Editor:
Talks have been ongoing over a possible peace deal between Iran and America. Everyone must welcome that. Yet Mary Lou McDonald's rhetoric is that a Border Poll must take place without mentioning talks with the unionists of Northern Ireland.
Mary Lou is the only political leader on the island of Ireland making such demands. Clearly, the political aspirations of Mary Lou outweighs the political thoughts and aspirations of all the other political parties and people. No hand of friendship or equality towards Unionism is visible.
After the deaths of 3600 men women and children Mary Lou Mcdonald has learnt nothing. Debates, talks, and what the future of the whole island cannot just be about calling a Border Poll.
Victims have come together despite both Sinn Fein and the DUP'S dysfunctional form of government at Stormont with point scoring by the two largest parties instead of progressive politics. Victims don't just want truth and justice, they also want no future murders based on sectarianism or political aspirations.
Those who blatantly demand a United Ireland with a time scale are actually pushing us back to pre-1998 and the signing of the GFA. Unionists are not afraid of debates.
As someone from the unionist community with friends in political parties in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland I find it incredible and disgusting that those who shout the loudest with demands for a Border Poll before we know what a United Ireland brings to all of us really don't see or care if they reignite the Troubles once again.
Demands, tribal politics and division before truth, honesty and respect because it suits an agenda which is clearly not supported by all the political parties on the island of Ireland. Constant criticism, ignorance and disrespect to unionists and unionism is certainly not a format for a Border Poll.
I lost a fantastic son, Raymond Jr. to paramilitaries from my own community. In 2030 I hope and pray that no other father is saying he lost his son due to political aspirations or demands.
Mary Lou McDonald and others are entitled to have political aspirations, but not at the cost of making it a one sided approach of demands for her brand of politics. What comes first, politics, the people, or future peace talks? Learn from the past and present. Peace talks, thankfully, are not needed and no one party can be allowed to dominate or control the narrative/agenda of the future of the island of Ireland.
Raymond McCord
Belfast
The writer is a victims campaigner
