The following letters are excellent examples for your letter-writing campaign. These are letters written by Coalition members that have been published by the media. Please feel free to use them for ideas you can incorporate into your own letters, but please do not copy them verbatim since each letter sent should be a personal statement. Editors will not publish duplicate letters ~ be original!
This letter was published in The Austin Statesman:
Struggle for Unity
The Irish came to our shores in a mixture of hope and agony. Indeed, no people did more to spark the cause of American independence than the Irish and no people believe more in the cause of Irish freedom than Irish Americans.
Tony Blair speaks of removing the cause of conflict in the Irish north, but Great Britain fails to recognize that the true cause of conflict came with the first shadows of Englishmen on Irish shores.
The Good Friday Agreement offered the hope of illuminating the darkness left by centuries of British occupation when the Irish ignited the torch of liberty in referenda. Today, not a single vote can keep the flames of the agreement burning.
What is this darkness that extinguishes Ireland's every hope for peace and equality? It is Britain's refusal to honor Ireland's struggle for unity. Ireland is a land robbed of the light of democracy. The shadows of a homeland divided.
MARK DUNN
Bridge City
These letters were published in The Irish Voice:
Where Did It All Go Wrong?
IRELAND has never been a rich or powerful country and yet, since the earliest of times, its influence on the world has been rich and powerful. The Irish came to our shores in a mixture of hope and agony, and indeed, no people did more to spark and defend the cause of American independence than the Irish. And so it is that our two nations, divided by distance, are forever united in blood and by history.
What is this darkness that shadows the Irish and allows Unionists to extinguish her every hope for equality and peace? It is Britain's historic refusal to honor Ireland's national struggle for democratic unity. It is a land robbed of the light of liberty. It is the shadows of a homeland divided.
Mark Dunn
Bridge City, Texas
Thanks Mo, But No Thanks
NORTHERN Ireland Secretary of State Mo Mowlam, in a desperate bid to salvage the precarious future of her employment in British-occupied Northern Ireland, recently visited the United States petitioning Irish Americans to pressure the IRA to decommission. Defying mandate and failing to allow a power-sharing Executive government the opportunity to prevail in the course of justice over violent alternatives, Unionists continue to demand decommissioning from only one faction of paramilitaries and now audaciously seek support in the very country born as a result of British tyranny and injustice.
Am I to understand that Irish America is to conspire circumvention of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as written and ratified by the Irish majority? Would that not be in direct defiance of our own country's founding principles of democratic process?
Am I to understand that we are being asked to petition solely the IRA, the one group remaining on ceasefire despite absolute provocation by Loyalist paramilitaries? Is not inclusive in this appeal the wide array of armed Loyalist groups whose names and persistent attacks on Catholics continue to elude both mainstream media mention and acknowledgment by the government?
With all due respect Secretary Mowlam, this Irish American declines.
M�ire Kelly
Corpus Christi, Texas
These letters were published in The Irish Voice:
Trimble Fails to Respect Majority
The voices of the Irish majority (86%), from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, are again denied due to the failed leadership of David Trimble, who has caused five deadlines to be missed and refused to abide by the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
During this process, in order to appease Trimble's hardline stance, British Prime Minister Tony Blair attempted in good faith to rewrite the provisions of the agreement with fail-safe clauses that would ensure one issue which was claimed to be the main point of contention, decommissioning. This was the excuse that the Ulster Unionist Party decided upon as a standing point for refusal to accept seats in all-party assembly.
Rewriting the agreement caused concerns, because it focused on one political party, Sinn Fein, to assure decommissioning. Timetables were set forth, yet the reality that it was the responsibility of all political parties to use their persuasive abilities with various paramilitary organizations was ignored. The Good Friday Agreement, addressed this particular issue, with the process to complete by May 2000. It remains under the astute leadership of General DeChastelain.
Upon reading the Good Friday Agreement, one will see the words "equality," "mutual respect," and "human rights" virtually in every paragraph. This was a chance for progress, a chance for reconciliation to begin with face-to-face negotiations.
The agreement is firmly embedded with words of mutual respect and equality. It is my sincere hope that this process will be salvaged by the British and Irish governments.
Onna Seibold
Fort Worth, Texas
Trimble Should Resign in Disgrace
DAVID Trimble and the Protestant Ulster Unionist Party of Northern Ireland should hang their heads in shame. After receiving the Nobel Peace Prize last year, Trimble has dishonored himself, his party, and democracy by scorning the Good Friday Agreement, overwhelmingly approved last year by 86% of voters north and south in Ireland. He has perhaps scorned the voters most of all.
