Reality of Life in Ireland
Not Black and White
Dear Editor:
I realise this is now old news, but given that it is representative of how much of Irish-America views Northern Ireland, I feel compelled to explain my disgust with your article from April 2005 on the St. Patrick's day parade in Seattle, or more specifically Councillor Cecil Calvert's presence at said parade.
Is it the case that your organisation sees room for only one type of Irishness in the world? That would surely be a narrow, insular and verging on the xenophobic view. Was the invitation to the Mayor of Lisburn conditional on him keeping his head beneath the parapet?
The truth is that regardless of political affiliation, the people of Northern Ireland have the same rights as anyone else to celebrate their Irishness and enjoying one's citizenship of the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) does not make one less Irish, nor does rejection of Irish Republic's aspirations to annex the remainder of the island.
The simple truth is that the tricolour represents only one state on the island or Ireland and with it, despite the ideals behind the design, only one type of Irishness.
I propose that it is those who claim "offence" at the sight of the flag of the United Kingdom that need to sit back and think about what it is that offends them so much about it, when there are around a million Irishmen and women that hold it so dear.
Finally, thank you for at least pointing out the hypocrisy of trying to censor a man who simply wanted to carry a national flag while barely batting an eyelid at banners supporting Noraid, who are nothing more than fund-raisers for terrorist bombers and killers.
A man carrying the flag of the United Kingdom should be no more offensive than one carrying a tricolour. Rather than chastise the Mayor for carrying his national flag, perhaps it's time some of the Irish community in Seattle sat back and considered that the reality of life in Ireland may not be as black and white as they would like to continue believing.
Ireland is much more than a land full of leprechauns and shamrocks. In short, the term Irish can mean many things and it is wrong to attempt to censor an entire group (20 percent of the population) just because they challenge some dearly held stereotypes and prejudices.
This sort of bigotry would not be tolerated against any other kind of ethnic group or minority in the western world and promoting such intolerance gives a bad name to Irish-America (and even America as a whole).
Please have a think about some of these issues before you print such hatred in future.
Kind Regards from Belfast,
"Beano" Steve Ferson
Belfast, Northern Ireland
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