Recently, former Senator George J Mitchell, a
hero to most Gael, once again made news as he headed the
investigation of Major League Baseball's steroid scandal. We
applaud the results he achieved in once again settling a major
dispute with wisdom, kindness and fairness to all. But in the
course of announcing the results of his investigation, a reporter
asked him what lessons he had learned from his negotiations in
Ulster. His response was that "We should forget the past."
This comment has been widely quoted in the media, and we felt it was
necessary to respond. We therefore sent an e-mail to the law
firm with which the Senator is affiliated. Not knowing if he would
receive it, and since we felt it was important for all to see, we
thought to reprint it here. Our message to Senator Mitchell's
law firm was:
Dear Sirs,
We are seeking to respond to Senator
Mitchell, a leader of the Gaelic Community for whom we have
great respect, in regard to his comment, widely quoted in the
media, that the lesson he learned in Ulster was to forget the
past. In case this message does not reach the Senator, it will
also be posted on the Issues/Comment page of our website at:
http://macdonnellofleinster.org/page_10__issuescomment.htm
Respectfully, we take the contrary
view. We believe that all people, everywhere, are entitled
to know the truth, to respect their ancestors, and to celebrate
their heritage. We do not believe that peace, achieved by
sacrificing these core values, is true peace. It is
rather, surrender to tyrants, of all factions, and their
campaign to conceal the evil they have done.
Instead, in Ulster, the heritage of
all factions should be presented and celebrated, so that great
achievements, great courage, and nobility of character can be
recalled and taught to the next generation, while the errors and
flaws of all are exposed, so that they may be corrected and
forgiven, whatever their faith or clan. This should be
done with mutual respect, with kindness, and with courtesy, but
it is wrong to fail to learn the lessons of history, for then,
as Santyana said, we "are doomed to repeat them!"
Nollaig Shona duit!
Iain Guth
Seannache
The MacDonnell Of Leinster
Association
iainguth@bellsouth.net
posted 12-17-07
Please
use your
back button
to return to
the menu of
prior
editorials.
Next page
Return to main menu
