Passions over the Northern Ireland Protocol have clouded the judgements of some unionists

The annual lenten Rio Janerio carnival was cancelled this year, however, the carnival’s colour, passion and energy appears to have crossed the Atlantic to re-invent itself as Belfast’s Irish Protocol-fest.

The protocol-fest-passion appears to have clouded some unionist-minded people’s good judgement.

For example, Ruth Dudley Edwards, (‘PM must use his moral core to solve the Irish Sea border,’ February 23, see link below), boasts that unionists, unlike their non-unionist nemeses, adhere to a high moral code ie “They have the self-respect that goes with occupying the moral high ground. Unlike nationalists, almost none of the ever vote for murderers.”

I wonder if nice and all as it sounds, to hold to good morals, Ms Dudley Edwards is perhaps somewhat ambivalent about occupying this high moral ground.

For instance, while Ruth personally disassociates herself from violence, she nonetheless puts it before us as a possible response to the hated protocol by those who want to overthrow it: she writes the following: “But continuing with the protocol could also lead to a revival of terrorism from unionist militants.”

I think unionists, including Ruth, need to clarify where they stand in relation to resorting to violence.

Finally, if unionists are of high moral integrity and upright standing, and eschew the destruction of innocent life, as stated in the News Letter article, they should put some of their energy and passion into overthrowing the awful open-ended Northern Ireland abortion regime, or to paraphrase a previous first minister, “not just suck it up”.

Micheal O’Cathail, Fermanagh

Ruth Dudley Edwards: Boris Johnson must re-discover his moral core to solve the Irish Sea border problem

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor