Community must tackle racism once and for all
THE five-day-old baby girl who spent Tuesday night with other members of the Romanian community in a church hall in south Belfast will not remember the trauma.
But some day her family will have to explain to her why more than 100 Romanians were so scared for their lives that they left their homes in south Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, and took refuge in the hall.
Hopefully the Romanians will remember the kindness and support of people who helped them in their hour of need.
They will have seen the best and the worst of Belfast in a short space of time.
And the worst of Belfast is not a pretty sight. The Romanians were the victims of racist thugs who have nothing to offer our community.
There is no point in trying to reason or debate with these racist thugs about their actions. Most of them are clearly incapable of any rational thought process, especially about the humans rights of fellow citizens.
They are low life who have brought misery to people who have chosen to build a future in Northern Ireland.
These thugs will not listen to words condemning their actions. They will only get a reality check when police officers arrive at their doors and they are arrested. The police must have an idea who was involved in the recent spate of racist attacks. Fortunately, the individuals are small in number and they should be easily tracked down.
Then it is up to the courts to send out a message that leaves no-one in this country without the slightest doubt that we will not put up with racism in any form.
We should hold our heads in shame at what has happened over the past few days but the horror of the attacks should galvanise us into ensuring that our community as a whole tackles the problem head on and stamps on racism once and for all.
We owe that much to a baby girl who should be allowed to live the rest of her days in Northern Ireland, free from racist abuse.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
