Unionism is decadent and divided and will fail altogether if it becomes more fragmented than it already is. It does not have the backbone any longer to stand up to republicanism because of its division and fear of condemnation from the British government if it does not bow to republican concessions. Republicanism has done a good job in dividing it and to its great cost, while leaving Northern Ireland in a great mess as unionism wrangles with itself, republicans, and the British government, and gets crushed in the process. What is there to divide unionism? The only reliable answer seems to be how much it should engage with Sinn Féin and how much it should condemn republican terrorism associated with it, where applicable. Unionism should be unionism, but it is not. A huge wedge has split it and now unionism all hangs on one party, the DUP, with a declining majority. Unionist block-voting is getting less effective with the diminishment of parties such as the UUP and TUV. So where is unionism’s future? It is very uncertain. Hardline parties such as the TUV are sometimes frowned upon for their tough stance on republicanism but why should unionism capitulate to republicanism or the British government in bending to endless republican concessions? Unionism is now at the crossroads of its history and has a decision
to make.
Northern Ireland can no longer depend on unionism anymore than republicanism to fight its battles for it and fulfil its people’s hopes and aspirations. It is a open secret that republican voting strength has been growing because of waning unionism. Unionism is in serious trouble and should admit it. It needs to bury the hatchet, instead of leaving itself wide open to be crushed. Unionism has an ethical responsibility to the Union as long as the people in Northern Ireland wish it to be part of the United Kingdom. It may not be long at all before intransigent Sinn Féin get a majority from the electorate, which may seal Northern Ireland’s fate into a hopeless abyss of fractious and sterile politics. Unionism is hanging on by a thread and trying to show a brave face, but remains weak and sloppy, while republicans take Northern Ireland back to the past with antiquated impossible demands such as joint authority and pipe-dream aspirations of a united Ireland with no blue print. They will also take what is left of unionism with it. Unionism better raise its game, because soon it will be sidelined to be replaced by pie-in-the-sky united islanders who deliver nothing only rhetoric. With the intransigence of republicanism and the decadence of unionism, the people in Northern Ireland haven’t a prayer.
MAURICE FITZGERALD
Shanbally, Co Cork
Time republicans got their heads out of the sand
The late Cardinal O Fiaich compared the H Blocks during the blanket protest to the black hole of Calcutta. It is beyond argument that the blanket men and women were subjected to systematic, degrading and inhumane treatment over a prolonged period of time and I don’t believe that it is an exaggeration to say that they were tortured.
Recently Coiste Na Niarrchimi organised a reunion of ex-blanket men and women to recount some of the worst times during that period. Those who attended would still largely be supportive of Sinn Féin.
Sinn Féin, however, has over the years pretended that there has been something of a transition in civil society here, something it has now clawed back on to some extent since bringing down the executive. Yet it would now see the prison service as legitimate. It supports the PSNI even though once more the evidence shows it is more proactive against republicanism than anything else. It is time republicans got their heads out of the sand and recognise that Sinn Féin has been spinning fake news for years and for ex-blanket men and women to realise if the brutality that they suffered wasn’t right then, it is no more right for republicans who are being treated like that today.
SEAN O FIACH
Belfast BT11
European democracy
I have to partly agree with Desmond Devlin – ‘Denial of democracy’ (October 6). Desmond was writing about the denial of democracy in
Catalonia by the Spanish government in a referendum.
There were a few referendums in Europe in general over the years but the European Union didn’t appear to have a problem with the outcome of these. I write specifically about Kosovo, where they gained their independence from Serbia then went on to become a member of the European Union. Gibraltar, when there wasn’t a problem with this one either, as they were already a member of the European Union under the UK and not connected to Spain politically. Also the Falklands/Malvinas, again no problem with the EU about this one as they too were/are a member of the European Union also under the UK, although the islands are thousands of miles away from Europe.
But the main problems are possibly with Spain and the European Union, as Catalonia wants separation from Spain and possibly the European Union. Also, the referendum in Crimea was illegal, according to the European Union, after the people in Crimea, in a democratic election, voted to rejoin Russia and leave Ukraine, after a coup d’etat in Ukraine in 2014. I’ll leave out the 1918 all-Ireland election for now. We all know what happened there.
Good thing I’m not into conspiracy theories.
PATRICK FEENAN
Newtownabbey, Co Antrim
Breast cancer issues need to be addressed
I read with great concern a new report by Breast Cancer Now – ‘Good Enough? Breast Cancer in the UK’ – which highlights how much more needs to be done to save the lives of people with breast cancer.
One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and an estimated 16,300 women were living with or beyond breast cancer in NI in 2013.
The report uncovered a number of issues that need to be addressed in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. These include the ability to access effective medicines to prevent and treat breast cancer, concerns about having enough specialist cancer doctors and nurses, and unprecedented financial and operational pressures within the health service. It is critical that progress is made across these areas, particularly as the number of those living with and beyond breast cancer is expected to rise.
That’s why I emailed my MLAs asking them to take action to ensure that Breast Cancer Now can achieve its vision that by 2050, everyone who develops breast cancer will live. I would encourage others to join me and email their MLAs by visiting: www.breastcancernow.org/goodenough2017
MARY GALLAGHER
Derry City
Searching for answers
Could the Chief Constable tell us why instead of putting a police presence in Cantrell Close to protect intimidated families he allowed his officers to act as postmen for paramilitaries and delivering the messages in the dead of night? Also will the housing association hold these houses in the hope that the problem can be solved and the people allowed to return or will they fill the houses immediately with non Catholics?
JOSEPH KENNEDY
Dunmurry, Co Antrim
