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[Kilsally]

Independence requires a united belief

MUCH as I admire the contents of the letter with regard to an independent Ulster in the News Letter (Aristotle, News Letter October 30), I am afraid the writer's view,
while justifiable in logic and sincerity, cannot but be a pipe dream.

Scottish and Welsh independence is only a symbolic token of independence in the true sense of the word; both are still tied to the British system of government, taxes etc and will undoubtedly remain so for long and many a year.

However, the difference between them and Ulster is that the people of both Scotland and Wales live and operate as one national identity; herein lies the problem. For the people of Ulster are rigid in their divisive beliefs, one seeing a free independent island of unity under the banner of the tricolour, the other under the banner of the Union Jack.

Bridging a gap like that is like building a bridge across the Atlantic Ocean; possible but highly improbable.

A united belief of the people for an independent Ulster requires a united belief of every citizen in Ulster for independence. With respect I say to Aristotle I share your dreams but not your hopes.

Harry Stephenson,
Kircubbin,
Co Down




Independence option never evaluated

I would take pleasure in answering Sharon Fry's letter in your paper on October 23 (Independent Ulster would not solve any problems).

Consideration of the option of independence for Ulster has never been fully evaluated; it is usually greeted with scepticism, especially with regard to the economic viability of a six-county sovereign state.
Much play has been made in the media over the years in an attempt to convince the Ulster people that they are entirely dependent upon the good offices of the benevolent Westminster, that they are living near the breadline and only the charitable acts of their "political masters" in London keeps them from destitution.
In the propaganda barrage, all kinds of estimates have been bandied about as to the extent of the subventions so willingly doled out by the kindly and long-suffering British taxpayer. This is the crying of colonialism and is part of the apparatus by which colonial subjects are convinced that they actually benefit from their own exploitation.
A former British Prime Minister even went as far in referring to the Ulster people as "spongers".
The "spongers" concept ignores the fact that it never was the intention of the British Government to allow Ulster to be an independent or separate economic and fiscal unit.
To blame it for not being what Westminster
never allowed it to be is misguided. It was created as a separate administration unit with a subordinate regional parliament (puppet government) to manage its affairs within limits allowed by the British government.
It is of no avail for London politicians to try to clothe Westminster's political vice with the garment of fiscal virtue. Loyalty is not to be confused with paid servitude.
Years of subservience on the part of Ulster people have had the effect of clouding the vision of emancipation and blurring awareness of fundamental constitutional rights.
Let us get off our knees, stand on our own feet and stop running around with the begging bowl mentality. This is not the road we should be travelling. Ulster people are a proud and independent race, the country of their birth is not recognised as the land in which they should have pride.

Aristotle,
Ulster Republican,
Finaghy,
Belfast




Independent Ulster would not solve any problems

I AM writing to express my approval of some elements of William Frazer's latest letter (Monday, October 15) and my disagreement with other elements. The element I disagree with is when Mr Frazer says that an Independent Ulster is the final road which Northern Ireland must take.

As a Unionist I believe that our place within the United Kingdom is now unassailable. We have enshrined the principle of consent and cannot be dislodged from the UK without the support of the majority of Northern Ireland's population.
An Independent Ulster would not solve any of the problems that we had in the past – instead of being a divided part of the UK we would be a divided independent country with no bloc grant from Westminster to sustain our public services. How could that possibly work?
The part I agree with in Mr Frazer's letter is when he says that many Unionist eyes have been taken off the real enemy, which is Sinn Fein. Despite the fact that Sinn Fein may be in government at Stormont, that does not
mean that their vision of a United Ireland has been in any way made a legitimate one.
Both unionist parties obviously oppose a United Ireland and will continue to do so. In fact, the main stumbling block on the road to any United Ireland will be strong devolved institutions at Stormont, which unionists control and have influence over.
I am old enough to remember the old Stormont Parliament – why do readers think the nationalists agitated to have it removed? So that they could have decisions imposed over our heads and against our wishes. That cannot happen now.
What is also clear from recent election results is that we need to work together to further strengthen our place inside the UK and to bolster our hand in the devolved institutions.
We should not perpetuate further divisions and splits which only help the enemies of the Union. Let us work together.

Sharon Fry
(address supplied)




Eyes must be kept on enemy

IT is unfortunate that many Unionists' eyes have been taken off the real enemy which is republicanism. Perhaps some of those who support sharing power with them no longer have the stomach for the fight. But we, as victims, will continue to counter and challenge Sinn Fein/IRA no matter where they are.

In response to Alan Thomas, he questions the anti-agreement camp, monitoring myself in particular in terms of not being a Unionist.

As far as my view goes on the future of Northern Ireland, what I would like to see is Northern Ireland fully integrated with the rest of Great Britain.

Thereby doing away once and for all with the question of a United Ireland, but unfortunately I don't believe that that is going to happen.

Devolution I don't have a problem with, but with democrats not terrorists. I am also a realist and I can see that someday Ulster will have to stand on its own which is what most Unionist politicians have said over the last number of years, some day it would be the road that we would have to take. Independence would be the final solution and that includes the leader of the DUP.

When Mr Thomas talks about being a Unionist, from my father to my brothers and sisters alone 135 years' service has been given to the Crown.
When it comes to sacrifice: from World War One to the present day, my family have made a lot of sacrifices to remain British.
Perhaps Mr Thomas and his family have made the same sacrifices.

If he has then it gives him the right to talk of my loyalty to the Crown. And yes I am still proud to say I am anti-agreement against terrorists in power and, like a lot of brave men and women in Britain who served their country my family did not don the uniform and lose life and limb so that one day Martin McGuinness would be Deputy First Minister.

William Frazer
British but an Ulsterman first