CORMAC Moore’s article – ‘Nationalist divisions pose obstacle to united Ireland’, October 19 – is of the utmost importance.
I bow to no one in my belief that a united Ireland is desirable and achievable, and that a united Ireland can be built which will provide for the economic and social needs of everyone on the island much better than the current arrangements.
Over the last few years I have come to despair at the approach of the primary protagonists of a united Ireland within Northern Ireland, both political and civic, which I fear will fail to achieve the desired result. There is an arrogance abroad in the movement which I would characterise as ‘it’s our turn now’, with scant regard for the need to bring unionists along in this project, nor respect for more moderate nationalists who do understand the need to consider the interests of all groups to achieve a united Ireland and to make it work. The pile-on against Brendan O’Leary’s call to achieve, as far as possible, “losers’ consent” from unionists in the event of a successful border poll was revelatory.
Much has been said about the importance of clarity regarding the economy and the health service in a united Ireland, but we should not forget that identity will be for many people a major determinant of how they vote.
It can be hard to be sympathetic to unionism given its grim history and the strategic foolishness of its main representatives since the Brexit saga started.
Nonetheless the re-writing of the Troubles era with the message that ‘there was no alternative’, and that collusion between British state actors and loyalists was the central story of the period, does nothing to assure unionists that their story will be respected in a united Ireland. Nor does light-hearted singing of ‘Up
the Ra’.
Denigration of the SDLP (‘stoops’, etc) has been a feature of some republican thinking for years, but I think more thoughtful minds will realise that there is wisdom in an approach that is broad-based. Cormac Moore’s article should be studied by all groups that are working for a united Ireland.
Declan O’Loan
Ballymena, Co Antrim
An end to centuries-old anti-democratic misrule
I WOULD like to draw attention to the large grey animal in the corner of the room, that no one seems to want to notice or talk about, and that is the fact that neither the British nor unionists are democrats.
When we look at the result of the general election in Ireland in 1918, it was won by more than 80 per cent of nationalists, but that was ignored and we had partition forced upon us under threat of accept it or face immediate and terrible war.
This was democracy British-style and led to the Irish civil war where both sides wanted the same thing and that was freedom from foreign rule, so the British denial of the result from the ballot box meant that they are responsible for all the deaths that happened in this sad conflict.
When people talk of a border poll these days, a lot of focus seems to be on whether we would better off financially if we voted to stay or go. I would vote for unity even if I had to live on roots and berries because I want to see a situation where the Irish people can no longer be slaughtered in their own towns and cities by foreign troops and an end to centuries-old misrule, against the democratic wishes of the Irish nation.
To those who would hitch their wagon to the British, I give you the words of our great saint and prophet Colmcille.
The Saxons shall dwindle down into a disreputable people and every obstacle shall be opposed to their future prosperity, because they didn’t observe justice and rectitude, they shall be forever deprived of power.
Seamus Mac Diabhid
Dungiven, Co Derry
Parents’ casual commitment to school has negative influence on their children
AT the end of September I travelled to Turkey, with my wife, for a week’s holiday.
I read Suzanne McGonagle’s report (October 16) on a sharp increase in the number of children missing school.
On my flight I counted at least 14 children of school age. I mentioned this to a flight attendant on the trip home and she informed me that there were 30 children, admittedly some too young for school, on the flight out to Turkey.
As an ex-school principal, enjoying trips that were formerly unavailable due to work, I am astounded by the number of children in airports during term time. Academic success is built on attendance at school – a child with 90 per cent attendance is operating on four and a half days’ tuition each week. Furthermore a parent’s casual commitment to school is a negative influence on their
children.
Enda Cullen
Armagh, Co Armagh
Passengers not to blame for airport delays
I MUST correct a factual inaccuracy in your report in Monday’s paper – ‘Airports preparing for new scanning tech to land’
(October 16).
The report states that we are “often held up by passengers failing to adhere to the rules”. This is nonsense. We are often held up by too few security screening personnel.
Airports employ just enough staff to ‘get by’. Keeping us waiting in a line for 20 to 30 minutes is deemed acceptable. With their high turnover in staff, this queuing time will frequently double and worse.
This cannot be blamed on a tube of toothpaste being too big or a little absent-mindedness by someone embarking on, for some, a stressful journey.
Edmund McAuley
Belfast BT11
