The DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the choice is clear for the Parades Commission – whether to apply the law and restore confidence or “succumb”. Portadown Orangemen should be allowed complete the parade which has been in existence since the 1800s, he said.
I’m tempted to utter several profanities but I’ll confine myself to “My sweet Lord!” There are two gaping, massive holes in Robinson’s argument on behalf of the Portadown Orangemen.
The first is that he believes that since the Orangemen have been doing this parade since the 1800s, that supports their demand to parade there today. A word in your shell-like, Gav son: Slavery was going strong during the 1800s, but since then we’ve all seen the cruelty and absurdity of such a system. In the 1800s neither men nor women had a vote. The death-penalty was unquestioned for a range of crimes. What I’m saying, Gav son, is that the human race has tried to do better in those areas.Know what I’m saying?
The second and equally powerful argument was extended this morning by Chris Donnelly on Raidio Uladh. He asked “If the people of the Garvaghy Road are urged to permit a simple brief parade of a small number of Orangemen down the Garvaghy Road, it then would presumably be OK for a small number of republicans to parade down the Shankill Road – it’d be brief and just a small number, all over in no time.” The truth is, the people of the Shankill would not for a moment consider agreeing to such an arrangement. And ditto Garvaghy Road.
We live in a society where equal rights should be granted to all. Right, Gav son?
Correct Jude.
Why should the people of the Garvaghy Road have this issue kicked up to them again because of the incompetence of the Parades Commission?
There is nothing stopping the return march to return the way it came – the shortest route. This minimises the disruption that the general public have to endure to facilitate the march.
The Orange Order has a full 2 days every year to march and celebrate their traditions. The marching ‘season’ goes on a bit longer and the general public and authorities facilitate it. Agreement has been reached on numerous contentious parades throughout the North.
The MP for the area was publicly condemning matches that weren’t wanted earlier this year and she’s now demanding a right that isn’t being denied. The hypocrisy is exemplary.
Hopefully the horror of Drumcree past history will not be repeated.
Gavin believes Unionists can do whatever they want. He has the same attitude as his body doppelganger Paisley had. Orange/Protestant/British equals good. Green/Catholic/Irish bad. Forget the spectacle of bowler hatted Mister Ben lookalikes engaging in battle with RUC and Brits. Forget Billy Wright and Swinger Fulton strutting about like generals, being cheered on by their supporters. Gavin does not care. He does not care.
Very good jude