TERRY DONNELLY,
Sir, - Words from a Yeats poem have been running through my mind since September 11th: "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world". After reading Niall O'Dowd's article of December 19th, the following lines ring unnervingly true: "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity".
Most of the letters on your page both for and against America's foreign policies since September 11th are letters of condolence as well as opinion, and Mr O'Dowd would do well to reflect on that. "Be with us or against us" is disturbingly simplistic.
We are with, I hope, the innocent people who have died everywhere this year - not with those who visit violence upon the earth, who buy and sell weapons of mass destruction, who manipulate the earth and its people for unequal gain, who do not build and recognise protocols that try to make men everywhere more accountable for their actions.
The Bush administration regrettably fares badly against many yardsticks of international duty. Are we to be branded Osama bin Laden's henchmen for attempting to direct our most powerful ally in a worldly and compassionate spirit?
Many Irish people know violence and terror well enough to see that it is a bad thing in any of its many forms. Unlike our sometimes cowardly leaders, I hope we cherish neutrality and are keen to protect it. A neutral eye is perhaps the most powerful tool of justice on a global scale, essential to getting to the roots of conflicts when two sides are deadlocked. It takes great courage to remain neutral, and much will to overlook violence for a greater peace.
Many families and victims of the troubles in the North refrained from violence in the hope that a more constructive way forward could be found. Moreover, there also was the compassionate and neutral role of America in our peace process that has perhaps broke the deadlock of centuries of hate. To see the world in stark terms of black and white is fundamentalist and rightly draws comparison to Nazism.
As our soldiers returned from the Lebanon we can be proud that they have served peace, not war. This is what neutrality should mean; it does those soldiers a disservice to say the Irish are apathetic or hypocritical. Perhaps again it is our nation's history that makes war a grim prospect. I am always disturbed to find people enthusiastic about violence.
The war in Afghanistan was in some ways necessary - a country has a right to defend itself against evil. But America's war in no way necessitated our relinquishing of neutrality. Nor do we have to support the war in all its facets to remain a friend of the US. To suggest this is absurd. The only one-sided republics in the world are dictatorships.- Is mise,
TERRY DONNELLY,
Roseberry,
Newbridge,
Co Kildare.
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Sir, - In responding to Niall O'Dowd's comments, the NGO Peace Alliance had very clear objectives:
1. To challenge the notion that questioning the conduct of the "war on terrorism" constitutes "anti-Americanism".
2. To state clearly that we will not be intimidated into silence by the brandishing of the "anti-American" stick.
3. To identify ourselves publicly as just one of the many organisations and individuals who were anonymously the subject of Mr O'Dowd's criticism. In his intemperate response to our letter of December 27th, Stephen Rea (January 2nd) contributed little to the debate but continued shaking the "anti-American" stick at us. Like Mr O'Dowd, Mr Rea launched a broad assault on our position but carefully avoided making any specific charges.
What are the specific issues that lead to the charge that the NGO Peace Alliance and our "ilk" are "anti-American"?
On a more positive note, Mr Rea asked "who or what" is the NGO Peace Alliance? Briefly, the alliance was established immediately after the attacks on the US and represents 41 development, solidarity, campaigning, religious and social organisations throughout Ireland. We will be happy to provide our policy statements and full list of affiliated organisations on request, but essentially our aim is to promote peaceful resolution of conflict, adherence to the Charter of the United Nations and observance of international law.
Mr Rea is welcome to discuss the issues with us at our weekly peace vigil outside the Department of Foreign Affairs each Tuesday between 5.30 and 6.30 p m. - Yours, etc.,
DECLAN McKENNA,
NGO Peace Alliance,
134 Phibsboro Road,
Dublin 7.
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Sir, - Niall O'Dowd (Opinion, December 19th) seemed to suggest that everyone in Ireland would go to hell (and to the very worst part, too) if we did not support the US more enthusiastically in its current war.
Is it possible that God is an American? - Yours, etc.,
M.M. IRELAND,
Priory Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.