Boris Becker once said, after a closely-fought and long-drawn-out game which had people arguing and applauding/condemning: “Nobody died out there”.
I thought the same as I took part in the Nolan show on BBC Raidio Uladh/Radio Ulster this morning.
Who would have thought that one little ten-minute period of Irish tricolour display could cause such shrill outrage from unionist politicians? The contention seemed to be that this was the UK, Stormont was the seat of local government and therefore no Irish flag should be launched for public viewing. When I pointed out to Stephen Nolan and Jim Allister that if they were indignant about the launching to an elevated point of an Irish tricolour, they’d better brace themselves because it was going to happen again and again and again throughout the north over the next month – when I said that, I could hear in their reaction amazement. What was I talking about? So I explained. On bonfire after Twelfth bonfire, this year as every year, the Irish tricolour will be displayed for weeks on end, and then burned to cheers from the crowd. It is so much a part of what happens here every year that people have almost ceased to actually see it. And yet they talk with deep irritation at this ‘provocative, insulting’ act of flying the Irish flag at Stormont for ten minutes.
When’s the last time you heard a unionist politician come out and condemn this primitive tricolour-burning activity? When’s the last time you heard a unionist politician come out and condemn the many loyalist paramilitary flags that decorate lamp posts throughout the greater Belfast area? Me neither.
There’s something psychologically out of kilter when politicians get outraged about a ten-minute display of a flag and don’t pour their energies into presenting a united front, maybe along with Scotland and Wales, against the Conservative cuts that are being made in health, social services, education. People’s lives will be stunted, some people will even die because of these cuts. Yet unionist politicians are eager to co-operate with their implementation and indignant that nationalist and republicans won’t do likewise.
Dear God. In an area where people may well die, there’s no fire in the unionist belly. But mention ten-minute’s worth of an Irish tricolour and they’re outraged to a man. Honest, guys: nobody died up there.
Sorry I missed the show this morning, bet they felt really stupid when they realised the trap they’d walked into, excellent point well made. None can be so blind as they who will not see (or something like that)
Great piece Jude, I really have nothing to add as its all been said before. Well done!
Go raibh maith agat, Michael…
Jude, I still think that Barrister Alistair said ‘………… inviting a revolution’ before his conversation became unintelligible. That was the breach of the peace. The hordes of demented unionists armed with scythes and pikes and ceremonial swords arriving at the gates of Stormont to defend the union. Where would you get it? And they even have the brass neck to compare the ‘government’ of the six counties with other ruling capitals throughout the world.
Katitude
This part of the island is the laughing stock of the world. All of a sudden, in spite of being told, ad nauseam, “there is no money”, police resources are being deployed at interface areas. A policing bill in excess of £15million at Twaddell Avenue does not appear to bother some elected representatives, the British Prime Minister or the proconsul who does not even feel the need to scold anyone about such financial maladministration. Children beating drums have an ability to close roads as ‘peace walls’ proliferate exponentially with the passing of the years since the signing of Comhaontú Aoine an Chéasta/Good Friday Agreement.
Loyalists may feel the need to burn Irish flags and tyres in order to deal with insecurities associated with identity. HM Queen Elizabeth II had no difficulty treating the Irish flag with respect in London or Dublin. The neurasthenic reaction of some elected politicians to an Irish flag says more about a set of dysfunctional priorities and nothing about the delivery of just and impartial government.
It is clear for all to see that political unionism is more comfortable with antagonism than reconciliation given the sectarian, racist and partitioned state of this country. Political unionism cannot face the reality of a choice between equality or neutrality in relation to symbols. Political unionism may act as an impediment to the promotion of inclusivity, tolerance and respect, however, the majority of people on this island and throughout the world gaze in disbelief at the political Canute’s who are being left behind by time and tide.
Take it down from the mast, Fenian traitors
Tis costing Sommy a blast in defibrillators !
The apron of the butcher
Is what suits the toucher
Soon Lily ‘n Milly can’t afford their vibrators.
Mighty Perk …you naughty boy!
Or, Paddykool, a chara, to quote the Dowager Dame Warbeck from yesteryear when asked her assessment of the then infant terrible known as Perkie og:
-: ‘naughty – but noisome’.
PS Yesterday’s Nolan Show might well have been better suited to the Ulster Hall or even the King’s Hall itself, when Esteemed Blogmeister, by all accounts, not only managed to suckerpunch his TUV-guy opponent but also the corpulent referee as well.
