Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Too long a Process can make the head sore

A Chairde,

The IRA Easter Message calls on the two governments and the political parties to fulfil their obligations and commitments. The Northern Ireland Women's Coalition cannot speak for anybody but themselves, however we wait with bated breath to see what obligations and commitments we are being called upon to fulfil.

Commitment to the Good Friday Agreement - Box ticked! The obligation to be inclusive to all parties interested in the peace process (even when they were excluded from that process) - Box Ticked! A commitment to solely democratic and peaceful means - Box ticked!

Indeed, we are more than willing to participate even more fully in wafting the peace process forward on a fair wind if some of the 'key negotiators' took the time or trouble to speak with us. We have already made our annoyance at the format of the current talks known to the British and Irish governments. To our mind, the recent round of talks have been exclusive in the extreme, directed as they are from London, Dublin - and perhaps, occasionally, from Carrickmore.

We have long called for a clear implementation framework to progress the peace process. We could see that there would be difficulties and differences of interpretation along the way. But the political 'elite' of the big battalions saw it differently. We were told to be 'patient'. We were told that it would be 'a long game'. Well Yeats understood that "Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart". We can paraphrase him by pointing out that "Too long a process can make the head sore", and that is exactly what we are hearing on the doorsteps. People are fed up with being told to read between the lines. They are tired of terminology that can mean a multitude of things - whether this is coming from the British government, the Unionist Party, Sinn Féin or from the IRA. P. O'Neill may well be a frustrated wordsmith, but why take it out on the rest of us? We do want clarity - and we have already told the Secretary of State that we need clarity from the British government as well.

The Women's Coalition believes that we need to 'build peace' by crafting a political culture that is rooted in an acceptance of human rights, equality and social inclusion. We continue to argue for this as an essential complement to the efforts to 'make peace' at the macro political level. Peacebuilding must occur at local community level - but we are acutely aware that this will not happen as long as there is the continued fear of targeting and violence. And yes, we know that violence is not one-sided - and that loyalist and security forces violence also needs to be addressed. But if people are in a position of strength then the onus is on them to lead the way.

If this process is to be saved from a terminal confidence haemorrhage, then a clear statement of intent must be made sooner rather than later. Don't let your position be misrepresented further. Take the initiative. Publish the full IRA Statement. We also call on the British and Irish governments to abide by the transparency that they demand by publishing their position paper as well.

Monica McWilliams MLA,
The Women's Coalition

Pretentious assumptions

A Chairde,

Having read Mel Grimes' amazingly arrogant letter in a recent edition of An Phoblacht, I thought it was necessary to reply to some of his pretentious assumptions. While republicans are undoubtedly extremely grateful for the support that Irish-America has extended to our struggle, this does not mean that our policies will be defined by their worldview.

The Republican Movement is an internationalist, as well as a nationalist, organisation. We will oppose imperialism wherever it rears its ugly head (even in the case of the US government); not to do so would be downright hypocritical.

Finally, Mr Grimes raised the issue of donations as a reason why Sinn Féin should stay silent on the US massacre of civilians. Forgive me, but I was under the impression that Irish-American aid was a form of no-strings-attached support to the nationalist people and not dependent on their representatives towing the line of US foreign policy.

Pádraig Ó Meiscill,
Béal Feirste

No fascists here

A Chairde,

It would seem my letter of 17 April has sparked a "furious" reaction in your reader, Brian Anson of France. So much so, in fact, that he was moved to pen a letter of his very own. How courageous.

Brian, you see, is outraged at my "blatant blackmail" of Irish republicans for even suggesting that Americans may not be quite so anxious to fill the Sinn Fein coffers if they continue to behave in a certain way. Kind of like saying that I will not vote for a certain party if they continue to pursue a particular policy. The sheer temerity! Brian, of course, will not be fooled so easily, never mind that those engaging in "blackmail" are usually the ones demanding the money.

Brian then goes on to inform us that while I may fancy myself to be a republican, he certainly has no such illusions. You see, I'm really a fascist at heart, together with members of the American cabinet. And I suppose, if Brian were to engage in full disclosure, just about anyone else who should dare challenge his cosy worldview. Such hyperbolic pronuncements may have a feelgood aspect to them, but will certainly ensure you won't get taken too seriously in the real world. You would think residing in a country that managed to turn out a fifth of the electorate for fascist candidates at last year's elections would help elucidate the nature of this particular beast. Not so, by a long shot.

Strangely, though, the actual existence of regimes that look remarkably fascistic seems not to trouble Brian, or those of his ilk. So, a regime can torture and terrorise its people, murdering hundreds of thousands; invade its neighbours, starting wars of conquest, resulting, perhaps, in the loss of a million lives, and not even a whimper from Brian. But I'm a "fascist" whose views are "outrageous" and "scandalous" and no right-thinking person could remain silent in the face of such effrontery. Yes, Brian, I've been called a fascist before, precisely because of my republican views. It didn't silence me then, and it won't now either.

