The Other View

Overview

On page 11 of this issue we carry a brief comment on the recent coverage of the World Cup. There is general agreement that on this occasion that the London based commentators treated the Irish campaign with enormous respect and indeed encouragement. There was too, noticeable support from the Belfast Telegraph for the efforts of the Irish team and this was highlighted even at editorial level. Of course this is how things should be. Sport should be enjoyed and should allow us to meet in friendly rivalry rather than seeing it as a substitute for warfare.

It would be a lamentable mistake if we were to suggest that the difficulties and troubles of the past thirty years in Northern Ireland were in any way similar to a sporting contest. Our differences were (and remain) much too fundamental for any juvenile analogy. Issues that have literally been of life and death importance cannot be brushed aside as if they are of minor concern to 'sensible people'.

However, there are events and issues and subjects that constantly give rise to annoyance and irritation in this part of the world that when all is said and done are - like sport - not of paramount importance. Policing for example, is an issue that could divide communities in any part of the world but is the styling of uniforms worth going to print about? Cultural rights are of vital importance but must we get ourselves into endless controversies over street signs and monuments? And as for the never ending rows about emblems and flags - are they all of such importance that we must not concede an inch? The Other View does not presume to decide whether there is justification behind any of the above mentioned areas of contention but it might be worth peoples¹ time to ask themselves if every dispute is worth the effort.

Therefore, in this issue, we examine a perception held in some quarters that the republican/nationalist population of Northern Ireland is currently enjoying unprecedented benefits and all are in a state of boundless euphoria. The broad conclusion reached by the writers in this magazine is that there is little cause for any euphoria, if indeed it exists to any great extent. Cameron Mitchell writes up an interview he conducted with four local political commentators and this sets the tone for other articles in the issue. All views are of course the opinions honestly held by the authors of the articles and this magazine would welcome any comment from our readers on the subject.

Elsewhere in this issue we carry accounts of drum making, the McCartney wedding in Co. Monaghan, views on policing in the South, the new methods of monitoring private e-mail correspondence and other issues of interest. As always, we hope that this magazine gives people an opportunity to air their differences and to examine the ground they share both figuratively and literally. We know that you will

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