Two letters to two PMs

The Belfast Telegraph has something of a double act from Malachi O’Doherty and Steven King.

Though sectarianism in the context of Northern Ireland is often associated in the public mind with Unionism, O’Doherty suggests Ahern view it in other terms:

…sectarianism, the inclination to favour one side, and the failure to detach from the quarrel enough to see what bugs the other. Nationalist sectarianism expresses itself as a feeling that Gerry and the lads are a grand bunch underneath it all who meant no harm. Sell what you can to the Unionists. Don’t try to sell them that.

While King appeals to Blair to draw a parallel between decommissioning of the IRA and his government’s hard line over disarmament and Iraq, noting also that:

Neither the British state nor the Irish state is neutral when it comes to Arab terror. Many quiet people applaud British and American efforts – with Irish co-operation – to disarm the tyrant of Baghdad.

Mick Fealty

Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty