DUP MLA “I have no problem with the burning of a tricolour on top of a bonfire”

SharpshooterTom

DUP MLA Paul Girvan did an interview with Frank Mitchell (FM) where he talked about his ideas about bornfires and burning the irish tricolour.

FM: Do you think it is okay?
PG: I have no problem with the burning of a tricolour on top of a bonfire, lets be honest … heh heh … I am going to make not apologies for that but, you know, that’s the flag of a foreign country as far as I am concerned….
FM: Can you not look at it another way, Paul, you’re an MLA at Stormont…
PG: …yep….
FM: … you are forever liaising with TDs in Dublin, this foreign country that you talk about, cross-border trade and we could list the links between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland from now to the ten o’clock news….
PG: …we have very strong….
FM: …cross-border trade, cross-border travel, the inter-action, the family ties etc etc, but yet and all as a public representative you think it is okay to burn their national flag on the bonfire at the bottom of your street or wherever it is?
PG: Can I say, I have seen this go on now and this activity is being blown out of all proportion. There are bonfires in August as well where the union flag is burnt and such like…
FM: Is that acceptable?

http://sluggerotoole.com/2013/06/27/i-have-no-problem-with-the-burning-of-a-tricolour-on-top-of-a-bonfire/

The rest of the conversation is in the link above.

Whatever your views are on the north and irish unification in general, this attitude surely is damaging for relations on two neighbouring countries. This is from a top unionist politician remember. How is it acceptable to burn ok, a different countries flag, but your neighbouring countries flag, the only other country on this island you share a border with.

I think we may see a lot more tricolour burning going this summer. There's still a lot anger within the loyalist community following the partial removal of the British flag from the city hall. Of course with the increasing power of Sinn Fein there's a lot of paranoia and naturally with the summer parades season coming, I'm expecting the tricolour to get it. A whole host of them will burnt so I suspect a lot more this summer.

Pensivepuca

Tis just a fleg

Sergeant

I'd love to visit the Titanic Museum. Do I have to deal with any bigots up there; regardless of colour, creed or religion? Shít like that turns me right off it as a tourist destination.

Phill Ewinn

Selling Irish flags, get your Irish flags heoire. Petoril, get yor petoril heoire.

bohsboy

Maybe someday soon, the six counties may break apart from this island and float very, very far away. Never to return.

We can only live in hope.

TheUsual

DUP = Dumb Unionist Pikies.

The Backwards Man

Sergeant wrote: »

I'd love to visit the Titanic Museum. Do I have to deal with any bigots up there; regardless of colour, creed or religion? Shít like that turns me right off it as a tourist destination.

No. You'll be grand. Belfast actually has a surprising shortage of headcases for a city of it's size.

Amirani

Sergeant wrote: »

I'd love to visit the Titanic Museum. Do I have to deal with any bigots up there; regardless of colour, creed or religion? Shít like that turns me right off it as a tourist destination.

I've generally found Belfast and the people there to be great. It's a shame that those who shout the loudest and shout the loudest amount of ****e, get heard the most.

Jester252

Was there not a bunch of issues last year due to the Polish flag been burned.

fergiesfolly

If they have to burn a flag, could they not wrap it round a DUP MLA first?:D

Sulla Felix

Pensivepuca wrote: »

Tis just a fleg

Most probably made in China, and with the name of a GAA team daubed on it in black marker.

Napper Hawkins

I think gob****es care too much about stupid flags.

MOC88

The shock, the horror. What's next Ducks liking water?

Pensivepuca

I doubt I speak for the majority, but growing up in NI, I honestly dont give a flying ostrich about any flag. Yesterday in the waterside, bonfire wood stock being built up and no doubt tricolours to be burnt, but I do not see why people get so angry. I know in a few months the union jack will be burnt by a minority in the cityside, so no reason to get hypocritical.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Yeah it seems to be an activity practiced by the lower orders of each community. I wouldn't pay much heed to it anymore.

Super-Rush

Sluggerotoole.com?

Galwayguy35

Pensivepuca wrote: »

I doubt I speak for the majority, but growing up in NI, I honestly dont give a flying ostrich about any flag. Yesterday in the waterside, bonfire wood stock being built up and no doubt tricolours to be burnt, but I do not see why people get so angry. I know in a few months the union jack will be burnt by a minority in the cityside, so no reason to get hypocritical.

If you were in America and you burnt their flag you could end up getting shot, you're a prime example of the self loathing attitude that seems to be getting very common here in Ireland.

