Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject Our lovely Hillary and her Irish legacy
Topic URL
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4966883#49668834966883, Our lovely Hillary and her Irish legacy
Posted by Maribelle on Sat Mar-08-08 08:55 AM
Some of the senator's most vocal defenders have been women activists from Northern Ireland
In a series of statements compiled by labor and fair employment advocate Inez McCormack, Clinton was lauded for her "decade-long support" of the peace process.
In ‘The day that sparked my fights for rights’ Inez credits Clinton’s involvement
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/opinion/article3356525.ece Not the stuff of drama, but of change
On the official blog, Inez said “I came to know her through her involvement in helping building peace in Ireland. I have also worked with her through the Vital Voices network in supporting women leaders around the world. Many of these women, like me, lived in narrow and contested space and her support has widened that space and enabled their work to thrive. The network has then reached out to others and is a growing vibrant example of how women can work together to create change across traditions and divisions. I was proud and delighted recently to join her in an event which affirmed her support for women acting as agents of their own change. She presented a Human Rights award on behalf of the American Labour Movement to Ela Bhatt, founder of SEWA. SEWA has now over 600,000 women members in India who work in the insecurity of the informal economy. Hillary Clinton has consistently supported the work of this unique women's union in developing their own financial, health, educational and employment resources.’
http://blog.hillaryclinton.com/blog/main/2007/03/08/215000 Prominent backers cite relevant role in peace process
"She used her immense influence to give women like me space to develop this work and validated it every step of the way. This approach is now taken for granted but it wasn't then. She told us that if we take risks for peace, she would stay with us on that journey. In my experience, it took hard work, attention to detail and a commitment of time and energy which she delivered steadily and where needed over the last decade," McCormack added.
http://www.irishecho.com/newspaper/story.cfm?id=18626 Irish Women for Hillary
In an unprecedented move, several of them came together this week to issue a statement on Clinton’s behalf. The move came after several newspapers, most notably The Boston Globe, raised questions over whether Clinton had played any significant role in the Irish peace process as she says she did.
The women of Northern Ireland certainly think so. Several key women leaders, long active in support of the peace process in Northern Ireland, lauded Clinton for her decade-long support.
Inez McCormack organized the tribute. McCormack is one of the most influential civil rights leaders in Northern Ireland. She was first female president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and played an important role in the peace accords.
She said, “We believe it is important for others to know the pivotal role Mrs. Clinton played in helping us in Northern Ireland at critical junctures in the peace process. She supported us over many years and we will always be grateful to her.”
“Hillary Clinton took risks for peace in asking me and others to bring women and communities from both traditions to affirm their capacity to work for common purpose and to assert, when there was no public dialogue which supported it, that working for common purpose on the basis of mutual respect was the core to effective peace building.”
Elaine Crozier, a community worker added, “Hillary broke the mold in terms of U.S. intervention in Northern Ireland. She came here, sat down with ordinary people, and rolled up her sleeves to see what could be done. She showed us an America that was open and fair, ready to listen and ready to help.”
Among the other women from across the divide issuing statements on behalf of Clinton’s work in Northern Ireland were Baroness May Blood, a member of the House of Lords who worked for many years as a community worker promoting economic development, better housing, health and education in the Shankill area of West Belfast.
Geraldine McAteer, chief executive of West Belfast Partnership Board which works towards the economic, social and physical regeneration of West Belfast, and Avila Kilmurray, head of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland since 1994, also contributed.
http://www.irishabroad.com/news/irish-voice/intelligencer/Articles/Intelligencer020208.aspx Editorial : Hillary Our Choice
Of the two candidates we prefer Senator Clinton. He record on issues of importance to the Irish American community is crystal clear. She was with her husband every step of the way during his intervention in the Irish peace process, without which there would never have been the successful resolution that we’re currently witnessing in Northern Ireland.
In her own right she played a significant role, visiting Ireland seven times and creating cross community goodwill which lasted long after her trips were over.
Clinton is also a clear advocate for immigration reform and attended three different rallies held by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, and spoke passionately on the subject.
http://www.irishabroad.com/news/irish-voice/niall-odowd/Articles/Hillary-Our-Choice020208.aspx The president of the Irish American Democrats said ...
A precise accounting of Clinton's visits to Ireland and her work for Irish peace forms the basis for a book being published later this year by Stella O'Leary, Washington. D.C.-based president of the Irish American Democrats lobby group.
O'Leary has been one of Hillary Clinton's most fervent backers over the years and in a statement to the Echo took particular exception to a critical column penned by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann that took issue with recent campaign statements made by Clinton about her peace process initiatives.
The column, headlined "Hillary Had No Role in Irish Peace," characterized the statement as being tantamount to Walter Mitty-like dreams.
Anything but, countered O'Leary
"It will come as a huge surprise to the Irish, North and South, to hear Dick
Morris and Eileen McGann's claim that Senator Hillary Clinton played no role in the Irish peace process," said O'Leary.
"Starting with the Christmas visit to Belfast in 1995, Hillary Clinton recognized that the participation of women was critical in bringing about
an end to the conflict, and she set about inspiring women to become politically involved," O'Leary said.
http://www.irishecho.com/newspaper/story.cfm?id=18626