Although the State of Northern Ireland did not actually come into existence until 1921 I have always stressed the date of December 23 1920.
It was on that date that the Government of Ireland Act (The Partition Act) was enacted by the London Parliament, with the assent of the King of England.
Focusing on that date puts the blame where it squarely belongs – England.
I say ‘England’ and not Britain because – despite individuals like Llyod George and Lord Balfour –we really cannot blame Wales or Scotland. This is particularly true now that Scotland seems to be heading for independence.
Also, putting the blame squarely on England saves one from putting too much blame on the unionists/Protestants of Northern Ireland – even though as a Fermanagh man I am not naïve about their culpability in the construction of the gerrymandered, racist and sectarian six-county state. However, it was the London Parliament not the Orangemen who enacted the Act, and no explanations or excuses can ever change that fact.
To prepare for the infamous date of December 23 – the 100th Anniversary of the cruel and utterly undemocratic Act – the Irish National Caucus some time ago launched the internet One Ireland Petition: “Ireland, too, has the right to be One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
This splendid petition – based on the famous American Pledge of Allegiance – has been signed,
as of this date, by almost 21,000 people who love justice and peace and who respect international
human rights. It is a perfect response to England’s partition of Ireland, while at the same time calling for liberty and justice for all: for respect for all people on the island of Ireland – for Protestants, Catholics and Dissenters; for people of all faiths and of no faith.
The petition provides the framework for building up the beloved community in all of Ireland’s precious 32 counties (to borrow Theresa May’s formulation). This is the real union, the true union, the democratic union – not the residue of the failed, discredited, racist and sectarian British Empire.
I am calling for even more signers for One Ireland Petition. To sign, copy and paste this link into your browser – https://www.change.org/IrelandOneNation
The Petition will continue all through 2021 and beyond
FR SEAN McMANUS
President Irish National Caucus, Washington DC
Peace and goodwill
Christmas is a time for shared joy and laughs, parties, food and drinks, where family, new babies and friends come together to celebrate the end of the year and to look forward with hope in our hearts to the year ahead.
Despite the gloomy news, we can all make a difference to make our world a better place from inviting a lonely neighbour to Christmas dinner to campaigning for world peace and for a greener planet. Drop by a lonely neighbour and chat over a cuppa. Become a pen/email friend with someone from a different land.
John Lennon sung a great song called Imagine, about people living in peace and harmony.
Try to vote for leaders who are peacemongers with love in their hearts, instead of the usual greedy, warmongering and careerist MPs, who have supported wars in the Middle East and the Ukraine.
Hopefully President Biden will usher in a new era of peace making on the world stage.
Evict hate and anger from your hearts and offer the hand of friendship to those of different races and believes. Refugees are not to blame for becoming refugees – that blame lies with the politicians that supported their countries destruction.
No matter how long and cold your personal winter may last, always remember spring always follows.
In all our different ways we can all work towards making our world a peaceful better place.
D PERKINS
Plymouth, England
North needs economic support in its hour of need
The north has seen 10,000 redundancies since March, with employment now at 3.9 per cent – 1.6 per cent higher than this time last year. This is without even getting into the hundreds of businesses that have closed their doors for good this year, or the reduced money being spent in small businesses, or the hit people are taking in their pockets. Across the board, the north is being hit, and being hit hard. Notwithstanding the economic downturn the north is bearing, the north has also been hit extra hard by the Coronavirus and continuous lockdowns which have further hampered our already vulnerable economy. The management of the virus has been far weaker by the parties northern executive than in the south. Our farmers, our border communities, our health service, our workers and businesses are all suffering – our pubs and SMEs. Jobs, investment and opportunities are being lost in the north – with worse to come.
I am calling for the Northern Executive to end its absentee leadership and begin economically supporting the north in its hour of need. I am also calling on the Irish government to put their money where their mouth is and help protect the Irish people of the north from economic downturn, Covid-19 and Brexit. Now is not the time for inaction and clapping hands, now is the time for economic support for the working people of the north of Ireland.
Cllr EMMET DOYLE
Aontú, Derry
Lack of contraint
The Irish News front page (December 18) stated – ‘O’Neill defends six week lockdown – surely prompts the question, does the deputy first minister deliver statements like this with tongue in cheek?
That this lady, who flaunted the government regulations, and by doing so distracted from the solemnity of the Bobby Storey funeral which she attended, is now advocating ‘urgent intervention’ and ‘the announcements were about saving lives’. No doubt the sentiments expressed maybe correct, but the public perception of Michelle O’Neill delivering them is one of scepticism based on her lack of constraint on this most serious of matters.
WILSON BURGESS
Derry City
