So – Michelle O’Neill and Alex Maskey are to attend the coronation of King Charles III. If you’re like me, you’ll have heard a faint but distinct creaking sound, as your tolerance and commitment to a better future are seriously stretched. How much more stimulating it would have been if Michelle and Alex had done a Benjamin Zephaniah: “Me, I thought. Coronation me? Up yours, I thought!”.
But a brief reflection soon shows the Shinners are several steps ahead, morally and politically. While the DUP refuse to do the work they’re handsomely paid for, Sinn Féin’s leaders are showing the way to respect those things, however odd, that are valued by our next-door neighbour. Like a hereditary monarchy.
Attending the crowning of Charles shows that the Shinners mean it when they say they’re committed to peace and reconciliation. They will engage with the British establishment in a cooperative way, show their goodwill. That’s something they need to do, to translate reconciliation talk from words to deeds.
Besides, it’ll do them no harm on the international stage. You may be sure that TV commentators will be trying to pad out their voice-overs, and you may be sure that they’ll not ignore the presence of Alex and Michelle. That kind of presence is what nudges people in Britain and around the world to think of Sinn Féin as it is today and abandon the blood-drenched stereotypes of yesteryear.
What’s more, their presence shows that they are pragmatists. The fact is, like it or lump it, NEI is part of the UK and an awful lot of people in NEI get quite excited even thinking about King Charles. If you’re going to be a First Minister for all the people in NEI, as Michelle insists she will be if the DUP would stop sulking and allow her, you have to show you represent them at occasions close to their hearts.
In the end it comes back to tolerance – acceptance of the fact that other people think differently from you and have different and cherished traditions. If you’re going to build bridges – and they need to be done by republicans, even and especially when the DUP are busy bleating about the threat of customs checks to the union – you have to take off your coat and roll up your sleeves. As my mother used to say, there’s no teacher to beat setting a good example. And didn’t John Hume keep going on about the need for unity of people, not territory? By doing the difficult but right thing, the Shinners are advancing the day of territorial unity of Ireland as well as the unity of its people.
Besides, as somebody said, “Love your enemies – it drives them crazy!”.
.
As I walk past the graveyard, what is that spinning sound I hear?
Yes indeed. Sinn Fein now supports the fascist-controlled regime in Ukraine because Irish governments are willing-puppets of the corporate-controlled US Empire and The Empire must be obeyed! As a former Sinn Fein supporter said, “I never thought I would see the day that they would support Nazis, NATO / US and UK. How can they expect people to ever forgive them. When I think of the brave men who died fighting against their occupiers I feel numb.” As Easter Rising leader James Connolly said: “If you remove the English army tomorrow and hoist the green flag over Dublin Castle, unless you set about the organisation of the socialist republic your efforts will be in vain.”
Your brain looking for its common sense and ability to understand subtlety
Would have to agree jude 100% sometimes we have to do things that others don’t agree with Michelle will be no difference to others she will be the same when she comes back a proud Republican she is a new age leader of sinn fein she knows her stuff to be a leader you can’t pick and choose you have to be a leader for all your people or not at all. I just hope that all Republican and nationalists give her the chance to get us a Ireland united for all our people to live in peace.
Despite my initial misgivings I must admit after reading Jude Collins’s musings I’m now totally convinced that Michelle O’Neill’s decision to accept the invitation to the coronation is entirely correct.
Apart from honoring her election promise ( how rare a thing is that these days!) and recognizing the need for Sinn Fein to reach out to the broader unionist community, there’s also the added bonus that her decision will cause her rivals a considerable degree of dismay. The political reality is that current political deadlock is unlikely to change until the results of the May’s local elections are in.
In the meantime, it would be very wise to take on board Jude Collins’s astute referencing of Oscar Wilde’s brilliant quote on the importance of loving ones enemies i.e. because nothing annoys them so much!.
Best,
Matt
Michelle and Alex are playing the long game. Like it or not, the only way to a United Ireland is through the ballot box. The fact that Britain and unionism cheated a century ago is neither here nor there. To get a majority SF will have to win the hearts and minds of independents and the undecided. The only way to achieve that goal is to show respect and tolerance. Shouting slogans will not cut it.