Unionists no longer want a negative approach

TO say that the Northern unionist must feel a sense of abandonment would be an understatement.

Ian Paisley insists that the Belfast Agreement must be renegotiated after the Assembly elections, but unionist difficulties are worthy of a much more sane approach than this.

They deserve positive leadership, not outworn ideology. Unionists respect plain speaking. They do not fear hard truths. What they do fear, however, is when things are being said behind their backs and policies are not clear and open.

What is needed now is a way for them to break out of their constricting bonds and to embrace a common approach with nationalists and to share not as outsiders but as fellow Irishmen and women, their traditions and cultural values.

It has been said that such a situation would create a strange new complex, a loss of identity for unionists.

I, for one, do not go along with the scenario. I believe there is a growing impatience among unionists who are not content with a negative defence of the status quo.

Michael J Stokes,

2 Willington Green,

Templeogue,

Dublin 6.