Tricolour burnings in Belfast - Should Irish government do more?

Nichard Dixon wrote: »

No, that is a fair description, given Britain's history of killing and maiming throughout the world.

On the main issue, the Irish government might usefully suggest that the British government show Irish flags no less respect than other ones. I have a strong suspicion that burning Irish flags is Belfast is not treated the same way as burning Pakistani flags in Bradford would, for instance.

It's a rather difficult thing to try put to one side of what has been, after all, a bitter and long-term civil war "Now you play nicely with our flag! But we're still to be allowed say things about yours, because after all, you and your ancestors are bad people."

Uhm.

And yes, burning Pakistani flags in Bradford would almost certainly be treated differently. Because it's a very different situation. One is basically a relatively few people, generally unsupported by their communities, starting sh1t on a minority community without a long history of violence and hate (beyond the odd bouts, which in comparison to a seventy year "war" is more neighbourly squabbles. The other is a symptom of a much more endemic problem and any mistakes or misunderstandings in how it's handled could actually result in bombs and shootings. Again.

No-one wants that. Thus the NI situation is taken and dealt with more carefully as the complex problem it is.

Keep on topic please, next personal dig gets a ban.

ThemFifaGoals wrote: »

I don't get the big deal about anyone burning a flag..they could be doing worse things...they probably went out & bought the flags so there just burning their own money..plus with them big bonfires there destroying their own area so if anything there doing more damage to themselves

It's a symbol and an insult. Actually, it's a pretty old insult at that. A sort of national method to bite one's thumb at one, sir!

In itself, it's a silly and pointless gesture. But in the sense of what the flag-burners are communicating, it is a pretty hateful gesture to make, despite that yes, at a strict and practical level, they are only harming themselves.

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Should boards lead The way by banning any one who calls the Union flag the butcher's apron?

To a lot of Irish people that would be like asking to have Jews banned from boards for regarding the Swastika as a "butchers apron"

samaris wrote:

And yes, burning Pakistani flags in Bradford would almost certainly be treated differently. Because it's a very different situation. One is basically a relatively few people, generally unsupported by their communities, starting sh1t on a minority community without a long history of violence and hate (beyond the odd bouts, which in comparison to a seventy year "war" is more neighbourly squabbles. The other is a symptom of a much more endemic problem and any mistakes or misunderstandings in how it's handled could actually result in bombs and shootings. Again.

No-one wants that. Thus the NI situation is taken and dealt with more carefully as the complex problem it is.

So if you have a few prejudiced people, you apply the law to them. But when you have a lot of prejudiced people, whose prejudices are basically government policy, you leave them alone. As I said, this hypocrisy might be usefully exposed.

ThemFifaGoals wrote: »

I don't get the big deal about anyone burning a flag..they could be doing worse things...they probably went out & bought the flags so there just burning their own money..plus with them big bonfires there destroying their own area so if anything there doing more damage to themselves

A good deal of private property, looted from GAA clubs and the like, is burned on these fires. Is that OK with you too? Sure it is only a bit of craic.

It's like around the Dublin suburbs at holloween, cat's, calor gas bottles, trollys. Fair few shaven headed monks with cans around after all the kids have gone home to bed that collected it.

The Irish Government should put a ban on the Manufacturing of the Irish flag and then they should become the sole distributor of the flags worldwide so when they buy the flags up north the government will make a huge profits.

danwhite88 wrote: »

The Irish Government should put a ban on the Manufacturing of the Irish flag and then they should become the sole distributor of the flags worldwide so when they buy the flags up north the government will make a huge profits.

good plan but these chavs steal flags and election poster from nationalist areas

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Should boards lead The way by banning any one who calls the Union flag the butcher's apron?

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Again, it's ok to disrespect their flag, but not for them to disrespect ours.

The hypocrisy never fails to show through.

You said it Fred,
Ban anyone from the boards for having the audacity to refer to the jack as the butchers apron, and call them hyprocrits if they dont have your take on it.

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Mods: I have asked the poster to provide evidence to back up this wild and untrue accusation. As they have been unable to do so, please could it be deleted.

Brilliant. That's some high horse your on. Everyone knows your form, which is most likely why the mod doesn't give a fcuk. You've only yourself and your anti-Irish "Rule Britannia" attitude to blame