Amirani

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

If you were in America and you burnt their flag you could end up getting shot, you're a prime example of the self loathing attitude that seems to be getting very common here in Ireland.

I think it's a rather pragmatic attitude rather than a "self loathing" attitude. Anybody who cares more about their flag than a fellow citizen's life isn't a patriot, they're an asshole.

Dyr

Least they're allowed fly a tricolour whenever they want ha ha

gurramok

bohsboy wrote: »

Maybe someday soon, the six counties may break apart from this island and float very, very far away. Never to return.

We can only live in hope.

Never happen, we have an international border that is an international dispute. It will never go away despite your hope and at present the best needs are for peace and co-operation by both govts.

Galwayguy35

NiallSparky wrote: »

I think it's a rather pragmatic attitude rather than a "self loathing" attitude. Anybody who cares more about their flag than a fellow citizen's life isn't a patriot, they're an asshole.

What are you on about?

I don't like to see the flag being burnt by bigots.

trashcan

Um, so a DUP member has no problem with the tricolour being burned - well, colour me amazed!!

Pensivepuca

I am unable to quote on my mobile, but to galwayguy; I have not and do not intend to burn any union jacks, so you can not compare me to burning an American flag. Neither would I burn my own flag of a tricolour. I just am saying, I know minorities in my city burn each others flag, a bit of fabric with strong symbolic meaning to some.

Motopepe

NiallSparky wrote: »

I think it's a rather pragmatic attitude rather than a "self loathing" attitude. Anybody who cares more about their flag than a fellow citizen's life isn't a patriot, they're an asshole.

there is also the scenario where the asshole who doesn't care for his fellow citizens life demonstrates this by burning flags

electrobanana

Does anyone even give a f~ck what goes on up there anymore?
Same old bullsh#t year in year out... fleg this.. parade that..blah blah blah

ectoraige

So long as they offset their carbon emissions, who cares???

Galwayguy35

Pensivepuca wrote: »

I am unable to quote on my mobile, but to galwayguy; I have not and do not intend to burn any union jacks, so you can not compare me to burning an American flag. Neither would I burn my own flag of a tricolour. I just am saying, I know minorities in my city burn each others flag, a bit of fabric with strong symbolic meaning to some.

The point I was making was that americans respect their flag, the knuckle draggers who burn ours show no respect to it but many of them were probably the same people who nearly ruined their own economy a few months ago protesting about the Brit Flag.

Amirani

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

What are you on about?

I don't like to see the flag being burnt by bigots.

You mentioned how if someone burned a flag in America they'd be shot. Anybody who shoots someone for burning a piece of cloth with some colours on it is deluded.

I don't like to see flags being burned either, it's disrespectful.

woodoo

Pensivepuca wrote: »

I doubt I speak for the majority, but growing up in NI, I honestly dont give a flying ostrich about any flag. Yesterday in the waterside, bonfire wood stock being built up and no doubt tricolours to be burnt, but I do not see why people get so angry. I know in a few months the union jack will be burnt by a minority in the cityside, so no reason to get hypocritical.

Sneak in and start their fire early

Pensivepuca

Does writing or wearing a flag as a cape such a St Patrick day count as being disrespectful too? Its not the same level as burning of course which is highly offensive. However, the Northren Irish people who identify as Irish, who burn Union Jacks on the Assumption of Our lady bonfires are equally as bad. I guess it is normal enough for all this bull to happen that some do not have the energy to care anymore.

markomuscle

I don't care about the flag burning as i don't see it as such a sacred thing and i'm a northern nationalist. I don't agree with the burning of religious items though. Why do they never burn the red hand of ulster flags, the red hand is an ancient gaelic symbol after all.

markomuscle

bohsboy wrote: »

Maybe someday soon, the six counties may break apart from this island and float very, very far away. Never to return.

We can only live in hope.

Brian Boru's and St Patricks graves could end up in iceland, two massive historical figures, can't be having that

Motopepe

markomuscle wrote: »

I don't care about the flag burning as i don't see it as such a sacred thing and i'm a northern nationalist. I don't agree with the burning of religious items though. Why do they never burn the red hand of ulster flags, the red hand is an ancient gaelic symbol after all.

you don't care about flag burning and dont agree with burning religious items, but do you care about burning religious items? and do you agree with flag burning?

markomuscle

Motopepe wrote: »

you don't care about flag burning and dont agree with burning religious items, but do you care about burning religious items? and do you agree with flag burning?

no i don't agree with flag burning as it's a waste of time and as i have said i don't agree with burning religious items, e.g. pictures of the pope

AtomicHorror

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

If you were in America and you burnt their flag you could end up getting shot, you're a prime example of the self loathing attitude that seems to be getting very common here in Ireland.