And with such finesse that would have earned a thumb’s up from Jose ‘Mantequilla’ Napoles himself who was an acknowledged exponent of the sucker-punch.That great Cuban-born and Mexico City-domiciled world’s welterweight champ earned the sobriquet ‘mantequilla’ as his ring-craft was as ‘smooth as butter ‘ even as he suckered his opponents on to this trademark left-hook haymaker.
Jude ‘Mantequlla’ Collins, anyone?
It also calls into question – and it gives Perkie’s inner netural ringside judge no joy at all in saying this – the authenticity of Jim Allister’s self-proclaimed and thistle-prickly devotion to his Caldeonian heritage.
One understands that in virtual reality the TUV tough-guy earns a crusty crust or two thousand a day as a barrister. Which would seem to assume a certain forensic attention to the detail of one’s opponent. In the lead up to a day in court or in the roped square of the radio studio. this would presumably involve paying special attention to his strengths and more importantly to his weaknesses, in any.
Even a journeyman undercard slugger such as Punch-drunk Perkie (record: 100-1-99) knows that Jude ‘Mantequilla’ Collins (see above) is a recognised master or the rules which govern the Marquis of the Queen’s English. And that he had honed a particular skill, oops, skill set with regard to, erm,, The Scottish Play.
And that he was liable to bewitch his antagonist by producing one of the most celebrated uppercuts from that drambuie drama. Thus, laying, at any given mo, his foe low.
-to win us with honest trifles, and betray us in deepest consequence.
Talk about a telegraphed punch ! A Belfast Telegraphed punch, even.
Once can easily imagine the embarrassed look on the face book of the gracious victor even as the bar-room barrister lay spreadeagled in an unseemly sprawl on the studio floor in front of him, the bight one’s lights switched off.
Even at a mere 24 hours on, the trickle down effect of the hoisting of the ten-minute Tricolour over Stormont is such that it is fast bidding to become the most acclaimed flag hosting since Old Glory was hoisted by six GI grunts over an outlying Japanese island in the Pacific..
Indeed, the similarities between the two hoistings are so uncanny that even a canny petard like Iwo Jima Allister would think twice (assuming such a prodigious mental effort would not be beyond his normal one-thought-at-a-time style) about pursuing same.
One instance will suffice: of the wee six grunts who raised the Stars and Stripes, one was mis-identified. The grunt who did not get the credit (?) first time around was (gulp) Harlon H. Block, a 20-year old native of Yorktown, Texas. The Seventh Day Adventist was mortally wounded seven days later by an enemy mortar on the same volcanic island..
Some other grunt got the credit for the hoisting of Old Glory. A claim which was disputed by an eruptive Belle Block, the mom of Harlon H. Block. When, after studying the celebrated snap, for approximately a half a nano-second, she snorted in perfectly reasonable maternal terms:
-Doggone ! I’ve changed so many diapers on that boy’s butt, I jest know it’s my boy’.
This verdict was confirmed when one of the other wee six grunts, name of – look away, I.J. Allister ! – (gasp) Ira Hayes. Who hitchhiked to Yorktown, Texas to confirm Mom Block’s verdict to Pop Block. The latter being at something of a disadvantage, not having done, seemingly, too many diaper changes in his time.
Come to think of it, the famous Kodak moment of Old Glory on Iwo Jima was not actually the first but (as distinct from butt) the second.
Any chance, Esteemed Blogmeister, of a second hoisting of Old Eyesorey over Stormont?
Sayonara, a chara.
Their apparent anxiety and insecurity makes me ,momentarily ,want to put my arm around them ( like with a frightened child ) and say ……there, there ,everything will be alright . However reality soon kicks in …..these are manipulative opportunistic naysayers …..it’s everything British or nothing , equality means loss , it’s top dog or nothing……they dream of their “cloud cuckoo” utopian past where the sun constantly shone on the chosen people ,where a loyal RUC with their sidekicks …The B Specials , made sure the natives knew their place ,and stayed in it. Sadly for them it’s all gone ,flushed down the toilet of history , the natives do know their place and are willing to share it ……equally ,but that ,presently , is the unpalatable reality that Unionism must face….the tide is not in their favour !
Now Seamus, that’s just brilliant. Honestly, I mean it. Maith Thu mo chara.
As Gerald said re: your Comment Seamus, – Perfectly put, and well said. Fair dues to you.
Jude
When was the last time I heard a Unionist politician condemn this activity? Last year.
