Flag saga Northern Ireland

[SucksFakeSanta]

I am ashamed to be from NI.

Thank goodness there has been no loss of life, but some people have had terrifying experiences.

My DC are now scared of 'the flag people' after the route to my DTSs birthday dinner was blocked by a mob earlier this evening.

Seriously fed up with it all. Cannot imagine what it must be like to be working in retail or tourism at the minute.

[claig]

I really meant resistance to flying only the EU flag and not flying a national flag. That doesn't happen yet, but who knows it might one day.

I didn't realise that the Union flag flew when the Queen visited. Were there no objections from Irish nationalists?

[ChablisLover]

Any one hear of this rumour of bringing the province to a stand still on the 17th with protests?

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

DP says they are trying to organise that Chablis.

Doubt there will be enough people really. People have lives to lead.

[ChablisLover]

I think there might be enough. Somehow I doubt that people will be getting on with their lives.

I think these people don't have anything better to do than disrupt traders and normal working people trying to get home from work.

It took some colleagues over 2 hours to get home on Tuesday night. Surely that's just turning people against your cause. Even those who would inherently agree with the protestors view.

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

Theres not enough people for the whole province surely? Everyday the numbers are falling.

[ChablisLover]

But for a large protest numbers may swell.

I am hopeful like you that the numbers are falling and they are now largely peaceful if somewhat disruptive

Reminds me now of the drumcree protests the year they blocked roads to cause disruption.

[blondie80]

www.scotchirish.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=340

This is what you are actually voting for when you vote sinn fein

ethnic cleansing - pope to rule the world?

[Northernexile]

Don't really think that's the case blondie. You're going slightly OTT there. Your source material is dubious to say the least.

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

Oh dear blondie

[AmIthatTinselly]

Blondie, pope to rule the world? Ethnic cleansing? Really?

Honestly, it's people believing crap like this that leads to such nonsense, over a fucking flag.

[mathanxiety]

Dear me, Blondie. Do people still believe all that Home Rule means Rome Rule crap?

There are lots of perfectly good reasons not to vote for Sinn Fein without going completely off the deep end with dire warnings about the Pope .

[fedupworking]

(Have to be honest and say I have not read all the postings of this issue) I live in Northern Ireland and have to say I do NOT agree with riots of any kind, BUT I do believe that the flag of the union should be flown on ever main building just like it is flown in the main land.
How would English people like it if the flag of another country was to be flown in their town halls and public buildings?
Yes it is not right that people should be harassed on a daily basis with riot?s and thugs (for want of a better word) but we don?t all live in a normal society , Just look at the riots that took place in Manchester and the rest of England before jumping on the band wagon branding us all with the one stick, and Northern Ireland is part of the U.K.after all and hopefully will remain part of it for a very long time .

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Operation Standstill is planned for 6pm on Friday evening, but I think some are planning to start at 4pm. It's supposed to be the biggest protest so far. Traffic will be chaos folks so plan accordingly.

[cocolepew]

Shit, its my works do on friday. We'll be travelling into Belfast around 5.30-6.00.

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

Oh ffs. I need to do xmas shopping.

FGS. Is there any lists of which roads are to be blocked?

[cocolepew]

You can usually find them on utv website or the newsletter one. But I've only come across them on the day, not in advance. There is usually a list somewhere on facebook.

[cocolepew]

Keep the union flag flying over belfast city hall fb page has some listed.

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

Thanks. Its going to be a nightmare.

[mathanxiety]

'How would English people like it if the flag of another country was to be flown in their town halls and public buildings?'

How do people who consider them selves Irish feel when a flag that dates from 1801, when the Act of Union of Great Britain and Ireland was passed, flies over their neck of the woods? The flag's name was originally Union flag and is really only called the Union Jack when it flies on board a ship. Union is not everybody's cup of tea. 1801 was not a happy year in Irish history.

Just sayin...

[Cachaca]

"How would English people like it if the flag of another country was to be flown in their town halls and public buildings?"

fedup, you are being disingenuous. That, for thousands of Irish people, is the entire point. I am Northern Irish, British by birth/passport, and can see that quite clearly.

[fedupworking]

I am also just saying, Northern Ireland is still part of the UNION, that is why the Union flag fly's on public buildings and should not be removed until we are no longer part of the Union

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

No , you said "the flag of another country". The union is not a country.

[Stokes]

No one is talking about flying anything other than the Union Flag over City Hall - just not flying it every day. In line with the vast majority of civic buildings in the UK including, I believe, Westminster.

For some, the Union Flag is a symbol of their cultural identity which huge meaning. For just as many, it means You Are Not Welcome Here and has been used in intimidation. And vice versa for the tricolour.

The history and cultural make up in Northern Ireland means compromise from both sides will have to be the order of the day for some time to come if we're going to keep peace. Not flying the flag everyday is a compromise.

Although how anyone can care about anything beyond stopping the riots & violence at the minute is frankly beyond me.

[mathanxiety]

Compromise is such a huge part of accepting that NI now lives in the present and for the future it is such a pity to see Robinson and his cronies irresponsibly riling up the rock throwing crowd to make a gesture against it. There has been far too much reference to the past (800 years of oppression, Battle of the Boyne, Glorious Twelfth, Covenant, Ulster Says No, etc ad nauseum) in the public life of NI -- and where has it got anyone? Very frustrating to see the past invoked again, including the recent past when stone throwing and intimidation resulted in almost 40 years of disaster and blighted lives no matter how you look at it.