Left, Right and Centre in Limerick

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday May 10, 2003 22:20 by Langer

Another two classic pieces from the Limerick Leader.

Left, Right and Centre

CONSERVATIVE has long been a dirty word in Limerick politics. It was used in the past to attack local personalities whose views were at variance with Dublin 4. To be Right was automatically to be wrong.

It still is. Admittedly the Progressive Democrats proudly proclain themselves to be the only party in Dail Eireann not professing to be socialist in some shape or form but they stop short of categorising themselves as of the Right, preferring the label 'liberal' or ' radical' - -anything but bloody 'conservative.'

They are Right, of course. Their individualist as distinct from collectivist worldview is classically conservative. They are not a tax-and-spend party.

On the contrary, they are the party of low taxation, low public spending and business-friendly policies. And why not? The Left doesn't hold a monopoly of wisdom or compassion.

Besides, being radical is not imcompatible with being Right. Margaret Thatcher, the former British prime minister who says there's no such thing as society, was radical. So was Hitler.

So where does that leave politics in Ireland in 2003--and in particular in Limerick. In a state of promiscuity to be precise. Almost all people and all parties pretend to be Left, or at least Centre Left, which means that, politically, anyone can get into bed with anyone else--and often does.

Even naturally conservative elements within the PDs, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour are so afraid of offending against the fashionable new religon of Political Correctness that they affect a king of quasi liberalism. But if the Right in Limerick aren't Left so what? Neither are the Left, or rather the so-called Left.

If they were, they wouldn't be chanting Californian mantras--they would be fighting for a Cuban-style health ervice and against Soweto-style segregation in Limerick housing and Etonian-style elitism in Limerick schools.

Safer

THE War and Peace scenario at Shannon has finally been put into realistic perspective. For months the State authorities seemed paralysed by fear of appearing unpopular. They allowed protestors to march to the terminal building, to camp on airport property, to breach the perimeter fence and to cause damage and injury.

And yet in spite of the mayhem which still threatens Shannon many of the very people charged with protecting the public interest remain silent. But not Judge Joseph Mangan. The remarks he made when sentencing several activists over a mass trespass should be required reading for all politicians and officials who fail to understand the difference between liberty and licence.

He spoke of an "arrogant, egotistical minority who take the law into their own hands." He accused the defendants of placing themselves on a higher plane than other citizens. "Those who profess to seek peace in the world should begin by behaving peaceably at home," he declared.

Judge Mangan readily acknowledged that the vast majority of protestors have behaved impeccably. And so they have. Many of them may also have been naive but their sincerity should not be doubted.

Perhaps next time, however, they will not allow themselves to be used by organisations with other agendas. All concerned would be well advised to note Judge Mangan's words of wisdom, courage and common sense. Shannon Airport is a safer place because of him.