Danny Kinahan:
“There is no place in such a celebration for any acts that are deliberately aimed to offend and provoke and we should all act responsibly and seek to promote good community relations and show respect for others.
“With that in mind, I would call on all those organising bonfires to act responsibly and ensure they are as inclusive and family-friendly as possible.”
Stewart Dickson:
“There is no place for this type of behaviour in this day and age.
“It is very disrespectful to people from other backgrounds and shows a total lack of tolerance and respect.
It is hypocritical for those who call for respect for their culture, if they then seek to burn images and displays from other cultures on bonfires.”
Although I agree with the thrust of your article your hyperbole does not help your case.
Also do you not think it was a pretty stupid stunt by whoever put it up?
Point taken, gio – I stand corrected. That said, the two sentences that jump out at me are Stewart Dickson’s ““It is very disrespectful to people from other backgrounds and shows a total lack of tolerance and respect. It is hypocritical for those who call for respect for their culture, if they then seek to burn images and displays from other cultures on bonfires.” I’d also note that Stewart is an Alliance MLA – they are unionist, right? – and that Danny Kinehan has been welcomed on all sides as a truly liberal MLA. Where were the voices of the DUP, TUV, PUP, even the leader of the UU? So yes, I was wrong in my claim or implication that no unionist spoke out against this kind of primitive behaviour, that goes on every year and on so many bonfires. But there’s a much louder chorus coming out about this 10-min wind-up. Stand back a little, gio, and ask yourself: why is the flag of one side of the community (and paramilitary flags) everywhere, with no complaint from anyone; and the flag to which nearly half the population would incline unflown and burnt to cheers? The answer is simple: unionist politicians feel that to give any ground on flags is something that might lose them votes. Think how different things could be if unionist politicians were to say: ‘OK, while we’re part of the UK, we also accept that a very large section of the populace have united Ireland loyalties. With that in mind, we’ll arrange for a series of occasions on which the Irish tricolour will be flown alongside the Union flag’. Now if I heard that, I would say unionist politicians are serious about reconciliation. The reaction to this stunt has exposed unionist refusal to make the smallest of conciliatory gestures on the flag. In my view, that will prove ultimately to be a self-destructive stance.
Jude
I don’t need to stand back I already agree with you as I said. And I would really like to see an unequivocal condemnation from Robinson for all the flag burning nonsense.
Having said that I still feel it was a stupid childish stunt and needlessly provocative.
Flags are divisive here. This was a divisive act.
The kind of stunt we expect from Unionism, in fact
You have a point, gio. I suppose I’m more forgiving of the stuntman/woman …No, almost certainly man – because it was a tricolour was involved. That’s my prejudice laid on the table. But I’m also more forgiving because it’s a pimple to the mountain of Union flag flying in a divided state and the ritual burning of tricolours on bonfires year in, year out.
Giordanobruno,
Let’s not forget a member of the largest, governing, Unionist party in NI colony; the DUP’s Paul Garvin, contended on radio the Unionist community’s annual mass burning of our Irish Tricolour is (supposedlly) part of Unionist culture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAnpqjrKZaI
Ruaidri
Yes I remember. Girvan I think it was.. Disgraceful and makes you despair.
If we must have flags we should try to show a basic respect for them or at least ignore them. (Referring to the ‘butcher’s apron’ is not very helpful either I am sure you agree.)
I would ban all flags for at least 5 years and fly only a black flag on public occasions in memory of all the lives lost in our futile conflict.
That will not happen of course.
Now that is a good idea – I’d back that. Along with a five-year ban on ALL parades.
Although we are dealing with a probable prank with the prankster probably enjoying the effects of his/her mirth making over a couple of pints in the pub, make no bones about it the over-reaction of by unionist politicians is an example of thinly veiled but all to predictable Anti-Irish racism.
If this is the reaction over a 10 minute display of the Irish flag in a shared space what can we expect when it goes up for good?
Not surprising, the unionists view the world through orange tinted glasses. Hierarchy of victims, collusion, and in many cases their own involvement ion the past( yes Peter Robinson, Third Force, Clontibret). An inclusive society to them means all their ‘values’ are included and not much else. Will we see “KAT” painted on kids faces? When I read about the ‘unionist outrage’ yesterday, the first thing that came to mind was the bonfires with the Tricolors on them( or was it the Ivory Coast?)
Who removed said flag, Jude? It couldn’t have been the PSNI as they don’t get involved and leave it to local representatives to sort our such issues.