The agreement offers a chance for lasting peace in Ireland through sweeping equality, human rights and policing reform measures to protect the civil rights of all religions and ethnic communities. All parties to the negotiations signed on to it and pledged to ensure its success. Trimble has delayed implementation for 15 months despite numerous concessions. Using the specious argument of decommissioning, Trimble demands exclusion of a legitimate political party elected by the voters. Decommissioning is not a precondition in the agreement. Each party earned the democratic mandate to participate in the new government from the voters. By refusing to nominate ministers to the new government, Trimble has risked collapsing the entire peace process in Northern Ireland.
It has become clear to the international community that the Ulster Unionists prefer the status quo in Northern Ireland to peace, justice and equality for all. Trimble should resign in disgrace and his Nobel Peace Prize should be rescinded.
But the peace process must continue. The British and Irish governments must not let the Ulster Unionists destroy representative democracy in Northern Ireland. Both governments have the responsibility to fulfill their pledge to honor all of the equality, justice and human rights, and policing reforms provided for in the Agreement according to the voters' wishes in May 1998.
Suzanne DeBolt
Niceville, Florida
This letter was published in The Las Vegas Sun:
August 10, 1999 Letter: Ireland Remains a Homeland Divided
No people believe more in the cause of Irish freedom than Irish-Americans, but it is a conquest understood by all whose lives are warmed by the flames of democracy and whose passions are incensed by the prospect of continued interference in Irish affairs.
Much has been said of removing the cause of conflict in the Irish north, but Britain has historically failed to recognize that the true cause of conflict began not long after the first shadows of Englishmen fell on Irish shores. The Good Friday Agreement offered the hope of illuminating the darkness left by centuries of British occupation, but even in its darkest hours, Tony Blair pampered British-allied-Unionism, and Unionist, in turn eclipsed devolution of the power-sharing executive -- the very soul of Ireland's peace accord.
More than 2 million Irish voters ignited the torch of democracy in favor of the Good Friday Agreement, but not a single vote can keep the flames of the agreement burning, rescind the Unionist boycott, or restore basic electoral integrity to their island.
What is this darkness that shadows the Irish and is allowed to extinguish her every hope for equality and peace? It is Britain's historic refusal to honor Ireland's national struggle for democratic unity. It is a land robbed of the light of liberty. It is the shadows of a homeland divided.
MARK DUNN
This letter was published in The Indianapolis News:
Ireland's Quest for Liberty
Ireland never has been a rich or powerful country; yet, since the earliest of times, its influence on the world has been rich and powerful. The Irish came to our shores in a mixture of hope and agony. No people did more to spark the cause of American independence than the Irish. and indeed, no people believe more in the cause of Irish Freedom than Irish-Americans.
Britain historically has failed to recognize that the true cause of conflict came when the first shadows of Englishmen fell on Irish shores.
The Good Friday Agreement offered the hope of illuminating the darkness left by centuries of British occupation. The Irish voters ignited that torch of liberty in referenda last year, but not a single vote can keep the flames of the agreement burning or rescind the recent Ulster Unionist boycott that eclipsed the multi-party power-sharing executive.
Even in the darkest hours of the Good Friday Agreement, Tony Blair pampered British-allied Unionism and evaded his government's responsibility to the most basic mandate of the Irish people.
What is this darkness that shadows the Irish and is allowed to extinguish her every hope for equality and peace? It is Britain's historic refusal to honor Ireland's struggle for democratic unity.It is a land robbed of the light of liberty. It is the shadows of a homeland divided.
Mark Dunn
Bridge City, Texas
This letter was published in the The Duluth News Tribune:
Blair Holds The Key To Peace
The peace process in the North of Ireland is on the brink of failure, all due to the intractability of David Trimble and Tony Blair. Mr. Blair has allowed Trimble and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) to ignore at least five deadlines for power sharing with Nationalists in a new Executive as set down in the Good Friday Agreement (GFA). It has been sixteen months since the GFA was signed by political parties in Ireland, committing them to peace. The GFA was voted in by over 71% of the Irish people yet not one thing has changed! The GFA has not been implemented, the violence continues and more people are dead.
Why is Tony Blair allowing one man and his party to ignore the democratic process and the will of the people? Trimble signed this agreement but is reluctant to share power with Catholics and he has stalled this process with the issue of decommissioning of IRA weapons. No IRA guns have been fired in more than two years but the Orange Order, of which Trimble is a member, goes merrily on with murder. Is this a man worthy of the Nobel prize?
