Sir, - Further to recent correspondence I believe that our attitude to unionists stems from our primeval tribal instincts. All living creatures are fiercely territorial and we resent and hate the unionists as usurpers of part of our ancient tribal territory. Our subconscious wish is to subjugate, expel or exterminate them.
The tribal demographics on this island changed irreversibly nearly 400 years ago when the unionists settled in Ireland and never assimilated with us "natives". We nationalists have never come to terms with this simple fact of life.
We can readily accept that our neighbouring island is inhabited by three distinct tribes (English, Scots and Welsh) each entitled to independent self-determination. But somehow we cannot accept that the island of Ireland is inhabited by two distinct tribes (nationalists and unionists), each entitled to independent self-determination.
The minority unionists are like trapped animals. They are friendless, isolated and surrounded by enemies. They know that given a half-decent excuse, Britain would drop them like a hot potato and leave them to the mercy of the majority nationalist tribe.
We have every right to demand full human rights for nationalists in Northern Ireland. We even have every right to demand a re-drawing of the border to accommodate the greatest possible number of people in the territory of their choice. But we have absolutely no right to demand or aspire to a United Ireland because the corollary of a United Ireland is a denial of the unionists' right to self determination.
As long as we harbour this urge for a United Ireland there can never be peace on this island, because the unionists will always feel under threat and every future generation of nationalists will produce enough hotheads who will use violence to achieve that goal.
We are not alone. The same primeval urge drives the conflict between Arab and Israeli, Serb and Kosovar, Hutu and Tutsi and countless other tribal conflicts around the world - and down through the ages.
A depressing picture, you might say. Yes, but not without hope. We humans have the capacity to resist our animal instincts and if we ever find the humility to accept the primeval dynamics of these conflicts we are already half-way to resolving them.
Then, by using our human attributes of understanding, compassion and respect for the rights and differences of others, we could, in time, learn to share this island in relative peace. - Yours, etc.,
Dick Keane, Silchester Park, Glenageary, Co. Dublin.