A good article from the editor of the Newsletter:
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/opinion/ben-lowry-bonfires-can-be-a-fine-spectacle-but-unionists-should-have-spoken-out-about-the-risks-1-8057649
It's far from a "good article"
It mainly focuses on health and safety.
Politicians seem to be focussing on H&S also, and whereas safety is obviouly a serious issue, it's only part of the problem.
The "culture" of
Orangeism and it's sideshows , is the core problem.
It's pathological , aggressive, and unneighbourly to want to celebrate widely and frequently, the perceived victory of Protestantism over Catholicism/irishness from over 300 years ago. It stinks of domination tied up in sectarianism and anti-Irish racism. It should be unacceptable in any civilised democracy.
I would strongly promote protecting and respecting positive British culture, including Ulster Scots heritage and music, but it's unacceptable to try to Normalise the annual celebrating beating the neighbours , Which is by its very nature negative and aggressive. The civil and religious liberty argument baffles me....is there much evidence that protestants have been prevented from practicing their religion in recent years. Given that Protestantism is Christian , surely the annual hatred associated with the marching season , is in total conflict to those Christian values?
I watched some of the linfield v Celtic match yesterday and then read a BBC ( state broadcaster) report which minimised the hatred surrounding the fixture. Booing from start to finish, with special emphasis on the likes of Scott Sinclair (black), Johnny Hayes ( Irish) . The reference to Scott Sinclair on the bonfire last week, perhaps reminds us of the problem caused by apologists here. I remember Such references to bananas being beyond the pale 40 years ago in English football , yet the response here to such racism , and indeed the throwing of buckfast bottles at players , was muted . In fact it was suggested that such behaviour also occurs in the Manchester derby.
The vast majority of the Protestant/unionist population in the north are appalled by this nonsense but are often afraid to speak out. They continue to vote for unionist politicians however, as understandably they value their Britishness and sense of identity.
We need real leaders on both sides , backed by Dublin and London , to challenge this aggressive summer nonsense once and for all, and both legislate and enforce to try and bring us into line with most civilised societies.
And also spare us the false narrative that it's 50:50. Any similar behaviour on the "Irish side" should be met with equal vigour, but let's be honest most of the nonsense is coming from one direction. Portraying it as "6 of one, half a dozen of the other" is a fallacy . Whilst republicans should quite rightly be expected to reflect on their contribution to conflict and particularly the impact of the IRA campaign on their unionist neighbours, unionists must admit that the annual hatred associated with the marching season is unacceptable, and they must be pro-active in changing all negative aspects of this culture.
