Sinn Féin constantly moan that Brexit poses a threat to ‘the peace process’. Maybe. But, recent statements and events highlight the even greater threat Sinn Féin themselves pose to this ‘process’.
Conor Murphy recently stated that Westminster should introduce same-sex marriage. In the last few days, Sinn Féin have sat idly by and let Westminster vote for the imposition of abortion in these parts. That Westminster should have anything to do with Ireland is anathema to true republicans. But this crew sit idle and invite a British government do their dirty work for them knowing that, if they themselves tried to introduce abortion here, they would meet very, very stiff opposition – so they sit back and let the Brits do it. ‘Sinn Féin’ means ‘we ourselves’. But, clearly not for this crew, without the Union Jack-draped West Minster Brigade of the Sinn Féin.
This has, firstly, angered people who have no affiliation to this party. Abortion and same-sex marriage are devolved issues to be decided by the local electorate. By inviting and allowing Westminster to impose these, Sinn Féin denies the electorate here their most basic and fundamental democratic right.
So much for their empty talk of human rights.
More sinister, however, is the fact that Sinn Féin have now effectively let the old republican mantra of ‘Brits Out’ be morphed into ‘Brits In’ (imagine that being sung in republican areas). Broken people whose lives were destroyed by the murder and mayhem of the Troubles, with the republican aim to get the Brits out, are now asking ‘why all the death, murder and mayhem to get the Brits out when you are now inviting them back in again?’
Instead of ‘armoured cars and tanks and guns came to take away our sons’ we now have a clueless, British regime, the West Minster Brigade of the Sinn Féin, being given the Céad Míle Fáilte by Sinn Féin to impose cruel British rule and legislation on republicans and non-republicans alike.
Even more threatening is the fact that this attitude of ‘Brits In’ of Sinn Féin serves as grist to the mill of warlords recruiting republican youth on the basis that Sinn Féin have sold out, are colluding with the enemy, that they haven’t finished the job, that they’re not fit for purpose.
Brexit a threat to the peace process? Look in the mirror, Sinn Féin.
MALACHY DUFFIN
Randalstown, Co Antrim
Orangefest has left a sour taste in visitors’ mouths
Well, it’s over for another year. There were some memorable instances of the culture being celebrated. Who can forget those memories shared on social media? The celebrated dance, ‘the bouncy’, displayed on the roof of a van until the participants fell through; or the shy young man, standing on a vehicle, naked to the ankles, proudly displaying his underwear and not forgetting the litter that left Shaftesbury Square looking like the ‘Great Plastic Gyre’ of the Pacific Ocean.
Certainly, the Canadian couple I met on Saturday afternoon will never forget their memories of their visit. They thought the Antrim Coast Road was splendid and had heard so much about Orangefest they wanted to see the spectacle.
They declared they had never seen such displays of hatred (against neighbours), they were so impressed with the litter they took photographs to show their friends; they even witnessed a man, drunk beyond reason, carrying a broken bottle in each hand.
They were wanting to know why there were so few people about. We informed them of the great exodus of people leaving the place to avoid the madness each year. To which they said they don’t know how anyone can live here with that going on. I dare say that their experiences while here will be shared with friends when they get home.
Needless to say they won’t be back for repeat business.
PATRICK DORRIAN
Belfast BT15
Fuelling the imagination is a thing of past
The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission in which man set foot on the moon, has arrived.
As a young boy I was in awe of the Apollo programme, I remember watching the missions on TV and studying them at school. That man could leave planet earth and go to the moon galvanised my imagination, something which I have not lost. It is sad that the education system now, especially in primary school, is about passing exams and fuelling the imagination is largely deemed not important.
The moon race which was started before I was born and played out in my early years, showed me that we could turn our dreams into reality because it is only in realising of dreams that men can truly be free.
When Neil Armstrong set that first foot on the moon and claimed that ‘it’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind’ how true it was, for at that moment the world was one. Hope was high, the future offered opportunities for all. Fifty years ago the space race between the Americans and Russians so enhanced the world. Today we have a world in turmoil. We now need people of hope, vision and determination. That sadly is lacking.
JIM BOYLAN
Warrenpoint, Co Down
Jewish concerns for indigenous Americans
Peter Baum (July 9) attempts to equate the Irish immigrants in north America 200 years ago, who had fled poverty in colonised Ireland and enlisted in the US army, with Jewish immigrants in Palestine in the recent period from 1948. He glosses over the fact that in the 18th and 19th centuries the world was overrun by every country in Europe, with the exception of Ireland and Switzerland, in a rapacious colonial race for domination of the land and resources of the Third World.
Furthermore, 200 years ago there was virtually no such thing as international law whereas when colonial Israel was founded in 1948 the UN had been voted into existence. Since that time Israel has defied dozens of UN resolutions and with the help of the US has got away with it. Israel now has more than 600,000 ‘planters’ on stolen Palestinian lands, a situation which Ireland had to put up with for 400 years.
Hopefully, the wait will not be as long for the indigenous people of Palestine.
EUGENE F PARTE
Belfast BT9
Expression of thanks
On behalf of Aisling Ghéar Theatre Co, I would like to thank all of our collectors and everyone who supported us in Derry on July 4. We raised £218 which will be used to help put on our next show ‘The Irish Houses – the story of the Shaw’s Road Gaeltacht’ in the autumn this year. A big thank you to everyone.
CA McALONAN-McCRUDDEN
Genereal manager
