To not get the hysteria over the DUP?

[dingit]

Cropping up on Facebook statuses today, photos with rainbows to stand against them.
I admit until last week I knew nothing about them. A quick look at their website does not show them to be homophobic, racist etc. And surely Teresa May has bigger worries than LGBT rights? They have 10 seats!
I'm not posting to be goady, I genuinely don't get it?

dingit what you've written is so offensive. 'Let's hope it dies down over there'. Three young boys were murdered by the terrorist branch of the UDA over the Drumcree march. Irish people have been putting up with their shite for too many years. I still remember Ian Paisley calling people like me scum, even though we've lived on our island since the iron age. But as long as it doesn't affect you eh...

I am sorry for your loss Syc

Fwiw I don't vote dup but I want to remain a part of the uk.

I'm a unionist. Northern Ireland has been part of the union since 1800 (formally with the act of union) and I would like to keep it that way.

My family roots are in the uk.

I use the uk health service and could never afford the drugs I have to take in the Irish system.

I want to get the full benefit of the pension I have paid in to (public sector worker)

I don't want to have no choice of what type of school to send my kids to. The disruption to the education system will be immense. The Irish do not do a levels or gcse

I want r plates compulsory

I want abortion rights the same as the rest of the uk

And so on.

I have only ever been once to a Twelfth when I was a small child. I vote alliance.

I will respect the democratic wishes of the people of Northern Ireland but I do not want to join with Ireland

I don't support any kind of terrorism to the aims of either leaving or remaining with and I would never suppprt anyone who wishes to use terrorism to achieve their aims.

I am totally a unionist.

If Northern Ireland voted to join with Ireland then I would seriously consider leaving.

But that does not for one second mean I condone terrorism.

And I do think there is a notion to those on both sides that by stating your position means you condone the terrorist actions done in your name. I do not.

The 3 boys were called the Quinns

User I find what you've written offensive, that's where the issue of Northern Ireland lies.
Putting up with their shite

My family have been here over 200 years, should we just bugger off back to blighty? While Ian Paisley was delivering his hate speeches, the ira where activity trying to murder my father, uncle and many other members of my family who had the ordacity to be in the forces, or farmers in border areas.
It goes both ways, until everyone can accept that, we'll never have a stable country.

Bollocks, italic fail.

If there's something that this thread is telling us it's that any coalition with the DUP is like opening a can with fleas and expecting them to come back after the break.
Too many grievances, too much hate caused by the colonisation of Ireland. That's why we should honour the Good Griday Agreement.
It's also an answer to the OP and other muppets pretending naivety about what's wrong with the DUP. FFS people, stop pretending you're stupid and don't know how fragile the peace in Ireland is. It's like a sleeping volcano. Don't pretend you're stupid enough to not understand that any promises by the DUP regarding religious or national matters aren't worth that fucking goatskin they're waiting to dry for so the Queen can have her very important speech archived.
The DUP will definitely want concessions. The Tories don't give a damn about the people, peace or anything else except for their interests. They want hard Brexit because they want to make Britain a great state for the upper 2% who have their money secured elsewhere. They want hard Brexit and the power and would make a coalition with the Devil if that means that they'll stay in the government. And if that means a cull of human and democratic rights one by one than so be it. Do you really think Boris Johnson, Steve Baker, Theresa May or Amber Rudd and Michael Gove really care about the impact of a no deal on the people? The fuck they do. And if there's bombs or attacks as a result of destroying the Good Friday Agreement, they'll rejoice because for them it will be yet another reason to get rid of the rights of people to protection of their privacy and the rights to free speech.
Britain is on its way to a dystopian society where only the very rich and like-minded are living well and once this is done, they won't hesitate to throw all the little people who cheered them under the privatised bus.

And if that means a cull of human and democratic rights one by one then so be it.

One of my most right wing facebook friends has just posted an article why we should have nothing to do with the DUP.
This is an issue across political parties and not just Labour scaremongering.
Uncertain and scary times.

Sunnymorning: "If Northern Ireland voted to join with Ireland then I would seriously consider leaving."

Do you mind if I ask why? NI seems to me to get quite a raw deal from the UK. Do you think you would get a worse one as part of Ireland?

I have explained.

Firstly I don't want to be a citizen of Ireland. My identity is British and if there was a vote that meant that Northern Ireland was joining with Ireland I wouldn't want to stay. I don't want to be Irish. Have nothing at all against the Irish. Nothing against the country or the people at all. But I don't want to be one.

Second. The NHS. I get massive amount of drugs every month I couldn't afford.

Third. Catholic schools. And the higher education system.

bur ultimately for me. I'm British. And I want to stay that way.

