A Chara, - John Waters has articulated, with clarity, courage and integrity, the inchoate feelings of post-colonial shame and guilt we have had whilst observing the Northern conflict over the past years. I concur heartily with his assessment that "as between 1969 and 1972, the world can see the true nature of the [Northern] problem", namely that Orangeism is nothing more than an excuse for bigoted men to engage in ritualistic assertions of superiority over a long-abused minority. The naked evil is clear for all to see at Ballymoney, Drumcree and across the six counties. I pray daily that Northern nationalists also realise this, and do not allow knee-jerk defensive responses to obscure the picture for the outside world.
The narrowness of discourse in the Republic over the past 25 years has been nothing short of disgraceful. We have allowed the likes of Conor Cruise O'Brien, Ruth Dudley Edwards and other neo-unionists to seize upon the reactionary republicanism of Sinn Fein and others, effectively closing off all avenues to full debate of the Northern conflict, its causes and the true nature of republicanism - namely liberty, equality and fraternity.
That Sinn Fein, the Provisional IRA, successive Dublin governments and a compliant Fourth Estate allowed, until recently, the agents of loyalism to do so says much about those of us fortunate enough to have observed the horror of recent years from south of the border and about our commitment to a fair society. Did we not remark that nationalist violence was essentially reactionary? The school of thought that says republicanism is inherently evil and violent in nature was allowed to drive what little debate there was. Our own elected representatives and media colluded with and promoted this assessment.
I, too, have noticed the slow and long-overdue change in attitude over the last few years, and hope that this is the start of a mature and full discussion of where our Republic is going, what we expect from it and how we can complete the process which began on the steps of the GPO in 1916 with the proclamation of the Republic - that is, to build an inclusive society which welcomes Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter alike, with equality and justice for all. I hope that we do not let the Orange guardians of the Northern status quo to once again obscure a noble and achievable ideal. I take no succour from the fact that they have done the same to "true" Orangeism, which is fully compatible with republican ideals. - Yours, etc.,
Raymond A. O'Leary,
Haarlem,
The Netherlands.