I saw the following comment this evening and felt it was essential I reply:
"I feel gutted that the Queen met McGuiness (sic). tThe Queen suffered lost in the troubles. We are similar small [from] islands ,we are similar peoples, we share similar threats."
My reply:
A couple of points.
HMQ has Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Leader of NI, previously, so why should he have not met him again as a minister for state of Northern Ireland?
Secondly, I can only refer you to today's historic speeches for an answer on why we are now shaking hands where as once we shook only our fists.
So, the remark that 'we share similar threats', it seems to me, strikes a mean note at this time. It also speaks to a habit of looking back when now is the time for looking forward.
Both sides of the conflict have their stories to tell, their wounds to lick; I don't doubt it, but we look now on a conflict that is finally over, and convincingly so, as we can see in the peace that has for the better part endured, and surely the clearest sign of this visit's mutuality has to be the visit of the Irish President and his wife to the memorial to Louis Mountbatten.
My father had the opportunity to speak to the Prince of Wales in person and express the shame that the vast majority of Irish people felt for that gruesome day in Sligo. Charles was deeply touched but he spoke instead of how a well of bitterness he had once known had long since been replenished by the waters of friendship that flow constantly between these two islands.
Long may that current of compatibility run strong and clear.
"I feel gutted that the Queen met McGuiness (sic). tThe Queen suffered lost in the troubles. We are similar small [from] islands ,we are similar peoples, we share similar threats."
My reply:
A couple of points.
HMQ has Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Leader of NI, previously, so why should he have not met him again as a minister for state of Northern Ireland?
Secondly, I can only refer you to today's historic speeches for an answer on why we are now shaking hands where as once we shook only our fists.
So, the remark that 'we share similar threats', it seems to me, strikes a mean note at this time. It also speaks to a habit of looking back when now is the time for looking forward.
Both sides of the conflict have their stories to tell, their wounds to lick; I don't doubt it, but we look now on a conflict that is finally over, and convincingly so, as we can see in the peace that has for the better part endured, and surely the clearest sign of this visit's mutuality has to be the visit of the Irish President and his wife to the memorial to Louis Mountbatten.
My father had the opportunity to speak to the Prince of Wales in person and express the shame that the vast majority of Irish people felt for that gruesome day in Sligo. Charles was deeply touched but he spoke instead of how a well of bitterness he had once known had long since been replenished by the waters of friendship that flow constantly between these two islands.
Long may that current of compatibility run strong and clear.
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