It’s time for unionists to join their nationalist neighbors on common ground of commemoration – The Irish News

The library at Boston College in the US houses a collection of photographs by Bobbie Hanvey taken to capture the historic moment in 2002 when Belfast’s first Sinn Féin mayor, Alex Maskey, led his party colleagues to the British Cenotaph located within the city hall. to lay a wreath on the occasion of the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

On this occasion, Maskey said: “My initiative is also a recognition of the grief, wounds and suffering left by their loved ones, friends and comrades. My goal beyond that is to seek to identify common ground for all of us in this generation.

Over the next 20 years, Sinn Féin was careful to mark important occasions relating to the Irish who fought in both world wars in British uniform, while establishing a clear line on participation in Sunday ceremonies. Memory, for obvious reasons.

On this date, the British forces remembered each year include the Parachute Regiment which caused chaos and murder in Derry and Ballymurphy; the RUC, which murdered many people during the summer of 1969 and beyond; and the UDR, which terrorized nationalists in the villages and dark alleys of the north.

Memory in a divided society is something that must be treated with sensitivity, both in respecting the right of others to memory, but also in being attentive to the victims created by those who are remembered.

So this is a two-way question, and it should be considered as such, in November and at Easter.

The difficulty for Sinn Féin is that by changing its policy of involvement in a British memorial event paying tribute to British forces who left victims in their wake within living memory, the party will undoubtedly have offended and hurt many many people within his own country. community.

It’s inevitable. So this is something they need to handle very carefully.

The manner in which the decision to attend the Remembrance Sunday event was announced illustrates the challenges Sinn Féin continues to face with its media strategy in the north since the McMonagle scandal broke.

Michelle O’Neill should have been omnipresent on the airwaves and in the studios in the week leading up to the ceremony, explaining the reasons for her decision, providing clarity and reassurance to nationalists, including relatives of victims of the British state, taken aback. by the party’s sudden about-face.

Such was the level of confusion in Republican ranks that some party members I spoke with weren’t even sure if she intended to wear a poppy and lay a poppy wreath, as all the party members had done. previous prime ministers after the Good Friday Agreement.

For the occasion, she laid a laurel wreath, respecting the tradition established by Alex Maskey and in accordance with Irish government protocol, a subtle but necessary distinction.

Only a few months ago, in June 2024, Michelle O’Neill was evasive when asked if she would attend Republican commemorations in the North, replying that she would be “mindful of the function” she busy.

On the face of it, it is understandable that some within the Republican community would feel insulted as his actions and words suggest to Sinn Féin that a Prime Minister is obliged to ignore Republican memory but participate fully in the events of British commemorations, including those honoring British forces who killed and killed soldiers. terrorized nationalist communities since 1969.

I suspect that Michelle O’Neill and her advisers are very aware of the merits of these concerns and would expect her to now indicate that being aware of one’s position involves being obliged to participate in commemoration events Republican in his capacity as Prime Minister.

We have a historical problem in this part of Ireland relating to the way in which the media presents British memory as an issue that is seen as non-controversial and in which everyone should respect and be involved, which is in itself deeply offensive for nationalists well beyond the republican community.

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Attendance at Republican commemorations regularly prompts questions from Sinn Féin representatives about specific atrocities committed half a century ago, with the idea of ​​re-traumatised victims being raised. The commemorated Republicans will even be dismissed as victim-makers.

Of course, each of these accusations could also be applied to those honored at British Remembrance events.

The legacy of British violence and power applied in Ireland has allowed unionists to commemorate prominently in the middle of the civic space, while republicans commemorate on the margins.

Sinn Féin has struggled to make meaningful change using its enhanced position of power and authority to redress this historic imbalance.

We have a historical problem in this part of Ireland relating to the media presentation of British Remembrance as an issue seen as non-controversial.

This lack of reciprocity should not dictate republican openness, but must be recognized to avoid fueling disillusionment and alienation.

Following Michelle O’Neill’s participation in Remembrance Sunday, the focus will rightly be on political and civic unionism to finally demonstrate its ability to reciprocate – not only by participating in republican commemorations, but also by ending the manufactured outrage when Irish republicans hold commemoration events.

The common ground that Alex Maskey spoke of 20 years ago is a place where we respectfully hold space for everyone to solemnly remember.

It is high time that trade unionists had the courage to join their neighbors on this ground.