Madam, - The underwhelming and embarrassing response by unionist leaders to the shocking disturbances in Belfast comes as a surprise to those of us who remember the stern, upright and clearly law-abiding unionist spokesmen who unequivocally condemned violence in the past.
Madam, - The underwhelming and embarrassing response by unionist leaders to the shocking disturbances in Belfast comes as a surprise to those of us who remember the stern, upright and clearly law-abiding unionist spokesmen who unequivocally condemned violence in the past.
In the absence of any substantial response by the DUP or UUP we were treated to a belated and farcical Orange Order press conference. The low was an inept defence, by Belfast Grand Master Dawson Bailie, of a clearly very aggressive, sword-waving Orangeman "peacefully" challenging a police officer.
By way of accidental insight, Orange Order Grand Master Robert Saulters stated that "perhaps the most worrying thing about the weekend's events is the widespread feelings of frustration within the Protestant community".
Maybe that frustration stems from the fact that unionism has ignored the social conditions of its underclass and shown little interest in practical issues such as education and job creation. Even now, the predictable response from unionists will abnegate responsibility for the behaviour of people they should be representing - blaming the British and Irish governments rather than pressing for positive and imaginative social agendas.
The spluttering, headless entity that passes itself off as unionist leadership today seems more interested in causing mayhem over principles based on sectarian division than in dealing with the social deprivation in communities which currently find their political outlet through teenage rioters. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL TURLEY, Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4.
Madam, - "These are the new generation of rioters carrying on an old tradition fuelled by the grievances, fears, insecurities and hatred passed down to them by their older siblings, parents and grandparents", writes Northern Editor Gerry Moriarty (Opinion & Analysis, September 13th).
This prompts one to ask if a southern journalist is finally admitting that the President was right after all? It brings to mind, also a nationalist cartoon which followed the political and media reaction to her remarks at the Auschwitz holocaust commemoration earlier this year. The cartoon showed the President being arraigned in the dock, with the words: "Mary McAleese, you are guilty of the greatest crime in our society: publicly stating the blindingly obvious!"
At the present time, is it too much to ask the leaders of the Labour, PD and Fine Gael parties to cease harping on about the "Colombia Three" and open their eyes to the original and still imminent threat to civil rights and peace on this island: good, old-fashioned unionist racism? - Yours, etc,
B FITZPATRICK, Terenure, Dublin 6W.
A chara, - When asked to comment on a video showing an Orangeman brandishing a sword at police, Dawson Baillie, Belfast County Grand Master of the Order said: "He held it [ the sword] in his hand the way he normally would." It was a startling reminder of how out of touch with reality this organisation is. - Is mise,
ERIC CREAN, Shandon Gardens, Phibsborough, Dublin 7.
Madam, - I have been struck by the terrible plight of disaffected loyalist youth, which has been so dramatically highlighted in the recent riots in "the North". May I suggest an immediate course of action for their political leaders? Demand a United Ireland. The thriving Irish economy could find work for those unemployed rioters of Belfast. At a stroke the Irish Government could replace hard-working Chinese and East Europeans with these fine examples of the Protestant work ethic.
Of course there would be problems. These sons of Ulster might struggle with the huge cultural differences between the two parts of the island; so some induction training may be required. Re-education camps, modelled on the Omeath Gaeltacht of my youth, could be set up in the Border counties. Here they could acquire fluency in the first official language as well as benefiting from the firm discipline that is so obviously lacking in their own homes. - Yours, etc,
JAMES McGIVERN, Hollystown Demesne, Dublin 15.