A couple of years ago I wrote a letter to The Irish News, concerned about the situation in the north becoming a tinderbox. This was prior to any Brexit vote/Stormont collapse. Sadly, I was along the right track and was hoping to be called out as wrong.
These days we have become even more toxic, where political parties are experts at defining terrorism, and others retweet posts such as those by
‘OnThisDayTheIRA’ etc.
Now, I don’t expect anyone to forget their loved ones but, as a sibling of a republican activist killed by state forces, I have concerns as to whether this is the way forward at all?
We also have politicians using republican actions, that resulted in the death of someone’s loved ones, to challenge the likes of Sinn Féin in some way. I also see that republicans try to justify the armed struggle/conflict/Troubles, whatever one would like to call it. I am not going to be judge or jury on these issues but I remember a conversation we had with Robin Eames back in the early 2000s during the Eames/Bradley process. Dr Eames asked me “are not a loyalist mother’s tears the same as a republican mother’s?” This has still stuck in my head almost 15 years later, and is even more significant as I become depressed at every article in The Irish News, Belfast Telegraph and News Letter on the latest issue with regards to legacy.
Our loved ones are our loved ones, whether they be loyalist activists, republican activists, British army or RUC/PSNI or even non-participants.
Their killings caused hurt and everyone will never forget their dead.
Everyone must respect that their loved ones still live on. Everyone must respect that many of us think about these people first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. We then see others engage in toxic communication on social media, and this doesn’t help us.
My hope for the future is proper reconciliation, but I am concerned that many of us are too afraid of what would be thought of us if we did reach out the hand of reconciliation to ‘the other side’. I think that this is where our leadership should be travelling in the future. Sadly, the so-called leadership are quite happy to use the actions of republicans and loyalists as a way of maintaining the status quo. Some of these leaders have seen conflict themselves and have learned nothing from the past.
Aside from the whole discussion around Brexit and a united Ireland we need to reconcile ourselves first. The war is over. This war didn’t have to happen, but it did. We lost our brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers and will never forget them. I want to move forward, but my question now is who is going to stand up and seriously consider reconciliation? Or maybe we should just sit on twitter and demonise each other, and libel the dead.
DONAL RYAN
Magherafelt, Co Derry
Lack of consultation on amalgamation can’t be justified
THERE is a huge challenge facing the trustees and CCMS in Lower Mourne with regard to the delivery of primary school amalgamation.
In late 2013 a meeting took place involving the trustees, CCMS and the management of the three primary schools in Lower Mourne. This vision for the future was a new build amalgamated school on a site available close to the church in Ballymartin village. This site-specific proposal was communicated in the press and within both churches. Leading on from this the education minister formally announced the amalgamation proposal in 2014.
Facing towards September 2018 and in spite of the above, there is a concerted attempt to impose an outcome which is at variance with the original proposal, which was the only basis for the acceptance of amalgamation. Many feel this is a breach of faith.
The amalgamation project has proceeded in the wrong direction with insufficient consultation and undue haste. In a recent parish bulletin there was a request placed for possible sites for a new school. Is it fair to expect parents to give their support where there is no firm commitment to build a new school? There is no commitment in respect to location and there is no commitment in respect to time scale. Instead, we now see the introduction of the term ‘interim’ location.
To quote a recent article in The Irish News: All available sites are being considered at this point as an interim location for the new school.
Prominence in the sane article has been given to the soon to be closed St Columban’s College on the outskirts of Kilkeel. Along with the proposed name of St Columban’s Primary School people will draw their own conclusions. Surely this name and location does not reflect a new beginning? The lack of consultation on these matters cannot be justified.
Schools in Lower Mourne must remain open unless there is a substantially improved alternative ie a new school, in place in the heart of the parish. This was the original vision. The current course of action is folly and will be resolutely opposed.
Amalgamation proposals cannot be supported by parents until they are satisfied they will deliver better prospects for our children and the future of our parish.
SEAN FITZPATRICK
Co Down
GFA a chance to move this situation around
Well what a page of letters (April 2) having a go at the republican movement. Where to start offering an alternative narrative.
Let’s kick off with Mr MacGrianna – good at accentuating the negatives, as undoubtedly there are. One party rule based on discrimination and gerrymandering and sectarianism of 50 years ago have laid down deep scars in our community. The complete and deliberate blindness to the British and Dublin governments helped embed these scars.
The deficits in every aspect of our lives are obvious. Catch-up time is inhibited by continued denial by Westminster in particular of the grave harm that (a) partition has inflicted on us here and (b) its continued insistence that this is a “part of the UK”. Today assisted in this denial by the DUP.
The GFA is the chance to move this situation around. Well two factors kick in – the stubborn determination by loyalists to deny any republican analysis and paradoxically dissidents calling themselves republicans.
To Frank Hennessy rather than a “no, no, no” attitude to republicans, the boundary changes are a clear danger to a further gerrymandering in the six counties. They are just proposals.
MANUS McDAID
Derry City
Stand up and shout no to abortion
There have been many fine letters to The Irish News recently regarding the issue of abortion. This evil which is gathering pace like a cancer throughout the land must be stopped. It is time we all stood up and shouted no. One way in my opinion is for our clergy of all denominations to use their Sunday sermons to highlight this threat to our future generations.
Our priests and ministers must show the moral guidance that we expect from them and activate the conscience of the people in the lead up to the abortion referendum.
Our helpless unborn must be protected. They cannot help themselves. We all have a duty to do all in our power to put this dreadful evil down. To say the least the silence from our church pulpits at the present time is deafening. It only takes five minutes at Sunday Mass or service to galvanise the people to go to the aid of the helpless and defenceless in our society.
VAL MORGAN
Newy, Co Down
Past shows we deserve a better future
We have been to see the exhibition ‘The Troubles and Beyond’ in the Ulster Museum.
I would like Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill to go along and see it – hopefully together and discuss and reflect all the sad harrowing and awful facts that are there. I beseech them to have respect for their former colleagues who worked so hard to secure the Good Friday Agreement and get back to Stormont and do the job. The past should tell you that we all deserve better. If you can’t both work together be honest and appoint another two one from each party who can and are able to share and compromise.
You are both sending out a very negative image about Northern Ireland.
M McDONALD
Belfast BT8
