BARBARIC ACTS MUST NOT KILL OUR HOPE
Barbaric acts must not kill our hope
IS this what 'real' Irish republicanism means? Coldblooded murder of Protestant, Catholic and dissenter?
Can the killing of the innocent represent republicanism or nationalism in any rational form?
All murders are heinous, but the unspeakable outrage perpetrated on Saturday at Omagh, in any context, but especially in the context of the Good Friday agreement, represents a particularly brutal, inhuman and irrational act.
It seems that the perpetrators are either blinded by bitterness, out of their minds, or vicious calculating people who enjoy the feelings of power which may accompany the mass slaughter and destruction of human life.
Perhaps like some 'super-Prods', the 'superprovos' find the prospect of inclusive politics based upon practical, democratic assumptions, and mutual respect and tolerance, an unnerving prospect?
Perhaps they are addicted to violence and the power that goes with it? On the other hand many appear to have such an overriding need for enemies, that they simply cannot stomach peacemaking.
Enemies are essential for such people, they provide useful targets to take their internal frustrations out on - anger, hellish hatred and resentment. But why should Protestants. Catholics and dissenters of Omagh be ruthlessly targeted and butchered?
It is hard to make sense out of such carnage. Was the bombing a 'mistake', not really meant to kill? But it is unreasonable to think that destroying buildings in the streets of Omagh and other towns and terrorising people with massive bombs can take place without risk to human life.
We must assume that the dastardly act was designed to undermine the Good Friday agreement. 'Superprovos' might think that the more outrageous their crimes against humanity, the more likely anti-agreement unionists will react as stupidly as the dissident so-called 'real' republicans have.
Undoubtedly there are some such unionists around, but they would be completely devoid of sense if they were to respond in kind to such barbarity.
The bombing should be seen for the futile act that it is. It represents the dying embers of a violent creed which offers nothing but further suffering, death and destruction.
The authorities, north and south, must leave no stone unturned in the search to apprehend the culprits and ensure that they face the full rigours of the law.
There will be those who understandably see such bombings as an indication that prisoners should not be released. Already anti-agreement unionists are colluding with anti-agreement republicans in seeking to damn the Good Friday hopes. The agreement is said to be flawed. The peace process is said to be an appeasement process. However nothing realistic or hopeful is being offered in its place.
The bombers probably expected that demands will follow from predictable political quarters, that the provisions of the agreement are not implemented. It seems that the greater the culpability of certain politicians, in opposing the peace process, the greater their hypocritical demands that parts of the agreement are shelved.
Saturday's atrocity should in contrast, focus all our minds upon the realities of the situation. There is only one reasonable way forward, and that involves unionists and nationalists moving forward together.
This involves creating conditions which end coercion and domination, for good. It means proceeding by mutual consent. Given the difficulties experienced in reaching the agreement the prospects of moving forward other than by that agreement are virtually non-existent.
IS this what 'real' Irish republicanism means? Coldblooded murder of Protestant, Catholic and dissenter?
Can the killing of the innocent represent republicanism or nationalism in any rational form?
All murders are heinous, but the unspeakable outrage perpetrated on Saturday at Omagh, in any context, but especially in the context of the Good Friday agreement, represents a particularly brutal, inhuman and irrational act.
It seems that the perpetrators are either blinded by bitterness, out of their minds, or vicious calculating people who enjoy the feelings of power which may accompany the mass slaughter and destruction of human life.
Perhaps like some 'super-Prods', the 'superprovos' find the prospect of inclusive politics based upon practical, democratic assumptions, and mutual respect and tolerance, an unnerving prospect?
Perhaps they are addicted to violence and the power that goes with it? On the other hand many appear to have such an overriding need for enemies, that they simply cannot stomach peacemaking.
Enemies are essential for such people, they provide useful targets to take their internal frustrations out on - anger, hellish hatred and resentment. But why should Protestants. Catholics and dissenters of Omagh be ruthlessly targeted and butchered?
It is hard to make sense out of such carnage. Was the bombing a 'mistake', not really meant to kill? But it is unreasonable to think that destroying buildings in the streets of Omagh and other towns and terrorising people with massive bombs can take place without risk to human life.
We must assume that the dastardly act was designed to undermine the Good Friday agreement. 'Superprovos' might think that the more outrageous their crimes against humanity, the more likely anti-agreement unionists will react as stupidly as the dissident so-called 'real' republicans have.
Undoubtedly there are some such unionists around, but they would be completely devoid of sense if they were to respond in kind to such barbarity.
The bombing should be seen for the futile act that it is. It represents the dying embers of a violent creed which offers nothing but further suffering, death and destruction.
The authorities, north and south, must leave no stone unturned in the search to apprehend the culprits and ensure that they face the full rigours of the law.
There will be those who understandably see such bombings as an indication that prisoners should not be released. Already anti-agreement unionists are colluding with anti-agreement republicans in seeking to damn the Good Friday hopes. The agreement is said to be flawed. The peace process is said to be an appeasement process. However nothing realistic or hopeful is being offered in its place.
The bombers probably expected that demands will follow from predictable political quarters, that the provisions of the agreement are not implemented. It seems that the greater the culpability of certain politicians, in opposing the peace process, the greater their hypocritical demands that parts of the agreement are shelved.
Saturday's atrocity should in contrast, focus all our minds upon the realities of the situation. There is only one reasonable way forward, and that involves unionists and nationalists moving forward together.
This involves creating conditions which end coercion and domination, for good. It means proceeding by mutual consent. Given the difficulties experienced in reaching the agreement the prospects of moving forward other than by that agreement are virtually non-existent.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0025
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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