Honesty in politics is an increasingly rare occurrence. It should be
appreciated even in our political opponents.
Transparency and knowing exactly where someone stands - even if you detest
their position - is invaluable.
Would nationalists not be better dealing with straight-talking unionist
politicians than those who appear all-things-to-all-people and ultimately
don't deliver?
The openness this week of former Sinn Féin Assembly member John Kelly about
his past IRA involvement is to be welcomed. Pretence about these matters
benefits no-one.
John Kelly is behaving very differently to Gerry Adams. His life experience
has been different too. Kelly was 15 years in jail. Adams, like the rest
of Sinn Féin's top tier, spent remarkably little time behind bars.
Kelly isn't a dissident republican and he doesn't support a return to 'war'. He hasn't attempted to play-act as something he's not. He hasn't
re-invented himself as a poet, novelist, or short-story writer.
Refreshingly, he was a Sinn Féin MLA from whom journalists didn't get
synchronised, on-message bureaucratic drivel. He used plain, simple language
and was very much his own man.
It would actually be easier for unionists to deal with someone like him than
other saintly-sounding Shinners who apparently haven't been members of
anything more dangerous than an Irish language class.
