BRIDGES OF HOPE MUST BE CROSSED
Bridges of hope must be crossed
Like the brilliant orator he is, President Bill Clinton saved the best for last, delivering possibly the most inspiring address of his long political career last night in the city of Armagh.
His speech on the final engagement of what must have been a gruelling, challenging and at times distressing visit will be remembered by all who heard it for many years to come.
Anyone who believed that Bill Clinton visited the Province out of service to himself should have been in Armagh to hear his impassioned plea for the peace to continue and his inspirational words of encouragement. Only the most cynical observer could have concluded that the message
was anything other than heartfelt and sincere.
In particular, the President's references to Northern Ireland as a shining example for other divided countries to follow struck a chord with
a community which has endured more than its share of heartache over the past 30 years, and has warmed to the prospect of a better way.
Undoubtedly, his earlier visit to Omagh, where he visited the scene of the Bloody Saturday explosion and met relatives of the dead and badly injured survivors, had a profound effect on the President. Perhaps it brought home to him in a very forceful way what all of us already know: that, the fragile hope which has been so painstakingly created is too precious to lose.
It is Tony Blair's opinion that no other President in American history has done more for peace in Northern Ireland. "We owe him," Mr Blair had said earlier in the day at the Waterfront Hall where the atmosphere was subdued and the political tensions of Northern Ireland more evident.
First Minister David Trimble chose to use his opportunity to speak to the world, to engage instead in a very direct way with Sinn Fein on the difficult issue of decommissioning. While he said nothing with which we would disagree, the wisdom of his timing must be questioned.
David Trimble was present as First Minister of all the people of Northern Ireland but this confrontational demeanour was more suited to a UUP rally in the Ulster Hall.
If he had to use the occasion to address Sinn Fein, the proper response from the First Minister should have been to unreservedly recognise the significant steps the republican party has taken in the past week and to assure the people of the Province that he would make it his business to enter discussions with them as quickly as possible to test their sincerity.
That apart, the Presidential visit did provide the shot of adrenaline the peace process needs to keep it on course, despite the horrors of Omagh. As was widely recognised by all the main participants, there are still bridges to be crossed and much hard work to be done.
What was again evident yesterday, as it has been so often in recent years, is the determination of the Ulster people to build a new future. That is where the real hope rests, and Bill Clinton knows it.
Like the brilliant orator he is, President Bill Clinton saved the best for last, delivering possibly the most inspiring address of his long political career last night in the city of Armagh.
His speech on the final engagement of what must have been a gruelling, challenging and at times distressing visit will be remembered by all who heard it for many years to come.
Anyone who believed that Bill Clinton visited the Province out of service to himself should have been in Armagh to hear his impassioned plea for the peace to continue and his inspirational words of encouragement. Only the most cynical observer could have concluded that the message
was anything other than heartfelt and sincere.
In particular, the President's references to Northern Ireland as a shining example for other divided countries to follow struck a chord with
a community which has endured more than its share of heartache over the past 30 years, and has warmed to the prospect of a better way.
Undoubtedly, his earlier visit to Omagh, where he visited the scene of the Bloody Saturday explosion and met relatives of the dead and badly injured survivors, had a profound effect on the President. Perhaps it brought home to him in a very forceful way what all of us already know: that, the fragile hope which has been so painstakingly created is too precious to lose.
It is Tony Blair's opinion that no other President in American history has done more for peace in Northern Ireland. "We owe him," Mr Blair had said earlier in the day at the Waterfront Hall where the atmosphere was subdued and the political tensions of Northern Ireland more evident.
First Minister David Trimble chose to use his opportunity to speak to the world, to engage instead in a very direct way with Sinn Fein on the difficult issue of decommissioning. While he said nothing with which we would disagree, the wisdom of his timing must be questioned.
David Trimble was present as First Minister of all the people of Northern Ireland but this confrontational demeanour was more suited to a UUP rally in the Ulster Hall.
If he had to use the occasion to address Sinn Fein, the proper response from the First Minister should have been to unreservedly recognise the significant steps the republican party has taken in the past week and to assure the people of the Province that he would make it his business to enter discussions with them as quickly as possible to test their sincerity.
That apart, the Presidential visit did provide the shot of adrenaline the peace process needs to keep it on course, despite the horrors of Omagh. As was widely recognised by all the main participants, there are still bridges to be crossed and much hard work to be done.
What was again evident yesterday, as it has been so often in recent years, is the determination of the Ulster people to build a new future. That is where the real hope rests, and Bill Clinton knows it.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/266
Published Date: 04-Sep-98
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