Even during a global crisis our leaders don’t seem capable of looking past outdated sectarian views

I’M at a loss to understand why Sinn Fein are continually bellowing on about the ‘urgency’ of achieving the unification of Ireland, especially at a time of global crisis. Can’t they see making this a priority over everything else devalues the image that they wish to portray?

Mary Lou Mcdonald and Gerry Adams should take heed of their Ulster-scots heritage (if Adams and Mcdonald aren’t Scottish names, I’ll eat my sporran) and, in the appropriate dialect, ‘houl’ ther wheesht’ and let pragmatic progression and natural commonality take their course.

Unionist politicians should also demonstrate that they’re not completely oblivious to what John Cleese referred to as ‘the bleedin’ obvious’ and acknowledge the fact that the island of Ireland has a very different population profile and density than Britain and is able to introduce the necessary controls and restrictions to contain the spread of the virus much more quickly and effectively than our neighbours.

A little empathy and recognition from Sinn Fein of this difference would be welcome too.

This can only be achieved by working in tandem, as we already do in the areas of health, security and power, to name but a few.

It’s a pity that we are so cursed by our history that a handful of those that espouse an outdated sectarian view, or embrace any means to create some sort of unrealistic ideological utopia, are allowed to dictate the direction of travel for our people.

As WB Yeats once lamented: “There are none that hate as we do, for whom the past is always alive.”

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