Sir, - Paul Bew of Queens University must have his head in the sand or somewhere other than Ireland of July 1999. He speaks of republican duplicity, unionist moral high ground and the murders, beatings and bombings of the republicans (Opinion, July 5th).
If Professor Bew were describing recalcitrant loyalism he would have it right. Bernadette Martin, Robert Hammill, Rosemary Nelson and many others have not been killed by republicans. They are victims of a society devoted to the status quo where those who claim Irish identity will always be considered less than full citizens. Of course it is futile to count the tragedies suffered by one community or another in Ireland. All have their grievous injury. But the root cause of the conflict is the unwillingness of the power structure to share the instruments of government and commerce. To do so would challenge their long held, but false, sense of entitlement and superiority.
Apologists such as Professor Bew serve no worthwhile purpose in perpetuating the myths of republican evil and unionist virtue. You live in a very small part of the world. Sooner or later the good people of Ireland will learn that sharing beats hoarding - power, land, jobs and yes, the moral high ground. - Yours, etc.,
Edmund Lynch, Denville, New Jersey.