Ulster Flag Protests
Discussion
I'm amazed nobody's started this yet, considering all the implications. It goes to show what I've always suspected - most people in Gt Britain don't know or understand anything about the place, and really prefer not to comment. And successive governments from 1921 onwards have just relied on this antipathy to brush it under the carpet.
Will the present regime have the nerve to call their bluff? It could be the end of the Union - just think of the financial savings for the British taxpayer. Anyone out there have a point of view, or is this another hot potato?
Will the present regime have the nerve to call their bluff? It could be the end of the Union - just think of the financial savings for the British taxpayer. Anyone out there have a point of view, or is this another hot potato?
Seems to me that it's just being used as an excuse by both sides to stick the knife into the other.
Has nothing to do with the actual flag and everything to do with the underlying issues which seemingly have no solution that both sides will accept.
So, just like Israel/Palestine, it will go on and on - although hopefully it won't ever reach the level of conflict seen in the Middle East.
Has nothing to do with the actual flag and everything to do with the underlying issues which seemingly have no solution that both sides will accept.
So, just like Israel/Palestine, it will go on and on - although hopefully it won't ever reach the level of conflict seen in the Middle East.
What was the phrase.. "The memory of the British is too poor, the memory of the Irish is too good".
The protests are turning a dangerous corner. The Unionist politicians are essentially admitting that the flag won't go back up. Elements of the Unionist community feel threatened from the latest Census results revealing the Catholic population is fast on the rise. So at the minute they're going nowhere and being pulled in various directions by paramilitaries, hardline unionists, the Orange Order, etc.
"A Protestant State for a Protestant People" is no more, sadly some can't get their head around that.
NI politics is fast becoming much more like traditional politics. Those in Stormont are looking after themselves and their mates. Both parties play on the tribalism of their side of the divide to ensure the votes keep rolling in.
The protests are turning a dangerous corner. The Unionist politicians are essentially admitting that the flag won't go back up. Elements of the Unionist community feel threatened from the latest Census results revealing the Catholic population is fast on the rise. So at the minute they're going nowhere and being pulled in various directions by paramilitaries, hardline unionists, the Orange Order, etc.
"A Protestant State for a Protestant People" is no more, sadly some can't get their head around that.
NI politics is fast becoming much more like traditional politics. Those in Stormont are looking after themselves and their mates. Both parties play on the tribalism of their side of the divide to ensure the votes keep rolling in.
Art0ir said:
What was the phrase.. "The memory of the British is too poor, the memory of the Irish is too good".
The protests are turning a dangerous corner. The Unionist politicians are essentially admitting that the flag won't go back up. Elements of the Unionist community feel threatened from the latest Census results revealing the Catholic population is fast on the rise. So at the minute they're going nowhere and being pulled in various directions by paramilitaries, hardline unionists, the Orange Order, etc.
"A Protestant State for a Protestant People" is no more, sadly some can't get their head around that.
NI politics is fast becoming much more like traditional politics. Those in Stormont are looking after themselves and their mates. Both parties play on the tribalism of their side of the divide to ensure the votes keep rolling in.
I was wondering if anyone understood what was going on. Your observations are apposite. What amuses me is the banners claiming "apartheid" - if ever there was apartheid in the UK it was the pre-Troubles Ulster.The protests are turning a dangerous corner. The Unionist politicians are essentially admitting that the flag won't go back up. Elements of the Unionist community feel threatened from the latest Census results revealing the Catholic population is fast on the rise. So at the minute they're going nowhere and being pulled in various directions by paramilitaries, hardline unionists, the Orange Order, etc.
"A Protestant State for a Protestant People" is no more, sadly some can't get their head around that.
NI politics is fast becoming much more like traditional politics. Those in Stormont are looking after themselves and their mates. Both parties play on the tribalism of their side of the divide to ensure the votes keep rolling in.
I know what is known here as "certain people" and I know what they're up to. As an Englishman I'm regarded as someone who "doesn't understand" and so I keep my counsel. For the Good Friday Agreement they got the consent of the population of the Province and the consent of the Republic. Nobody asked the British taxpayer - they didn't want to hear the answer.
You're right - it'll never go away. Too many folks who hear what they want to hear, and turn a blind eye to things that don't fit their ideals. Sorry for being a snob, but...
Young people leaving school with NO qualifications
England, Wales and Scotland 12%
Northern Ireland 22%
They do what they're told to do by the "Community Leaders" who rake in a salary paid by Westminster, which pays for their apartment in Benidorm. They're as British as giraffe poo.
Art0ir said:
What was the phrase.. "The memory of the British is too poor, the memory of the Irish is too good".
The protests are turning a dangerous corner. The Unionist politicians are essentially admitting that the flag won't go back up. Elements of the Unionist community feel threatened from the latest Census results revealing the Catholic population is fast on the rise. So at the minute they're going nowhere and being pulled in various directions by paramilitaries, hardline unionists, the Orange Order, etc.
"A Protestant State for a Protestant People" is no more, sadly some can't get their head around that.
