Senator John Kerry Op-Ed
It’s an overused and oft-quoted phrase that those who fail to study the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them.
But sometimes there are exceptions even to this axiom when people have worked painstakingly to overcome the most painful of history and decided together to leave something in the past in the interests of exploring a better, more peaceful future.
In South Africa, Nelson Mandela spoke poignantly of the responsibility he felt to put the past behind him in order to focus on the future of his country.
In Northern Ireland, as well, leaders have done the hard work of trying to leave some of the past buried so as not to distract or destroy an effort to build a different future for all who want peace and opportunity.
History must not be a weapon against those trying to seize the opportunity of today to build a more promising tomorrow.
John Kerry (D) is the senior senator from Massachusetts and the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee
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Senator Kerry's op ed in Boston Globe
ReplyDeleteIrish future shouldn’t get lost in violent past
Above comment refers to the Boston Herald rather than the Boston Globe.
ReplyDeleteJust heard Ed Maloney on Radio Ulster...Seems 'confidently optimistic' is the impression he got today..Hope I'm not tempting fate..
ReplyDeleteFrankie,
ReplyDeletethanks for that. I missed hearing that with Ed. I have not spoken with him yet but my wife rang about 20 minutes ago and was very pleased with the way our lawyer went for it. So here's hoping.
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ReplyDeleteUS judges adjourn to consider ruling on Troubles tapes
On the plus side at least the judges did not adjourn and return in 15 minutes. That might be hint for cautious optimism.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck
A Surprisingly Good Day For Moloney & McIntyre In The First Circuit
ReplyDeleteI would be on your side on this if you were not an opponent of the peace process.
ReplyDeleteI find it strange that you are claiming that the release of these interviews could jeopardise peace in the north. What about your, and other republicans opposition to the peace process. I think you'll find that's a destabilising factor too.
Ted
Ted,
ReplyDeletethat sort of sounds like blackmail. You won't support the case regardless of the merits you seem to believe it to have unless we adopt your political position.
It is a perfectly legitimate and democratic position not to support the peace process.It would be vastly different if we supported some form of armed activity against the peace process. That would be wrong. But myself and others were calling for an end to armed activity when many of those shouting 'peace process' were directing armed activity.
The peace process for long enough was a curious hybrid which shielded the fact that the process was used to undermine the peace.
If the peace process is democratic then it must allow dissent from itself. I have long supported the peace but not the process.
Don't make the mistake of coralling all republicans who do not support the peace process into a body that opposes the peace. That would be a baseless supposition.
Senator John Kerry says release of Boston College tapes could endanger peace process
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