When the British government partitioned our country in 1921 they overruled the rights of the Irish people to independence as expressed overwhelmingly in both the 1918 and 1921 general elections. The state that they created for the unionists was so abnormal, dysfunctional and undemocratic that campaigns to bring it to an end were not confined to Irish republicans. There was international outrage and protest. But the unionists had numbers and the British had military power and all attempts to unite our country were bullied into submission.

When we started the Civil Rights campaign in 1968 there were some who argued that the human rights abuses practiced by the unionists against Catholics were the bedrock upon which this apartheid state depended upon for its very existence. And our demands for reforms were answered by a communal war, which was incited by Christian clergy and prosecuted by the British government.

Who would disagree that the partition of our country and the continued involvement of the British government in our affairs is as much a disaster for our nation now as it was in 1922?

We are in crisis today because political unionism is inherently supremacist and is underpinned by a diabolical hatred of Catholics. It cannot survive in an environment of equality and the rest of us will settle for nothing less. Indeed peace itself plunges them into crisis.

But the denial of our national rights is as much a crime today as it ever was. And the British have no more right to occupy our country today than they ever had. And unionists have no more right to veto our rights today than they ever had.

It is time to resurrect the spirit of those selfless men and women who gave their lives for Ireland’s freedom. We must elevate the ending of partition to the highest level of our political agenda.

What better time to start and what a fitting tribute that would be to those great patriots of 1916.

JACK DUFFIN

Belfast BT11

Political parties should be measured on what they deliver

The quote “you can’t fool all of the people all of the time” springs to mind as I watch Sinn Féin wriggle and manoeuvre before the next round of electioneering.

It was disturbing to read recently about the $500 a plate US fundraiser, where SF were happy to rewrite history to rich capitalists, claiming to be the sole architects of the GFA and having singular ownership of the peace process. In their pursuit of funds for “the party” they have no compunction in exploiting the tragedy of so many innocents, many of whom actually suffered and died at the hands of their compatriots.

How ironic and perverse, that while vehemently opposed to and actively undermining the Suningdale agreement, some 2,500 tragic deaths later SF signed up to the GFA, (arguably a less favourable agreement). In the intervening years since and as they sought respectability they gradually stripped the SDLP of their policies, stealing their political clothes. Remember the derogatory terms used by SF to denigrate them? Well It is apparent now that the SDLP political position has been entirely vindicated and thankfully they have remained constant in their pursuit of a solution which embraces both traditions and can unite Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter. Integrity, trust, equality and economic success are the pillars for persuasion on which to build a future for all our children. Sadly however these values are not evident in the ranks of SF.

After considerable years in government why is it that moderate working-class unionists still do not trust SF’s sincerity? Why is it that the vast majority of the business world do not regard them as having economic credibility? Why are nationalist areas still the most socially deprived areas, with the highest levels of child poverty, unemployment, inadequate housing and out of control anti-social behaviour. Why does the shadow of the gunman still hang heavy over their apparatchik?

It could be suggested that SF are happy to maintain this status because they thrive on the exploitation of societal deprivation and sectarianism. Like the DUP, they feed off, extremisms in both nationalist and unionist communities. So please, no more rhetoric, with pledges and red lines that quietly disappear when expedient. Political parties should be measured not only on what they say but rather on what they deliver.

SF/DUP have certainly delivered a society much more polarised and divided than ever before.

OLIVIA O'KANE

Killyleagh, Co Down

Keep it in the family approach

The promotion of a special adviser within the inner circle of Peter Robinson to junior minister indicates a keep it in the family approach from the DUP hierarchy. While Mrs Pengelly may be unblemished with an inexperienced profile for the position in which she has been thrust – unelected by her peers – there is little doubt the choice of her to succeed an outgoing MLA has caused considerable dissension in the ranks of the faithful. Non more so than the affable Ruth Patterson whose eloquence invigorates and beguiles with each public appearance. Her latest labelling of the selection as ‘wrong, wrong, wrong’ displayed the indignance of a spurned woman.

As poor Ruth retreats – ‘hell hath no fury’ – to lick and caress her wounds perhaps she should consider her former colleague Jenny Palmer whose refusal to put party principle above her own and conceal the truth – an endemic process within the DUP – witnessed her, outrageously, being tagged as delusional despite evidence to the contrary. She should also realise that no one is an island, regardless of how many years of loyal service.

There is a suggestion, however, that Mrs Patterson’s hard-line, often bigoted approach, does not fit the bill and that a younger approach is a better fit for purpose – someone whose unquestionable loyalty is guaranteed.

KEVIN McCANN

Belfast BT1

Integrated schooling is route to better society

While our political leaders are congratulating themselves on producing their ‘Fresh Start’ document, they should stop to think of what they should have started years ago.

The 1998 Agreement urged encouraging integrated education and mixed housing.

Years later we are still a divided, sectarian and racist society. Proposals for shared schools will just mean children spending occasional time together and emphasise their differences.

Only integrated schools enable children of every background to learn and play together on a daily basis as the norm.

Lagan College has been the most over-subscribed school in Northern Ireland. There were 423 first preference applications for 200 places.

Many integrated primary schools are over-subscribed. There is a demand from parents for integrated education but the minister delays progress. Allowing under-subscribed controlled and maintained schools to transform to integrated status makes economic sense as well as being the best route towards a better society for us all.

MARGARET MARSHALL

Belfast BT8

Principled Irishmen

I was just thinking that maybe Sinn Féin should invite the Irish footballer James McClean to join the party, then they could at last say that they had a man of principle in their ranks. A man who sticks to those principles no matter what.

Speaking of principled Irishmen, I would like to commend Stiff Little Fingers for going ahead with their Paris gig. It took a lot of courage, a courage that was sadly lacking in U2 and several others. It just goes to show what many people already knew, that Bono is all talk and no action.

S CASKEY

Belfast BT5