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Eamon Sweeney (3rd September)
I am having second thoughts about my endorsement for
Dr. John Coulter. It was reasonable for
him to point out that Ms. Martina Anderson would have
an uphill battle to reach out to Unionists. On
the surface appointing an ambassador to Unionism seems
somewhat naive but it is a step in the right direction.
Perhaps it is an appointment that is ahead of its
time. My objection is to the mocking tone he adopts
which can only be offensive.
I
also regret that he accepted
the statement by Sheikh Dr. Satardien that "
an ocean of extremism" was spreading among Muslims
throughout Ireland. He asks Bertie Ahern whether he
wants to be bombed by "Koran-thumping-Islamic
radicals" or "Northern Bible-thumping Prod
fundamentalists." His language is extreme. Many
Western countries, like Australia, are going to face
the risk that a small number of Muslim extremists
will seek to punish us for following President Bush's
misguided war on terrorism. While welcoming a moderate
Muslim's condemnation of extremists we can cooperate
with them in ensuring that Muslims are not alienated
the way Catholics were in Northern Ireland.
It
seems most unlikely that the Irish people will rush
to embrace the Commonwealth or ask Queen Elizabeth
to become their sovereign. On the other hand I would
like to hear Dr. Coulter explore in some depth his
view about how Unionists might react to joint management
when, as seems likely, Dr. Paisley will give a stentorian
No! to power sharing. What form of joint management
would trigger the reaction Dr. Coulter predicts?
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