A chara, - In May 1969 the then leader of the Unionist Party, Terence O'Neill remarked: "It is frightfully hard to explain to Protestants that if you give Roman Catholics a good job and a good house they will live like Protestants, because they will see neighbours with cars and television sets. They will refuse to have 18 children, but if a Roman Catholic is jobless in the most ghastly hovel, he will rear 18 children on national assistance ... If you treat Roman Catholics with due consideration and kindness, they will live like Protestants, in spite of the authoritative nature of their Church" (Belfast Telegraph, May 5th, 1969).
Thirty years later, almost to the month, another Unionist leader, David Trimble, in his party address remarked: "I believe the majority of people in the Catholic community have moved on. They believe now in the alternative to violence, which is education, hard work and respect for the rights of others."
Some things, it appears, never change. And among these is the arrogance of unionist leaders who clearly see nationalists as inferior, ill-educated, lazy, with no respect for others and having a tendency toward violence.
When people seek to understand why David Trimble won't engage with Sinn Fein, is opposed to change based on equality, and refuses to seek an accommodation to move the peace process forward, perhaps they should examine the racist ethos which underpins orangeism and consequently much of unionism. - Is mise, Cllr Chrissie McAuley (SF),
Belfast City Hall, Belfast 1.