Where was
NI’s First Minister when N Ireland’s greatest poet and probably the greatest
poet of our generation, was buried? Was his absence indicative of the lack of
leadership and responsibility increasingly experienced in the last year? The flag issue, first encouraged was not
controlled and allowed to slip into anarchy. The police got blamed and then we
reverted to the easy option of getting an outsider to find a solution and will
doubtless leave it to the US, British and Irish Governments to impose a
solution. The other tribe’s efforts were little better, contributing to the
parading issues complexity by adding support for their extremists parade
building. We say we have made huge strides to a peaceful NI in the last 15yrs,
if so why sacrifice it?
Peter
Robinson has faced more than a few challenges during his time in office. With
his apparent professionalism he has managed to avoid the ‘Chuckle brothers’
relationship with Martin Mc Guinness of his predecessor. He has even been able
to deftly sidestep his way out of the fiasco in his personal life. Who would
have believed that? And his political kudos has allowed him to retain his lofty
position even despite losing his seat to Naomi Long. Not that he will ever
forget that!
But just as
with his Sinn Fein counterpart, Peter Robinson’s continued success lies in the
No vote. The more he is seen to be working affably alongside ‘the other side’,
the less popular he becomes among his voting lobby. The more he digs his heels
in, the less he gives way, the greater the support he gets from ‘his people.’
So that is why he was remarkably absent in any criticism of the violence
surrounding the flags issue. That is why in the summer he wrote that letter
withdrawing support for the Maze Conflict Transformation Centre. That is why he
even stayed away from any celebrations of Seamus Heaney’s life.
Unforgivable!
But he’s not
on his own. Sinn Fein knew exactly what they were doing last December when they
voted for the removal of the flag at City Hall. When support slips a little you
need to be seen to stir it up. You rattle a few cages and your party comes out
sunny side up.
The
elections are looming. May is but a few months away. It is time to reclaim
grass roots support. And you can be sure
that there will be no statesmanship in the process. Peter Robinson has gathered
the force of the Orange Order behind him. He knows where his bread is buttered.
Richard Haass has his work cut out for him. He has few expectations of any
success and has declared his part well in advance. He and Meghan O’Sullivan are
no fools. They know they are up against it. It is pretty much a losing battle.
As the ‘two sides’ puff up their wings and go into battle, fighting their
cause, who will be the winners?
My bet’s on
Naomi Long. Naomi fought off Peter Robinson on his own home ground. Naomi hung
in there tight through all the backlash to the flags issue. Naomi has
consistently fought for her country, not her party. Naomi talks sense in our nonsensical
community. Naomi has been waiting a long time. But maybe just, it is her time.
Wouldn’t it be great to see a real statesman in this country again? And
wouldn’t it be great if that statesman was a woman?
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