The only thing that loyalists consider sharing is the toxic fumes from their bonfires. They hate everything Irish and green, including the environment.
It does remind me however of a James Young monologue “In the Year 2001” where a shipyard worker dies and is shown what is to him hell.
“The big City Hall stood in state.
With a tri-colour flying above it
And two Civic Guards at the gate.
That was only the start of the torment
I soon was to learn all the facts.
The Pope was living in Stormont”
Maybe Jimmy was psychic or more likely it shows that unionist attitudes haven’t really changed in the 50 plus years since the piece was written.
When therapists are treating patients with phobias like fear of spiders and dogs they sometimes use a technique called exposure therapy. Where the patient is exposed to their fear a little at a time. Maybe this flag flying prank could be used as the first treatment session. Next week 15mins the week after 20mins! Joking aside the unionist strategy of not an inch worked well for them in the past as they held all the power. This will only change when the balance of power is spread and this will only happen when nationalists get out and vote in greater numbers. .you get the politicians you deserve.
Where you ever at Sprucefield Park n Ride? Judging by the Union flags that deck every lamp post around the parameter that Park n Ride is 100% British!
were*
Loyalists are very green they are in favour of recycling nationalists and republicans couldn’t get much greener than that……
(jude before you say anything its a joke)
Mmm. Echoes of that Scottish guy who recommended shovelling all Catholics into a furnace. Anybody remember him? George Something? Seawright, maybe???
Yes George Seawright did he say incinerate when he meant to say incarcerate if so that that is pure comedy genius and fairly normal for Belfast city council!
That’s the man then! One shouldn’t speak ill of the dead – I believe he was killed some years later – but I don’t remember any suggestion that he’d got his words mangled. He sounded like a guy who knew what he wanted….
Getting back to the central of Judes blog I for one found it quite funny what they did and doesn’t cause me any offence whatsoever quite ingenious in fairness perhaps we could use the same people to fix our welfare issues?
Neill – there are times when I admire you. Is there something I can take for it??
You saying you don’t admire me all the time? ; )
Only when I’m feeling poorly…
Neill, I think you’re onto something when you suggest we could use these people for our welfare issues.
Martin McGuinness would only have to whisper in Peter Robinson’s ear: ‘How would you like to see a couple of tricolours flying again? I was thinking of Belfast City Hall, the Titanic Building and maybe on Napoleon’s Nose’.
It would frighten the crap out of the unionist side of the negotiations, and you never know, it might just provide a bit of motivation.
Another thought about this flegs caper: We have a Stormont inquiry, to be overtaken by a PSNI inquiry, special questions to be asked by Jim Allister, and a day to be set aside to debate this calamitous issue.
Think of the number of murder victims’ families who have not had such attention in the case of their loved one being murdered by close associates of those throwing hissy fits at the moment.
Maybe its a sign of things to come? Who would have thought a few years ago that their union flag would have been restricted days flying over city hall.
What i like about life – nothing stays the same, nothing is permanent. I love reading up on history of my local area etc. I’m a member of Clogher Historical Society. Its amazing to find out, that my own town Monaghan was once a strong Unionist town with all businesses own by protestants. thats all changed now.
So to will the 6 counties and that Stormount hayshed.
Does it cause you happiness that Monaghan town no longer has most of the businesses owned by Protestants?
Hopefully you are not representative of southern irish feeling?
Neil,
oh god no, not at all, i wasn’t implying i was happy with the change of status across the town at all. I was and am of no political or religious feeling about it at all. Its part of my towns heritage so – obviously im interested by it. Ones heritage shouldn’t be selective…
i was just pointing out the changable nature of things – how concrete and rigid an opinion/ regime / process can be, can change over time. ..
A wee project im doing at the minute is – investigating how active the Orange order is in the county. In mid west county Monaghan, there are 10 active orange lodges (10 mile square). All these halls are properly refurbished and maintained. Some even have facebook accounts. There are yearly 12ths & picnics held at these halls.
I think it wonderful that there is freedom of expression, tolerance of other traditions, tolerances of sexual and marriage freedom (last weeks vote… – now in the south
Someday this freedom, equality at all levels & end to one section of the communities pretend supremacy; will be reflected across all the island.
Jude, you certainly laid a trap for that clown Nolan and Jimbo when you mentioned the tricolour being elevated again and again over the next month.They were both bouncing to get at you for “incitement” or the like only for the wind to be instantly taken out of their sails.From now on accept every invitation to participate in “the bigot show in the country” and make them squirm like Nolan did this morning when he was’nt quite sure what Jimbo had accused you of and you replied that you would have to listen to it again.He was desparately trying to avoid litigation of some sort and you could detect it in his panic stricken ramblings.I have no doubt that thousands of others were cheering you on .Well done!
