Attending Ireland’s Future forum and its platform for a united Ireland in Cork last Saturday in the Clayton Hotel, one must say it was predictable.
The large event room was only three quarters full, if that, with a token media presence. An array of issues affecting Northern Ireland and the Republic were discussed, but one got the feeling at the end of a two-hour session that a united Ireland was not coming any time soon, or at all.
There were enough occasions during the conference when speakers went off-topic and seemed to be there to highlight their own political agenda, such as LGBT, asylum seeking issues, housing issues, and good ole photo opportunities for politicians and dignitaries on the panel.
Sinn Féin had at least two representatives (from the floor) who felt “we shouldn’t sort out all the problems before there is a vote” on a unitary state. But they also felt if there was to be a united Ireland that it would have to be “radically different” from what governments north and south have provided so far.
Others felt that an all-Ireland citizens’ assembly should take place. And others again felt a two-state solution for lasting peace was the answer. A Workers’ Party representative from the floor felt the working-class people suffered the most during the Troubles and felt strongly that this is where a strong concentration of effort needed to take place to bring about constitutional change.
Several speakers felt that young people should certainly be part of the discussion, but if one was to look around the room, none could be seen, as they were too busy screaming about the disputed science of climate change and not a united Ireland.
A questioner from the floor got into the murky ground of a flag and an anthem in a united Ireland. A Fianna Fáil TD on the panel in answer to the question of what flag he would like to see in a united Ireland said “he would like to see the Irish tricolour staying”, as did others, but said the orange part of the Irish flag was representative of unionism’s culture of orangism.
It was accepted that there was no blueprint for a united Ireland and Sinn Féin made no detailed contribution either on that score. It was pointed out that Irish nationalists in Northern Ireland were alienated from voting in the Republic and this was another reason for a unified state. Some however were in more of a hurry for a referendum on a united Ireland than others, while some suggested it’s definitely coming and we must get ready. But one got the feeling at the end of the session that something was lacking.
MAURICE FITZGERALD
Shanbally, Co Cork
Irish people’s generosity isn’t limitless
When we, the Irish people of the north, cross the border we are not meeting with our distant cousins but with our brothers and sisters of the Irish nation. We aim to come together as one country, one nation with the power of the ballot box. This wish was expressed in the 1918 general election where the result was ignored and partition was forced upon us, a great wrong that needs to be righted. The English portray themselves as strong democrats but they have often played fast and loose with the principles, while the Ulster Unionists seem to think it means the winner takes all and denies everything possible to their political opponents. It was the Ulster Unionists who set their faces against the nationalist people in gerrymandering of boundaries, denial of jobs, decent housing, the right to vote.
During the 1950s, 60s and 70s, swathes of young Irish people had little option but to take the emigrant ship, they were scattered across the world. When the Derry people had the gall to march for civil rights, they were met with a hail of bullets from the crown forces in what became known a Bloody Sunday. Fifty years later they admitted that those slaughtered were innocent of any crime. The RUC, UDR, UDA, British army etc all lined up to attack us. Who was there to defend us? These were the real terrorists. We the Irish people must bring about change, whereby no foreign forces are in a position to slaughter our people in their own cities and towns ever again. No political or religious leader has ever had the courage to say this was wrong, this was murder. So in the last 100 years it hasn’t occurred to unionists the need to allow nationalists to feel welcome and valued in their own country. They blew it massively, but it’s too late now. The Irish people are a patient people, a generous people, but their patience and generosity isn’t limitless.
SEAMUS Mac DAIBHUD
Dungiven, Co Derry
Divine truth can not be altered
Manus McDaid (September 17) says truth is a “loaded word”. I hope he is not straying towards Pontius Pilate’s cynical question to the Lord, “Truth? What is that?” For faithful Catholics and Christians there is a clearly revealed truth that God has revealed for the salvation of our souls. We must be faithful to that truth.
The Lord Jesus told Pilate that He has come into the world “to bear witness to the truth” and that “all who are on the side of truth” listen to His voice (see John 18:37-38).
No human authority, secular or religious, can alter divine truth. The Church must uphold revealed truth and we must strive to live in that light. As regards the spirit and the letter in relation to God’s Law: God has simplified His Law into love for God and my neighbour as myself (Matthew 22:37-40).
The spirit of the Law does not mean laxity and permission to ‘bend the rules’ as some erroneously think. Far from it.
It is the Spirit of Christ we have received which binds us to Him. “All who are joined to the Lord are one spirit with Him” (I Corinthians 6:17). This demands that our behaviour and actions do not contradict our belonging to God through His Son. As it is written: “We can be sure that we know God only by keeping His commandments. Anyone who says, ‘I know Him’, and does not keep His commandments is a liar, refusing to admit the truth” (I John 2:3-4).
FR PATRICK McCAFFERTY
Belfast BT12
Burying the past
Brendan Hughes, a former member of the Official and Provisional IRA, was absolutely right (September 21) that “there will be no reconciliation until the truth is revealed” with regard to the Troubles. His offer to take part in a peace forum is also important.
While some victims and survivors have managed to achieve a measure of truth and justice through the courts, many others have not. People have often been disappointed by the outcome and retraumatised, and community tensions heightened.
Public acts of reconciliation by heads of state, political and Church leaders have achieved a great deal, as have commemorative programmes and, most importantly, the work of local groups within communities, but they have sustained a peace process, rather than delivered one based on reconciliation.
There are other former combatants, from all sides, who are willing to engage with victims and survivors in a properly structured truth recovery process if one was available. It should be optional for victims and survivors to engage or, if they prefer, continue to seek justice through the courts.
Blanket amnesties such as those proposed by the British government are aimed at burying the past not reconciling us with it.
PADRAIG YEATES
Portmarnock, Dublin
