Sir, - July again, with Drumcree, Portadown, Garvaghy Road, marching feet, sashes, bowler-hatted bigotry, burning vehicles, stone-throwing, tribal taunts, violence, thuggery - the old, sad, familiar, sickening scene all over again, in the name of what? Christianity? It is no wonder the churches are being emptied when young people see so-called Christianity re-enacted and reinforced with such unadulterated prejudice and bigotry.
No wonder, too, that even right-minded people on both sides of the Border are getting Six County fatigue, for how can anyone dialogue with entrenched bigots? With the likes of such people as Harold Gracey, Johnny Adair? There may be a peace agreement on paper, but not in the hearts of those with a deep-seated hatred mind-set, who are stuck in a 17th-century timewarp.
However, it was good to read the measured, middle-of-the-road comments of Alan James Greer, East Antrim Association Chairman on the "Orange Disorder" (July 17th). Timely, too, were the condemnations of the events at Drumcree by Dr Walton Empey, Archbishop of Dublin, and Dr Robin Eames, Church of Ireland Primate. Would there were more such to light a candle rather than curse the darkness. - Yours, etc.,
Vera Hughes, Moate, Co Westmeath.