WEAPONS DO NOT KILL PEOPLE - IT'S PEOPLE WHO KILL PEOPLE
Weapons do not kill people - it's people who kill people
by Lawrence Rushe
AUGUST 15, a date which will be etched in the memory of all the people of Omagh, man, woman and child. At no time have we got a parallel - no scar, no war, no ramparts, no song or pain of memory, can equal this horror, this desecration of human life of God's creations. He made these mortals in his image.
Did the innocent taken so brutally on that fateful day believe in the false promises of the Good Friday agreement? No-one but the evil and perverted could have chosen 31 of the most innocent, kindly, serene persons, my beloved Libby being one. Good people who have said to me in all innocence that they missed it, God love them, but 31 people just made it. Great men and older women in their prime, and the younger ready to step into a fuller life, children enjoying their innocence, people of all religions, people of different nationalities.
Then the unimaginable horror.
My mind tells me that I want the wake to finish but the memory not to be forgotten - man's inhumanity to man, what political agenda? How dare the perpetrators represent a nationalist viewpoint, how dare they call themselves human beings; how impertinent of them to think and - I speak for myself - even contemplate that an Ireland built on the foundations of babies and built of the lonely hearts of innocent men and women - do they really think that this would be acceptable to God, never mind the people? How then could this ever enter nationhood?
Only a country that cares for the old and sick, nurtures and educates its young, feeds its hungry and advocates the pursuit of happiness can elevate itself into nationhood.
Unfortunately we are a long way off this ideal, and whatever the situation - regional, provincial or national - a fair and just peace must prevail. Democracy is about embracing a view dissident and opposed to our own and by argument and debate coming to a just and lasting agreement; and the use of arms taking out or left in. commissioned or decommissioned, is immaterial, as guns, which in actual fact have killed fewer people than bombs. Weapons do not kill people; people kill people. The problem in handling guns smells of surrender; that is what has to be taken out of the discussion, although the Protestant paramilitary with a small 'p' does not fight for Britain, but for queen and country, as does the British army. Handing in of the arms does not have the same significance.
The IRA opposes Britain and its occupation of Northern Ireland. Therefore the handing over of one weapon constitutes surrender. That is why no mention of numbers is considered - one will do. Anything else is immaterial. So could we consider another approach? Simple as it may seem is it possible that a ceremonial handover of weapons - one nominal rifle will do, of equal velocity and calibre - these weapons to be handed over publicly and simultaneously as an act of faith and mutual trust and agreement, in a face-saving ceremony while peace talks continue, while peace is achieved. If talks are successful then both parties agree to dump inspections. The only stipulation is that before any of this would happen the bodies of the missing be returned to the distraught and bereaved without conditions; the hostage of these poor injured and deceased bodies be given a Christian burial like all God's children are entitled to. Even the most noble savage gives time to collect and bury the dead - it is the one courtesy allowed, the most human right with final dignity and decency. The request is by the mothers whom I have had the privilege to meet in my own home.
We require no retribution, no revenge, they leave that to the Almighty. Vengeance will be mine, it is what He promises. For human sake give these mothers and women their sons, the deceased peace and final resting place where they get a deserved homage.
In Omagh we have not finished and at this point I must admire and gratefully thank all those people who have given me such love and support. To say I am grateful is an understatement, time to speak to me regardless of the busy day in hand, no matter what they are doing or where they are, they don't know that little hug or secret squeeze of the hand helps. The men with a wink and a nod say it all. Thanks to the people here and abroad who wrote our mandate and support, 250,000 of them, 70,000 in this area.
It is when I see the children that my mind goes back to the hospital we must save. This is their rightful inheritance. I accept that improvements have to be made as I am a realist, but no matter how many casualties there are, or how few babies are born in maternity, the new method is the time-schedule birth wards. The method is not to ease the mothers' discomfort or to save lives. It would be interesting to know the statistics of live/dead births.
It is not the service that counts, bait the quality of care and consideration, not to induce births or unnecessary caesarean or live abortions, which if done without permission is illegal. You can get a solicitor to see your baby is born and not forced before its time, and hospitals to allow fathers to see their baby, grandmother and grandfather to coo over their grandchildren, and the young and not so young to visit their sick and lonely frightened children. The question is why did they move our services 40/60 miles away?
Love and reassurance is 90 per cent of the healing process. Difficult births and complications and the death of mother and child. This is not histrionics. This is fact. Every parent knows that delay in treating even a cut can cause serious blood loss and infections. Childbirth is perfectly natural. Delay, travelling and hospitalisation in serious cases can be detrimental.
In actual fact you can insist that your baby is born anywhere, including your local hospital. It is your civil right. Talk to your doctor and he will be glad to help you.
It is said that we are allowing our hospital with all its fine work, and it is a fine hospital and fine staff, and the heroic work by the staff during the tragedy. They could not help my poor lovely wife but had they been able to they would have done anything to give her back to me. It is not out of grief that I support my hospital but out of thanks for those that they did save. This may be a selfish thought, but could we have saved more if we had the upgraded hospital that Omagh, no, Tyrone, the second largest county, a hospital for 230 years, and officially 100 years on March this year. How many people were invited to that? After all we own it, paid for by our grandparents, parents and ourselves. Or were they embarrassed at how they have given away courtesy of our elected representatives other than McLaughlin, Gormley and Pat McDonald. The Omagh council has colluded in this debacle of the removal of maternity and paediatrics. We will see that they are returned, and that when in the future you vote, look at the candidate and not the party, but after thirty years of mayhem the politicians have been unaccountable. Maybe they will get a change of heart after the forthcoming elections.
