To laugh at the irony of the Orange Lodge's "pro-union" march ?

[whitebits]

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/10/orange-order-pro-union-parade-edinburgh-better-together

...because they are such a lovely, fluffy, welcoming, cuddly bunch aren't they ? I mean, they're all about unity and everyone living peacefully side by side, aren't they ?

Jesus Christ, the eyes of so many are on Scotland at the moment. Irrespective or whether you are voting yes or no, surely this can only be seen as a fucking embarassment to what is supposed to be a forward thinking country. (And I feel exactly the same about the green brigade and their marches before anyone starts with that shite...)

Just hope there is no trouble tomorrow.

Fucking embarrassment sums it up. And I am voting No.

Yuuup.

Shameful. That makes me embarrassed to be Scottish.

I'm embarrassed for the decent people up there. It is ridiculous.

they're all about unity and everyone living peacefully side by side

Couldn't have put it better myself, personally I'd be happy to see them all taken to a remote island where they can march away to their heart's content without disrupting the daily lives of everyone else.

katiegee I've suggested that in the past as well. I'm mortified that in this day and age there are still many Scots (predominantly in Glasgow and the surrounding areas) that believe in this utter shite.

I overheard a woman talking the other day about a "mixed marriage" and assumed that she meant a black, indian or asian man/ woman marrying a white man/woman. In fact she was talking about a catholic and a protestant marrying. God help us.....

YANBU at all but the Union is what the Orange Order is all about, I'm really surprised they haven't been much more vocal about it all. Try living in NI if you want to feel mortification - having to put up with this shite every year like clockwork.

We have it every year in Glasgow. Couple of hundred marches each year I think (off to Google the numbers).

Likely to achieve more yes votes than no id have thought

I didn't know that it was anything like that many whitebits! Flip, I can vaguely understand the point of them marching in NI, what exactly are the marching for in Glasgow? And I'd imagine they're not going to take a "yes" vote easily.

The Orange Order are "Permitted Participants" for No, registered with the Electoral Commission, so no, they wouldn't take kindly to a Yes vote (and, inevitably some have threated to leave the country ).

But why in the name of the wee man they thought this was a good idea, I'll never understand. We've had Gordon, and Nick, and David, and Jim all wandering our streets this past week, Nigel today, and this massive march tomorrow...

There are some OO members who will vote Yes though, arguing that their loyalty is to the Queen, not the Union. It's a complicated thing, this yes/no question.

whitebits - it's shocking isn't it? even coming from Northern Ireland I'm still shocked to hear people refer to a marriage between a catholic and Protestant as a 'mixed marriage'

We should get an atlas out and start looking for that island!

Bruthas - I'm not an expert on the history of the situation but it's to do with the large Irish immigrant population that settled in Glasgow which then gave rise to the whole Catholic/Protestant divide.

We're not all neanderthal, honest ! There are lots of lovely, normal folk up here who could not give a shiny shit if you are Catholic or Protestant but unfortunately a mad minority still exist.

The link below quotes the number of marches during 2012 (couldn't find more recent figures). And these are only for Glasgow, I believe there are marches elsewhere too...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18632890

We have the orange order marches down here in the SW of England too.

Why can't we stop them and their outdated ideas. They're a good reason to vote yes and I'd be a no voter.

Pink - ffs, what are they doing down there ??? Whenever anyone had a moan to me about the English I would think "well at least they don't have the bloody Orange Walks !"

Depressing isn't it.

If the Orangemen are voting no, I'm pretty sure that will push a few more people over the edge to yes.

I'm not one for banning free expression but I do wish we could stop the marches.

I'm sure there are more marches In glasgow than Belfast. It makes no sense to me.

In belfast, one half the city is flying Scotland flags to support the No vote as they wish to remain UK. The other half of the city is flying Scotland flags for the Yes vote, to break up the UK.

They are the same flags. It's ridiculous.

My Irish Catholic uncle once suggested the Irish chainsaw Northern Ireland into a separate island and leave them to it. I'm a English Protestant and I'm starting to wonder if creating the Island of Scotland is the way to go...

Chipp - but then what about all us normal folk that would be left with the loonies !

Bright - that's exactly what is concerning me. Some (hopefully a minority) people will be voting based on their dislike (hatred if it's not too strong a word) of Catholics or Protestant rather than basing a decision on the arguments put forward in support of or against independence.

Northern Irish Protestants are descendants of Scottish Protestants.

Normal folk will be welcome to move in to replace any nutters who decide the Islands of Scotland or Northern Ireland are their dream homes.

On a serious note I truly despair of people who believe in the whole Catholic / Protestant argument.

I grew up with this crap. A benefit of living down south is that my kids are totally unaware about all this shite.

I'm in edinburgh and there will 100% be trouble with the football hooligans happens every year!!

William of Orange landed nearby allegedly, so it's the meeting place to celebrate. I couldn't believe it when I got trapped in the flipping march.