The election results pose many questions and challenges for those who continue to hold out for separation between Ireland and England. Any Irish republican who believes the current situation that anti-agreement republicanism finds itself in is in any way desirable isn’t examining the situation with honestly.
Sinn Féin are undoubtedly the winners of the election. Their results represents a seismic protest vote against the DUP and sectarian rhetoric. Sinn Féin, admirably, are portraying this result as an expression of separatism, without examining the reasons behind the electoral mobilisation or admitting the severe limitations of the Belfast Agreement in delivering for those with aspirations for Irish unity.
The Stormont project has been a failure from its inception. All it has to offer is a bulwark between the Irish people and Ireland’s reunification. While the turnout may be higher than previous years the result will inevitably be the same – Stormont cannot work. However, in the wake of these results Irish republicans must give serious thought to the future and begin to ask how we can really challenge the status quo.
Republicans have a few immediate tasks at hand in order to influence national debate, galvanise support from the discontented and provide a vessel for those seeking an end to partition. We need to begin a process of working together – factionalism and protesting in isolation is allowing Stormont to dominate the narrative. We need to create a movement capable of providing a clear strategy for Irish unity, while simultaneously improving the lives and prospects of the Irish people. We also need to find a suitable mechanism for challenging the state and exerting our influence over major debates eg Brexit.
The marginalisation of anti-GFA republicanism is the result of a culmination of factors. However, one which is of our own making, is the unattractive and unpopular factionalism which has for years stifled support and demoralised current and prospective Irish republicans.
The thought of Republican Unity began long ago, however, now is the time to act upon it, abandoning the long held position of circling each other until someone makes the first move. It is now time to erect a project of unity based on mutual respect, equality of expression and acceptance of both the opinions and duties of all parties and groups involved.
Irish republicans must provide a coherent vision of the future, what a united Ireland will look like, how it will benefit the Irish people as a whole and how we can achieve this beyond long held cliches and rhetoric. The window of opportunity has been made smaller by the latest results.
Pro-Stormont parties have gained a greater consensus as they offer the only show in town.
Republicans must begin to change this and widen the window. An opportunity, albeit small, exists for republicans to forge together and ensure our vision of the future enters national debate.
NATHAN STUART
Republican Network for Unity
Craigavon, Co Armagh
Attitudinal change a solution to political struggles
While reflecting recently on our political situation Christ’s parable of the good Samaritan came into my mind and also thoughts on the antipathy which existed between the Jews and the Samaritans and its resemblances to our problems in Northern Ireland.
Actually, the dislike of these two groups for one another was probably greater than what exists here between ordinary people, although apparently between some of our politicians it is more acute. It was, however, encouraging to see Jarlath Kearney calling for generosity and attitudinal change. There is nothing more important for our community than that those on both political sides who call themselves Christian should think seriously about what Christ was saying in the Good Samaritan parable and allow it to change their attitudes. Without this attitudinal change, it is hard to see a permanent solution to our political struggles.
Neither side will have a strong enough majority to gain a decisive majority in any border referendum in the immediate future and we will be condemned to years of bitter exchanges punctuated by pointless paramilitary killing of the innocent. If the planning and the energy that are now wasted in our internal battles were devoted to the benefit of the common good, we would have a happier and more prosperous community and perhaps one day both parts of Ireland would recognise their common interests.
What appears certain is that there is no other way to an Ireland united even in spirit.
IGNATIUS McQUILLAN
Derry City
McGuinness canonisation
The comments from unionist circles, especially those of TUV leader Jim Allister, at the news of the passing of Martin McGuinness met with outrage and incensed anger. Mr Allister spoke of the many dead caused by the past choices of Mr McGuinness. Criticism yes, but it probably needed to be said.
While the late deputy first minister died with family at his side, fortified with the sacramental comforts from mother Church, one needs to think of the many denied such comforts.
Think of the likes of Columba McVeigh; think of Jean McConville, murdered for the Gospel act of giving a cup of water to an enemy.
What was their and the rest of the disappeared’s last moments like when pleas for final confession and absolution were ruthlessly denied by the cold indifferent Marxist ideology to such ‘fairytales’?
Indeed, the sugar-coated hagiography of David Latimer (March 30) usage of such terms as “a great leader of our time and peacemaker” fails to take into account that Martin McGuinness and his party voted for the Ford abortion bill and continue to do so. Use of such terms are misplaced or coldly insensitive to this combined legacy of violence towards the innocent and unborn, which the late DFM and party has done little to change.
If only he did, then those titles would be justly deserved.
JDP McALLION
Clonoe, Co Tyrone
Alex Kane’s amnesia
Reading all The Irish News columnists’ comments on the death of Martin McGuinness (March 22) and Alex Kane had a few questions that he always wanted to ask him.
The one question that showed Alex’s true face of unionism was – “I wanted to know what it was about unionism that made him so angry as a young man in the 1960s.”
Alex is the true face of unionist amnesia since the illegal statelet was set up – a Protestant parliament for a Protestant people; high unemployment for Catholics; single Protestants could get a three-bedroom house over a Catholic family. I could go on. Yet Alex wonders why Catholics/nationalists were angry. Alex, like most unionists, blank the truth of how the six counties was run by the bigots of unionism.
A GIBSON
Crumlin, Co Antrim
Enough is enough
The Irish News letters page seems to continuously give top billing to the two pro-British, Free State amigos from the proud city of Cork – namely Robert Sullivan and Maurice Fitzgerald. Week in and week out they rant and rave about the great democracy which is the UK. Everyone is entitled to their say but sometimes enough is enough. I am sure that true Irish men and women are fed up reading the pro-British trash coming from the views of these two champions of British rule in Ireland.
I firmly believe that The Irish News has the best letters page of all the Irish daily papers but I also think that these two boys get more than their fair share of letter space. I just wonder if the Cork press give them the same amount of publicity.
VAL MORGAN
Newry, Co Down
