Should Northern Ireland be integrated with the South?

[pdq1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...hern-ireland-19769191

These marches do nothing but stir up trouble and keeps the fire burning between the two communities. Alternatively should these marches be banned? They are like a red rag to a bull and create even deeper divisions.

[sandyRoe]

The South wouldn't want us and a million Protestants in the North wouldn't want to go.
NI need patience shown to us by UK governments and access to their deep pockets. In a hundred years, or so, we might start to forget about marches.

[anotheoldgit]

Surely there is plenty of room down South, for those who are not happy to be part of the United kingdom.

[FredPuli43]

Plenty of room down South? Rather misses the point. They want the North to be the South and the same,at one with it. Moving wouldn't be an admission of defeat. It's like saying that Muslims here should go to a Muslim country and give up their ambition of making this one the same as the one they, or their ancestors, left, wouldn't it? Not that anyone on here says that, of course.

[ichkeria]

With respect your question is irrelevant to the news story which concerns the march to commemorate the signing of the Covenant in 1912. This particular event means little to me but I understand that it does matter to a lot of people. Please don't assume that every march in N Ireland is some sort of act of war

[FredPuli43]

^isn't it^

[modeller]

Yes ! That is what the Westminster government has always wanted and I think most of the rest of the UK.
I remember at UNI we had a joke vote which included the proposition that we should tow the whole of Ireland out into the Atlantic and sink it.

That proposition got over 90% of the votes which included Irish students.
If you are wondering about the other 10% some had even more extreme suggestions.

[ichkeria]

I love these occasional ill-informed discussions on Ireland. The irony is that they betray attitudes among the mainland population even more stuck in the past than the stereotype of Ireland that they have. What university was that then modeller? Leighton Buzzard College of Sports Science. Or, perhaps more to the point, what year?

[Baldric]

Should we not ask the population of NI first?

[THECORBYLOON]

The majority in Ulster want to be part of the UK and in the event that it appears they do not, a vote can be called by the UK government.

[ichkeria]

Just in case no one has seen the news in the last 14 years (!) the entire population of Ireland voted in 1998 in separate referenda to accept the terms of the Good Friday agreement and the republic dropped its constitutional claim to the North. Thus establishing for the first time a broad consensus about the status of N Ireland in the British Isles.
Meanwhile, today in Belfast, a commemorative march about the 1912 Covenant Centenary was held. History doesn't disappear.

[Gromit]

Not if Northern Irelanders do not want to. Which apparently, they do not.

[craft1948]

Not being Irish I don't think my thoughts on the subject would be valid.....they'll sort it out themselves.

[joeluke]

Northern Ireland needs to grow up and ban these petty marches, they are just an excuse to stick a huge 2 fingers up at the 'opposition' so is it any wonder it always kicks off?

[THECORBYLOON]

Did anything "kick off" to-day then?

[sandyRoe]

NO. It was quiet by any standards.

[THECORBYLOON]

Exactly.

[Buenchico]

Sandy wrote:
"The South wouldn't want us . . ."

I'm surprised that he seems unaware of Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish constitution!
http://en.wikipedia.o...nstitution_of_Ireland

Chris

[sandyRoe]

Imagine you had a foul-mouthed, drunken, mother in law who could start an argument in an empty house. She's somehow got her feet under the table and shows no sign of leaving.
That's how most in the south would view us. They pay lip service to the idea of a united Ireland. That's all.

[Caribeing]

As long as there are marches and parades in Northern Ireland there is always going to be trouble and controversy. There are two sections who have different views and beliefs and this is life in N.I. People could live peacefully if they respected each others views but that is a big ask. There are plenty of fields and parks where parades could be held away from streets that are causing controversy. Let them all march and play music hit the drums etc to their hearts content away from contentious areas. As for the South of Ireland it is a different country with their own government currency etc enough problems of their own without taking on Northern Ireland marching orders