Some things will never change
A Chairde
In May 1969, the outgoing leader of the Ulster Unionist Party,
Terence O'Neill, remarked: ``It is frightfully hard to explain to
Protestants that if you give Roman Catholics a good job and a good
house they will live like Protestants, because they will see
neighbours with cars and television sets. They will refuse to have 18
children, but if a Roman Catholic is jobless in the most ghastly
hovel, he will rear 18 children on national assistance... If you
treat Roman Catholics with due consideration and kindness, they will
live like Protestants, in spite of the authoritative nature of their
church.'' (Belfast Telegraph, May 5th, 1969).
Thirty years later, almost to the month, another UUP leader, David
Trimble, in his party address remarked: ``I believe the majority of
people in the Catholic community have moved on. They believe now in
the alternative to violence, which is education, hard work and
respect for the right of others.''
Some things, it appears, never change. And among these is the
arrogance of unionist leaders, who clearly see nationalists as
inferior, ill educated, lazy, with no respect for others and having a
tendency towards violence.
When people seek to understand why David Trimble won't engage with
Sinn Féin, is opposed to change based on equality, and refuses to
seek an accommodation to move the peace process foward, perhaps they
should examine the racist ethos which underpins Orangeism and
consequently much of unionism.
Belfast Sinn Fein Councillor, Chrissie McAuley
Belfast City Hall
Friends of the Garvaghy Road
A Chairde,
It was with tragic irony that on the same day a coalition of
different groups and individuals met in London to launch a support
campaign for the beleaguered residents of the Garvaghy Road, the
solicitor for over two hundred of them, who had just won for them the
right to recieve damages following vicious assaults by the RUC was
killed in a car bomb.
Rosemary Nelson represented people across the divide in Northern
Ireland and did not discriminate, except to fight against injustice.
When I first saw her she shared a platfrom with a Stephen Lawrence
Campaign member. She was representing the family of Robert Hamill,
who was kicked to death by a gang of loyalists yards from an armoured
car full of RUC officers, who did nothing at all to prevent the
attack.
It is the same racism she fought against when representing those
residents of the Garvaghy Road. I know that her death will only
strengthen the resolve of our new support group, and to highlight to
the world the injustice she died in trying to redress.
If you would like to join our campaign, make a donation or would like
further information, please contact:
The Friends of the Garvaghy Road
PO Box 3923
London
NW5
or Phone: 0181-4428778.
Denis O'Halloran
London
Stomach trouble
In response to Christy Ward's April 25 column on the blackout of
Irish news by the US media, let me reassure Mr. Ward that despite the
disgraceful job our colleagues have done covering the Nelson tragedy
and the northern conflict in general, there are plenty of us in the
American media familiar enough with English food to gladly `turn down
lunch with Prince Charles for a pint with Joe Cahill'.
Joe Carroll
Gary, Indiana, USA
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