Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ptsfc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!zehntel!dual!ptsfa!ptsfc!rjw From: rjw@ptsfc.UUCP (Rod Williams) Newsgroups: net.flame,net.politics Subject: Re: Northern Ireland Message-ID: <253@ptsfc.UUCP> Date: Tue, 15-Jan-85 15:11:15 EST Article-I.D.: ptsfc.253 Posted: Tue Jan 15 15:11:15 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 16-Jan-85 21:21:47 EST References: <307@bonnie.UUCP> <1087@pyuxa.UUCP> <1168@ihuxm.UUCP> <141@abnji.UUCP><241@calmasd.UUCP> Reply-To: rjw@ptsfc.UUCP (Rod Williams) Distribution: net Organization: Pacific Bell, San Francisco Lines: 22 Xref: watmath net.flame:7737 net.politics:6892 Thanks to Cheryl for putting the Northern Ireland situation in some perspective. I share her distaste for the IRA and frustration with the British government for doggedly maintaining the status quo, all the while refusing even to consider possible political initiatives towards peace there. The fact is that as long as 1 million people insist on remaining British (to the very great chagrin of mainland Britain :-)) and are supported in that insistence by the British government, there can be no hope of peace. On the other hand, a British withdrawal at this point would engulf the whole island in violence much worse than anything seen thus far. The Dublin government's proposals, rejected out of hand by Mrs Thatcher, deserve more respect and consideration. Clearly, any political solution will involve compromises on all sides - it's time for London and the Ulster Unionists to sit down and talk about the kind of future they want for Northern Ireland - realizing that there can be no going back to the happy Orange days prior to 1967. -- rod williams "...I said STIRRED, with an OLIVE dual!ptsfa!ptsfc!rjw ...not SHAKEN, with a TWIST!"