(1) Ringland is the kind of soft unionist for whom the Northern Ireland statelet was designed, who disregards the awkward fact that it wasn't designed for nearly everyone else, and can't understand why they don't like it.
(2) Ringland complains that 40% of the Republic and 70% of Northern nationalists believe that the IRA's campaign was justified and that this is a low point in the Peace Process. The Peace Process always revolved around accepting the views of the other side, not demanding they change.
(3) Ringland ignores,or is perhaps unaware of, the violence, random murders and arson used to create Northern Ireland in the first place, and which went on into the 1930s and began again in the early 1960s, until it created the Troubles. Unionist home rule failed but he ignores that.
(4) Ringland's statement that "The moral compromises involved in the Belfast Agreement make it difficult to celebrate." is the most anti-peace process sentiment imaginable; peace is the first and highest morality. This error goes far to explain why the process has stalled since 1998.
(5) If Ringland's letter is representative of soft unionism's mindset, it is the best argument that their demands to be given another shot at Home Rule Northern Ireland be politely refused.
With many thanks to: Jonathan Mills @muinchille for the original Tweet
BELOW IS A COPY OF THE LETTER FROM: Trevor Ringland TO THE Belfast News Letter
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