A chara, - Your Editorial of March 21st describing those who oppose a visit to Ireland by the British queen as "fanatics" is insulting, and designed to suggest that any such visit would be universally welcomed by the Irish people.
I am certainly no "fanatic". I am merely an Irish person who supports the right of my country to full national independence.
And how does this view relate to my opposition to the British queen visiting Ireland? Queen Elizabeth is the official head of state, and head of the armed forces, of a nation that claims jurisdiction over a part of Ireland. Any proposed visit by her is merely an attempt to portray that occupation as non-existent. But it is plain to see that Britain's imposed border still exists. Not quite so visible, but underpinning that occupation, are the 5,000 British soldiers and 10 permanent military bases dotted across the north-east.
If it is fanatical to support the idea that Britain has no right to occupy any part of Ireland, then I stand accused. If it is fanatical to demonstrate peacefully against the person and institutions that maintain that occupation, then I submit to your accusations.
I suspect, however, that if your accusations of fanaticism are correct, then the country is over-run by "fanatics". - Is mise,
CHRIS Ó RALAIGH, Bothar Naomh Áine, Baile Átha Cliath 9.
Madam, - The Church of Ireland was disestablished in 1871 and set free from the control of the British state in Ireland. Yet in 2008, in the north of Ireland, it still acts as though it was the established church. There is an obligatory prayer for the monarch at every service. Now, with last week's visit by Queen Elizabeth to Armagh cathedral, we have once more seen the church being used by the state, and the church happily co-operating.
The British have tried to portray the conflict over sovereignty in Ireland as a struggle between two religiously defined tribes and that still appears to be part of their strategy, albeit with a new, ecumenical dimension. Queen Elizabeth has visited the Protestant tribe, in the Protestant cathedral in Armagh. That clears the way for the Pope to visit the Roman Catholic tribe, in the same place.
I understand that certain things must happen if we are to be freed from the shackles of the past and I wish that we could just move along quickly and get the visit of Queen Elizabeth to Dublin over and done with. That does not mean, however, that I am prepared to accept that she has a legitimate right to claim sovereignty over any part of the island of Ireland.
It remains my view that the best possible future for Ireland is the creation of a secular, 32-county Irish Republic, in which every person is equal before the law. - Yours, etc,
Rev DAVID FRAZER, Inse Bay, Laytown, Co Meath.
Madam, - Your Editorial about a possible visit from Queen Elizabeth failed to mention the fact that the monarchy was the last and most prominent victim of the Easter Rising.
Had that event never taken place, or had it been rejected by the independent Irish State instead of being turned into its foundation myth, Ireland would today be a Commonwealth country with a governor-general and might even be a united state.
The queen is a living reminder that the men of 1916 failed in their aims and divided the country. Unless official Ireland can finally lay them to rest, she will not be welcome in Dublin and the only question will be what unlikely pretexts will be used to keep her away. - Yours, etc,
GERALD BRAY, Grange Road, Cambridge, England.