Peace is possible in the North of Ireland and everything that's needed is ready. It will only take one man, Tony Blair, to make it a reality. He must stand against these tactics and say "Implement the GFA now!"
Kitti Willms
This letter was published in the The Irish News:
Britain Suppresses the Irish Quest for Liberty
Ireland has never been a rich or powerful country and yet since the earliest of times its influence on the world has been rich and powerful.Ireland has never been a rich or powerful country and yet since the earliest of times its influence on the world has been rich and powerful.
The Irish came to our shores in a mixture of hope and agony, and indeed, no people did more to spark and defend the cause of American independence than the Irish. And so it is that our two nations, divided by distance, are forever united in blood and by history.
No people believe more in the cause of Irish freedom than Americans of Irish ancestry, but it is a conquest understood by all whose lives are warmed by the flames of democracy and whose passions are incensed by the prospect of continued interference in Irish affairs.
Much has been said of removing the cause of conflict in the Irish north, but Britain has historically failed to recognise that the true cause of conflict began not long after the first shadows of English men fell on Irish shores.
The Good Friday agreement offered the hope of illuminating the darkness left by centuries its darkest hours, Tony Blair pampered British-allied unionism, and unionists in turn eclipsed devolution of the power-sharing executive ? the very soul of Ireland's peace accord.
More than two million Irish voters ignited the torch of democracy in favour of the Good Friday agreement but not a single vote can keep the flames of the agreement burning, rescind the unionist boycott, or restore basic electoral integrity to their island.
What is this darkness that shadows the Irish and is allowed to extinguish her every hope for equality and peace?
It is Britain's historic refusal to honour Ireland's national struggle for democratic unity. It is a land robbed of the light of liberty. It is the shadows of a homeland divided.
Mark DunnThis letter was published in the Anderstown News:
Despite its much conjectured affiliation with Sinn F�in, the IRA has not thrived these many years for lack of popular support from within the nationalist population of Ireland.
The fact that it was born of a dire need to defend the people from gross acts of British-sponsored injustice defines the IRA as not a problem but a symptom. The overwhelming ratification of the Good Friday Agreement was the inevitable evolution of addressing that problem.
Curiously blind to persistent loyalist violence, David Trimble's unionists continue to thwart progress by demanding guns in exchange for democratically earned seats. Trimble foolishly places all his political eggs in the basket of decommissioning though it's a basket which holds no water.
In falsely depicting themselves innocent victims of 30 years of IRA action, unionist politicians must now find the silence of IRA guns these past two years deafening, if not maddening. Trimble must confront what is evident to Blair and Ahern - militant republicanism has indeed evolved to constitutional politics. Clearly the only legitimate egg is that which will be on Trimble's face should, under international scrutiny, he prove by veto that it is not the guns at issue but the concept of equality.
Maire Kelly,This letter was published in the Anderstown News:
Trimble Truth
Years of blood, tears, and hopes and prayers culminated in the overwhelming ratification of the Good Friday Agreement, yet what do the democracy starved voters of Ireland receive in return? A pathetic scene of an empty chair signalling the simultaneous creation and collapse of the new power-sharing Executive government.
Rather than facing up not only to his word and the mandate of the populace, but to the inevitable future of Ireland, premature Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Orange Order member, First Minister David Trimble, avenges his unilateral albeit futile attempts to rewrite the agreement by refusing to wait a nominal matter of days to test the republican resolve to peace and failing to take his elected seat.
It's evident to the world now that the decommissioning of silent guns was not the contentious issue. Trimble and other like-minded unionists are paralysed by the overwhelming fear of democratically sharing power with Catholics.
To proceed to devolution would lead to the inevitable next step, the implementation of the Agreement's equality agenda. Trimble just couldn't go there. How could one possibly reconcile holding the bigoted and sectarian values of the Orange Order in one hand while democracy in the other? To thine own self be true!
M�ire Kelly
This letter was published in An Phoblacht/Republican News on Thursday 22 July 1999:
Trimble's Fears
A Chara,
Years of blood, tears, hopes and prayers culminated in the overwhelming ratification of the Good Friday Agreement. Yet what do the democracy-starved voters of Ireland receive in return? The pathetic scene of an empty chair signalling the simultaneous creation and collapse of the new power-sharing Executive government.
Rather than facing up to not only his own word, the mandate of the populace but the inevitable future of Ireland, premature Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Orange Order member, First Minister David Trimble, avenges his unilateral albeit futile attempts to rewrite the agreement by refusing to wait a matter of days to test the republican commitment to peace and failing to take his elected seat.
