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?

"No offence but the aspect of the GFA that requires those of us in the Republic to also agree to a united Ireland is often overlooked, some old fellas might still sing about it when they're pissed but no one want the North when they're sober. "

So if the Republic don't want a united Ireland, and NI don't want a united Ireland, then what's the bother? I thought the whole problem WAS that the Republic wanted the British out of the island of Ireland, and to reclaim the North and make it one united Ireland - is that not actually the case then?

Some of NI do want a united ireland

Some of NI want to remain part of the uk.

And therein lies the rub.

Here you go:

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Agar-Robartes

I thought it was a well know and fairly central quote about partition. I'm sorry if it offends you.

I don't think that it is racist myself, I think that it acknowledges the way NI is viewed by the outside world and I think that's worth a little reflection. I've been quite taken aback at how surprised the rest of the U.K. appear to have been that NI still exists, that many of you aren't Irish and that the DUP is a valid voting choice for so many. That you are just, sort of forgotten or perhaps ignored. I assumed you'd want some kind of understanding of that but I see I was wrong.

How can you think that calling unionist "orange bitters" isn't racist?

The mess this thread has descended into is a great illustration of why NI politics are so polarised.

So if the Republic don't want a united Ireland, and NI don't want a united Ireland, then what's the bother? I thought the whole problem WAS that the Republic wanted the British out of the island of Ireland, and to reclaim the North and make it one united Ireland - is that not actually the case then?

I obviously can't speak for every single Irish person but I can say that I've never met anyone under 60 who does. It's expensive, it's troublesome, it has nothing to offer a Republic that's going hell for leather to modernise itself.

We already have fairly high taxation, (our unemployment benefit and basic pension are both around €200 per week), there is no appetite to pay even more for a North that will give us nothing back.

We are also proud Europeans who, frankly, have our eye on the main chance of being the only English speaking country in Europe and would like to offer the Americans the main gateway into the EU. We don't want a hard boarder because we know that there are dissidents who'd kick off and we don't want to see the violence that would result and because, sometimes, their petrol is cheaper.

Syc4moreTrees: "They also have an entirely different legal system and education system, so that leaves those who are trained to work in NI with no opportunity for gainful employment, not to mention difficulties in accessing justice. But yea, probably not insurmountable problems for those who wouldn't face them."

Well, they're not insurmountable, are they? It's not so long ago that most countries in the EU switched currencies. People with law degrees in the UK go and work in other countries, and vice versa. UK universities are full of EU academics - people are constantly moving from one system to another. You can provide options for people to retrain. I'm not saying it won't be difficult, but if there's a will it can be done. Obviously the big problem in NI is that most people don't actually want it. That's what makes it unachievable - not the practicalities.

And for the record silently I never said I was "proud" ulster woman or proud to be British.

That has undertones of shoving that in people's faces that make me uncomfortable.

I just am I prefer to remain British and I would accept the democratic will of the people 110%.

I don't think I've been jingoistic in any way. And I resent the inference in your post that I'm pedalling some kind of agenda.

Sunny, I'm sorry if you've inferred that from my post. I certainly don't think that there is anything wrong with being proud to be British, so it's not what I've implied.

Anyone who is qualified at a uk university won't be qualified to work as a solicitor in Ireland.

Silently. How very dare you say "for a north that will give us nothing back"

We, the people of Northern Ireland as a whole have a lot to give and to characterise us as takers and worthless is racist.

Sunny, you really do seem to be looking to take offence to everything. That's fine, it's no skin off my nose but that the North has nothing to offer the Republic isn't a personal attack on your or yours. To extrapolate that I'm saying that you are worthless is another example of why NI has the reputation it has.

You honestly seem offended that I don't want your country, I don't want Wales either and I've nothing against the Welsh, they seem like perfectly nice people with a beautiful country.

The Irish haven't gone in for colony building much but if we ever do, personally, I'd be in favour of starting with somewhere warmer with less rain.

You didn't say we don't want the north.

You said something completely different that characterised the people of Northern Ireland in a totally negative way.

Which I personally think is wrong.

Actually I stand corrected. I just checked. Solicitors can apply for admission.

But There's 100 years of different laws.

Ha ha ha OP.

Haven't RTFT but that has tickled me.

1. I said NI was expensive are you questioning the level of subsidy you get from the rest of the U.K.?

1. I said that NI was troublesome, are you questioning that you had something that was a civil war in all but name for the best part of 30 years and was known as 'The Troubles'?

1. I said that NI has nothing to offer the Republic. Is there something that I'm not aware of that you'd like to tell me about? Do you have oil, gas or coal even? Some kind of big technology base? Throw me a bone here, what would you bring to a united Ireland that I don't want and you don't want? Before you answer, we've already got crooked politicians and we don't like marching.

hackmum The NI legal system is distinct from Ireland and the UK - the fact you would offer to try and retrain professionals of many years experience practising in a niche area and expect it not to prejudice their employment opportunities is baffling. But yes, lets while we are at it declare no problem insurmountable. I think that would be a good attitude to adopt now that I think about it.

@Sunnymorningwithbacon I'm afraid @SilentlyScreamingAgain has a point. There's no denying that NI is on the up, economically (though it remains to be seen what an impact Brexit has) but at the moment we don't have a lot to offer. Never mind the fact that a United Ireland would reignite the Troubles and it would be the Republic's problem to deal with! Obviously there ARE people in the Republic who passionately believe the island of Ireland should be united but I suspect those in power think differently.

Yawn. Lawyers practice in other countries all the time. They are a bookish lot. You might have noticed?

Whatever the problems might be for a united Ireland, I certainly don't view the LAWYERS as the one INSURMOUNTABLE one.

Please have some thought for the nationalists in the North. My grandfather was 15 when he ended up on the wrong side of the border. He was as Irish as anyone from Donegal then and so am I now.

The British made a terrible mistake in carving up the country due to threats of Unionist violence. The resulting state is unstable, which is why the Unionist parties discriminated against Catholics as they were insecure in their legitimacy.

Personally, whilst I would never vote for SF, I feel only a united Ireland offers a chance for NI to move forward. The rest of Ireland is a progressive modern European society, with a great education system and fantastic potential job opportunities.How does that future compare to welfare-dependent NI?

Sorry to be pedantic but that's not what she said.

She said for a north that will give us nothing back.

And I personally think that's racist.

But seeing as I don't have skin in the game (because I'd leave if that ever happened) then I'll just let her rant on. Won't be for me to have to sort. Not even with bullet points or aggressive questions.

The legal system isn't an issue. Germany managed it, so can we.

I think you're not answering my questions, not because they're bullet pointed but because you've uncomfortable admitting to the answers. You'll give us nothing back because you've nothing to give, that isn't racist, you're not actually a different race, as much as that might pain you.

Listen. A Northern Ireland staying with the uk suits me just fine.

Why don't you head off and be racist somewhere else? And try the we don't want you with someone to whom that matters?

Sunny, you're like a fella who was asked for a dance 20 years ago, said no and is now annoyed to discover that the woman asking is happily married. Pointing that out isn't racist, claiming that someone of the same race as you is being racist towards you is misappropriation.