Letters

Disappointed Republican

This will in no way achieve the goal of Irish Republicanism, which is a united 32 county republic. If you ask Sinn Fein representatives how supporting the PSNI will achieve a united Ireland?, don’t bet on getting a straight answer.

However, what this will achieve is furthering the British process of normalization in the six counties. Ian Paisley himself pointed out how Sinn Fein are losing the fundamentals of Republicanism when he said, “If you had told me 20 years ago that they (Republicans) would be repudiating the very fundamentals of Sinn Fein/IRA, I would have laughed, but that is what they have done.”

What this move says is that now we accept that Britain has a right to make the laws in Ireland, and that now we should support them and assist them. Rubbish! This move deserts what Irish Republicanism is about.

I am not calling for the IRA to return to arms, but I am calling for a unified and strengthened Republican movement that does not compromise their principles, or submit to the foreign occupiers and oppressors of our country.

Conor Lohan

Boston, Massachusetts

Giuliani Has Class

LETTER writer PJ Harvey, in issue dated January 31-February 6, excoriated Rudolph Giuliani for his prosecution of Joe Doherty, lack of leadership as mayor especially after September 11, and feared if he was elected president the office would lack class and dignity. He also mentioned Bill Clinton as one of his most admired people.

Class and dignity and Bill Clinton? Perfect together? I doubt if Giuliani would have much trouble in outclassing Bill in the presidency.

If in doubt, ask Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broaddrick and, finally, teenage intern Monica Lewinsky. They all experienced the class and dignity of Clinton up close and personal.

As the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Giuliani took an oath of office to uphold the law. It was the FBI who arrested Joe Doherty which left Giuliani no option but to prosecute.

I think it would best serve everyone if Mr. Harvey directed his energies to discovering the Irish informer who betrayed Joe to the FBI instead of indulging in personal partisan attacks on the best mayor New York City ever had.

For Mr. Harvey to appeal to the compassion we all had for Joe in order to advance his own personal hatred of Giuliani dishonors the class and dignity that Joe Doherty showed during his ordeal. In fact it is despicable on Mr. Harvey’s part.

As mayor, Giuliani broke the Mafia grip at the South Seaport fish market, instituted new policing methods resulting in New York City regaining the top spot as safest big city in the world, closed the sex sleaze peep show business which allowed Times Square to regain its class and dignity, chased a half a million welfare cheats off the rolls and maintained fiscal sanity.

Result? New York City is now the tourist Mecca of the world.

Giuliani’s personal touch of comforting, rallying and encouraging the people of New York City after September 11 is world famous. He is mobbed everywhere he goes around the globe. Obviously, Mr. Harvey missed that.

All I can say to Mr. Harvey is, it is easy to spot a partisan hate-filled ideologue.

John Rogers

Voorhees, New Jersey

Contribute to McGeough

GERRY McGeough has declared he will be standing on the independent ticket for election in the Northern Ireland Assembly election in 2007 against Sinn Fein in the Fermanagh/South Tyrone constituency.

Gerry is a staunch senior figure in northern Republicanism and an ardent Nationalists from Tyrone. Gerry stands for a united Ireland and doesn’t understand how Sinn Fein can justify asking Nationalists to put on the crown forces uniform and ask the people of Tyrone to inform on one another?

Gerry is in complete favor of the peace process, but feels Sinn Fein has boxed themselves into a corner now and no matter what way Sinn Fein dresses it up, it boils down to the fact they are now administering British rule in Ireland.

Anyone wishing to contribute to Gerry’s campaign fund please contact Helen McClafferty at 201-372-0333 for details.

Helen McClafferty

Nutley, New Jersey

Correcting History

I AM a long-time subscriber and enjoy the Irish Voice every week. I was, however, disappointed with some sloppy reporting in last week’s issue in the “Page 2” piece “Murphy’s a Ray of Sunshine.”

The piece stated that Murphy’s upcoming film, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, “...tells the story of one Irish family’s struggle against the infamous British Black and Tans during the Irish Civil War of 1919.”

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the Black and Tans were not involved in the Irish Civil War. The conflict was fought between anti-treaty and pro-treaty Irish, hence the term “civil war.” As Liam Deasey wrote, it was Ireland’s tragic war, “brother against brother.”

A glaring error (especially for an Irish newspaper) that I’m sure would cause both Michael Collins and Dev to cancel their subscriptions if they were alive today. I won’t be canceling my subscription, but you may need to add an Irish historian to your writing staff.

Peter Carey

Locust, New Jersey

Libby Laughs

I HAD to laugh when I read about the approach being used by lawyers representing I. Lewis Libby in his perjury trial. In order to rebut testimony by Matthew Cooper, formerly of Time magazine, and Judith Miller, formerly of The New York Times, that Mr. Libby had, in fact, discussed CIA employee Valerie Plame Wilson with them, the defense brought forward six other reporters who swore that Libby had not divulged the name to them.

It reminded me of the old Irish joke where the prosecutor tells the defendant, “I can produce three witnesses that will place you at the scene of the crime,” and the defendant replies, “I can produce half a dozen that can’t.” Brilliant!

James Mullin

Moorestown, New Jersey

Good Candidates

NO matter what candidate you support in the 2008 presidential election, it seems a sure bet that Ireland will receive a lot more attention than it did under President George W. Bush, who was too busy devising ways to occupy other countries in order to care about little, unimportant places like Ireland.

Senator Hillary Clinton’s record is second to none on Irish issues. Senator John McCain has also shown himself adept and in tune with our concerns. I have a feeling Barack Obama will be the same.

Rudy Giuliani, if he runs, will likely be a strong friend, though he has much to answer for with regards to his handling of Joe Doherty. Mitt Romney is an unknown, but I can’t see him getting the GOP nomination.

It’s important that Irish Americans make their voices heard in a coherent way in 2008, so that all the candidates know that we matter. I hope some already established national group – say, the Irish National Caucus – takes the lead in establishing an Irish group focused on the outcome of the elections.

I personally hope for a Hillary win. She is astute, intelligent and an inspiration for all women, all around the world. She will do us proud in the White House.

Catherine Wilson

Baltimore, Maryland