FOR THE SAKE OF SIMPLE FOLK

In these days of economic prosperity and hitherto unknown personal liberty, the expression and practice of political ideals and indeed of the political game have fallen into misuse. In the Republic of Ireland this has given rise to a faction of middle class bourgeois who style themselves as right wing liberals. This has lead to the marginalisation of working class communities in virtually every town and city. The effort and time given to the reduction of the number of those unemployed from 300,000 to 224,000 are to be commended by all. However, governments have consistently ignored 6% of the Irish labour force who have become known as the long-term unemployed. It is within these communities that there is the greatest political apathy. A question often asked is why Ireland does not have a strong left wing given the high number low paid and unemployed? The simple answer is that these people have become so disaffected with continual favouring of the upper class that they simply do not bother to vote.

Despite the critical issue of redressing the growing social imbalance in society, there is another vital issue approaching us with a frightening lack of sound and fury. This issue, my dear friends, is the potential resolution of the conflict in Northern Ireland. At present the major political parties in the region are engaged in a process that aims to instigate constitutional measures that will stabilise the region and negate the need for political violence. Unfortunately they are lacking the ability to agree on the form of these changes.

We can however assume any agreement will require a change in articles 2 and 3 of Bunreacht na hÉireann. In my opinion there is a frightening lack of debate on the matter. We appear to blindly accept the need for changes without proposing to replace it with something more reflective of our revised nationality. Do we want North-South bodies? What will be their nature? Do we want a stronger connection with the United Kingdom (the fabled East-West dimension)? We can either talk of a new Ireland with empty revisionist rhetoric or through public debate we can come to a firm conception of what type of relationship we want with our friends in the North.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the dynamics of these changes we must engage in an intense debate with each other. In other areas of national importance this has already taken place (for example I give you the European question). So too must we as individuals educate ourselves as to the wishes and prejudices of others, so that we may then meld them with our own hopes and aspirations and thus come to a reasonable solution.

The key to dismantling a situation such as Northern Ireland is to dismantle entrenched attitudes. By engaging in a debate you open your mind to other peoples beliefs and hence emerge with a broader understanding of the problem. From this solutions may emerge and peace may prevail.

Keith Maye