A chara, - Given the shameful way in which John Bruton underpinned the British government's irresponsible handling of the peace process, I find it hard to believe he has the cheek to lecture Sinn Fein as he did in The Irish Times (August 8th).
Despite events as recently as July 6th John Bruton has never, when, as many people see it, he supports Unionist intransigence, addressed the reality of what the unionist philosophy advocates, namely inequality, dominance, and the use of savage violence to protect its hegemony in the sixcounty state which was born of the threat of violence without any consent from the majority of the Irish people.
Apartheid was a reality in South Africa, but surely John Bruton would not therefore have advocated it must be respected. Apartheid's inequality had to be challenged by a different vision. Within the Irish context Irish republicans have put forward a new version of the unity of the people of this island based on equality and respect.
John Bruton should reflect long and hard on the words of David Trimble at his party's last national conference, to find who needs a change of mind-set. Mr Trimble said: "There is no compromise between unionism and nationalism, and even if there were it would not be welcome." - Is mise,
Enda Bermingham,
Drimnagh, Dublin Anti-Fasist Action, Dublin 7.