Building
an identity on a shared past.
From IRISH NEWS July 24th, 2000
Murals reflecting our shared life do exist. There is one on the Shankill
that carries a motto in Irish that, from memory reads, "lamh dhearg na hUladh"
(red hand of Ulster). Last week Joseph McWilliams recalled a mural in the
nationalist New Lodge area, which read, "Henry Joy McCracken, our Protestant
hero".
Yes, we do have much in common. Many unionists are however concerned that
there is a plot afoot to remove all symbols of Britishness from Northern
Ireland. Much of this stems from a leaked report from the Dublin department
of foreign affairs some time ago. That stupid report has never been satisfactorily
explained and continues to provide ammunition to opponents of the Good Friday
agreement.
On the nationalist side there are also those who cannot see the new possibilities
within the agreement, and who see it only as a means of diluting the purity
of republican ideals. The reality however is that we live together or we
die together. I believe we are crossing the Rubicon and are unlikely ever
to go back.
Even if we did go back, we would find ourselves again at the same point,
having wasted more lives and created more victims in the process. We would
then have to make another agreement because we still have to live together.
Why not for once seek to fashion a flag expressing a shared heritage with
which all can identify? |
