A word to those who hope we will vote for them in fifteen days’ time:
God brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
Such are the words found in Isaiah 40. I read them yesterday and thought of the NI Assembly Elections. I want to make it clear that I believe everyone who can vote, should vote. It is a right that people have died in order to secure for us. But please vote carefully.
Will you help elect people who are interested only in themselves? Will you help elect people who put states and blinkered vision before people? All talk and no substance? Well-crafted words and policies are all very well, but action is what we need now – action in the areas that matter, that make an actual difference to our lives.
Who is going to stand up for the oppressed in this province, even though they can’t vote?
Who will make us pay more taxes to clean up the environment and save the world?
Who will publicly state that our ‘enemies’ are human beings who deserve to know love and acceptance?
Who is going to allocate some of Stormont’s millions to developing nations so they can have free primary education and infant vaccinations?
Is there someone I can vote for who will stand up for the rights of the oppressed, the poor, those widowed, fatherless, or displaced?
Words will be swept away like chaff. Actions count.