WE ALL SHARE THE BLAME
We all share the blame
DEAR EDITOR,
Hope was lost here in Omagh at ten past three on the 15th of August and what we have in its place is a community in tatters, beaten, lost and traumatised to insanity. The future is unbelievably bleak. The despair palpable. Each day the ripples grow larger and larger as the true extent of the work of our terrorists becomes more apparent.
When killers like this stalk our streets, what hope is there for our children? Look at the innocents in the picture of our newspapers, our society is meant to protect them, to cherish them, love them. Take note what we adults have done to our children, cut off their beautiful carefree lives in mid-stream, slaughtered, maimed. Are we no better a society now than Nazi Germany in the 1940's? Have we not learnt anything in 30 years of violence?
People speak of this tragedy as being the final turning point. How often have we heard this reiterated, Enniskillen, Warrington and now Omagh, not to speak of the countless other bombs too numerous to mention here, less than 28 days ago it was chanted again, when we adults butchered three more children with a fire bomb.
Make no mistake, we as adults and conscious thinking individuals are to blame for the mess that our little town is in today. We as adults with our individual bigotries ensured that the killing of our children progressed in the usual way. The blood that was spilt on the streets of Omagh was all red.
As I put my children to bed tonight I am grateful beyond belief that they have emerged unscathed, but what a bitter legacy they have to inherit. Do not blame the politicians, do not blame the terrorists, do not blame the governments but blame ourselves, for each one of us is responsible for what happened to us. Militant activists only exist because they are supported by the community. Governments only continue because of the individual's right to vote, whether it is exercised or not. Religious bigotry thrives only on ignorance and hypocrisy. Is it not time now for the voice of the people to be heard. Is it not time for us thinking adults to stand up and be counted. We must shout: Enough! Banish the hatred, bigotry and racism from our lives.
I, as an adult, will have to face this singular fact that it is my will that could destroy children's lives, but that it is also my will that could offer them a secure future.
MARELLA FYFFE. 9a Waterworks Road, Omagh, Co. Tyrone BT79 7JS.
DEAR EDITOR,
Hope was lost here in Omagh at ten past three on the 15th of August and what we have in its place is a community in tatters, beaten, lost and traumatised to insanity. The future is unbelievably bleak. The despair palpable. Each day the ripples grow larger and larger as the true extent of the work of our terrorists becomes more apparent.
When killers like this stalk our streets, what hope is there for our children? Look at the innocents in the picture of our newspapers, our society is meant to protect them, to cherish them, love them. Take note what we adults have done to our children, cut off their beautiful carefree lives in mid-stream, slaughtered, maimed. Are we no better a society now than Nazi Germany in the 1940's? Have we not learnt anything in 30 years of violence?
People speak of this tragedy as being the final turning point. How often have we heard this reiterated, Enniskillen, Warrington and now Omagh, not to speak of the countless other bombs too numerous to mention here, less than 28 days ago it was chanted again, when we adults butchered three more children with a fire bomb.
Make no mistake, we as adults and conscious thinking individuals are to blame for the mess that our little town is in today. We as adults with our individual bigotries ensured that the killing of our children progressed in the usual way. The blood that was spilt on the streets of Omagh was all red.
As I put my children to bed tonight I am grateful beyond belief that they have emerged unscathed, but what a bitter legacy they have to inherit. Do not blame the politicians, do not blame the terrorists, do not blame the governments but blame ourselves, for each one of us is responsible for what happened to us. Militant activists only exist because they are supported by the community. Governments only continue because of the individual's right to vote, whether it is exercised or not. Religious bigotry thrives only on ignorance and hypocrisy. Is it not time now for the voice of the people to be heard. Is it not time for us thinking adults to stand up and be counted. We must shout: Enough! Banish the hatred, bigotry and racism from our lives.
I, as an adult, will have to face this singular fact that it is my will that could destroy children's lives, but that it is also my will that could offer them a secure future.
MARELLA FYFFE. 9a Waterworks Road, Omagh, Co. Tyrone BT79 7JS.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0353
Published Date: 03-Sep-98
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