NI Conservatives’ spokesman, Trevor Ringland, has said that President Obama’s speech at the Waterfront Hall offers a reminder that Northern Ireland gives hope to other parts of the world.
“Barack Obama’s words reminded us that the peace process here is an inspiration to parts of the globe which have even more intractable problems”, Trevor commented, after attending the event this morning. “That places an extra responsibility on us all to get on with building a shared future for our children and moving towards a better form of politics, which focuses on everyday issues, rather than sectarian divisions.”
“The large number of young people who formed the audience for President Obama should remind adults that we have a responsibility not to burden our children with the problems of the past. We need to build a society where our young people can live and learn together.”
“Progress has been slow, but our problems can be solved. We can build a shared future, which is the best tribute to all those who suffered loss during the conflict. In so doing we can provide hope to other parts of the world. President’s Obama’s words should inspire us to get on with this difficult work.”