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Issue No.15 Winter 2003
Letters
to the Editor
Dear Editor
The Chinese Welfare Association
would like to take this opportunity to commend the editorial committee
of The Other View for highlighting the issue of racism in their last publication.
Although the existence of racism has assumed a greater profile it seems
that there is still an immature understanding of its destructive, destabilising
and horrifying effects. It is essential that more and more initiatives
are taken to highlight and address this social evil, tip toeing and avoidance
serves only to delay the initiatives that need to be taken to counter
racism in Northern Ireland.
We wish the editorial and production team every success and hope that
they will continue to raise the profile of issues and topics which continue
to divide the people of this island.
Best wishes
Leish Cox,
Community Relations Officer,
Chinese Welfare Association (NI)
Dear Editor
I would like to pen a few words
in relation to the Autumn 2003 edition of the ‘Other View’.
Firstly though I would like to state that I have found the magazine itself
not only informative and educational but I believe that it is increasingly
required given the fact that there are limited avenues in which such debate
and discussion can take place. For oneself born into West Belfast in the
early seventies and a member of the minority ethnic community, this particular
issue therefore was of added interest to me. Saying that, the Other View’s
policy statement is something that I not only agree with but also would
actively embrace and therefore continue to look forward to the magazine's
future editions, with its willingness to take on at times those difficult
issues that have long divided us.
It was great to see in the last issue how the issue of race and racism
was covered by a variety of persons addressing a range of issues. As a
founding member of the recently established Anti-Racist Network, which
is supported by all the main minority ethnic organisations and support
groups amongst others, these are articles that can be circulated and welcomed
amongst that network. Siobhan O’Donoghue's article concentrating
on the issues of exploitation and social exclusion of migrant workers
was a particularly important issue to highlight. Billy Mitchell’s
article was one of great interest to myself as are many of Billy’s
writings on a number of issues. His articles help many like myself to
attempt to understand working class Loyalism and Unionism within their
own terms, rather than hold in many cases a perception due to growing
up on the other side of the wall. Billy draws religious, historical and
present day points to cut through the issue of racism to show how racism
and racial attacks are both no friend of Ulster Protestants or political
Unionists. Mary Ward also provides an interesting article on the issue
of racism in Scotland, which is both informative and educational. Her
understanding that it is the present system in which we live which is
the root cause of the problem is an understanding which I would hold and
have written much about.Also in that issue of The Other View it was welcome
to see both Tommy Cheever’s article on the Apprentice Boys and Eoin
O’ Broin’s article on segregation, important issues that needed
to be raised. Again, other articles dealing with both local and international
concerns make the magazine a worthy read. The Other View I have seen has
in part opened up an avenue were through debate and discussion that it
can afford one a space from which to attempt an understanding of each
other, no matter if it is on race, religion, political belief or whatever.
It is therefore an avenue that is much needed and very much required.
Regards
Davy Carlin
Dear Mr. McKearney,
I do thank you very much for your kind letter (dated 10th October) and
the enclosed copies of "The Other View".
I handed them out during a course that took place last week and the students
were deeply impressed not only by getting a background of the "troubles"
during my lessons but also by reading the interview between you and one
of the Spotlight people and finally by having a look at your publication.
At the very end of the day I also read out your letter to the class and
after a long day of working on the topic they could now differentiate
between the different roots of the conflict and no longer thought it was
"just religion" that paved the way to the conflict.
I will indeed be very happy to be on your mailing list for future copies
of "The Other View" as this is a perfect way to stay in touch
with the Troubles and the people involved.
Thank you very much.
Yours,
Vera Spengler
Sandgasse
Germany
The views expressed by our contributors are their own and do not necessarily
reflect that of the editorial committee.
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