Since the Belfast Agreement of 1998 there have been some changes on the ground –not least in policing and in terms of freedom of movement. Republicans now share power and hold many elected offices but they have no control of the public purse. The economic situation in the six counties has not improved. Emigration is still at an unacceptable level. The roads are in a dreadful condition. We are still far from being a peaceful society and far from being free from anti-Catholic sectarianism. Those of us who describe ourselves as Irish are not free to express our identity without fear of reprisal. I sometimes wonder what Nationalists have achieved in terms of parity of esteem, in terms of furthering our right to freely express our Irish identity.
The Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement(1998) made it clear that the right to parity of esteem should be respected: “The participants endorse the commitment made by the British and Irish Governments that, in a new British-Irish Agreement replacing the Anglo-Irish Agreement, they will: …(v) affirm that whatever choice is freely exercised by a majority of the people of Northern Ireland, the power of the sovereign government with jurisdiction there shall be exercised with rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people in the diversity of their identities and traditions and shall be founded on the principles of full respect for, and equality of, civil, political, social and cultural rights, of freedom from discrimination for all citizens, and of parity of esteem and of just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos, and aspirations of both communities.”
There is amongst a section of the community a hatred of all symbols of Ireland and expressions of Irishness. The Irish language is often mocked by Unionist representatives. None has been prosecuted for this racism. There are unionist Victims groups which are publicly funded and which adopt a totally partisan position. They receive widespread publicity for their one-sided approach to the victims of the conflict. As far as they are concerned the only victims of the conflict were the members of the forces of the state.
The whole issue of our rights as Irish citizens needs to be tackled by those who are elected to represent Irish citizens in the north and those in political office in Dublin and all who are concerned about human rights and equality.
“There are unionist Victims groups which are publicly funded and which adopt a totally partisan position. They receive widespread publicity for their one-sided approach to the victims of the conflict. As far as they are concerned the only victims of the conflict were the members of the forces of the state.”
And there are nationalist victims groups similarly publicly funded that adopt a totally partisan position.
“The whole issue of our rights as Irish citizens needs to be tackled by those who are elected to represent Irish citizens in the north and those in political office in Dublin and all who are concerned about human rights and equality.”
To what rights are you referring?
Joe your having a laugh, “changes in policing”, my arse. “Change the name but same aim”. The Crown forces are still here in the guise of the CRUC, no amount of name changing or West brit catholics joining them will change that. Harassment, abuse, house raids, arrests, detentions and internment on trumped up charges and in the case of Tony Taylor no charges at all, directed at republicans continues unabated to this day. The silence about this from you and other self styled human rights activists tells it own story. Peace with justice once the mantra of your associates, will only come about when the british are removed once and for all from our country. Propping up Stormont or for that matter the other brit created partitionist institution Leinster House wont contribute to this but rather just prolongs the occupation.
And what would you suggest we do to change this Tony?
I believe the GFA has run it’s course and even after 20 years unionism is simply only picking the few pieces in it which suits their agenda and ignoring/breaching the remainder of it, especially the “Irish” bits.
I am fed up with the way it has NOT been fully implemented and my thought nowadays is ……….bring on Irish unity and the quicker the better.
“I believe the GFA has run it’s course and even after 20 years unionism is simply only picking the few pieces in it which suits their agenda and ignoring/breaching the remainder of it, especially the “Irish” bits.”
Which parts have been ignored or breached?
“I am fed up with the way it has NOT been fully implemented and my thought nowadays is ……….bring on Irish unity and the quicker the better.”
In what way has it not been fully implemented?
The DUP is running rings round SF. They are appointing smart young articulate media-savvy advisers and assistants while SF using the public purse to reward ageing veterans of the conflict or long-standing , often uncritical, (dare I say unthinking?) supporters of the Party. This is a variant of the old criterion for appointments or promotion in teaching.”Ah, sure his/her granny makes great soda bread!”. Understandable in the nineties and early noughties but totally unfit for contemporary purpose. hence no progress on an irish Language Act, conflict resolution, the Maze project or justice for victims. And a distinct fall-off in the nationalist/ republican vote. Plus progressive moves on selection at 11 plus being thrown into reverse. Sad, sad, sad.
g.f.a..got.fuck.all.
Are the Irish a race now?
The GF Agreement has anaesthetised the Nationalist/Republican people of Ireland into a dull sense of finality and a false belief of achievement. Is it not the case that in the 6 counties the British government and the unionist parties believe – well now that you have your GFA, your meager aspirations and your ‘parity of esteem’ – we want you to shut up, be quite and get on with it? The British Government and unionists want a “normal British’ and complient society.
In my book the tribal hatreds continue unabated within some in our society, but in a more subtle and insidious way. Brexit demonstrates a clear ambiguity and paranoia in the unionist mindset. Go on, scratch the surface!!
Time for Nats/Republicans to awaken to the reality of where we are at, and more importantly where we really are going with all of this. We continue to appease unionism but little is seldom reciprocated. The GFA is meant to be a blueprint for progressive change. Time now to reopen the dialogue and impliment the next stages of development towards a new inclusive society. And yes, we must not ignore the elephant in the room – the reunification of our island. Reforms are overdue both north and south and the building of a New Ireland must be our common goal.
We all welcome progress – but many fear change.