Letter: Ireland remains a homeland divided

Tuesday, Aug. 10, 1999 | 9:15 a.m.

Much has been said of removing the cause of conflict in the Irish north, but Britain has historically failed to recognize that the true cause of conflict began not long after the first shadows of Englishmen fell on Irish shores.

The Good Friday Agreement offered the hope of illuminating the darkness left by centuries of British occupation, but even in its darkest hours, Tony Blair pampered British-allied-Unionism, and Unionist, in turn eclipsed devolution of the power-sharing executive -- the very soul of Ireland's peace accord.

More than 2 million Irish voters ignited the torch of democracy in favor of the Good Friday Agreement, but not a single vote can keep the flames of the agreement burning, rescind the Unionist boycott, or restore basic electoral integrity to their island.

What is this darkness that shadows the Irish and is allowed to extinguish her every hope for equality and peace? It is Britain's historic refusal to honor Ireland's national struggle for democratic unity. It is a land robbed of the light of liberty. It is the shadows of a homeland divided.

MARK DUNN

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