What is his case against the powers-that-be in the Orange Order? Put simply, he believes that they have lost the plot. They are weakened by a sectarianism that few of them even acknowledge, are politically myopic to the point of stupidity, and more than a little ambivalent about matters such as the Belfast Agreement, the peace process and, it would seem, Loyalist violence. They are, in fact, a hidebound and unsophisticated bunch without vision or plan. Kennaway holds that as a result of its inept leadership the Order has become discredited and cut off from much of its normal support. It has not, however, split—that is something that he says it does not do—but it has severely haemorrhaged. Its membership stands at an all-time low (about 30,000); many of its most able are either disenchanted or have drifted away. There are few graduates in its ranks; to all intents and purposes it is a proletarian outfit, heavy with riff-raff, plus an argumentative, obscurantist, rural wing. It has no power, no influence, no prestige, and is spurned by the Protestant middle classes, who are embarrassed by its vapourings and antics. People in the know largely see it as part of the problem rather than part of the solution. The tenor of Kennaway’s remarks is that if the present leadership continues the Order will self-destruct or fade away.
munsterlegend wrote: » I was in Belfast a few times and very little flags in republican areas. However loyalist areas were full of them. It’s actually worse now with these parachute flags everywhere which really only serve to try and incite further.
cgcsb wrote: » They've basically re-defined the province in their own minds into the area that they believe they can control. This mindset is notional really, and doesn't stand up to any logic, but is strangely given official status e.g. the 'Ulster Unionist Part', a strange concept given that if Donegal were in NI, unionism would have failed to secure a stormont majority many years ago and NI would be gone by now. There are other official examples; the 'RUC' (now renamed) and BBC radio Ulster (I think that's still around despite the logic fail).
timthumbni wrote: » And what was the question here exactly?
munsterlegend wrote: » It was an observation. Went to a lovely tourist town called Carrickfergus and a shame to see it so littered with flags and vile messages.
timthumbni wrote: » That’s where King Billy came to land. What were the messages?
timthumbni wrote: » 2- The psni are is a difficult spot here. It is not their place to take down flags on posts unless public safety is at risk. I think most sensible people have condemned the burning of flags on bonfires. KAT slogans are a disgrace but walk around the Lagan area and loads of KAH (kill all huns) graffiti about. (Maybe Tyrone gaa players have been around) Thats Belfast for you. Bigger cities tend to have a bigger collection of twats about imo.
NIMAN wrote: » Yet in NI, you can fly swastika's, burn flags to antagonise your neighbours, burn tyres, ruin car parks, threaten staff etc etc, yet the police unfortunately can do nothing about it.
_blaaz wrote: » If you call it culture and try pass it off as a fun family day...it'll be all ok Personally i feel culturally enriched by seeing this.... The reason the psni wont do anything about it....is they are drawn from same communities as its culturally ok to.do this
NIMAN wrote: » I find this one strange. Are the PSNI a normal police force assigned to carry out normal police duties like you'd see police so in Birmingham, London, Liverpool, Manchester? IF so, the ones in those cities are prone now to questioning people if they make dangerous remarks online or in the media.....the police in England even recently 'spoke' to Jo Brand after she joked about throwing battery acid on a politician instead of a milkshake. She was making a joke and was spoken to. And there are plenty of other examples. Yet in NI, you can fly swastika's, burn flags to antagonise your neighbours, burn tyres, ruin car parks, threaten staff etc etc, yet the police unfortunately can do nothing about it.
timthumbni wrote: » Reason there are not more from catholic community in PSNI despote the massive effort is because Irish republicans whether in the Ira, the new Ira or the i can’t believe it’s not the Ira keep blowing either them up or their legs off. In the case of the Gaelic playing officer he accused members of his own gaa community around toome. Lovely people it seems.
timthumbni wrote: » Reason there are not more from catholic community in PSNI despite the massive effort is because Irish republicans whether in the Ira, the new Ira or the i can’t believe it’s not the Ira keep blowing either them up or their legs off. In the case of the Gaelic playing officer he accused members of his own gaa community around toome. Lovely people it seems.
munsterlegend wrote: » What is the percentage breakdown? Anyway police should act irrelevant of what community they are from. If I went out on the street down here and started burning the Union Jack the gardai wouldn’t be long picking me up.
cgcsb wrote: » I'd say for every nationalist flying flags, there's about 300 loyalists doing the same. Nationalist areas are much more low key, even the notorious Falls road only has a handful of permanent flags, mostly on memorials.
timthumbni wrote: » No idea of the percentage. Look it up on google if you wish. I do know that the percentage of officers of catholic background has decreased since Irish republicans started threatening their families and blowing them up. (As they wanted a more equal police force) Surprising that. Yet the Garda allowed a parade of so called dissident republicans not long after they shot some wee girl in the head in Londonderry.
munsterlegend wrote: » People have a right to march on a public street subject to certain conditions. However open acts of sectarianism would not be tolerated. Of course yes the vast majority would prefer they didn’t march.
lawred2 wrote: » Bit self important of you to presume that this thread was some sort of Q&A session for yourself..
timthumbni wrote: » But yet if they support open acts of terrorism that is tolerated. Those Irish republicans they were supporting had murdered some wee girl in stroke city a short time earlier. Come on now.
cgcsb wrote: » They used to fly the South African flag also. Basically where there is apartheid and ethnic supremicism, they'll support it
Fan of Netflix wrote: » https://twitter.com/BBCMarkSimpson/status/1149666398253154305 State of this Blueshirt prick Richmond. His family were in the OO in Cavan not suprised he's loving it. Having a great time while our national flag is burned. He should stay there.
timthumbni wrote: » Not at all. But he had responded and quoted my post. I actually went to a 12th parade today so thought it might be interesting for those interested to ask some genuine questions. Feel free not to look at the thread though. Thanks
FrancieBrady wrote: » You haven't answered this one. Why did the OO move so far away from what Billy was fighting for? He fought for civil and religious freedom, yet the OO is an exclusively Protestant organisation that sought to keep NI exclusively a Protestant state for Protestant people and managed to do that for decades to the detriment of those of a different faith. Genuine question.https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=110676163&postcount=399
JupiterKid wrote: » My Dutch relative (through my sister's marriage) lives and works in Ballymena - is married to a Ballymena man and has two small children - and has been told several times by locals to "go home" and "you're not welcome here." Delightful stuff indeed.
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