Evident to the world now, the decommissioning of silent guns was not the contentious issue. Trimble and like-minded unionists are paralysed by the overwhelming fear of democratically sharing power with Catholics.
To proceed with devolution would lead to the inevitable next step: the implementation of the Agreement's equality agendas. Trimble just couldn't go there. How could one possibly reconcile holding the bigoted and sectarian values of the Orange Order in one hand while democracy in the other?
To thine own self be true!
Is mise,
M�ire Kelly
Texas
This letter was published in The Irish Post - "The Voice Of The Irish In London":
Pathos of Empty Chair
Years of blood, tears, hopes and prayers culminated in the overwhelming ratification of the Good Friday Agreement, yet what do the democracy-starved voters of Ireland receive in return? Years of blood, tears, hopes and prayers culminated in the overwhelming ratification of the Good Friday Agreement, yet what do the democracy-starved voters of Ireland receive in return?
A pathetic scene of an empty chair signalling the simultaneous creation and collapse of the new power-sharing executive government.
Premature Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Orange Order member, First Minister David Trimble has avenged his unilateral attempts to re-write the agreement by refusing to wait the nominal few days to test the republican resolve to make peace and failing to take his elected seat.
The decommissioning of silent guns was not the issue. Trimble and other like-minded unionists are paralyzed by the fear of sharing power with Catholics. How could one reconcile holding the bigoted and sectarian values of the Orange Order in one hand and democracy in the other? To thine own self be true!
Maire Kelly
Corpus Christi, Texas
These two letters were published in The Irish Voice on July 28, 1999:
Trimble Fails to Respect Majority
The voices of the Irish majority (86%), from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, are again denied due to the failed leadership of David Trimble, who has caused five deadlines to be missed and refused to abide by the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
During this process, in order to appease Trimble's hardline stance, British Prime Minister Tony Blair attempted in good faith to rewrite the provisions of the agreement with fail-safe clauses that would ensure one issue which was claimed to be the main point of contention, decommissioning. This was the excuse that the Ulster Unionist Party decided upon as a standing point for refusal to accept seats in all-party assembly.
Rewriting the agreement caused concerns, because it focused on one political party, Sinn Fein, to assure decommissioning. Timetables were set forth, yet the reality that it was the responsibility of all political parties to use their persuasive abilities with various paramilitary organizations was ignored. The Good Friday Agreement, addressed this particular issue, with the process to complete by May 2000. It remains under the astute leadership of General DeChastelain.
Upon reading the Good Friday Agreement, one will see the words "equality," "mutual respect," and "human rights" virtually in every paragraph. This was a chance for progress, a chance for reconciliation to begin with face-to-face negotiations. The agreement is firmly embedded with words of mutual respect and equality. It is my sincere hope that this process will be salvaged by the British and Irish governments.
Onna Seibold
Fort Worth, Texas
David Trimble and the Protestant Ulster Unionist Party of Northern Ireland should hang their heads in shame. After receiving the Nobel Peace Prize last year, Trimble has dishonored himself, his party, and democracy by scorning the Good Friday Agreement, overwhelmingly approved last year by 86% of voters north and south in Ireland. He has perhaps scorned the voters most of all.
The agreement offers a chance for lasting peace in Ireland through sweeping equality, human rights and policing reform measures to protect the civil rights of all religions and ethnic communities. All parties to the negotiations signed on to it and pledged to ensure its success. Trimble has delayed implementation for 15 months despite numerous concessions. Using the specious argument of decommissioning, Trimble demands exclusion of a legitimate political party elected by the voters. Decommissioning is not a precondition in the agreement. Each party earned the democratic mandate to participate in the new government from the voters. By refusing to nominate ministers to the new government, Trimble has risked collapsing the entire peace process in Northern Ireland.
It has become clear to the international community that the Ulster Unionists prefer the status quo in Northern Ireland to peace, justice and equality for all. Trimble should resign in disgrace and his Nobel Peace Prize should be rescinded. But the peace process must continue. The British and Irish governments must not let the Ulster Unionists destroy representative democracy in Northern Ireland. Both governments have the responsibility to fulfill their pledge to honor all of the equality, justice and human rights, and policing reforms provided for in the Agreement according to the voters' wishes in May 1998.
