Skewster

I was pleased to read on Slugger this evening that NIO Finance Minister Lord Rooker has set the record straight on direct rule versus devolved government.

He claims that much of the unpopular reforms the the Northern Ireland Office are currently pushing through were originally conceived by the “locally elected Assembly”.

The inference, as Mick correctly points out, is that the Northern Irish Assembly ministers know that some form of unpopular reform is necessary but that they don’t want to risk the PR backlash of being the ones to announce it. Instead, they’re criticising the NIO for implementing their initiatives!

By the sounds of the UTV report, Jeff Rooker is as fed up with our politicians as the rest of us. Would it be too much to hope that Peter Hain has finally set a time-bomb under their collective arses?

Paul at The Northern Irish Magyar is hosting a very interesting debate on the subject of Irishness.

Despite my RC upbringing, I wasn’t indoctrinated with attendant Republican or even Nationalist values. I always viewed Northern Ireland as a seperate entity, quite apart from either Ireland or Britain. Paul sums it up well in the comments:

political Republicanism has succeeded in greatly narrowing the definition of Irishness for their own political ends

I would argue that similarly Unionism/Loyalism have narrowed the definition of Britishness (in Northern Ireland at least) to representing a group of pompous, bigotted, intransigent stick-in-the-muds! I’ve never been comfortable with either label.

Another well-made point is that pre-partition, everyone on the island would have defined themselves as ‘Irish’, simply because it wasn’t an issue. A history book I’ve been reading recently has reminded me of the fact.

Interesting to see a number of mostly Unionist bloggers considering national identity and playing with the concept of being Irish while remaining British. I’ll leave you with an inspirational quote:

We appeal to you not to fall into the 1916 trap and risk a fragile new relationship for the whole island, by pressing for the fulfilment of an old political romance. We in our turn will come to acknowledge an over-arching Irishness we all can share. This is an age for forging new relationships, not for breaking up old ones. Irish unity of the traditional kind is no more for our time than it was in 1916.

Works for me!

A thought-provoking piece by Dr Crawford Gribben about the relationship between Unionism and Protestantism, something which has been on my mind recently.

Dr Gribben makes the assertion that, demographically, Unionists no longer represent a political majority in Northern Ireland and that they need to broaden their appeal in order to regain their strength.

As the population statistics of Northern Ireland no longer reflect a Unionist majority, so Unionist leaders must make the case for the Union to a population broader than the conservative Protestants whose votes they have traditionally taken for granted.

Surely the same argument applies to Nationalists and Republicans in that they need to somehow broaden their appeal to attract new voters, not existing ones? This harks back to what I blogged about earlier – can the political parties broaden their appeal by actually tackling issues that affect the public?

Similar questions were being asked after the Whiterock riots last September, with some citing social differences between Nationalist and Unionist areas of West Belfast as a potential starting point for Gerry Adams to prove that Sinn Fein really wants an Ireland Of Equals, and that it’s not hollow rhetoric.

I took a hard line yesterday on the language of Republicanism, the talk of continuing struggles and so on. Chris took some offense at my position, which I still feel is justified.

Looking To The Future

Now, Chris Gaskin is an intelligent fellow. As a student of law, he is no doubt aware of some of the ridiculous laws that were created generations ago. Laws that are unrealistic and do not apply to society today.

And, if last centuries’ notions of Protestant/Unionist supremacy are subject to ridicule today, why are other historical events like the Easter Rising beyond scrutiny? They shouldn’t be. We cannot uphold principles from the past century if they do not apply to society today. These things need to be questioned.

What is the compelling reason for a United Ireland? Why should we consider it? Who will benefit from a United Ireland? What about the Unionist/Loyalist population – and people like myself who just want a normal society without the labels? What relevance does the Easter Rising have for modern life in (Northern) Ireland?

Common Ground – Social Problems

Republicanism – yes, and Loyalism – are movements which serve to separate the population by convincing their respective followers of an irredeemable gulf exists between them. But strip those people of their political identities and they are virtually the same. They suffer the same problems: education standards, unemployment, housing, teenage pregnancy, medical care, disenfranchised youth.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time on both the Falls and Shankill Roads over the years, and both are bustling, thriving working-class communities. If both of those neighbourhoods worked together to their mutual advantage, there’s no telling what they might achieve. They have so much in common.

