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I
would like to pen a few words in relation to the Autumn
2003 edition of the ‘Other View’. Firstly
though I would like to state that I have found the
magazine itself not only informative and educational
but I believe that it is increasingly required given
the fact that there are limited avenues in which such
debate and discussion can take place. For oneself
born into West Belfast in the early seventies and
a member of the minority ethnic community, this particular
issue therefore was of added interest to me. Saying
that, the Other View’s policy statement is something
that I not only agree with but also would actively
embrace and therefore continue to look forward to
the magazine's future editions, with its willingness
to take on at times those difficult issues that have
long divided us.
It
was great to see in the last issue how the issue of
race and racism was covered by a variety of persons
addressing a range of issues. As a founding member
of the recently established Anti Racist Network, which
is supported by all the main minority ethnic organisations
and support groups amongst others, these are articles
that can be circulated and welcomed amongst that network.
Siobhan
O’Donoghue's article concentrating on the issues
of exploitation and social exclusion of migrant workers
was a particularly important issue to highlight. Billy
Mitchell’s article was one of great interest
to myself as are many of Billy’s writings on
a number of issues. His articles help many like myself
to attempt to understand working class Loyalism and
Unionism within their own terms, rather than hold
in many cases a perception due to growing up on the
other side of the wall. Billy draws religious, historical
and present day points to cut through the issue of
racism to show how racism and racial attacks are both
no friend of Ulster Protestants or political Unionists.
Mary Ward also provides an interesting article on
the issue of racism in Scotland, which is both informative
and educational. Her understanding that it is the
present system in which we live which is the root
cause of the problem is an understanding which I would
hold and have written much about.
Also
in that issue of the Other View it was welcome to
see both Tommy Cheever’s article on the Apprentice
Boys and Eoin O’ Broin’s article on segregation,
important issues that needed raised. With again other
articles dealing with both local and international
concerns making the magazine a worthy read. The Other
View I have seen has in part opened up an avenue were
through debate and discussion that it can afford one
a space from which to attempt an understanding of
each other, no matter if it is on race, religion,
political belief or whatever. It is therefore an avenue
that is much needed and very much required.
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