Madam, - Niall Cusack's scurrilous sideswipe against the Reform Movement (September 23rd) and Tom Cooper's misrepresentation of Reform's aims (September 28th) cannot be allowed to pass unchallenged. Reform is not, as Mr Cusack's letter implies, "racist", "supremacist", "West British" or "unionist".
Reform's agenda for change in Irish society is liberal and pluralist. It stands for tolerance and for the harmonious co-existence of all the different identities and traditions in this country, including those of recent migrants who are changing Ireland into a multicultural and multiracial society.
Reform does not aim at the restoration of the Union with Britain, as implied by Mr Cooper, nor does it support Protestant supremacism in Northern Ireland. Reform stands for better Anglo-Irish relations and for the closest possible co-operation and integration across these islands, including the context of a modern, changed Commonwealth, which we think Ireland should consider joining.
Reform is not a "West Brit" or Protestant organisation. It is a non-denominational, non-party movement that includes in its ranks people of different faiths (religious and secular) and different Irish identities.
Reform does value the British connection and the Protestant tradition in Ireland, but that does not mean that we are not Irish patriots.
Reform's aim is to provoke and contribute to a debate about how we can continue to move beyond the sectarian and divisive traditions of the past and reshape Ireland as a post-nationalist, pluralist society. Our conference was a contribution to that agenda and we fully intend to continue to make our voice heard, notwithstanding the efforts of Mr Cusack and Mr Cooper to silence us by abuse and misrepresentation. - Yours, etc.,
ROBIN BURY,
Chairman,
Reform Movement,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - Tom Cooper (September 28th) writing on John Bruton's speech to the Reform conference in the Mansion House on Saturday, September 18th, makes a number of errors.
The conference was not opened by the Lord Mayor, nor did he welcome delegates. He was away. The Reform Movement does not have "a primary aim" nor does it wish to restore the "British dimension" by way of Ireland rejoining the British Commonwealth. This is a distortion of the Reform Movement's belief that Ireland, with other republics, would benefit from membership of the Commonwealth, as other republics do.
The Reform Movement is Irish and constitutional. Whatever the phrase, "a return to the days of the Castle and the Viceregal Lodge" may mean, such a prospect has nothing whatever to do with the aims of the Reform Movement.
Its members are not British nationalists, nor is it Anglocentric.
The British Ambassador attended the conference to talk about the achievements and prospects of the Council of the Isles, a body jointly set up by the British and Irish Governments to further better understanding and co-operation between Ireland and Britain and within these islands. Support for the Council of the Isles is the first stated aim of the Reform Movement.
If Tom Cooper wishes to gain a little knowledge about the Reform Movement he can e-mail secretary@reform.org. In two letters, one to another newspaper, he has got wrong the honour I received from Queen Elizabeth and the purpose of that award, which was for services as a journalist to Anglo-Irish relations.
When he does get something right, is it too much to hope that it will be balanced and fair? - Yours, etc.,
BRUCE ARNOLD,
Albert Road,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - I find John Bruton's logic difficult to follow. He acknowledges (September 28th) that Home Rule was not implemented in 1914, but then claims that this non-existent Home Rule could have prevented the wars between 1919 and 1923.
Surely there was a simple and easy way of preventing those wars and that was for Britain to have accepted the clear election result of 1918? Why all the hypothetical conjectures when the reality is so blindingly obvious? - Yours, etc.,
JACK LANE,
Aubane,
Millstreet,
Co Cork.
Madam, - Frank Fitzpatrick (September 24th) says that John Redmond's efforts resulted in the partition of Ireland. What else did Pearse's efforts result in but the same thing - together with the glorification of insane violence and its continuation down to our own day? - Yours, etc.,
THOMAS MURPHY,
Beaufort,
Killarney,
Co Kerry.