Sir, - During the Christmas holidays I have been reading Paul Routledge's biography of John Hume. I wondered if this man's contribution to peace in Ireland was fully recognised. Here is a prophet, patriot, practitioner; a man who redefined what it was to live for and love his country.
I was delighted, then, to read your Editorial "John Hume's Century" (December 30th). As you rightly suggest, "a great many people have contributed to the great gift of peace to Ireland". There were many architects and builders; there was one prophet. He lived a dream and his dreaming took practical shapes and forms in bringing self-worth and dignity to his people. His work in founding the Credit Union, housing co-operatives, etc., was the touchstone for convincing people that living for Ireland is a noble form of patriotism. Through the dark days of the 70s, 80s and 90s this man of courage never flinched from his practical idealism.
The 1990s saw Ireland become a rich country and very much part of the global economy. Our society is experiencing extraordinary transformations. Our biggest challenge in the years ahead may be to come to grips with the impact of globalisation on our culture and self-image. What is happening to family/community life? Who is rearing the next generation? What will be our attitudes towards the growing numbers of refugees and economic immigrants? What has our culture to contribute to the shaping of global forces?
John Hume's philosophy and guiding principle could help shape our vision for the future. He believed there was a wealth of young business people, professionals and local leaders in the North who could work together to tackle community problems. Community work of this kind, he believed, would water down the prejudices that lay at the root of discrimination.
As we focus now on our perception of ourselves, our growing numbers of corporate leaders, our teachers and journalists could combine with local communities in examining the corporate culture and its place in its environment. The basic units of society - family and community, our spiritual heritage, our respect for one another - all deserve as much if not more attention than building the economy.
But this kind of co-operative effort will not happen without people of vision and strong leadership. The decade, the century, the millennium has ended with an Ireland prosperous and at peace but the work of building a holistic society has only begun.
Finally, I want to commend the marvellous insights and analysis of modern Ireland from your contributors over the past few weeks. That most wonderful of commentators, Fintan O'Toole, sums it all up: "At the moment, punch-drunk from the effects of continually having pieces of the old Ireland falling on our heads, we're happier re-furnishing our homes than refurbishing our notion of homeland. But, if only because the one ineradicable aspect of Irishness is a perverse desire to go against the grain, that, too, will change."
In the past, our romantic notion of an ideal Ireland was created on the back of a lot that was hidden, on fear, on a certain dishonesty and on the exclusion of a lot of people. Our future can only be created by returning to the people, empowering them, and away from the dominance of institutions, big organisations and corporations. - Yours, etc.,
Harry Bohan, Shannon, Co Clare.