Suzanne DeBolt
Niceville, Florida
This letter was published in The State newspaper, Columbia, S. C., a Knight-Ridder paper and in the weekly, The Greer Citizen, Greer, S. C. on July 21, 1999:
Dear Editor:
Today, The State carried an article about the failure of the peace process in Northern Ireland. So much of South Carolina was settled by Presbyterians, from what is now Northern Ireland, seeking religious freedom from James II. My ancestors were part of that group. It is a shame that the bright expectations brought by the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) have been dashed on sectarian anger and fear.
David Trimble, Nobel Peace Prize winner, is the cause of the problem. The GFA says that there shall be decommissioning of all arms by both sides, the Loyalists and Nationalist paramilitaries. Mr. Trimble wants to change that and say that the Irish Republican Army must decommission before everybody else before he and his Ulster Unionist Party will participate in the government. Well, so much for the Nobel Peace Prize winner keeping his word in the GFA. This is worrisome. It makes you wonder if the Peace Prize can be taken back.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern have the power under the GFA to dissolve the participation of any group that fails to decommission after the government is formed. They told Mr. Trimble that they would exercise that power if decommissioning did not proceed on schedule. Mr. Trimble had to act to stop the peace process before the government was formed on July 15th.
What a shame. Seventy (70%) percent of the Irish people voted for the GFA.
Prime Ministers Blair and Ahern have been listening to world opinion on this matter. The fight that was going on in the 1700s, 1800s, 1900s and now almost 2000 needs the attention of those who are a part of the worldwide Scots Irish community. We can have an impact by writing Prime Ministers Blair and Ahern.
Sincerely,
William McBrayer Wood
Charlotte, NC 28227-3467
Save the GFA Coalition
The following letter was published in the July 23rd Atlanta Constitution:
The refusal of David Trimble and the Ulster Unionist Party to work in good faith to ensure the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is outrageous ("Northern Ireland deal crumbles," World News, July 16). The goal of Trimble and the UUP is obvious - to hang on to unlimited power at the expense of democracy. In attempting this, they show their scorn for the 86 percent of voters in Ireland who overwhelmingly approved the agreement. But, as was the case with apartheid in South Africa, the will of the people cannot be denied. Sooner or later, Trimble and his kind will have to face that fact as well.
Kenneth W. McCravy
This letter was published in The Irish Echo and the Corpus Christi Caller Times:
Dear Editor:
Despite its much conjectured affiliation with Sinn F�in, the Irish Republican Army has not thrived these many years for lack of popular support from within the Nationist population of Ireland. The fact it was born of a dire need to defend the people from gross acts of British sponsored injustice defines the IRA to be not a problem but a symptom. The overwhelming ratification of the Good Friday Agreement was the inevitable evolution of addressing that same problem.
Curiously blind to persistant loyalist violence, David Trimble's Unionists continue to thwart progress by demanding guns in exchange for democratically earned seats. Trimble foolishly placed all his political eggs into the basket of decommissioning though this basket holds no water. In falsely depicting themselves innocent victims of 30 years of IRA action, Unionist politicians must now find the silence of IRA guns these past 2 years deafening if not maddening. Trimble must confront what is evident to Blair and Ahern - militant republicanism has indeed evolved to constitutional politics. Clearly the only legitimate egg is that which will be on Trimble's face should, under international scrutiny, he prove by veto it is not the guns at issue but the concept of equality.
Maire Kelly
The following letter was published in the Irish Times:
The Governments Must Rescue The Agreement
THE voices of the Irish majority (86 per cent) from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are again denied due to the failed leadership of David Trimble. David Trimble has caused five deadlines to be missed and refused to abide by the terms of the Good Friday agreement, originally set forth for equal power-sharing in goals of necessary change that would lead to equality and justice.
During this process, in order to appease David Trimble's hard-line stance, Prime Minister Tony Blair attempted in good faith to rewrite the provisions of the agreement with fail-safe clauses that would ensure one issue which was claimed to be the main point of contention, decommissioning. This was the excuse that the Ulster Unionist Party decided upon as a standing point for refusal to accept seats in all-party assembly.
Rewriting the agreement caused concerns because it focused on one political party, Sinn Fein, to assure decommissioning. Timetables were set forth, yet the reality that it was the responsibility of all political parties to use their persuasive abilities with various paramilitary organisations, was ignored.
The Good Friday agreement addressed this particular issue, with the process to be complete by May 2000. It remains under the astute leadership of General de Chastelain. Upon reading the agreement one will see the words `equality', `mutual respect' and `human rights' virtually in every paragraph.
This was a chance for progress, a chance for reconciliation to begin with face-to-face negotiations. Nevertheless, the truth of the sad state of affairs in Northern Ireland once again continues to address the denial of rights to certain members of communities and subverts the desires of the majority of people, the agreement, the way forward.
