'Ulster Says No!' was the slogan used by the Unionist groups across Northern Ireland at the start of the Anglo-Irish talks. Banners with that slogan or variations on the theme were displayed from the offices of Unionist controlled councils including Belfast City Hall.
Well the escalation of troubles and threats in Northern Ireland last night make this the opportune time to dust off that slogan. But this time instead of belonging to one community attempting to stand in the way of integration and steps towards harmony and reconciliation, it should be a united front. To have the leaders of both side in the community standing together saying no to the resurrection of violence. No to the reigniting of barricades and no to the threats of bombs across the province.
It is time for Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams to stand behind First Minister Peter Robinson and his Deputy Martin Maginnis as they stand together to say no. This no would be a positive no unlike that of the 80s which is why the figure heads of both sides from then, although taking a back seat now, need to stand there with the current heads of the Assembly.
Northern Ireland doesn't want the new generation to have to go through what I went through. We've moved on, seen improvements in our way and standards of life. This new threat of an escalation of attacks is going to take that new-found, long-awaited hope away. The generation who know little of that apart from what they read in history books should be allowed to only read about that history not live through a new chapter of it.
Time for the people of Northern Ireland in one united voice to say no.
Showing posts with label Gerry Adams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gerry Adams. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 09, 2009
The Slow, Carefully-Crafted, Eventual Condemnation
It had been a dozen years since the last murder of a British soldier in Northern Ireland. That was until Saturday night.
A lot has changed in that time. Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) now head up the power sharing executive of the Northern Irish Assembly and the squaddies now see Northern Ireland as a welcome break from 24 hour worries in Iraq or Afghanistan. Indeed the two who were shot dead, either from across the road or point blank as they lay wounded, were hours from disembarkation to Helmand Province.
However, has that much changed behind the scene in the minds of those once who would have supported such action. Sinn Féin did condemn the attack but took 14 hours to do so when they did the statement issued by Gerry Adams lacked the spontaneity, grief or anger of the other political leader. Not calling it an attempted mass murder but merely an attack on the peace process as if no life had been lost.
Adams did go on to say "Those responsible have no support, no strategy to achieve a united Ireland." In light of the events a weighted statement. It is doubtful that Sinn Féin themselves currently garner enough support to achieve a united Ireland, and their strategy has only recently changed. But it is a subtle way of saying this is a small faction.
The words on the page tell one story, how they were addressed reminds those of us who recall the Sinn Féin carefully worded statements of old to look between the lines. Although praise is due that whatever the choice of words, style of delivery etc. this was still a condemnation of the attacks.
A lot has changed in that time. Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) now head up the power sharing executive of the Northern Irish Assembly and the squaddies now see Northern Ireland as a welcome break from 24 hour worries in Iraq or Afghanistan. Indeed the two who were shot dead, either from across the road or point blank as they lay wounded, were hours from disembarkation to Helmand Province.
However, has that much changed behind the scene in the minds of those once who would have supported such action. Sinn Féin did condemn the attack but took 14 hours to do so when they did the statement issued by Gerry Adams lacked the spontaneity, grief or anger of the other political leader. Not calling it an attempted mass murder but merely an attack on the peace process as if no life had been lost.
Adams did go on to say "Those responsible have no support, no strategy to achieve a united Ireland." In light of the events a weighted statement. It is doubtful that Sinn Féin themselves currently garner enough support to achieve a united Ireland, and their strategy has only recently changed. But it is a subtle way of saying this is a small faction.
The words on the page tell one story, how they were addressed reminds those of us who recall the Sinn Féin carefully worded statements of old to look between the lines. Although praise is due that whatever the choice of words, style of delivery etc. this was still a condemnation of the attacks.
"There should be an end to actions like the one in Antrim last night. The popular will is for peaceful and democratic change."
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