Worried about Drumcree

[Dogdogdogdig]

I feel like an interloper here and apologies if this isnt in the right place.

im really worried about the decision over Drumcree and I can’t see it ending well today either way.

I have no time for Jamie Bryson or Carla Lockhart and it seems that tensions have been stoked on both sides.

My parents (and one set of grandparents) were a mixed marriage - my mum and dad moved to England in the 1960s, and my granny and grandpa moved back in the late 70s/80s once they retired. Im aware I don’t have enough if a real understanding, but I have enough to be worried.

again, im sorry if this is the wrong place or offensive.

Yes, it does. I am assuming they expected the psni to force it down. At least they didn’t do that even if the language of the chief super was designed to incite trouble. Thankfully both sides avoided that.

The OO's brand of Ulster Loyalism along with Bryson's brand of Unionism is no longer welcome.

I cannot see how unionists cannot recognise the heartless stupidity of partition nor bang on about 1690. Literally.

I think it's possible to celebrate your religion, and the Glorious Revolution and the Boyne (which it meant to be a celebration of the Bill of Rights & the limitation of state power) in a way that doesn't extend to besmirching Catholicism. It really has to evolve. Ironically, it works against them - most Protestant men want nothing to do with the OO, they are mortified by it.

Sadly not over yet.

Will the DUP collapse Stormont?

@AInightingale Consider a parade celebrating the Irish War of Independence through Loyalist areas.

Completely within their rights to celebrate Irish Independence. Completely within their rights to ignore the British Remembrance Day - as of course they do anyway. And of course the unapproved Easter Rising parades. That's their culture.

As an aside. No matter who is parading, those who criticise the police for not breaking up any parade have not one iota about the potential immediate & very dangerous ramifications.

Yes I know what you mean @celticnations. But merely containing marches within one community doesn't really help the reconciliation process. Nationalists will describe Orangeism as inherently sectarian and bigoted, unionists find commemorations of republican activity repugnant. Doesn't seem to be much in the way of self-examination or self-awareness. They're all so tone-deaf.

It’s not tone deaf. When you have been the ruling class for so long, any aspect of compromise or even equality feels like failure. That is the crux of the issue.

I think all matches should just be banned tbh.

in regards to republican matches, the difference is they don’t want to march down areas they aren’t wanted. 96% of orange matches are non contentious (nearly 3 thousand) because they don’t impinge (much) on anyone’s rights. As someone from the north orange marches genuinely scare me. I’ve accidentally driven into one and I automatically lock my doors and think of what name I can use, where I can say I’m from and what I’m doing there. If they tried to march down my road (a mixed area) I’d sit on the road too.

I’m a Catholic who lives in NI. I’d much rather wake up to an orange lodge parade walking past my house than a republican parade.

Sure you are hafig. Your pps suggest otherwise.

And still it goes on and on. Jamie has organized a protest of sorts this Saturday. He has now come out and said that the 'mob' were armed with guns & petrol bombs. And he just after gaining his Masters in law based on his knowledge of parades 🤣 The man is as crazy as Clodagh Byrne at this stage 😂

There are protests / marches being held in Unionist areas. Last night there was a march in Cloughfern outside Belfast. It was “advertised” on their “concerned parents of Newtownabbey” Facebook page. A page which is a cover for racist thugs. Advertising an illegal march. I’m afraid while there are pockets of numpties like this in the country we will never have peace.

Those areas are now plastered with 'Jesus' flags and many 'leading loyalists' (is that a job description?) are now claiming to have seen the light, attend church etc. Of course, it's got a lot to do with greater numbers of Muslim people in the community. Just another form of territorial marking.

"The nearer the Church, the further from God", is an old (true) saying of my late mother. I think she was dead right.

The unrest has been predicted for weeks. The DUP are desperate to try and deflect away from their party and their former leader, Donaldson. They are hoping there won't be any close scrutiny of what they knew, when they knew it and how many of them knew.
Any unrest moves the spotlight away from them. This cannot be allowed to happen.

I am so impressed with the SDLP during all of this. Especially standing up to Jim Allister. So long as they continue to point out that the two main parties are deflecting then maybe we will see a better result for them at the next election. Or maybe I’m just deluded. When I drive through the unionist areas near me it’s hard to not feel disenchanted by the whole pace to be honest

Yes, I think Claire Hanna was impressive - not cheering and gloating and punching the air like SF at the SOS decision, but just saying simply this is a past and future issue, not an orange and green one.

I'm an actual Catholic who lives in NI. I wish the OO would fuck off. They contribute nothing to NI.🙄

But they exist and they love a wee parade and I have no problem with that as long as they keep their parades to the places that want them.

Pompous arrogant gobshites having parades to begin with honestly I wish it would die out. It is pathetic it really is.

I live in a town which is 92% Catholic (Im not from here originally) and shocked to see a parade coming through here every year. There are Palestine flags up all year round and tricolours at Easter...and still the orange b*s march. They are obviously unwelcome and could be risking their lives (there are a lot of old ira men about) but do so anyway just to antagonise. I feel that Drumcree saga will have repercussions for other areas such as this. We may see more protests in other areas in future.