Northern Ireland Marches, should they ban them?

[Bobbisox]

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.

[sandyRoe]

It's also diversifying. The latest people to have their homes attacked were a small group of foreign workers living in the meanest town in NI, Portadown.

[Bobbisox]

em10

Bobbiesox, glad didn't get involved as such, as you can see by all the responses

was always going to be an emotive one em , I knew that but getting a good debate going can't be bad

[ichkeria]

"Ich, will it ever get better where people will stop goading others of a different culture or is it too well embedded in their tradition that it will never ever end?"

Probably not, if you put it like that. Wherever you get rival factions you will always get goading and provocation. Just look at football matches and political marches all over the place. Arguably if you let people express themselves freely so that they don't feel that their tradition is being threatened or dominated by the other side then you will reduce the tension. The ending or virtual ending, of terrorism, has also helped do that.
Unfortunately the reality on the ground in Belfast in particular means there are lots of communities living at close quarters with "the other side" and all sorts of fears and misunderstandings mount in those situations. And sadly there are still people about on both sides who are only too happy to exploit those things.

[emmie]

i was reporting what the news presenter said, in fact it was the third time i heard it, within the last few hours.

[emmie]

BBC news report
Twenty-two police officers were injured during rioting in Belfast on Monday night. A bus was hijacked and driven at police during the disturbances ahead of the annual Twelfth of July celebrations.
Crowds of nationalists also threw petrol bombs and masonry at police during serious rioting in the west of the city.

[ichkeria]

"Hi ich, where abouts are you, work in Belfast but live out in the sticks now. "

I live in Big Bad England now, but I am from Co (London)derry - coming to Antrim soon :-)

[ichkeria]

"BBC news report
Twenty-two police officers were injured during rioting in Belfast on Monday night. A bus was hijacked and driven at police during the disturbances ahead of the annual Twelfth of July celebrations.
Crowds of nationalists also threw petrol bombs and masonry at police during serious rioting in the west of the city. "

Two things ought to strike one about that report, in light of the original question: "ahead of the annual..." and "nationalists". I am absolutely not picking on one side here, as the other side were at it too, but perhaps in this particular case it isn't really the provocation of the parades that is the problem.

[emmie]

just repeated what i was listening to on the radio, and thought that some of the policemen were getting seriously hurt, which seems to be the case.

[DrFilth]

there is video of a policeman burning after being hit by a petrol bomb and pictures on some newspaper web sites
>
<
. Media URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14138253
Description:

[DrFilth]

http://www.thesun.co....bombs-in-Belfast.html

[DrFilth]

http://news.sky.com/s...ticle/201009116029348

[emmie]

St Patrick was a Romano Briton, not that makes a jot of difference in this matter.

[joko]

ichkeria - err yeh...i am aware of that ...but this thread refers to the ones who dont and thats what my comment was about...theres no need to counteract every comment...its a given that there are equal and opposing variations on any given subject

[ichkeria]

"theres no need to counteract every comment."
I think its called having a discussion.
Damn, done it again :-)

[joko]

not when its irrelevant and a given...then its just pointless

it does not really need to be pointed out in an argumentative way that while some religious protests become violent also many do not and are peaceful - thats kind of stating the obvious really isnt it, and adds nothing to the debate, since the debate is abiout the ones that do.

[ichkeria]

The question was "Northern Ireland Marches Should They Ban Them"
You can't hold a reasonable discussion about that topic without pointing out that the majority of marches are peaceful. It might be obvious to you but it is not obvious to a lot of people, because of the impression (no doubt inadvertently) given by the media. Contentious marches are already banned.
Much of the trouble of the last couple of nights was caused by nationalist folk from outside their own particular area coming in and aggravating hostile attitudes to local Loyalist "feeder" parades. While there is no doubt a lot of sympathy for the local people being resentful of these parades coming near their area, these parades are well policed and do not interfere with the local communities. All these protesters are doing is causing mayhem for the very people they claim to be "protecting"
Anyway I notice you are now referring to "religious protests" - so to fair I am not sure what you mean by that.

[joko]

i was referring to marches in general for any reason really - religious, politics racism, gay pride etc whatever...my point is that some are peaceful some are not...figured people knew not all marches are violent....