LINDY DID NOT SPEAK FOR ME
Lindy did not speak for me
THERE is a line to be drawn, sometimes a fine one, between deep emotion and hysteria.
Lindy McDowell sometimes comes close to that line in Dear Mr Blair, a powerfully emotive response to Tony Blair's article on how he was feeling in the aftermath of Omagh, in which response Lindy takes it upon herself to tell him how we are feeling.
I do not share her feelings in regard to Mr Blair's handling of our situation in the course of which during little more than a year in office he has shown more energy, imagination and skill than any of his predecessors, if not all of them put together.
One outcome of his leadership, with the work of others, is that Agreement which is supported by the vast majority of our people, most of our political parties, and all the paramilitaries apart from that "rump of dissidents" which he and we must now tackle.
It is the very existence of the Agreement and its broadly-based democracy which has marginalised the dissidents. I would argue that it is this, rather than high visibility security measures, which will eventually defeat terrorism.
There is no absolute security against a bomb. When Lindy asks why such measures weren't taken years ago she forgets that sterner measures were taken but failed, partly because of their nature but primarily due to the lack of that democratic goodwill we now have.
Security will be achieved if our people stand by the Agreement, refuse succour to the terrorist, and assist the normal workings of the law.
We are now better placed to establish these democratic conditions. We must keep our heads and not be turned aside by emotional responses or the failed old ways of the past.
PACIFICUS, Loughbrickland.
THERE is a line to be drawn, sometimes a fine one, between deep emotion and hysteria.
Lindy McDowell sometimes comes close to that line in Dear Mr Blair, a powerfully emotive response to Tony Blair's article on how he was feeling in the aftermath of Omagh, in which response Lindy takes it upon herself to tell him how we are feeling.
I do not share her feelings in regard to Mr Blair's handling of our situation in the course of which during little more than a year in office he has shown more energy, imagination and skill than any of his predecessors, if not all of them put together.
One outcome of his leadership, with the work of others, is that Agreement which is supported by the vast majority of our people, most of our political parties, and all the paramilitaries apart from that "rump of dissidents" which he and we must now tackle.
It is the very existence of the Agreement and its broadly-based democracy which has marginalised the dissidents. I would argue that it is this, rather than high visibility security measures, which will eventually defeat terrorism.
There is no absolute security against a bomb. When Lindy asks why such measures weren't taken years ago she forgets that sterner measures were taken but failed, partly because of their nature but primarily due to the lack of that democratic goodwill we now have.
Security will be achieved if our people stand by the Agreement, refuse succour to the terrorist, and assist the normal workings of the law.
We are now better placed to establish these democratic conditions. We must keep our heads and not be turned aside by emotional responses or the failed old ways of the past.
PACIFICUS, Loughbrickland.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0289
Published Date: 29-Aug-98
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