Yes, let's cite gun-toting, flag-waving modern American "patriots" as an example to aspire to...

I don't much see the point of burning flags, or getting upset about burning flags, but tell me I'll get shot if I do it and suddenly I start to feel like maybe burning a flag, any flag, purely out of spite.

Maybe if you didn't equate loathing a piece of cloth with self-loathing, and logically equating that piece of cloth somehow with "self", people wouldn't feel so compelled to demonstrate to you that it is, in fact, cloth and nothing more.

Galwayguy35

AtomicHorror wrote: »

Yes, let's cite gun-toting, flag-waving modern American "patriots" as an example to aspire to...

I don't much see the point of burning flags, or getting upset about burning flags, but tell me I'll get shot if I do it and suddenly I start to feel like maybe burning a flag, any flag, purely out of spite.

Maybe if you didn't equate loathing a piece of cloth with self-loathing, and logically equating that piece of cloth somehow with "self", people wouldn't feel so compelled to demonstrate to you that it is, in fact, cloth and nothing more.

Maybe to you it's just cloth but not everyone.

policarp

Why don't they just burn tyres, old mattresses and stuff like that and really make an environmental statement. . .

Or failing that, do as they do in Spain. Make a papier mache effigy of someone, place it on top of the bonfire and set a light to it.

jobeenfitz

Flags are just bits of cloth with colours and emblems. Its the stupid ego we attach to them that make them so important to many. Don't see the point in burning them. They can be fine for washing the car though.

AtomicHorror

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Maybe to you it's just cloth but not everyone.

It doesn't need to be any more than cloth. A flag versus a nation/country/ people... they're not equivalent, that is simply a fact. Your valuation of these things is another matter entirely, but when you talk approvingly about shooting flag burners, you're letting the symbol of a thing matter as much as the thing. That equal valuation just seems to me to be a part of the problem. And what's more, its something that can be exploited by people who want to hurt you without going to the much greater trouble of actually attacking something meaningful like your country. You make yourself a really cheap target when you value a flag or any other small material object on the same level as the big stuff.

getzls

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

What are you on about?

I don't like to see the flag being burnt by bigots.

I wonder what would happen to UK and N.I. flags if they were seen flying in the Republic?

Galwayguy35

getzls wrote: »

I wonder what would happen to UK and N.I. flags if they were seen flying in the Republic?

And this scenario is what exactly to do with the topic in question?

AnOrdinaryJoe

bohsboy wrote: »

Maybe someday soon, the six counties may break apart from this island and float very, very far away. Never to return.

We can only live in hope.

Ah..... but who gets to keep the border then ?

AnOrdinaryJoe

markomuscle wrote: »

Brian Boru's and St Patricks graves could end up in iceland, two massive historical figures, can't be having that

...... and Georgie Best's

Hilly Bill

getzls wrote: »

I wonder what would happen to UK and N.I. flags if they were seen flying in the Republic?

Nothing.

Yamanoto

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

I don't like to see the flag being burnt by bigots.

Yet you habitually label others who don't share your Republican outlook as 'self-loathing'.

Aside from being utter ballsology, it's bigotry to boot.

big·ot·ed Adjective /ˈbigətid/

Synonyms: fanatical, fanatic

1. Obstinately convinced of the superiority or correctness of one's own opinions and prejudiced against those who hold different opinions

2. Expressing or characterized by prejudice and intolerance

Dublinpato

Burning flag's i'v seen worse

Now on the other hand

Burning potato's that's a paddling

caustic 1

Make a papier mache effigy of someone, place it on top of the bonfire and set a light to it.

Seriously? The Prods would have one of the Pope or Gerry and Caths would be Ian and King Billy all hell would break lose I mean they can't agree about a flag or what road to let a band play down.

Pensivepuca

^ sure I have seen catholics burn effiges before, only because the bloody bonfire outside my house in the large patch of communal green. No doubt some protestants do it, I never be around at theirs to see.

mackerski

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

If you were in America and you burnt their flag you could end up getting shot, you're a prime example of the self loathing attitude that seems to be getting very common here in Ireland.

I'm pretty sure Pensivepuca isn't a flag.

iDave

I hope the irony of burning a flag thats one third orange isnt lost on them.

Jimoslimos

People seem to be missing the point. An elected public representative condoning the burning of a flag of another sovereign state. Incitement to hatred against us and a large minority of people who identify as Irish. No amount of whataboutery can justify that.