Sir, - It should alert our hearts that so many nationally minded people (such as your correspondent Edward Leane, April 24th) have so little idea of what the Good Friday accord involves. They want the peace but are less than prepared to relinquish the fruits of war.
The peace accord, to be an accord at all, involves us in a series of acts of renunciation: renunciation by unionists of pretending that nationalists do not exist, and renunciation by nationalists of the claim to the undivided island of Ireland. We may aspire to this unity but it is not to be gained or threatened by force of arms.
These are real renunciations, but I welcome them because they are the only way the traditions of these enmities can be defused, the only way, after centuries, that we can begin to build up trust. It would be nice if Ireland could be all one colour on the map, but surely by now we have learned that the business of history can never be neatly finished.
How shall we redeem a thousand little lives from unforgiveness? By talk? Talk can be arduous and deceptive. By renunciation we achieve it in the twinkling of an eye. It is like mercy or courage, achieved before we knew we have arrived there. - Yours, etc.,
Patrick Pye
Piperstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24.