The Other View

Issue No.5 Summer 2001

Your Comments

Readers tell us what they think of The Other View 

"I have read several issues of The Other View and I have found them relevant, timely and positive.  I feel it is essential that a publication like The Other View continues to flourish as they make an important contribution to the building of peace."

Dave Duggan, Writer and Director

 

"I suppose the intention is that of Robert Burns, 'to see ourselves as others see us' and in this aim it largely succeeds.

Commendably it doesn't shy away from contentious issues.  My only criticism is that all the contributors seem to be left-of-centre in their outlook.  Surely there's room here for yet another view?"

David Kerr, Ulster Nation

 

"The Other View must be a very unique product in that it is a effort by loyalists and republicans to examine their differences in print. The common view here in the Republic is that this type of thing does not happen in the North. Now I know different although I am probably correct in saying that it is still not too common."
Tommy O'Neill, Dublin

Dear Editor,
I believe that Liam O'Ruairc's reference to Billy Hutchinson in the last issue of The Other View was unfair. How can Mr. Hutchinson be held responsible for incidents in Larne (or anywhere else) when he frequently condemns such behaviour? Liam's 'knowledge' about who was behind the incidents referred to is deeply flawed. As someone who has been on the ground and has some knowledge of the situation I would question Liam's facts.
Billy Hutchinson has worked very hard at ground level in an endeavour to combat mindless sectarianism and other forms of socially harmful activity by small groups of nasty albeit dangerous individuals. His work on the Shankill-Springfield interface as Director of Springfield Inter-Community Development Project provides adequate evidence of his consistent stand against sectarianism. His contribution to inter-community relations and inter-political dialogue is well documented and his work with people like Tommy Gorman and Jim Mc Corry has inspired a number of other excellent inter-community projects.
The situation is not helped by misinterpreting the actions of those who are trying to improve conditions.
In closing let me commend those behind The Other View. It is a good read and much appreciated by of the many young people with whom I work and socialise.
Yours etc.,
Davy Beckett


Back to Contents