A chara, - John Bruton's article (The Irish Times, July 14th) shows that he still does not understand what the peace process is about and that he still thinks that crises such as Drumcree can be solved by pandering to Orangeism and its unionist counterpart. Does he not understand that it was the Parades Commission, set up by the British government, that stopped the Orange Order marching down the Garvaghy Road?
The violence unleashed on Catholics across the North is not, sadly, anything new. This particular time of the year, but not exclusively so, is a time of heightened tension, with open season on isolated and vulnerable Catholics. Up to now the British government never stood up to it.
What John Bruton is saying to the people of the Garvaghy Road and to nationalists generally is that you can have your rights acknowledged but you can't exercise them. He obviously does not understand that the recognition of, and the need for, equality is at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement and is a key to any resolution of the conflict in the North.
Where else have people been told that exercising their rights would only make things worse for them? South Africa, perhaps, or the Southern States of America?
Did these people "share the responsibility" for the murderous attacks on them by white rather than Orange supremacists? - Is mise, Sean Crowe,
Raithein Na Faiche,
Tamhlacht,
Baile Ath Cliath 24.