Thank you, Michael. One snag: if you go to the BBC playback of the programme, you will not find that section of the show. You’ll be too young to remember the 13 missing minutes (or was it 11) on the Nixon tapes…
Request that they make the tapes available .Surely they legally can’t refuse you access !
Jude,
I heard you this morning too and I cheered whenever you said about flags in elevated positions all over Belfast next month. I was suspicious about JA’s line going fuzzy just when he was saying something about “inciting revolution” as I understand there is a 20 second delay on live broadcasting.
My atitude towards the Unionists had hardened over the past ten years and I think it’s time to slap back only slap harder. I’m sick of this pussyfooted around them ..showing only kindness and respect..when it’s always thrown back in your face. Best say no more.
So I take it then the Republican outreach to unionism is over then?
Can you understand why republicanism isn’t very popular with unionism?
Well said Angela but say more
I just listened to the BBC playback of the show (Its a pity they edited out them falling into your nicely laid trip, I’d have liked to have heard that). I very much liked your comment regarding trees on leaves and union and loyalist paramilitary flags flying on lamposts haha. George from the Shankill was a laugh but not quite a match for Jim. So so hestitant to condemn the burning of the Irish Tricolour yet positively raging over a mere ten minute flying of it above Stormont.
I actually feel sympathy for those who are wired in such a way whereby they see equality as a bad thing and something to be avoided at all costs.
As an Irish Republican I’d be happy to see gestures of respect to those of a Unionist tradition in the event of an end to partition and the creation of a 32 county Republic. This would include the flying of the Union Jack above government buildings on designated days (despite my personal distaste of that flag and what it represents). It’s all about respect and surely both sides of our divided community showing it to each other is no bad thing!!
Maith thúJude, great piece and contribution on Nolan this morning – Fantastic!
Fair points Dr C.
Also, is it just me or did the Erin flag (the harp) fly (literally) under the radar?
If so, that’s interesting is it not?
“We have a Stormont inquiry, to be overtaken by a PSNI inquiry, special questions to be asked by Jim Allister, and a day to be set aside to debate this calamitous issue”.
jaw-jaw is better than war-war.
NI has moved along – somewhat !!
In 1964 display of a tricolour in Sinn Fein headquarters in a West Belfast backstreet “provoked” the Paisleyites to riot and mayhem for 2 days
https://eurofree3.wordpress.com/2014/01/13/ian-kyle-paisley-highlights-of-his-life-4/
Why shouldn’t the Irish flag be flown all the time over Stormont or anywhere else in the six counties,it’s the flag that should be flown there,it’s part of the 32 counties, the unionists can complain all they like,but they live in Ireland,if they are so fond of Britian and being loyal to it then piss off over to Britian,where the British people will treat you the same as every other Irish person,well maybe not but that’s the unionists own fault for being backward racist bigots,what’s the point of trying to be nice to these hateful racist people?
There is no problem between Irish people and British people now,the only problem is these unionist bigots who can’t and won’t realise that their sectarian geryymandered orange statelet is no more.
Roll on a united Ireland and put an end to this nonsense for good.
So we have to piss off back to the mainland will you pay our airfares and sea fares out of your British benefits then?
No your british masters will pay your fare from your own benefits money,or else cop yourselves on and realise you are all Irish, there is no problem with protestant people this side of the border,
your orange state and sectarian ‘police’ force is no more,wake up and smell the coffee.
the only future and resolution to this historical mess is a 32 county Republic. everyone (Irish and British) realise that apart from the orange bigots.
I don’t have any masters whatsoever let’s clear up one simple fact nobody should have the audacity to tell me if I am Irish or British least of all a squirt like you I presume you read the gfa were you can choose what nationality you are?
When you have to resort to name calling Neill it’s obvious you have lost the argument,so enough said,
I don’t care what you call yourself,but if you were born in Ireland you are in fact Irish,
to any Britsh person you are Irish,I suspect many protestants in the wee six know this anyway,no amount of flags,painting kerbstones or marching in bowler hats can change the fact that you are all in fact Irish people, time to get the tricolour flying up there permanently,it’s a good flag for the job too,as it represents peace between orange and green.
So you haven’t read the good Friday agreement then that’s all you had to say