18 November 2004 Edition

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Mála Poist

Editorial extremes?

A Chairde,

At the 1996 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis I, and many others, helped defeat an Ard Chomhairle motion which, if carried, would have defined Sinn Féin as a pro-choice party. I was actively encouraged to do so by some of the more politically astute members of the Ard Chomhairle. As it was an Ard Chomhairle motion, protocol prevented them from speaking against it. They realised, as I did, that this motion did not reflect the collective position of Sinn Féin members at the time and the vote against it subsequently proved this to be correct.

In the debate I did not go into the ethical pros and cons. That was not my motive. I simply stated that such a position, if adopted by Sinn Féin, would cause massive political damage to the party's electoral prospects in the forthcoming general election in the 26 Counties. In Cavan/Monaghan we knew we were on the verge of an historic breakthrough. Decades of solid work and sacrifice, which had earned hard won respect, would be needlessly undermined. We were, in effect, giving our political opponents another stick to beat us with, a self-inflicted wound. Fortunately, pragmatism triumphed and the rest is history, as they say.

Most serious political analysts have stated that same sex marriage issue was a political millstone around John Kerry's neck. Republican strategists, cleverly, very cleverly, used this to get Bush back into power. We all fearfully await the consequences of that result.

Last week's editorial "all you need is love", was in my view politically naïve in the extreme. We have now Kerry's millstone firmly around our neck with the imprimatur and gravitas of an An Phoblacht editorial stencilled on. Our political opponents will cynically use this against us, be of no doubt. An informed and comradely debate in your letters' page leading to a democratic policy position by the party I have absolutely no problem with. Does this editorial accurately reflect Sinn Féin's current policy? Or is it PC (political correctness) in overdrive? As for the Beatle lyrics, "all you need is love", they are merely a dumbed down version of a song sung 2,000 years ago. Some of us, dare I say most of us, still aspire to the ethos of love, tolerance and respect enshrined in that first rendition on a mountain somewhere in the middle east. No cover versions match the original!

Owen Smyth,

Monaghan.

Health and taxes

A Chairde,

I want to take issue with the views expressed by Damian McGenity (Mála Poist 11 November) regarding taxation and the health system. It is simply not true to say that the "Government and establishment media" advocate taxing the rich as an answer to inequality in our society. On the contrary, the FF/PD Government and the establishment media, led by the viciously anti-republican Sunday Independent, have been most vocal in defending the current taxation system, which favours the very wealthy. The day before Damian's letter was published, Bertie Ahern was defending this grossly unequal tax regime after he was challenged by Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. Indeed, a report of this was on page 5 of the same paper that carried Damian's letter. The previous weekend, the Sunday Independent carried several diatribes against Sinn Féin tax proposals, including one from PD President Michael McDowell.

I do not know of any significant group or party in Ireland, including Sinn Féin, that says higher taxes for the wealthy will solve all the ills of inequality in our society. What we do say is that a fairer taxation system is a key element in a more equitable society and will mean that some who now pay no tax at all - including certain millionaires - or who pay very little will have to pay their fair share, while those on low incomes will be taken out of the tax net. Wealthy corporations and individuals have battalions of accountants and lawyers to look after their tax affairs and to ensure that they avail fully of avoidance schemes (legal) and evasion schemes (illegal).

Sinn Féin is not alone in advocating a fairer taxation system. Recently, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said the Irish tax system is "fundamentally unjust" and "biased against those on low and middle incomes and it does not raise enough tax overall to pay for modern public services".

As a party that wants to bring real change to people's lives and to our communities in the short and medium term, as well as in the long term, Sinn Féin is duty bound to propose and campaign for solutions to existing problems. How could any republican object, for example, if the banks paid more tax to fund the €116 million per year it would cost to extend medical card qualification to all children? We raise such demands while also pointing out that most of the problems in the health services are caused by the unequal, two-tier, public-private system which is the antithesis of real republicanism. It must be replaced with the type of health system advocated by Sinn Féin — but that will take time and it will take much struggle by us. A key part of that struggle is to realise that it is not enough to present people only with a vision of what it will be like in the 32-County Republic of the future and ignore what has to be done in the interim.

