Thursday, July 14, 2005
Thursday Thoughts:Ambassador
I feel the Irish government should establish an ambassador for southern Unionists.
Last weekend, for the 12th of July celebrations, hundreds of unionists gathered at the President’s official residence, Áras An Uachtaráin, for a friendly reception to mark the historic occasion of the Battle of the Boyne.
"This reception and the planned re-development of the site of the Battle of the Boyne are, I believe, positive signs of the spirit of inclusion and tolerance that characterise today’s confident, successful Ireland,” the President said at the seventh annual party to celebrate the occasion.
Well if we are trying to be inclusive and tolerant towards Unionists, we should establish a position for an ambassador who will reflect unionism on the southern part of this island.
Such an ambassador could work to highlight the benefits that Britishness brought to Ireland and could work to highlight the disgraceful treatment that southern Unionists suffered in the early years of the Irish Free State.
The fact is, if we truly want a United Ireland, we need to make moves like this to reach out to our unionist brothers and sisters in the North and show that a United Ireland could be inclusive and tolerant towards their beliefs.
The President went on to say: "It is to the goodness in all of us that we look with hope and confidence for a future where the unique heritage of each has a respected place in an island of good neighbours and good friends."
Nice words. But we need more than words, we need action. It is time we estabished an ambassador for southern Unionists.
Last weekend, for the 12th of July celebrations, hundreds of unionists gathered at the President’s official residence, Áras An Uachtaráin, for a friendly reception to mark the historic occasion of the Battle of the Boyne.
"This reception and the planned re-development of the site of the Battle of the Boyne are, I believe, positive signs of the spirit of inclusion and tolerance that characterise today’s confident, successful Ireland,” the President said at the seventh annual party to celebrate the occasion.
Well if we are trying to be inclusive and tolerant towards Unionists, we should establish a position for an ambassador who will reflect unionism on the southern part of this island.
Such an ambassador could work to highlight the benefits that Britishness brought to Ireland and could work to highlight the disgraceful treatment that southern Unionists suffered in the early years of the Irish Free State.
The fact is, if we truly want a United Ireland, we need to make moves like this to reach out to our unionist brothers and sisters in the North and show that a United Ireland could be inclusive and tolerant towards their beliefs.
The President went on to say: "It is to the goodness in all of us that we look with hope and confidence for a future where the unique heritage of each has a respected place in an island of good neighbours and good friends."
Nice words. But we need more than words, we need action. It is time we estabished an ambassador for southern Unionists.
# posted by United Irelander @ 8:02 PM 
© 2008 United Irelander.