It is firmly embedded with words of mutual respect and equality. It is my sincere hope that this process will be salvaged by the British and Irish Governments.
Onna Seibold, Fort Worth, Texas
Save the Good Friday Agreement Coalition
This letter was published in the Irish News on July 20, 1999:
Years of blood, tears, hopes and prayers culminated in the overwhelming ratification of the Good Friday Agreement yet what do the democracy starved voters of Ireland receive in return? A pathetic scene of an empty chair signalling the simultaneous creation and collapse of the new power-sharing Executive government. Rather than facing up to not only his own word, the mandate of the populace but the inevitable future of Ireland, premature Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Orange Order member, First Minister David Trimble avenges his unilateral albeit futile attempts to re-write the agreement by refusing to wait the nominal matter of days to test the Republican resolve to peace and failing to take his elected seat.
Evident to the world now, the decommissioning of silent guns was not the contentious issue. Trimble and other like minded Unionists, are paralyzed by the overwhelming fear of democratically sharing power with Catholics. To proceed with devolution would lead to the inevitable next step, the implementation of the agreement's equality agendas. Trimble just couldn't go there. How could one possibly reconcile holding the bigoted and sectarian values of the Orange Order in one hand while democracy in the other? To thine own self be true!
M�ire
This letter was published in the Northwest Florida Daily News:
Trimble Trouble
David Trimble and the Protestant Ulster Unionist Party of Northern Ireland should hang their heads in shame. After receiving the Nobel Peace Prize last year, Trimble has dishonored himself, his party and democracy by scorning the Good Friday Agreement, overwhelmingly approved last year by 86 percent of voters north and south in Ireland. The agreement, the result of more than two years of negotiation, offers a chance for lasting peace in Ireland by enacting sweeping equality, human rights and justice reform measures to protect the civil rights of all religions and ethnic communities. All parties, including Trimble's UUP, pledged to ensure its success.
Trimble then proceeded to delay implementation for 15 months, despite repeated concessions and five "absolute" deadlines for implementation by the British government. Trimble demands exclusion of a legitimate Catholic political party elected by the voters. What Trimble demands is not in the agreement; each party earned its democratic mandate to participate in the new government from the voters. The newly devolved government, however, is designed so that all parties must participate for its success. Trimble outrageously exploited that democratic safeguard in a unilateral veto to force the agreement to be rewritten according to his party's demands. It is clear to the international community that the Ulster Unionists prefer the status quo in Northern Ireland to peace, justice and equality for all. David Trimble should resign in disgrace; his Nobel Peace Prize should be rescinded.
But the peace process must continue. The British and Irish governments must not let the Ulster Unionists destroy representative democracy in Northern Ireland.
SUZANNE DeBOLT
Save the Good Friday Agreement Coalition, USA
Niceville, FL
NOTES: This article can be found on page A6 of the printed July 20, 1999 Daily News and can be viewed online at View the Letter Online
Letters Thursday, July 15
The Editor, The Irish News,
113-117 Donegall Street,
Belfast, BT1 2GE
E-Mail The Irish News
Everything is in place to end this unhappy story
In just hours the curtain will rise on what may become the final episode in one of this century�s most dynamic and heart-breaking dramas. In the north of Ireland the stage is set for devolution.The main cast, Tony Blair, Gerry Adams, and David Trimble, are all in place to either repeat the same lines of the past, or depart from script and provide a different ending to this long, unhappy story.
Saved from the death veil last week, the Good Friday agreement was revived by The Way Forward, the British government�s eleventh-hour proposal to devolve power in the north of Ireland beginning today. Nevertheless, the Ulster Unionists are marching to the fife and drum of the Orange Order in the theatrical summer display of power over their Catholic neighbours. This year�s tantrum is incensed by the prospect of sharing a government with King William of Orange�s defeated few and equality is silenced by the unionist mantra of no guns, no government. The historic might of devolution can only be marred now by those whose way forward is a path that leads away from the light of democracy and back into the cold darkness of political exclusion. Against this backdrop, David Trimble of the UUP is silhouetted in the spotlight, where the mythological guns of the IRA remain silent while the steel-blue brutality of loyalist paramilitaries scarcely receives mention.
In a land where a freedom-loving people have spoken, there can be no neutering of a democratic and all-inclusive power-sharing executive. There is only one way forward, and all of Ireland awaits deliverance played out in the climactic last scene of the Good Friday agreement.
