What Nationalism Doesn't Get (Or maybe just doesn't care about)

Now, surely this is a promising platform for anyone ready to advance the cause of reunification?

"If we can't get them out we'll breed them out..."

Yet somehow we're still at a numbers game.

Demographics 'should' sort it out, but by golly it's taking its time.

Is there no other way that could maybe involve proselytising voters of a Protestant background (start off with  a weekend in Galway maybe...?)?

(FYI, I'm equally scathing of the unionist 'plan')



2/ The Tricolour

Yes, yes.

It's the national flag (of the Republic) and cherished by millions of people.

However, does it enhance or hinder the cause of reunification?

Think about it carefully, think of when your typical Protestant is likely to see a tricolour.

For me, I only ever saw them when travelling through an area I didn't feel comfortable in or when the news was reporting on some one who had been blown up or shot in the head (or when I lived in Dublin...).

Pavlov's dogs would be less likely to eat if he rang the bell, displayed a tricolour and then kneecapped them.

Same for Protestants and the Tricolour.

Don't blame me, them or their 'bigotry', it's a human condition. (Well, dogs too apparently...)

3/ MOPEry

Its not factually accurate, helpful or indeed sexy.

Trying to convince people of a proud Celtic warrior history is one thing ('one of the world's finest fighting races' according to Churchill) and one that I'm 'down' with.

Celtic Warrior: "Cool"

From the raiding Gaels to the Wild Geese to Wellington's Irish men to the top 5 'British' generals of WWII Ireland has an impressive military CV.

But then this impressive CV is pawned to pay for the label of 'Most Oppressed People Ever'.

Like a kid in a toy shop "you can't have both!".

Personally, I choose the great warrior history over 'victim' any day.

Celtic Warrior: "Cool"

The Croats were renowned warriors yet they didn't have their own country for 1000 years or so.

 And yes, they also endured foreign monarchies, oppressive nobles and plantations/settlements.

The Tibetans, a peace loving people managed to throw off the shackles of Mongolian overlordship after a few centuries.

Keltic Kevin: "Not Cool"

Yet according to some of the more fanciful nationalist tunes, the Irish (great warriors) have been struggling to do the same with 'the English'(scone eating jessies) for 800 years (also ignoring the point that the English were under Anglo-Norman & Angevin control for centuries).

Something somewhere isn't right. 

Perhaps we AREN'T great warriors after all? 

Or something else....?

Not listening to criticism of The Precious

4/ Not Listening I - GAA

One of the most infuriating conversations that I can have is a particular unionist orientated palaver.

Usually it's to do with applying some sensitivity to a particular topic such as parades or even listening to the points of view of others.

Using parades as an example, I would state that there are absolutely NO drawbacks to a parade if the bands didn't play sectarian tunes, didn't play outside chapels and did away with paramilitary paraphernalia.

Mr Bandsman: Upset, so he is....

However, Mr Bandsman usually gets quite upset. 

NOT necessarily at the outrageous suggestions but at the notion that this might please Sinn Fein and 'the Provos'.

Hmmmmm.

Apparently the views of ordinary Catholics are not actually their own views when they highlight their problems with the sectarian aspect of parades.

Kafliks: They're NOT the Borg Collective

No matter how many people sincerely offer criticisms, opinions, observations or advice on how the GAA might iron out its controversial aspects and be elevated to the status of 'sports for all' there's never any acceptance that these critics (or 'helpers') may have a point between them, hence the Joe Brolly hissy fit.

Bandsmen and OO: people are telling you what you are doing wrong.

GAA and its advocates: People are telling you where you are dropping the ball (no pun intended).

Shankill Hurlers: A welcome step.

5/ Not Listening II - Irish Language

This is even more sensitive as there are many people who have worked hard over the generations to keep the language alive.

Not easy when it is permanently in the cross-hairs of unionism's gutter snipers, QED in a David McCann interview with Edwin Poots:

"On his time as Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure he (Poots) told me that his greatest achievement was ‘burying the Irish language act’ as he believes there was ‘precious little demand for outside of republican circles’... "

http://sluggerotoole.com/2013/11/27/mccann-meets-edwin-poots-mla/

It is unfair.

But it's not entirely unpredictable.

One of the main obstacles regarding the widespread acceptance of the Irish language is it's opportunistic usage by Sinn Fein.

This is why we can't have nice things...

Sorry.

You need to hear this.

(Though I am given to understand a fair whack of people resent SF sticking their oars in and using the language as some sort of republican fashion accessory).

If SF members want to work for the Irish language behind the scenes then great, the more the merrier in fact.

They can still work heroically behind the scenes for the language whilst diluting their public association with the language.

It's the public face of the Irish language that they blemish (in the eyes of many unionists and Protestants).

In the business world such a PR handicap would not be tolerated.

People say it's daft that a language can be a thing of offence but it's not unique to Ireland.

Look east and in the eastern Croatian town of Vukovar there is a similar controversy.

Vukovar was smashed up by in the wars that followed the fall of Yugoslavia.

Destruction, massacres, the works.

Vukovar: 2 cultures

Now the Serbian residents wish to promote their identity and culture by means of erecting signs written in Serbian Cyrillic.

On one hand, fair enough.










 They live there, have lived there for centuries so why not promote their culture?

On the other hand, it evokes painful memories to the resident Croats who were traumatised by the fall of their city and its destruction.




 (I'm not taking sides either way!!!).



Many see it as a politically crafted 'get it up themuns'.


Every time republicans use Irish in their literature, marches and interviews the same view is pinned on the Irish language.

I think this is unfair but it is also how things are.

If we want Irish to belong to all Irish people then there is definitely room for a very frank discussion and examination of Irish as it is handled now.



Ignore this if you must, doesn't make it any less true.




6/ Two Flags or No Flags

I agree with the designated days ruling.

I think other unionist councils should man up and do the same (like most of the rest of the UK).

What I would also like to see is consistency from nationalist politicians.

Preferably in the form of sending a negotiating team down south and demanding a similar 2 flag/no flag policy for all sports that are all Ireland based e.g. the rugby.

Yup, that's right. 

Irish Rugby games with no flags or a Tricolour AND a Union Flag to represent the island and its peoples.

Sod it, lets stick to our principles and do the same with Croke and Casement Parks too?

Let's see how rigid these principles actually are....

Or we could just drop the charade and come up with a better idea.

( Just indulging now: http://amgobsmacked.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/three-flags-real-compromise.html)




                    Yes, I'm calling the bluff.

(NOTE: I don't actually want to see Union Flags at Lansdowne or wot not, but I'm just trying to point out that the idea of 'equality' that is argued for by nationalist politicians might not be so easy to stomach when applied to other spheres e.g. the Irish rugby team is meant to represent everyone on the island and the GAA claims to be inclusive)

Columba: Catholic? Not if you're from the Western Isles of Scotland...