Furthering the revolutionary project
When Gerry Adams made Sinn Féin's opening address at the Assembly
on Wednesday, he said: ``Our task is to build an inclusive process
and work for the construction of a democratic settlement which
celebrates the diversity of all the Irish people.''
That, in one sentence, sums up the revolutionary project in which
Sinn Féin is engaged. The need for an inclusive process has been
a hard-won argument and, with some, it is an argument which has
still to be won. Unionists still talk the language of exclusion
and they have pledged to keep Sinn Féin out of the Assembly's
Executive. They won't succeed and so another step towards a
lasting peace will have been taken.
The construction of a democratic settlement will be another
drawn-out battle. The All-Ireland Council has to be set up and
operating before the end of October. Through it will come real
change throughout the island.
Democracy also depends on equality and that is an agenda which
must be pursued with utmost vigour. And it will be.
The Sinn Féin task is also to create an Ireland which embraces
the diversity of all the Irish people. The future must include
the Unionist people, towards whom the hand of friendship must be
offered. Their destiny lies on this island along with everyone
else and we must be creative in working out how that is done.
other successful election battle
You would not have known it from reading the papers or watching
the television, but Sinn Féin was the most successful party in
last Thursday's Assembly elections. They are now the fastest
growing party with their highest-ever vote.
That success was due to the most dedicated group of political
activists in the country. They set themselves targets in each
constituency and either met or surpassed it.
From among those activists has come a very strong team of
Assembly members. Half have seen the inside of prison cells and
all have been active republicans throughout their adult lives. No
group of people is more capable of taking on the difficulties
which lie ahead.
They - and the activists and voters who helped put them into the
Assembly - deserve our congratulations and our support in the
task ahead.
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