NI politics is fast becoming much more like traditional politics. Those in Stormont are looking after themselves and their mates. Both parties play on the tribalism of their side of the divide to ensure the votes keep rolling in.
Given the death, destruction and hatred of previous decades, maybe boring grasping "normal" politicians is EXACTLY what Northern Ireland needs.The protests are turning a dangerous corner. The Unionist politicians are essentially admitting that the flag won't go back up. Elements of the Unionist community feel threatened from the latest Census results revealing the Catholic population is fast on the rise. So at the minute they're going nowhere and being pulled in various directions by paramilitaries, hardline unionists, the Orange Order, etc.
"A Protestant State for a Protestant People" is no more, sadly some can't get their head around that.
NI politics is fast becoming much more like traditional politics. Those in Stormont are looking after themselves and their mates. Both parties play on the tribalism of their side of the divide to ensure the votes keep rolling in.
EDLT said:
No sweeping under the carpet here, there was a thread when the rioting started.
Link here:http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Eric Mc said:
Art0ir said:
What was the phrase.. "The memory of the British is too poor, the memory of the Irish is too good".
The protests are turning a dangerous corner. The Unionist politicians are essentially admitting that the flag won't go back up. Elements of the Unionist community feel threatened from the latest Census results revealing the Catholic population is fast on the rise. So at the minute they're going nowhere and being pulled in various directions by paramilitaries, hardline unionists, the Orange Order, etc.
"A Protestant State for a Protestant People" is no more, sadly some can't get their head around that.
NI politics is fast becoming much more like traditional politics. Those in Stormont are looking after themselves and their mates. Both parties play on the tribalism of their side of the divide to ensure the votes keep rolling in.
Given the death, destruction and hatred of previous decades, maybe boring grasping "normal" politicians is EXACTLY what Northern Ireland needs.The protests are turning a dangerous corner. The Unionist politicians are essentially admitting that the flag won't go back up. Elements of the Unionist community feel threatened from the latest Census results revealing the Catholic population is fast on the rise. So at the minute they're going nowhere and being pulled in various directions by paramilitaries, hardline unionists, the Orange Order, etc.
"A Protestant State for a Protestant People" is no more, sadly some can't get their head around that.
NI politics is fast becoming much more like traditional politics. Those in Stormont are looking after themselves and their mates. Both parties play on the tribalism of their side of the divide to ensure the votes keep rolling in.
You know what, flags don't matter all that much. It's about time the mob in The North grew up a bit and stared expending their energy on things that really do matter.
It's their idiotic behaviour over the past 40 plus years (and I'm including ALL sides of the so called "debate") that has ensured that Northern Ireland has become an economic basket case.
It's their idiotic behaviour over the past 40 plus years (and I'm including ALL sides of the so called "debate") that has ensured that Northern Ireland has become an economic basket case.
madbadger said:
Ah, I missed that when I was using the search facility. Some good posts, and the most observant ones are almost certainly from people living there.How do you define "British"? Dunno. I reckon people in the Falklands live more like the British than the Loyalists. I haven'e a clue how they managed to develop a "tradition" that has no basis in anything done on the mainland. I have family in a large Scottish city and they've never seen an Orange parade, and there was me thinking maybe they brought the marching/flute band habit over with them in the Plantations.
Once a section of the population becomes accustomed to doing things a certain way, it's difficult to get them to change. Meanwhile, who foots the bill? Just think of the hospitals and schools we could spend the money on. Bring on Scottish independence - Cameron could make it a proviso that they take Ulster with it.
I despair of the place sometimes. I'm sure 90% of population are great and lovely people. I've only ever met nice people from Northern Ireland.
But there's obviously a deep and dark side to certain elements of the community there that will just not let what are, in modern terms, archaic and irrelevant issues, drop.
But there's obviously a deep and dark side to certain elements of the community there that will just not let what are, in modern terms, archaic and irrelevant issues, drop.
Eric Mc said:
But there's obviously a deep and dark side to certain elements of the community there that will just not let what are, in modern terms, archaic and irrelevant issues, drop.
I was fairly insulated from it growing up as I lived in a small town well outside Belfast. Since moving here however, despair is certainly the right word. Certainly draining to have to deal with every day.
ooo000ooo said:
It was always my understanding that the educational system in NI has always been much better than elsewhere in the uk and especially England?
I wouldn't say "much better" but the education system in NI is widely accepted as being the most highly regarded in the UK. Certainly my experiences of it don't point to a figure of 22% leaving school with no qualifications.loose cannon said:
Having had to put up with all this crap on tv through the 70's 80's 90's
Did anyone ever really believe peace
Would stay for long ? brain dead fookwittery always prevails were humans are concerned
We have peace. Unfortunately what we now have is organised crime (diesel smuggling across from the Republic is big business, and an interesting example of cross border co-operation), and mindless thuggery. There was a protest, and that's fine. But the people who came out and rioted seem to be as politically motivated as the people who rioted in London.Did anyone ever really believe peace
Would stay for long ? brain dead fookwittery always prevails were humans are concerned
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