Equality of treatment
A chairde,
I am concerned at the growing usage by some republicans of the
phrase ``equality of opportunity''. Some people seem to think that
this phrase is equivalent to, and even interchangeable with the
phrase ``equality of treatment''. It is not.
The crucial distinction between the two concepts can be seen in
the following example.
Currently, within the north, public housing is allocated by the
Housing Executive, who assess each applicant on the basis of a
points system, thereby ensuring that everyone is assessed within
the same set procedure. This is the tokenist provision of
``equality of opportunity'', that is, to be housed.
However, since it is within the discretion and power of one or
two individuals to actually allocate the very limited housing
available in each district, it is invariably the case that a
select number of applicants receive preference in terms of
allocations. This is normally based on the personal/political
contacts of the allocating officer and of the relevant applicant.
Given the so-called ``appeals procedure'' in place, and the
overarching tenancy laws, it is impossible to have clearly unfair
allocations, like this, reversed.
So it is that the Housing Executive can trumpet their commitment
to ``equality of opportunity'', while quite blatantly trampling
over the right of every citizen to ``equality of treatment''.
This continues to be the situation in every other aspect of
citizens' rights within the north; employment, culture, politics,
economics, education etc. etc.
``Equality of opportunity'' is a clever civil service buzzword,
which is capable of disguising discrimination and concealing
corruption. ``Equality of treatment'' is a basic right, which must
become our watchword in our collective efforts to promote our
politics and improve the lives of our people.
We must never confuse the two concepts, either through laziness
or through lack of thought.
D. O Coilain
Doire
Ireland Institute
A chairde,
I write in reply to your editorial of 5 November.
I was surprised at the snide, sarcastic and uncivil tone of your
description of the series of lectures given under the auspices of
Institúid na hEireann. You describe them as ``reconstructed and
unreconstructed republicans called the Ireland Institute, to
commemorate three lectures given by their idol Patrick Pearse''.
You then proceed to make them the butt of the problems which they
allegedly encountered, showing no interest in the content of the
lectures designed to widen interest in Irish Republicanism. You
don't hesitate to slight their efforts and their ``idol Patrick
Pearse''. You then go on to describe in uncomplimentary tones that
well known Protestant Republican Martin Manseragh as ``Fianna
Fail's spin doctor''.
I am curious to know what you hope to achieve for the national
struggle for final freedom, equality and justice by these
tactics. I hope for enlightenment in your next issue, please.
I and my colleagues working here in West Africa are regular
readers of your newspaper as a means of keeping in touch with the
truth of what is happening in the occupied six counties. I have
noted what I would regard as counter productive remarks in
previous editorials but none as blatant as the one referred to
above. Is it too much to ask for a more constructive approach to
Institúid na hEireann and others sympathetic to Irish nationalism
but not quite reaching the purity of your personal brand of Bible
Belt republicanism?
Hugo V Flinn
Editor replies: The piece referred to was in Editor's Desk; it
wasn't an editorial. Editor's Desk is a light-hearted section and
the piece on the Ireland Institute was in no way designed to
slight their efforts. The tone of the piece was not ``snide,
sarcastic and uncivil''. An Phoblacht as a newspaper, and members
of staff in individual capacities, have supported the work of the
Institute since its inception.
Wexford thanks
A chairde,
Wexford pikemen and women and their families would like to thank
the people of Monaghan and Cavan for the wonderful reception they
gave us during their 1798 commemoration events. We would specially like
to thank the host families who looked after us all that weekend.
d we would also like to thank all those involved, and specially
the organisers, of the Eddentubber commemoration, and the staff
at the Ravensdale Hotel, for the reunion, which was for us a very
moving occasion.
d a special thanks to the bands for playing the Wexford songs.
Joe Cullen
Gorey
Wexford
Meilt Ama
A chairde,
Aisling thar a bheith cúng atá ag an chompántas amharclainne
Aisling Ghearr agus iad ag cur stó orthu féin leaganacha Gaeilge
de Kathleen Ní Houlihan agus The Rising of the Moon a chur ar an
ardán(An Phoblacht 19 Samhain). Goidé faoi dtaobh den lear mór
scripteanna a bhain duaiseanna Oireachtais amach agus nár
léiríodh fós? Ní chuireann aistriúcháin ón Bhéarla leis an
amharclannaíocht Ghaeilge. Ní féidir ach le bundrámaí Gaeilge a
leithéid a chruthú.
Pé ar bith ní fheictear dom go bhfuil dealramh le Yeats agus
Gregory a aistriú go Gaeilge. Tá blas Famine Relief Scheme ar an
fhiontar.
Colm de Faoite
Baile Atha Cliath
Casement's remains
A chairde,
I refer to the dismissive remarks about the remains of Roger
Casement contained in the article ``Nationalism on Film'' by
Michael Tovey in your issue of 19 November. In his otherwise fine
piece, Mr Tovey mentions a film report on the reinterment of
Roger Casement at Glasnevin in 1965 and continues: ``The
subsequent revelation at the conference that the coffin only
contained stones, as the dead patriot's body had been rendered
after execution by quicklime, seemed to serve as an appropriate
and ironic commentary on the hypocrisy of the assembled
politicians, including a young and solemn looking Finance
Minister, Charles Haughey''.
That is false.
I write as someone who has published many articles on Roger
Casement over the past forty years, who is well acquainted with
his life and times, and who recently, with my friend John Boland,
had the honour of presenting to Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn in Tralee
the plate from which Casement ate his meals during his appearance
at the Court of Criminal Appeal in London on 17 and 18 July,
1916.
There is no doubt whatever that Roger Casement's remains, and not
`stones' as you published, were reinterred on 1 March, 1965.
Before the British Prime Minister Harold Wilson formally
announced that the remains of Roger Casement were on their way
from England to Ireland, there were, of course, prior
negotiations, precision about detail, arrangements for on-site
monitoring of the exhumation, ascertaining the correct grave,
and, especially, verification of the remains.
Practice in the British and Irish Prison Services coincided to a
considerable extent. Nowhere was this more so than in procedures
relating to executions and their aftermath. A record was kept by
Prison Governors of the location and occupancy of every grave,
which was otherwise unmarked. Graves could ultimately contain two
or three occupants. There was no quicklime involved.
Calcification was never a feature of burials involving civil, as
distinct from military, executions in England.
The remains of executed persons were always enveloped, sometimes
in canvass but more often in plain deal coffins. Graves, whenever
reopened, were reopened by Prison Service Trade Staff and not by
prisoners.
A senior official from the Department of Justice was one of the
monitoring party present at the exhumation of Roger Casement.
That monitoring party was there especially to ensure the
authenticity of the remains. This official and a senior British
Probation Officer, seconded at the time to Pentonville Jail as a
Welfare Officer, who was assigned to Irish officals to facilitate
their movements within the jail, later separately described what
happened. I suspect that English offical was given that
particular job because he was a Catholic.
As was generally known in Ireland to those interested in Roger
Casement, the grave was along a wall. It was precisely located
without difficulty. It contained the remains of three persons.
Roger Casement's remains were lowest.
The two uppermost were disinterred. A little lower than the
second remains traces of rotting sacking were uncovered. This was
carefully removed. Undisturbed skeletal remains were disclosed.
The witnesses never anticipated such cogent identification. It
registered deeply on the two officers who later spoke separately
about it.
Roger Casement's jet-black hair had survived and the remarkable
length of the leg bones reflected his striking stature.
I apologise for the length and detail of this letter. However, I
think facts rather fiction should prevail about everything to do
with that idealistic and gallant man Roger Casement.
Proinsias Mac Aonghusa
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