Letter to the Editor, Irish Times, October 27 2005
October 27th, 2005The full text of a letter which I submitted to the Editor of the Irish Times, in response to criticism of proposals for a new commemoration of the 1916 rising. This letter was print in the Octob 27th, 2005 edition of the paper.
Madam,
I see many calling in to question what the Taoiseach means by attempting to invoke “The Spirit of 1916″, and doubting the timing of this announcement.
“The Spirit of 1916″ is most succinctly summed up by quoting directly from the Proclamation itself, and what it’s authors sought to establish as the basis of the Irish Republic:
“The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and all of its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences of carefully fostered by an alien government , which have divided a minority from the majority in the past”These ideals have not been achieved. By focussing on the real intentions, and the real message, of the 1916 rising, we can bring the people of our Island together in this spirit of a collective destiny.
It is only by setting aside the actions, words and intentions of those who have destroyed the reputation of Irish Republicanism, both at home and abroad, that we can become an Island where people can work, live and peacefully exist together.
Some may question the nationhood or statehood of the Irish Republic, but nobody can deny that we live on a divided island; our small land-mass is divided North and South, East and West. Our people are divided, and our cultures are divided. The 1916 Rising sought to “cherish all the children of the Island equally”, and its activists came from all walks of life. It is only by returning to the original spirit of 1916 that we can move our Island forward.
The futures of all the people on our Island are intrinsically linked. A strong economy in Belfast is as important as a strong economy in Cork. We have now moved to a time where the gun has been removed from national politics. The time has come to move to the next step; bringing communities together in everyone’s best interest.
By reclaiming 1916 from those who sought to use its legacy as motivation for indiscriminate sectarian violence, the people of Ireland can once again share a sense of pride in the intentions of those who sought to free our people almost 90 years ago.
Fianna Fail is a Republican party, cast in the image and intentions of those who wrote the Proclamation of Poblacht na hEireann. Our Republicanism is one which seeks to bring together all those Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter, and seeks to set aside differences which have been fostered across our island. This is a very different Republicanism to that espoused by other sources, and is a Republicanism which is supported by a great many people in every corner of this Island.
There is no shame in Constitutional Republicanism, and there is no shame in commemorating those who set in motion the train of events which have led to the great success of the Republic of Ireland. The time has come to return to the original message of equality and self-determination.
Yours etc,
Cllr Damien Blake (FF)
Letterkenny, Co Donegal