Post
by macliam » Sat Apr 11 2020 9:42am
A word of warning.
We have all seen and heard about those who are keen to jump on the COVID-19 bandwagon for their own enrichment, but there are also others out there who seek to profit at a time of crisis.
Yesterday, I watched a video of a guy, self declaring as "an old unionist prod" in a Belfast accent, describing taking vegetables "across the border" and distributing them to old people. He was challenging young folk to get away from their computers and do the same, to support Irish people in need, regardless of religion or tradition. There were some good ideas, ideas that could be appplied in other communities and help to cross other divides elsewhere. I was inspired, the guy's message seemed genuine, was genuine. I came yea close to posting it as an example of the good that can come out of a crisis......
But something, somewhere, made me think twice. I looked at the organization mentioned in the video and hosting the message (I won't give them the oxygen of naming them) and something chimed wrong.... very wrong. You don't need to dig far to find that this organization does indeed seek to unite the polarized communities in Ireland..... but it also seeks to unite them against some themes that are all too familiar.... a common enemy, the dilution of culture, etc., etc. The common enemy is not who you might think it would be in an irish context, no, not "the British" or "the English". No, the common enemy for these people are those who look and sound like the Doctor I posted about above, and/or who share his religion and/or culture..... the ideas may seem socialist in nature, but also nationalist....... and we all know what national socialism means.
I'm sure there are people doing what is said for good reasons, I'm sure the old people don't care, I'm half glad that someone is looking to motivate others to care. But that nasty. nasty taste in my mouth just won't go away.
Let's be careful out there.
Just because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get me
