Nationalists coming to terms with unionism

CLLR Kieran McCarthy (Letters, May16) accuses me of having a ‘them and us’ attitude towards unionists.

He is absolutely correct. The difference is that I and a small but growing number of nationalists see ‘them’ as neighbours and friends while, like most nationalists, he sees them as enemies or, at best, mere obstacles to a united Ireland.

Sinn Féin likes to shout about ‘equality and ‘parity of esteem’, but seems to forget that this cuts both ways.

We nationalists have an absolute right to self-determination, including the right to take up arms to defend that right, but since 1912 we have steadfastly refused to accept that the unionist people have exactly the same right.

Cllr McCarthy states that “no one has a veto against the majority of Irish people deciding to opt for unity”.

This is nonsense. I’m certain he would agree that on the island of Britain, the Scottish people have an absolute right to determine their own future regardless of the wishes of a majority of the British people.

But Cllr McCarthy, and indeed most nationalists, would, illogically, deny the same right to unionists on this island. I acknowledge that, in recent times, we nationalists have made some progress in understanding the unionist position, but we still have a fair bit to go.

Dick Keane

35 Silchester Park

Glenageary

Co Dublin