Where are the bold politicians willing to tackle social problems on a truly equal basis? They simply don’t exist.

And that, my friends, is my problem with Republicans. And also with Loyalists. And with anybody who pushes a one-sided political agenda instead of focusing on the issues our society is crying out to resolve. They spend all their time sitting in little cliques, convincing themselves that their narrow viewpoints are correct, churning out outdated slogans (British oppression my arse – who’s paying your benefits?) and conveniently ignoring the ‘other’ culture.

Let’s face it, Northern Ireland – illegal Orange statelet or not – is not immune from 21st Century social problems. Disenfranchised youths, for example, are everywhere. On the mainland, they’re chavs. Over here, they’re spides and millies. They are not the unique by-product of disadvantaged Unionist areas, Dr. Paisley!

I don’t think a United Ireland is some kind of silver bullet solution. It won’t stop teenage pregnancies, stem the suicide rate or stop the joyriding problem. It certainly won’t ‘cure’ sectarianism.

So, which is the more pressing issue? Hooking up with the Republic and filling our wallets with Euros, or dropping the agenda and starting to tackle social problems and sectarianism?

I’ll make this short.

I’m tired of hearing about Republican ‘struggle’ and British oppression and occupation. I can honestly say that not once in my life have I felt oppressed or discriminated against on the grounds of my religious background. I have not been held back from getting gainful employment, nor buying a house, nor living to a relatively decent standard.

While I have little knowledge of the background to the Easter Rising, and subsequent events in Ireland, I am coming to the conclusion that certain parts of our history on this island were inevitable. This is courtesy of Mr Joe Cahill, whose biography I am reading at the moment. It really is food for thought as to how we might have reacted in the same circumstances.

However, we are not in the same circumstances. Northern Ireland has changed. Nobody here is an ‘oppressed people’, except for the daft prejudices that rattle around inside their heads.

This post is in response to Mr Gaskin’s Official Easter Address To The People. I have nothing against the celebrating of the Easter Rising, but don’t bang on about the injustice that is British rule. Especially not when trying to espouse Liberty and Justice for all where all of the children of the Nation, when Sinn Fein (Mr Gaskin is a proud member) have shown absolutely no interest in the welfare or rights of the Protestant/Unionist/Loyalist population here. That just stinks of hypocrisy.

All this talk of comrades and struggles reminds me of that Give My Head Peace episode where an old Republican who’s been hiding in an attic for years comes down thinking the Republicans are still fighting.

Ah, who cares? The only Easter Rising I was interested in last Sunday was the one I woke up with…

I saw on Slugger this morning a piece about a new Ulster Scots website for children, and it reminded me that I’d meant to post about this some time ago.

The funniest thing about Ulster Scots is that I grew up listening to it, and talking it to some extent. While I don’t agree that it’s a language, it is a dialect which marks out parts of Northern Ireland as culturally unique. Up in North Antrim and the Glens, the air is peppered with Ulster Scots phrases.

And there’s no harm in it, either. I don’t understand why folk get so emotional about Irish or Ulster Scots. Alright I do – they buy into the political ownership of our cultural capital. I mean, why do Republicans ‘own’ Irish and Loyalists ‘own’ Ulster Scots? My upbringing in Ballycastle was non-political, but the home was Roman Catholic. Yet my parents and others around me were supposedly speaking this “Loyalist” language?

For my part, I think Ulster Scots has tremendous tourist potential for Northern Ireland and shouldn’t become bogged down in sectarian politics. Same goes for Irish. Visitors don’t care about our borders, they travel to Northern Ireland from far and wide to soak up our culture and the remarkable scenery.

In a move destined to shock absolutely no-one in Northern Ireland, Ian Paisley Jr is

a) angry
b) offended
c) outraged
d) all of the above

by Tony Blair’s remarks about the Protestant Bigot. The gist of Blair’s outburst was aimed at Muslin extremists, but used a local analogy to spice things up:

“They are no more proper Muslims than the Protestant bigot who murders a Catholic in Northern Ireland is a proper Christian.

“But unfortunately, he’s still a Protestant bigot.

“To say his religion is irrelevant is both completely to misunderstand his motive and to refuse to face up to the strain of extremism within his religion that has given rise to it.”

