Is Labour Starting To Abolish Democracy...
News4 mins ago
Northern Ireland Marches, should they ban them?
Watching MW this morning and was /am interested in peoples take on this, would banning such marches create even more violence?
Is it not time to forget something that took place over 300 years ago? and try to move forward.
Is it not time to forget something that took place over 300 years ago? and try to move forward.
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by Bobbisox. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Almost as inevitable as the annual marching season in Northern Ireland are the perennial questions from bemused and largely uninformed Britons about the traditions of the two communities there.
It is a huge myth that the Orange Order marches are the trigger for most of the violence that occurs these days. The fact is that N. Ireland's divided society is the reason for the conflict. As some have already pointed out, some contentous parades ARE banned, but the vast majority take place peacefully and are usually promoted as expressions of cultural identity.
Last night BBC N Ireland screened a 30 minute film of the day's festivities and it was noticeable how many English people were interviewed, who had come over to visit and see for themselves, and were favourably impressed. Perhaps some of the posters here might care to come over next year also? Just a thought.
And by the way I am not a spokesperson for the Orange Order far from it :-)
It is a huge myth that the Orange Order marches are the trigger for most of the violence that occurs these days. The fact is that N. Ireland's divided society is the reason for the conflict. As some have already pointed out, some contentous parades ARE banned, but the vast majority take place peacefully and are usually promoted as expressions of cultural identity.
Last night BBC N Ireland screened a 30 minute film of the day's festivities and it was noticeable how many English people were interviewed, who had come over to visit and see for themselves, and were favourably impressed. Perhaps some of the posters here might care to come over next year also? Just a thought.
And by the way I am not a spokesperson for the Orange Order far from it :-)
You're asking 2 separate questions, Bobbisox.
"Should they ban marches" and "should people forget things that happened 300 years ago".
My answer to the first is: only if the march is perceived as a threat to law and order - and that already happens.
My answer to the second is no. Why? Everyone has their history. Why ask people in N. ireland to forget history and commemoration and yet allow people in the rest of Britain to carry on commemorating their battles? Unfortunately many of the things commemorated in N. Ireland are seen as insults to or attacks on the other community. The solution to that isn't to enforce some improbable collective amnesia. And if some people in N Ireland have a pretty warped view of that history well I wouldn't judge them too harshly, having read some of the potted cod-history lectures here :-)
"Should they ban marches" and "should people forget things that happened 300 years ago".
My answer to the first is: only if the march is perceived as a threat to law and order - and that already happens.
My answer to the second is no. Why? Everyone has their history. Why ask people in N. ireland to forget history and commemoration and yet allow people in the rest of Britain to carry on commemorating their battles? Unfortunately many of the things commemorated in N. Ireland are seen as insults to or attacks on the other community. The solution to that isn't to enforce some improbable collective amnesia. And if some people in N Ireland have a pretty warped view of that history well I wouldn't judge them too harshly, having read some of the potted cod-history lectures here :-)
Related Questions
Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.