To think that the rioters in East Belfast are mainly bored teenagers rather than loyalists?

[VestaCurry]

All the news footage I've seen indicates they're between 12-18 years old.

Are they really rioting because of the flag or because it's something to do?

[ginmakesitallok]

Tee - there are 61 integrated schools in N Ireland - with only 5% of children attending one. That means 95% of children in N Ireland still attend a catholic or a protestant school.

[ArielThePiraticalMermaid]

Poor Belfast :(

After everything that's been achieved in the last fifteen years or so.

[JamieandtheMagiTorch]

It's so depressing and self-destructive.

[ginmakesitallok]

And while it's maybe on 1000 people directly involved in the riots, what about the thousands of people who spend July parading, decked in Union Jacks and singing sectarian songs? What about the thousands of people who vote on sectarian lines? What about the people supporting naming a town park after a hunger striker?

[WipsGlitter]

gin that's it totally accurate; my DS attends a 'Protestant' school but he's no religion (mixed marriage - chose not to baptise) and his school is about 1/3 Protestant, 1/3 catholic, 1/3 "other".

I agree there is something 'more' in east Belfast. But I don't get the lament that there's been 'constant' erosion of the Protestant culture, what specifically go they mean? For me a flag is just a symbol, fly the flag, don't fly it. Who really gives a fuck? Cultural identity should bf more than a flag. I also don't know what they hope to achieve now, there's no way it's going to back up or the other side will kick off do its an impasse. Protestant leaders and representatives need to take some leadership and make it clear that is not going to happen.