We can be reasonably sure that the muted cacophony of outrage following the intimidation of four Catholic families on the Ravenhill Road did not reach the Midland Hotel in Manchester and that the DUP did not raise the issue with their Tory friends when they addressed that conference.
There are many reasons why sectarianism endures and festers uniquely and unchecked in the Northern State. But like any illness, it can never be treated if it is not properly diagnosed.
And yet when I started to read Tom Kelly (October 2) I thought that, with his insight, assessment and comprehensive analysis, at long last the origins and remedy for this cancer that the British introduced into our country, would be accurately identified. But, disappointment would be an understatement.
The truth is that political unionism is underpinned by a pervasive and diabolical hatred of Catholics that goes back to the days of Oliver Cromwell. It is not so much about what unionism does, but more about what unionism is. And the sense of siege felt by the land thieves who came over here from England and Scotland 400 years ago has been mischievously kept alive mostly by Protestant clergy, to facilitate political and religious careers – but by no means all or most of them – who make up a sizable quota of the membership of the Loyal Orders. This toxic concoction of fear and hatred is ingrained in many young Protestants from an early age and is aptly documented and exhibited in the bonfire and marching rituals.
It is not reciprocated by Catholics, nor does it run in all our DNA as Tom Kelly claims. There is certainly sectarianism [and racism] in nationalist Ireland, but no popular support for it exists anywhere, and there is no propensity for it as he claims.
During my entire life I have never heard a priest or bishop make insulting comments about Protestants from the pulpit, refer to other religious beliefs as being in error or declare that the Muslim faith is satanic.
The Catholic hierarchy have been slated publicly for many historical misdemeanours. But they have never been sectarian. And Tom’s contention that republicans show disdain for Orange culture and overreact to every parade is manifestly untrue.
Indeed only a small number of those thousands of parades have been contested.
And Tom refers to the schools. Who would argue against educating all schoolchildren together?
We can continue to send joint excursions of Catholic and Protestant children to Holland or Florida. But this only feeds the false narrative that the Catholic victims of this disease must share the blame for it.
And that only makes the problem worse.
JACK DUFFIN
Belfast BT11
Ireland has a differential approach to dealing with EU rules
The British had the honesty to get out of the EU, however, the Irish are going to stay in it. While playing by the EU rules the Irish government wants to obey and refuse to obey other rules that are not to its liking. There are many examples of Irish double standards in the EU with flagrant breaches of rights and regulations. Citizens of the Republic will gain nothing whatsoever if rights agreed to by member states are not complied with or messed around, which is currently the case. Irish taxpayers are spending a fortune paying out fines to the EU for ongoing and flagrant breaches of rights, regulations and standards. The recent revelations regarding its dual or double corporate rate is all the evidence anyone needs of the Irish attitudes to the EU which is one of convenient non-compliance. Of course Ireland is fighting tooth and nail in the European courts for its dual corporate stance. The bedrock of the EU super state is monetary and fiscal policy, which Ireland has no intention of following bar accepting a currency which it is not that comfortable with and completely denouncing in perpetuity any notion of tax harmonisation. The Irish system seems to have two European Unions in play. The rules obeyed when it is in its interest and derogations or dispensations when it is not happy – like a shadow or derisory EU where Ireland decides what the laws are and when they are not convenient. Welfare rights as another example have recently gone soft with national legislation giving the Department of Social Protection the extensive powers to completely disqualify people off welfare for extensive periods of time for issues to do with job programs and initiatives, which yield no jobs. People are entitled to a welfare payment as long as they are out of work, no exceptions. But again, the Irish view of things is abnormal, backward, retarded and detrimental. Many other examples exist of the double or differential approach to dealing with EU rules, such as environmental failings, where billions have been spent on fines for regulatory breaches, but nothing is done to change anything. The Republic has been repeatedly guilty of crass treaty violations regarding people’s rights, but has no intention of ever agreeing with its own agreements with the EU. Sooner or later this country will be asked to leave the EU, given its ongoing non-compliance or dynamic application of EU laws.
MAURICE FITZGERALD
Shanbally, Co Cork
The day Spain died
Peaceful young women – just wanting to vote – are dragged and thrown on the ground in Girona by black-uniformed heavily-armed Madrid police. A badly-injured man is stretchered away. Massive crowds wait to vote – like the first South African free election but now facing lines of armed police, preventing peaceful national self-determination. Ballot boxes and voting papers are seized – in free and democratic Europe.
The contrast with the glory of UK democracy could not be any clearer – Scots could vote freely on whether to remain in or leave UK.
The Madrid regime has now sown dragon’s teeth – like the London government in 1918 and their attempt to impose conscription on Ireland; which outraged all shades of green tribe and led to the [temporary] SF alliance sweeping all before it in the 1918 general election.
Sunday October 1 is the day Spain died – or rather was killed – by the Madrid regime, no matter how long it may take to finally end the current Spanish state.
Sunday October 1 is like the other historic day 105 years ago, Saturday September 28 1912, when Ulster Protestants massed to sign their Ulster Covenant – the London government was not so stupid as to try to crush that mass demonstration of the firm resolve of a people.
Catalans who were doubtful about escaping from Madrid domination will now see it is about democracy and will not tolerate diktats from Madrid.
TOM CAREW
Ranelagh, Dublin 6
Sinn Féin capitulating to unionism
For years we were told by the Sinn Féin leadership that tremendous political progress had been made in the north and any republicans who were critical of the Stormont institutions were publicly castigated. Yet it became increasingly clear that in attempting to cling to power in the executive Sinn Féin was prepared to accede virtually anything to unionism – so much so that even the leader of the unpopular SDLP was able to characterise it as 10 years of capitulation to unionism by Sinn Féin. However, having given so much up or, in Sinn Féin rhetoric, having “stretched themselves” it became apparent that unionism was banking all of these gains without paying anything in return. Sinn Féin was left with no alternative but to pull down the shutters on the assembly and executive, a move that resulted in electoral gains, showing what Sinn Féin’s base of support felt about Stormont. It is clear that not only has Stormont failed but it has failed utterly. Yet, bereft of any alternative strategy, Sinn Féin appears to be poised to capitulate to unionism once more to enable the party to again participate in the Stormont circus. If it does it will be for its own narrow interests and nothing to do with furthering its alleged goal of a united Ireland. I hope those who lent their vote to the party will hold it to account.
SEAN O FIACH
Belfast BT11
