Message to Dr Ian Paisley; to the PD's and to Hecklers in the Dail......

international | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Friday December 10, 2004 20:47 by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics - Please

Concerted Effort of many People to the Peace process

Peace is essential. Diversity exists but it is up to each person to work at making Unity the goal.
Let's look to colonial powers like Zimbabwe who appear to have fallen by the wayside. Let us take regard for the need of a Peace Protype/Model that can give inspiration to other countries torn by war.
Let us take account of Narcissism and those who act the part of Boss as distinct from Leadership.

Leadership is about inspiration. Leadership envelopes philosophy, psychology and a level of Truth.

To Dr. Ian Paisley, to the PD’s and their harsh sentiments to decommissioning and to those who heckled Mr. O’Caoilain in the Dail yesterday.

It was my humble belief that it was time for reflection with the hope of PEACE.

I lived in Zimbabwe in the 1990’s and worked in the City, London in the 1980’s early 1990’s. I was involved in a horse riding accident and suffered acquired brain injury. This hampered my life but I can read and relate to pre accident. Today, I completed a book I found in a second hand shop. The title attracted me – The Real Irish Peace Process – A Socialist Democracy Publication published in 1998.

I would recommend this factual account of ‘The Troubles onwards to the Peace Process. The main elements of the book emanate from discussion papers and articles written in 1997, they also revert backwards to the Hume (Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Adams discussions.

Now let’s go back to Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia. 1982 saw the end of Guerilla war in Rhodesia, the former British colony, and the Lancaster Agreement was enacted and the new State formed. (It would be fair to say was modeled on the Republic’s cessation as a colonial power). Like Ireland, the Zimbawean people had to endure a civil war. The golden rule ‘Divide and Conquer applied yet again and pithed the Shona tribe (President Mugabe) against the Matebele tribe (Joshua Ngoma). One need only listen to the news and realize the heightened sense of conflict in this country. Lord Mansfield’s words about ‘Absolute power corrupts and power corrupts absolutely’ could be said to be apt and famine and drought blights the poor.

Ireland on the other hand has consistently through generations sought a Nation State. Now with the committed efforts of all parties involved in the Peace Process – there is hope.

This Peace Process has been endorsed by people like President Clinton, Senator Edward Kennedy and many others in the US. Prime Minister Blair has been committed in his endeavours as has our Taoiseach. People like Mr. Trimble, Mr. Hume, Mr. McGuinness, Mr. Gerry Adams, Mr. Gerry Kelly and so many more have been relentless in their endeavours to work with the IRA and to achieve all that is but one step a way from the Hope of an Island of Ireland.

I did not include Dr. Paisley for one reason. As a person I do not know him but his behaviour and vanity is not acceptable. I feel it is time for him to leave aside remarks that I recall coming from a certain nun I lived in fear of at school.

Doris Lessing now in her late eighties moved from Persia to Rhodesia and was one of the Revolutionaries expelled from Rhodesia by the Ian Smyth (British Colony) government.
Given my experiences in Zimbabwean and bought her book African Laughter. President Mugabe invited her to return to Zimbabwe in the 1990’s and the book was the outcome of the visit.

Subtlety appeals. I recall that every office, hotel, etc. had a photo in a prime location of President Mugabe (perhaps just in case one would forget!!!). Doris Lessing however found a ‘Poem’ in most offices. Appropriately, the title is ‘THE BOSS’

The Boss drives his men
The Leader inspires them
The Boss depends on authority
The leader depends on Goodwill
The Boss evokes fear
The Leader radiates love
The Boss says ‘I’
The Leader says ‘WE’
The Boss shows who is wrong
The leader show what is wrong
The Boss knows hot it is done
The Leader knows how to do it
The Boss demands respect
The Leader commands respect

SO BE A LEADER, NOT A BOSS

I would hope that during this time of reflection that we can look to the leaders and ignore the Narcissists. Narcissists are the people concerned with how they appear as distinct from what they FEEL. They deny feelings and CONTRADICT THE IMAGE THEY SEEK. Acting without feeling, they tend to be seductive and manipulative, striving for power and control. They are egotists focused on their own interest but lacking the true values of the self – namely self expression, self-possession, dignity and integrity……on the cultural level, narcissism is seen as the loss of human values’……(Book title Narcissism: Denial of the True Self. Alexander Lowen MD)

I am sure we all can identify Boss/Narcissist people but these too are part of what David Hume refers to as ‘Diversity in Unity’

Michelle says bye and one more comment: Stockbrokers Bond: My Word is my Bond – surely the suggestion of photos diminishes the principle.