocent unborn children. This threat grows more alarming with every passing week. There are now three cases in the courts aimed at overturning or nullifying the laws which protect our children from abortion. And although the election has halted the progress of David Ford’s bill targeting seriously disabled babies, this is only temporary. He insists that he’ll resubmit it on the day he returns to Stormont. Similar proposals prepared by Michelle O’Neill and Claire Sugden will also re-emerge.
Fifty years after the passage of the British Abortion Act, the abortion lobby is more strident, more determined and more dangerous than ever and is even seeking to make pro-life street counselling for women considering abortion a criminal offence.
The current political crisis is not the first in our history and it won’t be the last. In five years the issues which brought this election about will have been forgotten. But the politicians elected on March 2 will decide whether the lives of unborn children will be protected or routinely terminated by abortion.
Politics has always been divisive and political crises will come and go. The protection of innocent human life must rise above politics because once a human life is ended, no amount of regret can bring it back.
Pro-life voters should take every opportunity to speak to candidates and election workers and tell them that anyone who supports abortion under any circumstances is disqualified from gaining their vote regardless of their position on other issues. They should encourage pro-life politicians to speak out against abortion. If there is no candidate in a constituency that a pro-life voter can support, then they should consider spoiling their ballot by writing Pro-Life across it. This message will be seen and the parties will take notice.
Every election is important but it is no exaggeration to say that for our unborn children how the people of Northern Ireland vote on polling day could make the difference between life or death.
LIAM GIBSON
SPUC Pro-life, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim
Unionists lack of parity of esteem is disgusting
The prospect of amnesty for British military forces is an absolute disgrace. For all the complaints from unionists on comfort letters for republican on-the-runs the same unionists did not voice as much as one complaint for the comfort letters that were issued to members of the British military forces. Once again this hypocrisy is clear for all to see. They screamed bloody murder when the mere considering of amnesty for republicans was made during the ill-fated Haass negotiations yet they are brazen in their audacious support of amnesty for British military terrorists who carried out war crimes. Make no mistake many actions the British military did during the Troubles were war crimes regardless if one uses the Hague or Geneva definition.
The lack of parity of esteem is disgusting. More than 20,000 republicans were incarcerated in relation to the Troubles yet only four British soldiers have ever been convicted for their actions during the Troubles. Yet unionists have the gall to say the judicial process is biased against the state. That is utter balderdash. A ratio of more than 5,000 republicans jailed for every British military conviction shows the degree of nonsense in that ludicrous assertion.
The reason unionists feel so emboldened to legislate immunity for British armed forces is due to Provisional Sinn Féin’s deference and tranquil acquiescence to the British occupation of Ireland over the last two to three decades. While Provisional Sinn Féin claim they will ensure a Gaelic language statute, that they will secure a nationwide referendum and put manners on the DUP it is all the same old nonsense that got us into this current mess. The reality is that if Arlene Foster had temporarily stepped aside, as Peter Robinson had done, then Provisional Sinn Féin would still be propping up a corrupt DUP administration in the Stormont executive.
EAMONN MacGRIANNA
Beal Feirste BT11
Fighting for women’s right to choose
With Michelle O’Neill’s appointment to the Northern leadership of Sinn Féin, there is a strong possibility the next first and deputy first ministers will both be women.
Arlene Foster says she is standing up to sexism and misogyny while Sinn Féin claim to be fighting for equality. Yet neither of them and none of the main parties support a woman’s right to choose.
In 1967 abortion rights were won by women in Britain and in many countries across the world. Half a century on, women here continue to be criminalised for exercising control over their own bodies. How can Sinn Féin claim to stand up for equality when they support this continuing injustice?
Martin McGuinness said clearly that Sinn Féin is “an anti-abortion party” (Clare Byrne Show, RTÉ Radio, April 13 2013).
Does Michelle O’Neill stand by this statement? If their talk of rights and equality is more than empty rhetoric, Sinn Féin should demand the immediate extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland.
In Ireland, north and south, and internationally, a new women’s movement is developing and fighting for the right to choose is a central part of it.
Sinn Féin’s new Northern leader must choose which side she’s on – real progress or continued denial of rights.
COURTNEY ROBINSON
Labour Alternative, Belfast BT4
Electorate holds key to change
We have had 10 years of two parties in Stormont more intent on point scoring than governing. The electorate is responsible for continuing to return these parties.
It is time for change and it is up to us to vote for parties with a chance of working together, regardless of previous loyalties.
Voting for DUP or Sinn Féin means more of the same. Voting for small parties is a waste as these votes are needed to provide an alternative government.
Sean Taggart (February 2) and John Austin (February 15) urge Catholics to vote DUP. So they want the same old system. The DUP would like the return of the old Stormont with no Catholics about the place.
The scandals of Nama, Red Sky and RHI should be enough to rule out the DUP. The electorate holds the key to change. Let’s have it.
T KELLY
Draperstown, Co Derry
Make this a change election
By 2020 30 per cent of children in Northern Ireland will be living in poverty. In 2017 this figure should be reducing not rising. This is a clear failure of government. Instead of reducing child poverty DUP and Sinn Féin has delivered Nama, Red Sky and RHI scandals. Every one of these have one thing in common, wastage of public money by either Sinn Féin or the DUP. The electorate has two choices, vote for the DUP or Sinn Féin or stay at home and you will get more of the same.
Vote for the SDLP or UUP and you can put in power a different executive. An executive who crucially want to be in power together.
The SDLP and UUP recognise the office of first ministers is joint, both have the same power and responsibility. From at least this point the SDLP and UUP have one up on the DUP and Sinn Féin. Let’s make this a change election.
GERARD McDONALD
Belfast BT13