Micheál Mac Donncha,

Sinn Féin, Teach Laighean.

Racism and sectarianism

A Chairde,

James Collins pointed out last week that the 'Reform' movement associates Protestantism and Britishness. Britain introduced and sustained sectarianism in Ireland. 'Northern Ireland' is the proof, a byword for sectarianism driven by a local pro-British majority no longer permitted to rule.

Further proof is found the part of Ireland that the Irish people control. Sectarianism has been eroded progressively for nearly 40 years, as pluralism has been pushed to the top of the political agenda. Irish nationalism aspires to non-sectarianism and Irish republicanism to anti-sectarianism.

Unionism has been to the forefront of every reactionary fad. After September 11, unionist councillors in Antrim tried to prevent a Mosque being built. They said it would attract Moslems of the "Al Qaeda variety" and claimed "wailing" would upset the locals. During the First World War, unionists attacked Jews who were seen as 'German'. Unionist racism drove the former unionist Jewish Lord Mayor of Belfast, Otto Jaffe, from the North.

More recently, when not attacking Roman Catholics, unionist paramilitaries attacked ethnic minority communities. Unionist politicians reacted with the same studied indifference that they adopt in relation to sectarian attacks. "Nothing to do with me mate," "Know nothing about it," and the ultimate side splitter, "This is a job for the PSNI," have been unionism's stock response.

The southern media allies of unionism and the Reform Movement suggest that things British are liberal and progressive. They confuse British people with the political culture of the elite who run the state. The latter, who use democratic rhetoric to cloak imperialist aims, are deeply reactionary.

Republicans should always challenge the Orange unionist claim to speak on behalf of Protestants or Protestantism. Unionists speak only on behalf of unionists, but on a sectarian basis. A claim that Irish nationalism speaks on behalf of Roman Catholicism would be treated with derision by most nationalists - as distinct from progressively speaking out on behalf of the rights of nationalists targeted for attack by unionists on the basis of their religion.

Unionism tries to turn the conflict into a religious one. They are comfortable with that concept. Don't let them away with it.

Martin Savage,

Dublin 2.

Education standards

A Chairde,

The Minister with responsibility for Education, Barry Gardiner, has indicated his determination to impose fundamental changes in the education system in Northern Ireland which fly in the face of the democratically expressed will of a majority of parents and teachers.

Among their effects will be the closure of many schools, particularly in rural areas, the gradual introduction of a one-size-fits-all comprehensive system, similar to that which has failed in England, a lowering of academic standards, and a denial of real parental choice.

Concerned Parents for Education is a group of ordinary parents who view this prospect and its consequences for future generations of children with deep anxiety. We are united in opposition to the introduction of these policies, for which no estimate of cost has been given, even though steps are already being taken to put them in place despite education budgets already being under strain and some schools facing dire financial difficulties. Our objective is to secure a system of education that best provides for the needs, abilities and interests of all our children and enables them to develop their talents and skills to the full, whether in academic, vocational or technical spheres. We do not seek to preserve the present Transfer Test but oppose the abolition of academic selection. We believe that the principle can be preserved while eliminating the criticisms which attach to the existing 11+ examination. We also believe that changes in our education system should be instituted by locally elected politicians accountable to the people of Northern Ireland or, if introduced under Direct Rule, that they should reflect the will of the people as expressed in the Dept of Education's own Household Survey and subsequently confirmed by others surveys.

Readers who share our aims and objectives as outlined above are to contact us and we will be pleased to provide more detailed information on the implications of the Minister's proposals and how as concerned citizens, they can lend practical support. It is imperative that we act now to safeguard standards and hold out opportunities for all children in the future.

Eithne McCord, Peter Cosgrove,

Co Chairs,

Concerned Parents for Education

15 Molesworth Street, Cookstown, BT80 8NX County Tyrone.


An Phoblacht
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Ireland