12 November 1998 Edition
War tragedy should not be hijacked
This week witnessed commemorations of the thousands of Irish killed fighting in the First World War. It is right that the sacrifice of so many young men is remembered. It is important too that these dreadful events are put in their proper historical perspective.
Like ordinary citzens of every country which participated young Irish men paid an appalling price for the greed and militarism of imperial Europe. They were tragic victims provided by the constitutional nationalist and unionist leaders in Ireland at the time as cannon-fodder for the British Empire.
For several years now certain politicians and sections of the Irish media have adopted the issue of this tragedy as if it were their own and attempted to use it as a weapon against Irish republicanism.
They have tried to equate sincere remembrance of those killed with adherence to the ceremonies and symbolism of organisations like the British Legion which is closely linked to the British political and military establishment. This is entirely counter-productive to the objective of putting the sacrifice and tragedy of these victims in a special place within Irish public life.
It was entirely inappropriate that the Royal Irish Regiment partook in the ceremonies this week in Messines.
The participation of this sectarian loyalist militia, with an appalling record of murder in the Six Counties, makes a mockery of talk that the ceremony was a symbol of reconciliation between the ``two traditions'' in Ireland.
The dead should be remembered with dignity and their tragedy should no longer be used to further narrow political agendas.
The `Northern Ireland' Bill, currently before the British House of Commons contains serious deficiencies under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities clauses.
The proposed Human Rights Commission needs to have full and effective powers of investigation. This has not been provided for.
Under the Equality section provision must be made for affirmative action measures by public authorities to address disadvantage.
Provisions are needed also to deal with the issue of equality for the Irish national ethos, for Irish culture, symbols, emblems and the Irish language.
At present the Northern Ireland Bill falls far short of what is required in all of these key areas. These deficiencies must be urgently addressed if the bill is to accurately reflect the changes brought about on Good Friday and if it is to establish the mecahnisms to implement those changes.
Like ordinary citzens of every country which participated young Irish men paid an appalling price for the greed and militarism of imperial Europe. They were tragic victims provided by the constitutional nationalist and unionist leaders in Ireland at the time as cannon-fodder for the British Empire.
For several years now certain politicians and sections of the Irish media have adopted the issue of this tragedy as if it were their own and attempted to use it as a weapon against Irish republicanism.
They have tried to equate sincere remembrance of those killed with adherence to the ceremonies and symbolism of organisations like the British Legion which is closely linked to the British political and military establishment. This is entirely counter-productive to the objective of putting the sacrifice and tragedy of these victims in a special place within Irish public life.
It was entirely inappropriate that the Royal Irish Regiment partook in the ceremonies this week in Messines.
The participation of this sectarian loyalist militia, with an appalling record of murder in the Six Counties, makes a mockery of talk that the ceremony was a symbol of reconciliation between the ``two traditions'' in Ireland.
The dead should be remembered with dignity and their tragedy should no longer be used to further narrow political agendas.
Serious deficiencies in Commons Bill
The `Northern Ireland' Bill, currently before the British House of Commons contains serious deficiencies under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities clauses.
The proposed Human Rights Commission needs to have full and effective powers of investigation. This has not been provided for.
Under the Equality section provision must be made for affirmative action measures by public authorities to address disadvantage.
Provisions are needed also to deal with the issue of equality for the Irish national ethos, for Irish culture, symbols, emblems and the Irish language.
At present the Northern Ireland Bill falls far short of what is required in all of these key areas. These deficiencies must be urgently addressed if the bill is to accurately reflect the changes brought about on Good Friday and if it is to establish the mecahnisms to implement those changes.