Sir, - Many of us know people in the loyal orders who will be disgusted by the attitudes and actions demonstrated outside the Catholic Church at Harryville. Likewise, in communities which take exception to certain parades, we know too of people who would wish for compromise, so that feelings of resentment and humiliation will neither persist nor be, created on either side.
There are lots of good people on all sides and lots of bottled up goodwill, but where is their protest? Where is their participation in the dialogue for better understanding that is so urgently needed in County Antrim?
Recently there was a two day conference at St Columb's Park House in Derry. This was attended in the main by members of the loyal orders, friends and associates. Freed from pressure to conform in discussion, a lively open and encouraging debate took place on the rights of marchers the rights of residents, the right to parade, the right to protest and the implications of the law with regard to policing. We were all forced to confront our preconceptions; if nothing else, it was a learning experience and a challenging one.
Perhaps it suggested that such open seminars should be more common and should also, in the first instance, provide opportunity for discussion among those of broadly shared tradition. Such could be a valuable means of preparation for the more challenging task of engaging in dialogue between opposing traditions.
Marchers have rights, residents have rights, the rest of us have rights, not least to insist on dialogue between those whose opposing positions could well draw us all into violent conflict. Accommodation requires dialogue, and dialogue requires preparation and the means of sustaining it once it commences.
Thuggery bordering on fascism is to be condemned utterly, whatever its source. Let it therefore be stated unequivocally that the denial of the right of individuals to attend their weekly place of worship is the denial of any claim whatsoever to stand for "civil and religious liberty". We can only obtain enduring rights for ourselves through respecting the rights and feelings of others. - Yours, etc.,
Charlotte Street,
Ballymoney,
Co Antrim.