Madam, - Many people are calling into question what the Taoiseach means by attempting to invoke "the spirit of 1916", and doubting the timing of his announcement.
The spirit of 1916 is most succinctly summed up by quoting directly from the Proclamation itself, and what its authors sought to establish as the basis of the Irish Republic: "The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and all of its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past."
These ideals have not been achieved. By focusing on the real intentions and the real message of the 1916 Rising, we can bring the people of our island together in this spirit of collective destiny. It is only by setting aside the actions, words and intentions of those who have destroyed the reputation of Irish republicanism, both at home and abroad, that we can become an island where people can work, live and peacefully exist together.
Some may question the nationhood or statehood of the Irish Republic, but nobody can deny that we live on a divided island; our small landmass is divided north and south, east and west. Our people are divided, and our cultures are divided. The 1916 Rising sought to "cherish all the children of the nation equally", and its activists came from all walks of life. It is only by returning to the original spirit of 1916 that we can move our island forward.
The futures of all the people in Ireland are intrinsically linked. A strong economy in Belfast is as important as a strong economy in Cork. The gun has now been removed from national politics. The time has come to move to the next step: bringing communities together in everyone's best interest.
By reclaiming 1916 from those who sought to use its legacy as motivation for indiscriminate sectarian violence, the people of Ireland can once again share a sense of pride in the intentions of those who sought to free our people almost 90 years ago.
Fianna Fáil is a Republican party, cast in the image and intentions of those who wrote the Proclamation of Poblacht na hÉireann. Our republicanism is one which seeks to bring together Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter and to set aside differences which have been fostered across our island. This is a very different republicanism to that espoused by other sources, and is a republicanism which is supported by a great many people in every corner of this Island.
There is no shame in constitutional republicanism, and there is no shame in commemorating those who set in motion the train of events which have led to the great success of the Republic of Ireland. The time has come to return to the original message of equality and self-determination. - Yours, etc,
Cllr DAMIEN BLAKE (FF), Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
Madam, - While the timing of the Taoiseach's decision to restore the 1916 military parade may be questioned, I think the idea of marking moments in the evolution of our state should be discussed. If we are a legitimate republic, why have we no national holiday to commemorate the establishment of that republic?
The Republic of Ireland Act came into effect on April 18, 1949. How about celebrating that date as a holiday? How many Irish people even know that that is a significant date in Irish history? The failure of all political parties to argue for this holiday since 1949 is indicative of an ambivalence towards the Republic to which all our elected representatives are supposed to be loyal. Perhaps this ambivalence and indifference to our republic has left the door open for Sinn Féin/IRA - which doesn't even recognise the Republic but yet has members elected to to its parliament - to dominate the debate about Irish nationalism and republican history? - Yours, etc,
DECLAN CASHIN, Hogan Place, Dublin 2.
Madam, - In response to Fine Gael Cllr Marie Baker (October 25th), of course there should be a military parade to commemorate the heroes of 1916. It is a relevant gesture to people who put their lives on the line for this country.
Although it would be good to see Sinn Féin in government it is highly unlikely that this will happen in the foreseeable future, so to suggest that the parade is a move to line up Sinn Féin as a coalition partner is nothing more than a weak political jibe. - Yours, etc,
EAMON SINNOTT, Killaloe, Co Clare.
Madam, - The debate about An Taoiseach's attempts to "reclaim" 1916 has missed one crucial element. Commemoration of past battles - and the tribal, exclusive sentiment that goes with them - serves only to promote division on this island.
Yet some of us have a vision, regardless of borders, of unity and stability among the people of this island. The truth is that parades, flag-waving and the promotion of historical myth play little part in that vision. - Is mise,
Cllr IAN JAMES PARSLEY, (Alliance Party) Bangor, Co Down.