The Other World of Northern Ireland
Sometimes when I read of the affairs of Northern Ireland it really is difficult to comprehend that we are upon the same island, indeed that we live within the same decade. The Belfast Telegraph leads with the story of Iris Robinson M.L.A., M.P. and wife of Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, stating she has no regrets for her description of homosexuality as an “abomination.” Whilst comments of this nature are commonplace from many individuals of a fundamentalist religious perspective it is rather saddening when a member of the political establishment so openly advocates a view lacking in any basic tolerance and propagating pseudo-science that somehow homosexuality may be “treated” through psychiatric counselling.
Northern Ireland has undoubtedly progressed considerably in recent years, the fact Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party are able to maintain at least cordial relations and continue the legislative process at the Stormont Assembly is evidence of this. However the taint of a sectarian past remains with religious fervour intermingled in the political process in a manner which would be viewed as unacceptable in most Western democracies. Peter Robinson’s predecessor, Ian Paisley, who for so long was the strongman of Unionist defiance, was himself the Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church (for an overview of their less than charming viewpoint have a browse through their website for the Cork branch of the church.) Such forthright and generally intolerant religious values would seem incompatible with being a politician for most citizens here in the Republic.
This is of course not to suggest that our nation has been without its leaders who cling to religious dogma, former Taoiseach John A. Costello was greatly influenced by the views and values of the Roman Catholic Church, many Ministers acted with great caution throughout our history on imposing any decision which may unduly affect the Church, particularly in the areas of health and education, and even in modern times, our last Taoiseach Bertie Ahern attacked what he saw as “aggressive secularism” within the State. Perhaps a decade of normality in Northern Ireland shall see more moderate viewpoints emerge, with time hopefully it shall evolve beyond the need to even consider the Catholic/Protestant background of each politician and how this affects their arguments, until that time though we must accept that at least a healthy debate, through dialogue and not violence, of such issues can occur in Northern Ireland.
Tags: Northern Ireland
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