"Irish republicanism", we are helpfully informed, "is not just about Ireland - it is about universal liberty". Well, not quite. Liberty for Iraq, it would seem, is an exception to this creed. There may be a few other exceptions along the way, which will be determined, more likely than not, by whether the US is involved. We are told that "a nation that enslaves another can never, itself, be free". Perhaps. But what of a nation that is in a position to free another but refuses to do so, or, seeing another's willingness to do so, actively thwarts those efforts?

Not surprisingly, Brian doesn't believe America is a free country anyway. Apparently we buy our liberty here. And if you don't believe him, just ask Gore Vidal. Well, I suppose that clinches the argument then. Here's a little news for you: American liberty was purchased all right, but with the blood of its patriots - and while we're on the subject, the liberty of much of Europe.

Finally, Brian hopes that someone from America will have "the courage to refute the scandalous views" expressed in my letter - a task which, when presented with an opportunity to do so, Brian, himself, declined, preferring instead to engage in childish name-calling, he now wishes for others to make his case for him.

While I have spoken with many supporters of Irish republicanism here who share my views on this matter, there have been others who are more disposed to cut Sinn Féin some slack on the grounds that they may have been under domestic political pressure of some sort. Regardless of their position, however, they are proud to be American and are unlikely to take up the cudgel for someone who thinks them too dumb to realise their own country is not even free.

Mel Grimes,
Woodside,
New York,
USA

Misrepresented by Mel

A Chairde,

I must challenge the falsehoods in Mel Grimes' letter to An Phoblacht 17 April, in which he lectures Sinn Féin for our opposition to the British and US invasion of Iraq.

He states that "there was never the slightest possibility that Irish opposition would have made a difference". Wrong, firstly because Shannon provided a vital staging post for the US military. Secondly, because Ireland is a member of the United Nations, a body that refused to be bullied or bribed into giving Britain and America a mandate to invade and occupy Iraq.

d thirdly, it made a difference to the people of this country, who opposed the invasion of Iraq by taking to the streets to express our opposition to the slaughter that followed.

His assertion that republicans were batting for Saddam is ludicrous. Sinn Féin used every opportunity to publicly oppose Saddam. Is Mel suggesting that all those who opposed the war are somehow supporters of Saddam or batting for Saddam?

Mel talked about "thwarting the US in its efforts to oust a heinous brute from Baghdad". Is this what the war was about? Prior to the invasion we were told that it was to find the weapons of mass destruction, the ones that have yet to be found.

The threat of damaging Sinn Féin's fundraising efforts, if as he puts it, "Sinn Féin insist on acting as the vanguard of the America-is-always-wrong-crowd", is a complete contradiction of his assertion that "it's not that Americans believe that one cannot have a genuine difference of opinion on the matter". What Mel is really saying is that he who pays the piper calls the tune.

Mel does not seem able to tell the difference between being anti-war and being anti-American.

I am not anti-American, but I am against the invasion of Iraq. I for one would appreciate it if Mel and others would not misrepresent my views.

For 800 years we have been fighting to end foreign rule and establish an Irish republic. We have struggled to have the right to shape our own policies on domestic and foreign matters. These policies may differ from time to time from those of other countries. That right my friend is called saoirse (freedom).

Caroline Dwane,
Portlaoise,
Co Laois

Right-wing rhetoric

A Chairde,

I'm writing to express my horror at the comments made by Miceal MacSceacain in the 10 April Mála Poist.

His opinions are certainly not representative of the tens of thousands of Irish Americans who have taken to the streets to protest against the unjust war with Iraq.

The most worrying aspect of Mr MacSceacain's letter is the way in which he inaccurately describes Sinn Féin's rejection of the war as 'anti-American'.

One is not 'anti-American' simply because one criticises American foreign policy. Mr MacSceacain engages in the sort of right-wing rhetoric encouraged by the Bush administration, a blinkered approach that falsely equates patriotism with the stifling of free speech and reasoned debate.

Furthermore, if Mr MacSceacain and other Irish Americans like him are truly supporters of the freedom of Irish people, they should be concerned about the future impact of this war on Ireland; after all, Bush now owes Tony Blair a large political debt for British support.

Unfortunately, the war with Iraq will guarantee Bush's commitment to British interests in the Six Counties.

Sadly, a strengthened Bush-Blair alliance has the potential to inaugurate a diplomatic situation reminiscent of the Reagan-Thatcher years.

Dr Lachlan Whalen,
USA

A very Good Friday

A Chairde,

I recently had the good fortune to take part in Sinn Féin's 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour of Dublin. It covered events from the 1913 lockout to republican prisoners being rounded up at the Rotunda hospital. Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD and Mícheál MacDonncha provided an entertaining and informative couple of hours, which deserve to become an annual event.

However, having witnessed the event, I found the Irish Independent's reporting of the tour to be misleading and inaccurate.

So what if Ó Snodaigh struggled to make himself heard over the sound of a vacuum cleaner hovering the glass above his head at the birthplace of the Irish Volunteers. He'll probably be there again next year, armed with a megaphone!

Alan Finnegan,
Dundalk,
Co Louth.