Sir, - I am glad that the Orangemen of Portadown and elsewhere are committing themselves to a time to stop and reflect. It is a step that we all might well take with advantage. Might I suggest a few topics to which they might turn their attention:
1. Do they approve of laws for Northern Ireland being made in the parliament at Westminster?
2. Should the police obey and enforce the laws?
3. When the police are enforcing the laws, especially laws which are unpopular in Northern Ireland, is it right that they should be attacked on duty and intimidated out of their homes?
4. Is it impossible for the Orange Order to reroute the 0.5 per cent of marches that are contentious? Would this really lead to the collapse of all their culture?
5. We have paid dearly for a policy of confrontation over the past three years at Drumcree - loss of life, enormous security costs and huge losses in tourism and trade.
6. Whatever the truth about the facts, the images from Drumcree have been profoundly damaging to the image of the Orange Order and of us all. Surely it is time to find a better way? - Yours, etc., William Rutherford,
Dunmurry, Co Antrim.