Weather wise the north has witnessed some very dramatic thunderstorms in recent times and it could be said that these are possibly the Almighty’s passing comment on the gloomy, negative atmosphere hanging over this place. When even someone like Alex Kane (July 28) opines that we are heading for a very dark place you know we are indeed living in dangerous times once again.
While Alex correctly highlights the entrenched sectarianism within unionism as a major contributory factor for the political stalemate he is wrong to state that there was no real desire within wider nationalism to embrace a long term political solution and that republicans didn’t want to work with unionists. Surely Alex couldn’t deny the genuineness of people like Martin McGuinness who spent the past 20 years reaching out his hand to unionism only to have it slapped back time and time again.
However, if there has been a hardening of views among the wider nationalist and republican community in recent times as to the political viability of the northern state the shady Tory/DUP Axis and continuing Brexit fiasco have undoubtedly been major contributing factors. The thought of being locked into a perpetual, right-wing Little Englander, bigoted unionist utopia outside of the EU does nothing to gain the confidence of the nationalist community who are understandably now looking South to garner their political interests and views.
Furthermore when the political leader of unionism collectively refers to your community in derogatory terms while her colleagues sneer, snigger and insult the Irish language, culture and identity on a daily basis your desire to share power with them is rapidly extinguished. Alex Kane is also intelligent enough to know that while the Tories and DUP collude and do secret deals to keep Theresa May in power there can be no confidence in, or future for, any political process in the north.
The truth is that the DNA of unionism is based on supremacy, sectarianism and fundamental intolerance and these are exemplified in the ‘religious’ societies who continue to dictate and formulate unionist ‘thinking’ and ‘political policy’.
The DUP have found a welcoming home in the far right imperialist Tory party who are also no strangers to extremist views.
Alex is right to warn of dark times but don’t blame those who are genuine in their desire for power sharing and a political process based on equality and respect.
S BURNS
Belfast BT15
On opposite side of Francie’s argument when it comes to women
In response to Francie Brolly’s letter – ‘Give unborn same protection as the unhatched’ (July 26). As a teacher Francie taught me Irish and music. His lessons were always inspiring and engaging and when it came to Irish, I learned more than the present tense or the gender of nouns as he was always generous with his knowledge about how the language has evolved and how it should be protected.
He used to speak about equality for Irish speakers and I would proudly join him on marches and protests when we needed to make this point strongly.
I am, however, on the opposite side of his argument when it comes to equality for women where reproductive rights are concerned. For a woman to be forced to continue with a pregnancy regardless of her well being, her age, the circumstances of the pregnancy, her personal or family situation, her personal beliefs or her life plan, is not promoting equality for that woman, rather, it is reproductive coercion. The Irish Republic that Francie wishes to see is one where a woman must continue to full term even if she is a victim of sexual abuse.
A view that the vast majority of citizens and politicians across the island disagree with.
The Irish Republic that I would like to see is one where all people are treated equally and fairly before the law. Until the 8th Amendment of the Constitution is repealed, Irish women are treated as second-class citizens. No change to the law does not stop abortion in Ireland, it just forces it elsewhere for those who can afford it and it perpetrates a cycle of pain and poverty for those that can’t.
When Pearse said “You cannot extinguish the Irish passion for freedom”, he was talking about freedom for Irish citizens from a British state.
I believe that 100 years later it is now the Irish state that Irish citizens desire freedom from.
SEAN O CEALLAIGH
Dún Geimhin, Co Doire
SF should respect views of its members
I commend Francie Brolly (July 26 for speaking out in defence of the unborn and for taking his colleague Mary Lou McDonald to task for her radical pro-abortion position in demanding the repeal of the 8th Amendment.
Mary Lou has made it abundantly clear that Sinn Féin policy favours the introduction of stringent abortion laws across Ireland, which will inevitably lead to a dramatic reduction in the Irish population; something external conquerors have been trying to achieve for centuries through war, forced famine and emigration.
I find it hard to believe that, apart from Francie, every other member of SF supports the introduction of abortion into our country. All the more so given that a recent poll has shown that over 70 per cent of Sinn Féin voters in the north oppose any change to current abortion laws here. Other SF members should show the same courage that Francie has in speaking out against the evils of abortion and their party’s misguided position on the matter.
Finally, SF might want to apply its mantra of respect and equality to its own members and elected representatives and allow them to vote with their consciences on the issue.
A bit of respect and equality by Mary Lou towards the 8th Amendment and the protection it affords the unborn wouldn’t go amiss either.
CATHERINE SEWELL
Dungannon, Co Tyrone
Respect for each other is paramount
I found the letter from D MacSeiridh (July 27) most interesting in suggesting that Sinn Féin would politically benefit most if they made the first bold step and offered the DUP something positive to advance their vision of Ireland’s unification.
Contrary to what most supporters of both DUP and Sinn Féin believe, the majority of the indigenous people of this island, (including those preferring to be recognised as British), have no problems in accepting each other’s friendship and community social accord, irrespective of a differing religious or political divide.
Thirty-plus years ago a change in employment resulted in me taking residence in Kircubbin and I can honestly say that the people who befriended me most and still do were from the Catholic faith.
Now Northern Ireland is an internationally recognised country, particularly so on the global sporting arena, to refer to it as most Sinn Féin supporters do as ‘the north’, does little to encourage anyone from the ‘other side’ to welcome Ireland’s unification.
Respect to any neighbour is paramount if one wishes your opponent to see your viewpoint.
Rubber stamping a child’s mentality, with a Union Jack/Tricolour bias is the first step to division and mayhem.
Unite the people and the country will unite itself.
HARRY STEPHENSON
Kircubbin, Co Down