Somehow, the outrage filter that exists in Paisley Jr’s head has picked up on this and amplified it into a mass insult of the entire Protestant population! Aided and abetted by “Friend of the DUP”, Reg Empey and former Presbyterian moderator Ken Newell, this formidable threesome have launched (seperate) attacks on Tony Blair on behalf of all Protestants. Hooray! Champions of the cause!

Is it possible that Tony Blair is speaking about a more distant period in (Northern) Ireland where the Catholic population were less well treated than they are now? I think so.

If Blair had launched an attack on ruthless Athiest murderers, I – as an Athiest – would not be offended. Because I am not a murderer. Therefore if I were a common-or-garden-Protestant, I would not be offended at the “Protestant Bigot” statement, because Tony Blair is patently not referring to me. Understand?

Now, if I was a Protestant bigot, or my father was a Protestant bigot, perhaps I’d be more pissed off. But let’s not blow the whole thing out of proportion, shall we?

A University of Ulster report that suggests that Northern Ireland’s politicians are “badly out of step with ordinary people“.

Interestingly, the research shows that a growing number of DUP supporters think the party needs to learn to compromise.

I’m slightly sceptical of this, and the claim that “support among DUP voters for power-sharing had doubled between 1998 and 2003″. Obviously, this doesn’t sit comfortably with the DUP claim that they’ve been elected on an Anti-Agreement ticket.

Which is it? Do the majority of people want working institutions in Northern Ireland, or do they prefer “The Jerry Springer Show” that the previous Assembly represented? Would they have voted for the DUP if they wanted peace?

Sectarian Headcount

The research also criticises the Good Friday Agreement for failing to move politics in Northern Ireland away from the traditional ‘sectarian headcount’ model.

While there’s truth in that, I don’t feel there’s any way to move beyond that model when most people in Northern Ireland designate themselves Unionist, Nationalist or Other. And when the GFA was negotiated from these polarised viewpoints, it’s no shock that this is the form the Assembly took too.

The question I am asking – to anyone who cares to answer – is are we ready to move beyond the failed politics of Unionist v Nationalist? I know I am. I know others who are. But are the majority of people on the street ready to come out and say to the politicians “Stop dicking around and make the Assembly work!”

Because, if this report is correct (and I hope it is), it hints at an attitude shift in hardcore Unionism that might eventually lead to practical, mutually beneficial solutions in this part of the Emerald Isle!

I just wonder if our politicians (particularly the hardcore) are brave enough to embrace the will of the people, or if they’ll find some way to twist the agenda yet again. I’d love to see the Jerry Springer-style politics put to bed permanently.

Well, the votes have been passed to our Independent Polling Authority (yes, another unelected government quango) for ajudication and the results are now in.

The IPA have followed protocol and ignored non-Northern Irish places such as Spain and controversially…..bed. While the Mournes and the Glens of Antrim area have both been well represented, the result is a tie between Belfast and Mid-Ulster. Since Mid-Ulster isn’t particularly specific, and I’m calling the shots, it looks like we can officially call Belfast the winner.

While I wait for someone from Belfast City Council to pick up the prize – a free fish supper from Bishops, Shaftesbury Square! – I’d like to thank Ed, Sandra, Geoff, Paul, Nelly and Jimmy for helping spread the word. Much appreciated. That email I sent to the Stephen Nolan show didn’t do much good, so two fingers to him, eh?

Thanks to everybody who voted, especially the two others who voted for Ballycastle!

I’m curious what you guys think about this. Back in December, when we went to Rome, I was held back by Airport security at Aldergrove. I was a bit surprised – this had never happened before – but I went with the flow.

The security guy took my backpack and opened it up, taking out my digital camera, the two iPod shuffles we’d brought, mobile phones, an assortment of batteries for the camera, spare XD cards and some guidebooks about Rome. Oh, and Joe Cahill’s biography, which I was reading at the time for a review here. Once the bag was emptied, it was also swabbed inside for testing.

Between myself, Mrs L, Sister In-Law and her boyfriend, there’s been much heated debate about whether the Cahill biography was the catalyst for this. I am not so cynical, I thought it might have been the amount of electronic equipment I was carrying. I mean, how much can they see in those airport scanners anyway?

What do you think, is Levee now on a suspected terrorists list somewhere? Was Joe Cahill to blame for the whole thing? Who knows?