Sir, The Irish Times is, or was, an all Ireland institution. On the one hand, you serve the differing traditions and cultures of this island on the other, you represent the new Ireland pluralist, liberal, outward looking, etc.
Or do you? What does your Northern readership, in particular the unionist readership, make of the outpourings in your columns and letter pages following Drumcree?
Do they detect this new Ireland young, inclusive European and internationally oriented, welcoming of all opinions and creeds? Or do they see the old nationalist desire for hegemony suppurating once again?
And if they listen to rationalism and its protests in favour of a "united Ireland" including Protestants, Dissenters, etc, etc, do they, on reading your pages, feel welcome to it? Are they being wooed with charm, endearments, gifts or are they being threatened with rape, followed by a divide between servitude or murder?
Might one suggest that all nationalists who put pen to paper, first ponder on the consistency between their intended words and the official line of welcome to the Northern majority? Yours, etc., Strand Road, Killiney, Co Dublin,