Sinn Féin bashing is always in season
Many people, mostly supporters of the main political parties, as well as journalists and writers, are judgmental and arrogant when it comes to discussing Sinn Féin. For whatever reason, they feel threatened by the rise of the party.
They speak about and write about Sinn Féin representatives as if they were unfit for political life. They accuse Sinn Féin of being engaged in violence and benefiting from criminal activity but never produce any evidence. They will say that everybody knows that Sinn Féin and the IRA is the same thing. They refer to Martin McGuinness' admission to being in the IRA more than 30 years ago. They do not accept that he has moved on as did Nelson Mandela.
This approach is anti-democracy. It refuses to accept the most relevant fact, that the people have voted and chosen Sinn Féin members to speak on their behalf. The IRA did not stand in any elections in the 6 counties or in the 26 counties. I would urge Sinn Féin-bashers to take the blinkers off and let us have an open and honest political dialogue based on facts, not on gossip.
Fr Joe McVeigh,
Ederney,
Co Fermanagh.
