Many of us who grew up in the 1950s and 60s will recall how this part of the world was always known as a Christian country. People worked hard for the money they earned and many worked long hours in order to feed their families. Back then many of us lived in houses with no bathrooms, running water or electric, but the people just got on with it, in what were very difficult conditions. The one thing that was on top of the list of priorities was Sunday worship. That was the day when parents set aside the chores and spent Saturday night polishing the shoes for the next morning. It didn’t matter what disco you were at the night before, but better be up on Sunday morning. That was the first day of the week ahead and it prepared you for what lay ahead. Looking back, not everything was correct but the scripture readings haven’t changed, they remain the same and there was always something you heard that influenced your thinking.
So what has gone wrong? Why are people so unsettled? Why do people keep looking for more money?
Why? Why? Why? You could ask. Gone are the days when, if you wanted more money you worked longer hours. It seems that discontentment is the absolute order of the day, and yet there is an abundance of everything. Never before in the history of this country have people been so well off.
Cast our minds back a few years, May 2007, to the roles of First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland, Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness. Who would have thought that these two men would sit down together at the same table and go on to become known as the Chuckle Brothers? Think whatever you like about it, but there was a certain peace created between them, and the reason for this was that each of them were prepared to humble themselves. Now, would it have happened if the titles had been the other way round? We will never know.
Humility, Psalm 133 Verse 1, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” No humility, no unity, no peace, no God. Surely none of us have to guess what’s missing in our society today. Why is that so many at the top of the pay scale keep wanting more while the coal face workers like nurses have to beg for a little more.
Well we all know the answer to that – however it seems that nothing is for changing any time soon.
EUGENE FULLERTON
Banbridge, Co Down
It appears only one party here matters
As we currently have no representation here in these Six Counties, it is about time that this situation be looked at by the current representative of the UK government here, and those who are paying for it – the British taxpayer. Let’s name those who are holding up the democratic processes here –which is the Democratic Unionist Party. A start can be made by denying any party (the DUP in this instance), refusing to participate in our supposedly democratic processes, any payment from the public purse until, after serving a six-month suspension from Stormont, they willingly declare that they will take part in due process and participate in the normal working of Stormont which, in this case amounts to the blatant withholding of their support due to a protocol procedure that they do not like, but when will it end? When the next incident that they do not agree with comes along and on and on: Those who are prepared to take part will be paid as they will be running Stormont. It would appear that only one party matters here at present and that is and always will be the DUP – that is until changes are made. Let us hope that 2023 will be the year that this change – for the betterment of the rest of us – comes about.
EDWARD MURPHY
Ballycastle, Co Antrim
Brand UK has been severely damaged
High inflation returned in 2022. It may be around for at least the next two years. So much for many experts forecasting a modest rise for several months followed by a smooth and gradual decrease to a target of 2 per cent. It also marked a return of brutal practicality to the political debate, all that excitable and fraught talk of flags and our British identity was suddenly marginalised. The amount available to pay energy, food bills, mortgages and rent is now the dominant theme.
Brexit 2016 version unleashed extreme Brit xenophobia and their simplistic narrative about national sovereignty has severely damaged brand UK. Ukraine would not have found its continued independence through isolation. Engagement with the international community will eventually attain victory over the tyranny of Putin. To maintain our freedoms and lifestyle, a price has to be paid. Putin is a modern Hitler and, as a warped dictator with mass murder credentials, he must be defeated.
BRIAN WILSON
Craigavon, Co Armagh
Perfect antidote to BBC’s malady
Just when you thought BBC Radio Ulster, despite being tops in countrified buffoonery, must have great difficulty in finding their excessively overstaffed organisation ‘stuff to do’ in the confined space of our small province, the men in suits discovered the perfect antidote to their malady.
A programme called The Walk with specific instructions to all presenters, ‘to strap on your walking boots and explore Northern Ireland’. A subtle hint from the suits to keep on walking?
The first intrepid presenters, Sarah Brett and Mickey Bradley, set off to face the rigours of Castlerock as if to prove how annoying Radio Ulster can be in a culchie local setting. Nevertheless staff overloading must be resolved and if our licence fee contributes to programmes of ‘silly walks’ allied to thousands of staff sick days we must not complain if Radio Ulster has more in common with a philanthropic institution than a productive radio station.
WILSON BURGESS
Derry City