Mark Dunn
Bridge City, Texas
This letter was published in USA Today on Thursday, July 15, 1999:
"The Curtain Rises Today"
Dear Editor,
In just hours the curtain will rise on what may become the final episode in one of this century�s most dynamic and heart breaking dramas. In the north of Ireland the stage is set for devolution.
The main cast, Tony Blair, Gerry Adams, and David Trimble, are all in place to either repeat the same lines of the past, or depart from script and provide a different ending to this long, unhappy story.
Saved from the death veil last week, the Good Friday Agreement was revived by -The Way Forward,- the British government's eleventh hour proposal to devolve power in the north of Ireland beginning Thursday, July 15.
Nevertheless, the Ulster Unionists are marching to the fife and drum of the Orange Order in their theatrical summer display of power over their Catholic neighbors. This year+s tantrum is incensed by the prospect of sharing a government with King William of Orange+s defeated few and equality is silenced by the Unionist mantra of -no guns-no government.-
The historic might of devolution can only be marred now by those whose way forward is a path that leads away from the light of democracy and back into the cold darkness of political exclusion. Against this backdrop, David Trimble of the UUP is silhouetted in the spotlight, where the mythological guns of the IRA remain silent while the steel blue brutality of Loyalist paramilitaries scarcely receives mention.
In a land where a freedom loving people have spoken, there can be no neutering of a democratic and all-inclusive power-sharing executive. There is only one way forward Mr. Trimble, and all of Ireland awaits deliverance played out in the climactic last scene of the Good Friday Agreement.
Mark Dunn
Member: Save The Good Friday Agreement Coalition-USA
This letter was published in both the "Corpus Christi Caller" (paper and website) and the "Irish Voice Online" website:
Dear Editor:
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has set an "absolute" deadline of June 30 for Northern Ireland's long-delayed Nationalist-Unionist government to be formed. The sad truth is that this is now the fourth such deadline.
A year ago the politcal parties of British occupied Ireland negotiated and signed the Good Friday Agreement. Itself a compromise to all parties, it called for the formation of a new government representative of the people. Put to the people it was overwhelmingly and democratically approved not only in the south but by seventy-one percent of the voters in the north. But since that time the Unionist party, by way of veto, has refused to go forward and implement the GFA in essence refusing to honor both its own word and the will of the people of Ireland.
Despite the fact that Catholics are attacked on nearly a daily basis the IRA has maintained a two year cease-fire in hopes of this democratic means for peace with justice. The situation in the north of Ireland is now critical. With the will of the Irish people being held hostage by a privileged few, the future of both the peace process and the cease-fire looks grim.
It's time for Irish Americans to demand the agreement be implemented without delay!
M�ire Kelly
"Save the Good Friday Agreement" Coalition
Published in the following: USA Today, The Beaumont Enterprise, The Galveston Daily News, The Dallas Morning News Online, Ireland Today, The Washington Times, Washington, D.C.
Subject: June 30 Deadline Looms For Ireland�s Good Friday Agreement
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
The good news that the Irish people had enthusiastically approved the Good Friday Agreement came to us as history often does-- dramatically unfolding in time until it is sealed in the glory of the hour it is made.
Last year�s peace initiative beckoned our hopes of a new future for Ireland punctuated by the single democratic voice of the Irish people. The menagerie of multi-governmental politics lay shattered behind the bloody veil of decades where heartache and injustice has seldom had it�s day to reckon.
Irish-Americans and freedom loving people everywhere watched in wonder as history marked the hour of Good Friday 1998 when social and political equality was promised the Irish people-- a fragile promise-- and one at the mercy of the British government in the six occupied counties of the north.
As another violent summer looms over Ireland the life of the Good Friday Agreement faces yet another in a series of deadlines, 30 June. Time is crucial. But British Prime Minister Tony Blair is faltering on his governments obligation to implement the agreement through mechanisms provided within the documents he signed-- leaving the promise of every Irish vote left unfulfilled.
As people of a democratic nation we cannot condone the action of men or governments that dwarf the will of a people in their quest for national dignity. Mr. Blair must be urged to support implementation of the Good Friday Agreement now and on behalf of peace. Ireland�s hour has come.
Mark Dunn
Member: Save The Good Friday Agreement Coalition-USA
Bridge City, Tx.
Don't Let Unionists Shatter Peace Dream
A FEW days remain. Upon us now looms Tony Blair's June 30 deadline for implementing the Good Friday Agreement, a compromise by all parties yet one which Ireland's citizens embraced and overwhelmingly ratified.
