For all our experience of elections and referendums here in the six counties there is still in some British and unionist quarters a great reluctance to accept the democratic will of the people. There is a reluctance to accept that in the north east of Ireland there are people living here like myself who have an Irish identity and who are proud of that identity. That is why the Irish language is important to me and many others. That is why my Irish passport is important to me. That is why our Irish national games are important and why I recognise the Tricolour as the flag that expresses that identity. It is a flag which recognises the both traditions on this island. That is why I vote for the party or individual who will best protect and promote my identity. When you belong to an oppressed or beleaguered group your identity becomes important to you. That is why I voted for the Belfast Agreement in 1998 because, for the first time in my life, I felt that my identity would be recognised and honoured in law and that my native language would receive equal recognition and funding towards its promotion. It was called ‘parity of esteem’.
Almost 20 years later I find that the parity of esteem promised in the Good Friday Agreement has not happened as I expected it would happen. Nationalists are still second class citizens. I know many people who would be afraid to fly the Tricolour from their homes or gardens the way that some fly the union jack or the Ulster flag or even the Israeli flag! There are many who are still afraid to express their Irish identity even though they live in an island called Ireland. There are parts of the north where Catholics are shown hatred and subjected to racist abuse from Orangemen. The Irish language has not received the recognition and funding promised nor is it recognised in law. And every year, for at least two months of the summer, unionists take over many towns and villages with flags and bunting of a foreign nationality irrespective of the feelings of people with an Irish identity living there. They parade round these towns with marching bands as if they still controlled the Orange state. They say this is about their culture and their right to parade on the queen’s highway.
And now to make matters worse the majority of people of the six counties who voted to remain in Europe are to be denied that wish. They are being forced to accept the Brexit vote of a slight majority in England which will see a return of a border and all the inconvenience and destruction of the economy and social life that goes with that. They are being told you will have to leave Europe and accept the border because the UK voted for that! Just like in 1920 when the Irish were told they would just have to accept Partition even though they did not vote for it. Accept it because the UK government says so. So much for democracy in this part of the world. Or should I say, so much for the way the British regard democracy. That is why I continue to vote in order to express my identity and my desire and determination to have it respected –not just for me but for countless others now and in time to come.
“It is a flag which recognises the both traditions on this island.”
The Union Flag recognises all four traditions on these islands.
“And every year, for at least two months of the summer, unionists take over many towns and villages with flags and bunting of a foreign nationality irrespective of the feelings of people with an Irish identity living there.”
Describing Irish unionists as foreign indicates a very disturbing racism on the part of Father McVeigh.
“They are being forced to accept the Brexit vote of a slight majority in England which will see a return of a border and all the inconvenience and destruction of the economy and social life that goes with that. ”
It is highly unlikely that occasional customs checks will destroy either the economy or social life.
“Just like in 1920 when the Irish were told they would just have to accept Partition even though they did not vote for it.”
The people.in the north-east did vote for it.
Just like in 1920 when the Irish were told they would just have to accept Partition even though they did not vote for it.
The people in the north-east did vote for it.
The people in the north-east didn’t vote for Brexit.
“The people in the north-east didn’t vote for Brexit.”
Some of them did. But I know a majority of those who voted, myself included, voted to remain.
Well the precedent has been set then.
“Well the precedent has been set then.”
What precedent and for what?
Tranona duit Joe.
I’d have, in larger part, agreement with what you say, above, however, my own flag is, and my Uncle, whose Daddi was fighting in the war of independence and civil war, told me, is green white and gold, I hope the Papacy come again soon, but hopefully if they come to the capital, they avoid offers of large Mass at the occupied field’s on the Portadown Rd. Too much ecumenical behavior is poor for religion’s.
I’m sure any foreign led protests at such visit willbe excused with, ‘don’t blame them, it’s their siege mentality’, my own thinking, if they don’t like it, stay at home, preferably by boat.
Such may upset or offend them, and ‘middle of the road’ Catholics but, my opjnion is mine, and I’ve grown up having theirs forced onto me.
The key, post Good Friday Agreement is, who is to blame?
The Agreement itself gives us two. Our own national government, the other co-guarantor, the brit. government, our political parties, SDLP, then our lead negotiators, Sinn Fein, now lead party, and our neighbour’s.
During the election campaign, highlight the failings to their electorate by those we elect and pay.
We didn’t vote for war either Joe but we had to accept that and all it’s consequences: The terror of the black and tans; the civil war; the partition of our country; the pogroms against Catholics in the north by a sectarian state; the outbreak of conflict in the late sixties early seventies with internment and the renewed confrontation between nationalists and the British army; the scourge of sectarian hate gangs; the long and dirty war; the alienation of the people of the south. It seems democracy has been hijacked over the last 100 years
you can hardly complain about the majority voting brexit when you and your ilk were encouraging the open border policy inviting every tom,dick n harry into the country unchecked.what made you think people wouldnt react.
“It is a flag which recognises the both traditions on this island.”
The Union Flag recognises all four traditions on these islands.
Not wishing to be pedantic MT , which you never would be , but where is Wales recognised on The Butcher’s Apron”….sorry , my humblest apologies , ” The Union Flag”
Why is it that MT steadfastly refuses to discuss the history surrounding partition?
What vote are you talking about MT?
Now, now MT no silly one line nonanswer please. Pretty please?
“Why is it that MT steadfastly refuses to discuss the history surrounding partition?”
He doesn’t.
“What vote are you talking about MT?”
The vote in 1918.