What sort of a people and a province have we now become when
harmless gospel songs and hymns are now rated politically
incorrect and banned, with senior citizens in a Portadown
community centre no longer allowed to round off a harmless
and enjoyable day's fun by singing a few Christian songs?
It shows how far down the road Northern Ireland has gone
in becoming a place where anything smacking of a Protestant
and Reformed Christian tradition is considered unpalatable
and unacceptable.
Yet unlimited drinking is allowed in many establishments,
drug pushing goes on at discos and clubs, and pornography
and prostitution is on the increase.
What a crazy mixed-up society, with those so often in charge
of affairs having a twisted sense of priorities.
But this is nothing new, and while the ban on gospel songs
at the Corcrain Community Centre in Portadown is but the latest
manifestation, the insidious trend has been taking place for
years.
Just bear in mind the efforts made each year in some parts
of Northern Ireland to introduce controversy over the sale
of the Poppy, the emblem which represents the sacrifice made
by over one million British servicemen and women in two World
Wars.
Hardly a year passes without some pompous individual or someone
with republican sympathies trying to ban the sale of the Poppy
at stores, factories and offices. The issue is usually resolved
within days as outraged Royal British Legion and ex-service
organisations and personalities are able to expose just how
ridiculous and unfair such bans are. The subsequent publicity
and the anger of people is usually enough to make the people
involved see sense.
But the need to hold them up to ridicule should never have
arisen in the first place and to use the good old 'Ulsterism',
"it's time they caught themselves on." Commonsense
and fair play must allow those Portadown pensioners to sing
songs and hymns of praise to God. But that is not enough -
an apology is needed on the part of those who imposed such
a ridiculous ban in the first place.
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