‘Ní neart go cur le chéile’.

This week's Independent News & Media Irish regional newspapers' column.

Michael Commane

Vodafone is running an advertisement, which includes: ‘We’re at our best when we’re together.

It set me thinking of the value of being together and working in harmony with one another. 

American writer and political activist, Helen Keller said: ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much’.

Since mid-March the government has put great emphasis on how important it is that we all work together in ‘flattening the curve’.

Our effort in protecting ourselves and others is working.

Talking to a friend at the weekend he reminded me of an Irish school debate fadó fadó. The debate was about the advantages of people working together. 

The proposer of the motion gave the example of how the strength of a rope is made up of all the individual strands, none of which is particularly strong - but together they make a rope. His punch line was ‘Ní neart go cur le chéile’.

When we work in harmony and when there is a definite goal to be reached, people rally together and can achieve great results.

The killing of George Floyd in police custody, in Minneapolis on May 28 has had the effect of setting a tinder box on fire. 

People across the United States have come out in large numbers to demonstrate about the death of an African American. Indeed, the demonstrations crossed the Atlantic; people have been out in European cities, including Dublin, Berlin and London, demanding justice and calling for a better world for African Americans.

‘I can’t breathe’, ‘Say his name’, have reverberated around the world. People have been outraged at the murder of George Floyd.

It’s vital that all people are cherished. Imagine if we all treated others as we ourselves wish to be treated.

Across the United States the majority of the demonstrations have been peaceful. Yes, there has been violence and looting. Such behaviour can never be tolerated. It was pathetic to watch looters leaving shops laden down with stolen merchandise.

But what was even more pathetic and as scandalous was to see US President Donal Trump standing in front of St John’s Episcopal Church near the White House, holding up a Bible, while minutes earlier he was threatening to set ‘thousands and thousands of troops’ against his own people.

He walked from the White House to the church surrounded by a large security detail. Among those with him was his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who was smiling. In order for the president to get to the church, police fired tear gas at peaceful demonstrators.

The Episcopal bishop of Washington, Mariann Budde on learning of Trump’s appearance at St John’s said: ‘Let me be clear, the President just used a Bible, the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and one of the churches of my diocese, without permission, as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.’

She told The Washington Post: “I don’t want President Trump speaking for St John’s. We so dissociate ourselves from the messages of this president.’

Bishop Budde was outraged at Trump’s behaviour.

How must millions of alienated and frustrated Americans feel?

Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago said: ‘We need to take up the hard work of healing the deep wound that has afflicted our people since the first slave ships docked on this continent. And we need to start today.’

In spite of all the provocation, it’s important to remember: ‘We are at our best when we are together’.  And that’s a lesson for all of us.