However, one man and his party, David Trimble and the Ulster Unionists, blatantly choose to shatter what dreams the Irish people hold dear for peace. It would seem the furthering of such causes as democracy, equality, and human rights strikes fear in the hearts of Unionists content with their privileged status quo existence in Northern Ireland. In defiance of the majority vote and in flagrant breech of their word, Unionists manufacture a steady parade of stall tactics.
Obscured by the media though nonetheless real, tensions mount by the hour. Seemingly secure in the IRA's ceasefire, violence by Loyalist paramilitaries escalates at an appalling rate. July's Orange marches can ill afford to be dealt with in the climate of Ireland's current political vacuum. Abandonment of the Good Friday Agreement now courts only certain tragedy.
The democratic world is morally obliged to assist Northern Ireland now more than ever. No further delays! Implement the Good Friday Agreement.
Maire Kelly
Corpus Christi, Texas
The following letter appeared in today's Dallas Morning News in reply to an editorial this week:
Re: Democracy Held Hostage
Three days remain. Upon us now looms Tony Blair's June 30 deadline for implementing the Good Friday Agreement, a compromise by all parties yet one which Ireland's citizens embraced and overwhelmingly ratified. However, one party, the Ulster Unionists, blatantly choose to shatter what dreams the Irish people hold dear for peace. It would seem the furthering of such causes as democracy, equality and human rights strike fear in the hearts of Unionists content with their privileged status quo existence in Northern Ireland. In defiance of the majority vote and in flagrant breech of their word, Unionists manufacture a steady parade of stall tactics. Surely the Irish citizens cannot be allowed to forge their own future!
Obscured by the media though nonetheless real, tensions mount by the hour. Violence by Loyalist paramilitaries escalates at an appalling rate. July's Orange marches can ill afford to be dealt with in the climate of Ireland's current political vacuum. Abandonment of the Good Friday Agreement now courts only certain tragedy.
The democratic world is morally obliged to assist Northern Ireland now more than ever. No further delays! Implement the Good Friday Agreement!
M�ire Kelly
Corpus Christi, Texas
Dallas Morning News - June 29, 1999
Good Friday peace agreement
Re: "Northern Ireland - A fragile peace agreement needs a boost," Editorials, June 23
The implementation of the peace agreement remains on the shoulders of the two governments, British and Irish. The Good Friday Agreement rejectionists are being enabled to stall the progress of what was agreed upon by the majority of voters. It is imperative that this historic opportunity not be wasted. As British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, stated several times, "There is no plan B."
Decommissioning is but one of the many issues that the majority of voters agreed would move their communities toward progress of equality and better opportunities. It should never have been viewed in isolation or as a precondition for equal power-sharing by elected political party representatives in the new Assembly. The Good Friday Agreement encompasses social, cultural, policing, economic and demilitarization issues, among others. The agreement is the voice of the majority which calls for necessary changes. It is the will and design of the people, and remains their duty to work for these changes. U.S. congressional members, President Clinton and other leaders from around the world can only hope that calm reason will prevail and the agreement rejectionists, a minority, will not be allowed to once again subvert the will of the majority.
ONNA SEIBOLD,
Fort Worth, Texas
The Washington Post, Tuesday, July 6, 1999; Page A14
The Unionists' Bad Faith
The Post's "Irish Holdup" editorial [June 21] promoted the British veneer of truth. It has become standard operating procedure to lay the blame for the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) stalemate at the feet of Sinn Fein. The agreement has no preconditions. The obstructionist posturing of First Minister David Trimble and other anti-agreement supporters denies 71 percent of the population of Northern Ireland that voted for this visionary step forward.
The GFA contains agreements on many issues, including decommissioning [disarming], equal rights, living free from sectarian intimidation, an overhaul of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and demilitarization of the British Army presence in Northern Ireland. As none of these original agreements has been implemented, why, then, has decommissioning become a precondition? What if every party that signed the GFA in good faith demanded a precondition?
Nationalists continue to experience violent sectarian harassment from loyalist paramilitary groups, while the IRA has been in cease-fire for almost two years. Revelations continue to surface regarding collusion between British intelligence, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and loyalist paramilitary groups. The constabulary has been implicated in the assassination of civil rights attorney Rosemary Nelson. Yet it still is conducting the investigation despite the call from Amnesty International and the U.N. Human Rights Commission for an international independent inquiry.
The Irish and British governments must take their responsibility by implementing the Good Friday Agreement.
ELIZABETH
Santa Fe, N.M.
Copyright 1999 The Washington Post Company