Lawrence Rushe lost his wife Libby in the Omagh bomb on August 15 last year.
by Lawrence Rushe
AUGUST 15, a date which will be etched in the memory of all the people of Omagh, man, woman and child. At no time have we got a parallel - no scar, no war, no ramparts, no song or pain of memory, can equal this horror, this desecration of human life of God's creations. He made these mortals in his image.
Did the innocent taken so brutally on that fateful day believe in the false promises of the Good Friday agreement? No-one but the evil and perverted could have chosen 31 of the most innocent, kindly, serene persons, my beloved Libby being one. Good people who have said to me in all innocence that they missed it, God love them, but 31 people just made it. Great men and older women in their prime, and the younger ready to step into a fuller life, children enjoying their innocence, people of all religions, people of different nationalities.
Then the unimaginable horror.
My mind tells me that I want the wake to finish but the memory not to be forgotten - man's inhumanity to man, what political agenda? How dare the perpetrators represent a nationalist viewpoint, how dare they call themselves human beings; how impertinent of them to think and - I speak for myself - even contemplate that an Ireland built on the foundations of babies and built of the lonely hearts of innocent men and women - do they really think that this would be acceptable to God, never mind the people? How then could this ever enter nationhood?
Only a country that cares for the old and sick, nurtures and educates its young, feeds its hungry and advocates the pursuit of happiness can elevate itself into nationhood.
Unfortunately we are a long way off this ideal, and whatever the situation - regional, provincial or national - a fair and just peace must prevail. Democracy is about embracing a view dissident and opposed to our own and by argument and debate coming to a just and lasting agreement; and the use of arms taking out or left in. commissioned or decommissioned, is immaterial, as guns, which in actual fact have killed fewer people than bombs. Weapons do not kill people; people kill people. The problem in handling guns smells of surrender; that is what has to be taken out of the discussion, although the Protestant paramilitary with a small 'p' does not fight for Britain, but for queen and country, as does the British army. Handing in of the arms does not have the same significance.
The IRA opposes Britain and its occupation of Northern Ireland. Therefore the handing over of one weapon constitutes surrender. That is why no mention of numbers is considered - one will do. Anything else is immaterial. So could we consider another approach? Simple as it may seem is it possible that a ceremonial handover of weapons - one nominal rifle will do, of equal velocity and calibre - these weapons to be handed over publicly and simultaneously as an act of faith and mutual trust and agreement, in a face-saving ceremony while peace talks continue, while peace is achieved. If talks are successful then both parties agree to dump inspections. The only stipulation is that before any of this would happen the bodies of the missing be returned to the distraught and bereaved without conditions; the hostage of these poor injured and deceased bodies be given a Christian burial like all God's children are entitled to. Even the most noble savage gives time to collect and bury the dead - it is the one courtesy allowed, the most human right with final dignity and decency. The request is by the mothers whom I have had the privilege to meet in my own home.
We require no retribution, no revenge, they leave that to the Almighty. Vengeance will be mine, it is what He promises. For human sake give these mothers and women their sons, the deceased peace and final resting place where they get a deserved homage.
In Omagh we have not finished and at this point I must admire and gratefully thank all those people who have given me such love and support. To say I am grateful is an understatement, time to speak to me regardless of the busy day in hand, no matter what they are doing or where they are, they don't know that little hug or secret squeeze of the hand helps. The men with a wink and a nod say it all. Thanks to the people here and abroad who wrote our mandate and support, 250,000 of them, 70,000 in this area.
It is when I see the children that my mind goes back to the hospital we must save. This is their rightful inheritance. I accept that improvements have to be made as I am a realist, but no matter how many casualties there are, or how few babies are born in maternity, the new method is the time-schedule birth wards. The method is not to ease the mothers' discomfort or to save lives. It would be interesting to know the statistics of live/dead births.
It is not the service that counts, bait the quality of care and consideration, not to induce births or unnecessary caesarean or live abortions, which if done without permission is illegal. You can get a solicitor to see your baby is born and not forced before its time, and hospitals to allow fathers to see their baby, grandmother and grandfather to coo over their grandchildren, and the young and not so young to visit their sick and lonely frightened children. The question is why did they move our services 40/60 miles away?
Love and reassurance is 90 per cent of the healing process. Difficult births and complications and the death of mother and child. This is not histrionics. This is fact. Every parent knows that delay in treating even a cut can cause serious blood loss and infections. Childbirth is perfectly natural. Delay, travelling and hospitalisation in serious cases can be detrimental.
In actual fact you can insist that your baby is born anywhere, including your local hospital. It is your civil right. Talk to your doctor and he will be glad to help you.
It is said that we are allowing our hospital with all its fine work, and it is a fine hospital and fine staff, and the heroic work by the staff during the tragedy. They could not help my poor lovely wife but had they been able to they would have done anything to give her back to me. It is not out of grief that I support my hospital but out of thanks for those that they did save. This may be a selfish thought, but could we have saved more if we had the upgraded hospital that Omagh, no, Tyrone, the second largest county, a hospital for 230 years, and officially 100 years on March this year. How many people were invited to that? After all we own it, paid for by our grandparents, parents and ourselves. Or were they embarrassed at how they have given away courtesy of our elected representatives other than McLaughlin, Gormley and Pat McDonald. The Omagh council has colluded in this debacle of the removal of maternity and paediatrics. We will see that they are returned, and that when in the future you vote, look at the candidate and not the party, but after thirty years of mayhem the politicians have been unaccountable. Maybe they will get a change of heart after the forthcoming elections.
Lawrence Rushe lost his wife Libby in the Omagh bomb on August 15 last year.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0285
Published Date: 23-Jul-99
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