Respecting cultures key to shared future

DEAR Northern Ireland, are you finally seeing a way forward in the New Decade, New Approach agreement?

It appears that good, hard-working people gave a blow to the egos of the two main parties at the general election.

I am from the Northern Ireland generation who left because of the needless Troubles, bigotry, minimal jobs and limited prospects. I, personally, just could not live with it anymore.

I do visit regularly to see family and friends and I always say I am from Northern Ireland.

I support all those who want peace, prosperity, fairness and honesty and I believe this is what the majority of people want.

To those who say they don’t want the Irish language or an Act to protect it, well, you live within the UK but on the island of Ireland, so you really need to get over that one. It is no different to protecting other UK national languages such as Cornish, Welsh and Scots Gaelic.

To those who are opposed to unionism, well, again, this is a part of the Northern Ireland community and the people have a right to their history, traditions and beliefs. If you look up the Ulster-Scots language, you will see it has been used since the 17th century. This needs to be respected.

The main thing in all of this is to be open-minded, fair and acknowledge all the differences. Then you may see some of the areas we hold in common.

From a Northern Ireland supporter who bears no ill-will to any person or community, I offer my sincere best wishes to everyone.

To quote the famous Northern Ireland comedian and actor Jimmy Young: “Will yis stop your fighting?”

HELENA CARR Lymington, Hampshire