Blanket Coverage for All

IN last week’s “Intelligencer” (surely a misnomer?) tidbit, reference is made to articles submitted to “The Blanket” by Patrick Hurley.

What “Intelligencer” fails to grasp in his use of the breadth of material on “The Blanket” as a stick to beat Hurley with, is that the core of “The Blanket” is its free speech, anti-censorship ethos. (He could hardly be unaware of this given the mission statement on the front page of “The Blanket.”)

We take all comers at “The Blanket,” regardless of whether their viewpoint is agreeable to us or not. That is the point of freedom of speech, and what follows from it — the ability to think for yourself.

So “Intelligencer” can attempt to link what is obviously a collection of wide and sometimes conflicting viewpoints in a bid to smear his political opponents, but it only makes him look vindictive and rather silly.

It may not have dawned on Intelligencer that perhaps Hurley submits his work to “The Blanket” because he appreciates its commitment to freedom of speech and the space it gives to a diversity of views.

If I may correct “Intelligencer” in regards to a question put to Hurley, “Does Hurley also agree with his editors at ‘The Blanket’ that the death of Al Zarqawi was unfortunate?”

The editors at “The Blanket” have not expressed an opinion on the death of Al Zarqawi. It is unclear which article “Intelligencer” is referring to (I believe it may have been a letter?), but regardless, it clearly states on “The Blanket,” “The author bears sole responsibility for the opinion he or she expresses.”

Unless a by-line attributes authorship to the editor of “The Blanket,” the opinion in the article published belongs solely to the author who penned it.

Obviously, this allows for people to disagree and hold contrary views. I am sure writers such as David Adams, Dr. John Coulter, Reverend Brian Kennaway, the late Billy Mitchell, Eoin O’Broin, Father Sean McManus, Mehdi Mozaffari, Maryam Namazie and others would all be quite surprised to find that they lamented the death of Al Zarqawi — while simultaneously becoming Republican dissidents and anti peace process — by the simple act of writing for “The Blanket.”

Publications such as the Irish Voice may have an editorial policy that entails stamping a particular party line on all its articles; that is its prerogative. But that is not the policy or the ethos of “The Blanket” in any form whatsoever.

This difference may explain why “Intelligencer” regards the diversity of The Blanket as “a strange path.” If the Cork Association values free speech, they may think it a worthy path to tread and support it just as Hurley has done.

Carrie Twomey
Editor of “The Blanket”
http://lark.phoblacht.net

Get Out of Ireland

AS an Irish American, I read the letter from Peadar O Fiach, “Don’t Blame the British,” in the August 23-29 issue, about the Famine, and all I can say is that I now understand why England is still in Ireland.

England set out to conquer the Irish people and to steal Irish land through wars, murder and starvation. The English sold the Irish as slaves to the West Indies and the American colonies.

Eight hundred years of Englsh occupation of Ireland is enough. God bless theIRA, which stood up to the English murder machine.

Tom McTigue
Bronx, New York

The Look of Orde

AS I understand it, when my Grandpa Naughton left Ireland the “No Irish Need Apply” sign was still in vogue, so his last name became Norton.

My Gaelic grandfather had a saying – “He has a look about as charitable as a man looking at you over the end of a dueling pistol.” The quote was a classic, and came to mind again when reading the Irish Voice issue of August 23-29, particularly when looking at the photo of Northern Chief Constable Hugh Orde.

I think the quote fits this cold-eyed person to a tee.

Dick Stannard
Manchester Center, Vermont

Keane’s New Job

ISN’T it great that because of the generosity and big heartedness of a Dublin man, Niall Quinn, an unemployed and under qualified Cork man, Roy Keane, could get a job?

I guess Roy needed a job because he spent his 30 pieces of silver.

Bernard J. Connaughton
Garnerville, New York

Bush’s Leadership

NIALL O’DOWD’S article “Lessons in Peacemaking” (August 9-15) and its criticism of “the Bush tilt towards Israel,” is pure sophistry.

Israel’s terrorist enemies seek nothing less than destruction of the Jewish state and extermination of its people. Nothing comparable was at stake when Bill Clinton became involved with the six counties.

President Bush deserves commendation for his firm support of Israel, a fortiori given the minimal political support he has received from the Jewish community. In this, as in the other great issues of the day, our profoundly Christian president has demonstrated moral leadership of the highest order.

Tom Mahoney
Buffalo Grove, Illinois

Let Saipan Go

CATHAL Dervan needs to get over the World Cup in 2002 more than anyone. It’s over, done with, and all the principals on the Irish soccer team at that time have gotten on with their lives.

Mick McCarthy is onto his second managerial job, Roy Keane fulfilled a dream of playing for Glasgow Celtic, retired and last week was named manager of Sunderland soccer club, and Niall Quinn is owner of Sunderland. But Cathal keeps going on and on about the events in Saipan in 2002, as if anybody cares anymore.

In his column last week, Dervan said that it would be necessary for Keane to call McCarthy and make peace, prior to their two teams squaring off in November. Is he kidding? Why should it be down to Roy? There were two men at fault in that fiasco, yet Cathal is blinded to the failings of his “mate” Mick as a manager.

But in reality, I doubt Keane is wasting too much energy on thinking about McCarthy, and Mick likely doesn’t give Keane much thought either. And that’s how it should be – over and done with, in the past.

Cathal, get on with your life! You need to forget about Saipan once and for all, or maybe get some therapy if you can’t.

Bob McManus
Tarrytown, New York

Playing Politics

SENATOR Edward Kennedy’s thoughts on immigration reform were interesting, as reported by the Irish Voice last week. But in case anyone out there thinks Kennedy is taking up the issue solely out of the goodness of his heart, think again.

Kennedy is saying that it’s up to President Bush to push for an immigration bill this year. But he knows that isn’t going to happen. The president’s approval ratings are at an all-time low, and he’s got no real leverage to force conservative Republicans in the House to make a deal.

So the issue will stagnate, as Kennedy knows, and then the Democrats will use immigration as a stick to beat Republicans with. That’s politics for you.

As far as reform goes? It’s doubtful the American people want mass legalization of all the illegal immigrants here, but we need to recognize that they are here, they’re not going away, and something has to get done. It’s time for politicians from both parties to recognize that fact and do something about it, and leave the politics and name-calling to one side.

Ruth Latham
Boston, Massachusetts