26 July 2001 Edition
A depressing analysis
``Weston Park and the marching season showed us, in one short week, what is so wrong, and so depressing, about Northern Ireland and its effect on this state.
I defy anyone who has been born and raised in this state to feel any empathy or understanding for what happened last week in the North.''
These rather callous words were written by Sunday Independent journalist Alan Ruddock in the aftermath of the 12 July `celebrations'. On RTE radio on Tuesday evening, Ruddock, in a debate with Sinn Feein TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, spoke of the threat he believes is posed by Sinn Féin to democracy in the 26 Counties.
This was ironic, insofar as the unelected Ruddock was attacking a Sinn Féin elected representative for being `undemocratic'. Ironic, also, because the paper he represents is part of Tony O'Reilly's Independent News Group, a monopoly that controls two-thirds of the print media in Ireland.
Aside from the theory of democracy, what Ruddock seems incapable of understanding is that what is really depressing is the negativity with which he and his ilk have opposed all efforts to achieve peace with justice on this island.
These are the chattering classes of Dublin 4, who delight in the revision of the past to suit their own blinkered worldview, but have little to offer for the future except bile directed against republicans. Theirs is the analysis that fostered and encouraged Section 31 censorship of republicans and by extension a partitionist mentality in the South.
And these self-appointed guardians of democracy don't just hate the IRA or Sinn Féin. They lack any empathy or understanding for the nationalist people of the Six Counties.
Indeed, Ruddock's analysis was best examplified in a comment he made on Tuesday evening as Ó Caoláin contrasted the IRA cessation with the current onslaught by loyalists. Ruddock interrupted with the following gem: ``I do not see loyalists forming a threat to my society down here.''
You see, Ruddock & Co. will not be found lambasting the British government when people are shot by plastic bullets fired by the RUC.
They have no compassion for the children whose way to school was blocked by loyalists or who were driven at by an RUC Land Rover during the Ardoyne riots.
They have not been burning up the airwaves with reports about the nationalists in vulnerable interface areas who have been killed, injured, or forced to flee their homes.
They have not been beating a path to the doors of the victims of the dozens of loyalist pipe bomb attacks that have been carried out since the beginning of this year.
Most people believe that republicans have been the driving force behind the peace process, which has provided hope for so many for the future. The party's recent election results speak volumes about how the people view Sinn Féin.
For Ruddock and his ilk, however, the entire peace process and the growth of Sinn Féin has been depressing and will continue to be so.
Their insular, wrongheaded, uncaring, partitionist analysis is something that would depress anyone.
I defy anyone who has been born and raised in this state to feel any empathy or understanding for what happened last week in the North.''
These rather callous words were written by Sunday Independent journalist Alan Ruddock in the aftermath of the 12 July `celebrations'. On RTE radio on Tuesday evening, Ruddock, in a debate with Sinn Feein TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, spoke of the threat he believes is posed by Sinn Féin to democracy in the 26 Counties.
This was ironic, insofar as the unelected Ruddock was attacking a Sinn Féin elected representative for being `undemocratic'. Ironic, also, because the paper he represents is part of Tony O'Reilly's Independent News Group, a monopoly that controls two-thirds of the print media in Ireland.
Aside from the theory of democracy, what Ruddock seems incapable of understanding is that what is really depressing is the negativity with which he and his ilk have opposed all efforts to achieve peace with justice on this island.
These are the chattering classes of Dublin 4, who delight in the revision of the past to suit their own blinkered worldview, but have little to offer for the future except bile directed against republicans. Theirs is the analysis that fostered and encouraged Section 31 censorship of republicans and by extension a partitionist mentality in the South.
And these self-appointed guardians of democracy don't just hate the IRA or Sinn Féin. They lack any empathy or understanding for the nationalist people of the Six Counties.
Indeed, Ruddock's analysis was best examplified in a comment he made on Tuesday evening as Ó Caoláin contrasted the IRA cessation with the current onslaught by loyalists. Ruddock interrupted with the following gem: ``I do not see loyalists forming a threat to my society down here.''
You see, Ruddock & Co. will not be found lambasting the British government when people are shot by plastic bullets fired by the RUC.
They have no compassion for the children whose way to school was blocked by loyalists or who were driven at by an RUC Land Rover during the Ardoyne riots.
They have not been burning up the airwaves with reports about the nationalists in vulnerable interface areas who have been killed, injured, or forced to flee their homes.
They have not been beating a path to the doors of the victims of the dozens of loyalist pipe bomb attacks that have been carried out since the beginning of this year.
Most people believe that republicans have been the driving force behind the peace process, which has provided hope for so many for the future. The party's recent election results speak volumes about how the people view Sinn Féin.
For Ruddock and his ilk, however, the entire peace process and the growth of Sinn Féin has been depressing and will continue to be so.
Their insular, wrongheaded, uncaring, partitionist analysis is something that would depress anyone.