Northern Ireland’s riots are born of nihilism, despair and Boris Johnson’s lies about the Irish Sea border Kenny MacAskill MP – The Scotsman

NewsOpinionColumnistsYoungsters rioting in Northern Ireland werent born when the Good Friday Agreement was signed, let alone lived through the Troubles.

Thursday, 15th April 2021, 7:00 am

But now theyre on the streets throwing stones and bottles, burning buses and confronting the police.

Some of it, no doubt, whipped up by insidious paramilitary forces able to wind them up and tool them up. But its as much just anger at the hopelessness of their situation.

Their political leaders have failed and its not rioting for a purpose, nor even against anything in reality. Instead, its just a rage. Its nihilism with nothing to be gained, just destroying whatever they can.

I feel sorry for them in many ways though nothing can condone their behaviour with the risks to life and the futile damage of property. Northern Irelands economy is a mess and that was before coronavirus. For many of these young people, itll be a life on benefits and already theyre marked out as failures in the education system, if theyre even still attending school.

But even the province they were born in and believed was their country is threatened. They dont feel secure in their land, let alone having a future in it. The political leaders of the unionist tribe have been sold out by the British state they claimed to venerate, Boris Johnson flat out lying about no border in the Irish Sea. Even the DUP are now left with little idea about what to do.

A united Ireland draws closer. But Germanys still trying to resolve issues brought about by unification. At least there it was something welcomed by all other than a few Communist die-hards.

A 32-county state burns deep in the soul of many in Ireland but theres still a significant Protestant minority that will forever begrudge it.

Would the Republic even want the financial basket case thats the six counties and could they cope with it? Theres challenged areas in the 26 counties already, such as Limerick. Would they welcome limited resources being pushed north?

Its economic as much as constitutional and these kids need a future whether in Britain or Ireland.

Kenny MacAskill is the Alba Party MP for East Lothian

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

See the article here:

Northern Ireland's riots are born of nihilism, despair and Boris Johnson's lies about the Irish Sea border Kenny MacAskill MP - The Scotsman