I do not in any way condone any violence or terrorism of any kind and I am sure and certain if and when the day comes that Northern Ireland is to join with Ireland there will be Troubles all over again. I don't want to be a part of that. My family was riven by the last lot of Troubles and the hurt is incalculable to anyone not involved and I'd rather not go there again.

So I will leave. And settle in the uk where my views on abortion, gay fights and the like are more mainstream.

And before you ask why I haven't gone already - I have kids here who have to finish their Education

Gay RIGHTS

DAMN PHONE voice thing

hackmum - The education system is much better than in Ireland or the greater UK. We would lose the NHS, an NHS that many Irish people travel across the border to make use of coincidentally, Ireland couldn't actually afford to have NI, and last time I checked they weren't actually all that keen on having NI. We have a different Legal System, which would cause a massive disruption to all manner of law and order, and a different currency, so even just the financial impact of suddenly declaring NI to be Ireland would be potentially devastating. Also a vote to unite Ireland would without a doubt see a return to violence on a devastating scale.

Syc, I too am sorry for your loss.

Implants what on earth makes you think I haven't been scarred by the troubles? I grew up there in border county. I have my losses too. I still do not condone either the DUP or SF.

Terrorists on both sides have acted like absolute savages, make no mistake. And nothing in my eyes justifies the murder of innocent civilians.

In answer to sunny's point, I have no issue with people declaring their position as unionist/nationalist. However, there is a big difference between doing that by voting UUP versus DUP. Or SDLP versus SF. The drift to extremism is very saddening.

You always have the choice to vote for a non terrorist affiliated party. And if maintaining your position is more important to you than distancing yourself from terrorist affiliated parties, then that's your choice, but have a think about what that says about your priorities.

I don't know what the way forward is for NI. It's an expensive millstone round the UK's neck. God knows what will happen after Brexit and particularly, if Scotland declares independence. You're absolutely right Syc, there's no appetite at all to take it on in the Republic, though they will never say this officially.

Ni... is an expensive millstone round the UK's neck - very nice, thanks.

LaurieMarlow - did you follow NI politics before the most current election?

I grew up there, Syc. My extended family still lives there.

That assessment may sound harsh, but I think it's fair. NI is hugely expensive for the UK as it takes much more than it contributes to the tax pot. It's a troubled country currently in a fragile peace. It's sucked up a huge amount of the UK's political, emotional, mental energy over the years.

Colonial Britain created it, so I don't feel too bad for them.

For many people though Laurie the most important issue is in or out of the uk. And they vote for the party that will enable that in their constituency.

For example if the unionist had a split vote in many areas it would let SF in. And many unionists don't want that so they vote for the party most likely to keep SF out. It's just a form of tactical voting. Which, after all, happens in the uk at every election.

I don't think the rest of the UK should be crying about how expensive NI is. To quote another poster on another thread "You broke it, you fix it"
I'm from a different background to Sunny and I don't want a united Ireland either.
For all the reasons Syc listed.
I don't know what the solution is but I really am frightened about a return to violence. I don't want that for my children.
I'm starting to wonder if the DUP want direct rule, that would put them in quite a strong position. Time will tell. They don't seem to be interested in sorting out this country at the moment.

"I've never heard of Hitler before but a quick browse of his speeches on YouTube didn't mention anything about genocide and mass-slaughter of millions in death camps, it's all a load of hysteria isn't it?"

Anyway.

My thanks to the NI posters for their willingness to share their experiences and insight; I am no expert but always trying to learn more.

I don't know what the way forward is for NI. It's an expensive millstone round the UK's neck

Well, generally in life if you break something you're expected to take responsibility. The mishandling of Ireland and then later N Ireland by the UK government, and the English crown before that, resulted in the situation we have today. To complain about the cost seems churlish to me.

Ah sorry Laurie I just realised you made the same point.

treaclesoda It's frustrating that the solution obviously proposed is to cut NI loose and hope Ireland takes it in. Ridiculous.

To call it an expensive millstone round the uk neck is to switch the focus to the uk and take it away from the thousands and thousands of victims. And that seems wrong to me.

And Maudlin !

My outrage ran away with me, like the true N Ireland person that I am

I think the DUP and Sinn Fein both could have reasons for being relatively happy about direct rule. It could push through things that they know will be unpalatable to voters here eg water charges and Brexit. Then they can stand back and say 'nothing to do with us'. Sinn Fein would gain if any moves were made to extend abortion or gay marriage because they could take credit for it on one hand, because they wanted it, but also distance themselves from it if any Catholic voters found their consciences troubled. Win win.

Treacle I think I may have quoted you with you break it, you fix it Does it sound familiar? It's hard to keep up