Why I'll say no to a united ireland

Not sure if you are talking about me - but open mindedness and respect going both ways is all that I was banging on about. Once one side does this, it is reciprocated, and human beings can be what they are supposed to be - cooperative.

It seems to be one side (ahem) overwhelmingly goading and attempting to show supremacy over the other that pisses me off (and alot of people down here) no end, given our history.

Unionism is a valid position for many to take in NI, and I have no problem with you guys being who you are regards to music, traditions etc, as long as they are respectful, which is crucial in any peace building (which is why I referenced Pengally). It is not or should not be an inherent or positive part of anyone's culture to not be respectful.

The reason I joined the thread is what I see in the casement park situation as more supremacism in refusing a stadium to "nationalist" followed sports (along with way more examples), especially when nationalists pay a large amount of taxes, and unionist politicians blocked a shared stadium in the first place which would have moved NI on no end.

Great to see. St Patrick is something that unites us all here. Having a unionist marching bands in Dublin on st patricks is encouraging. I do see big changes recently.

It's the idea that we have something to 'learn' about flute bands that is odd. We have loads of flute bands here and festivals like Cruinniú na bhFliúít and The All Ireland Marching Band competitions at the Fleadh.

Partitionists fear Northern Ireland.

We wouldn't notice any 'influx', the intermix every day of the week.

When you say "Irish" in Belfast above you probably mean born on the island of Ireland. Most people in N. I. were born in the UK, have UK social security numbers, pay UK taxes + get UK benefits etc. Sure, such individuals can choose to identify as Irish, British, or both, and have the right to hold both British and Irish citizenship. 

As regards immigration from the Middle East, Africa etc some other places eg Leeds/ Bradford are ahead of both Dublin and Belfast, and it has not worked out well there, has it? Because of oll the immigration in to Ireland (south of the border) in recent years, I can see another reason why people in N.I. may not want a U.I. At least people in Belfast who work in a shop or cafe can still afford accommodation there, unlike Dublin.

I truly believe you are purposely misrepresenting the reason ni fans don’t want £300m spent o casement and no legacy for football. You are also misrepresenting the opposition to the maze. Hard to learn anything from each other when this is the level of the debate

This from a poster who labels children when objecting to funding to various groups he sees as 'themuns'.

None so blind.

Not misrepresenting anything at all.Your community doesn't receive a fraction of the obstructionism it dishes out.

Casement park just another of the long list of "legitimate concerns" that crops up when the ego of Unionism is being affronted by others wanting their fair slice of the pie.

Anyone can have a "legitimate problem" with anything if their brain is trained to blow those problems up. You would just hope the other side of your brain which looks to benefit the common good would win over.

Rugby got it's stadium, soccer got it's stadium, ice skating got it's stadium :p) nobody cared or objected, money no issue.

But ohhh, GAA.....

The Irish flag on the coffin has not gone down well. Look at the reaction from the Gardai. Even the AGSI and Drew Harris could agree on the issue.

No doubt that the flag is a huge blockage towards a united Ireland.

The reputation of the flag is in the gutter, thanks to the good republicans.

Look at what the Gardai had to say.

Is the problem with the flag, or how it is being used?

They are two different things, obviously ...

I assure you the Gardai are not bashing the flag. If that was the case, you are saying the ideal behind the flag they serve, and the flag that guy served, are one and the same, and that would be nonsense.

To your second point, there is a certain section of the unionist community where absolutely anything be it language, religion, sport, music, signage, stadia, parity, equality, etc is seen as provocative, and railed against at every turn, which I have given multiple examples of in this thread and others.

One can't live their lives by what that cohort finds provocative.

I think most balanced people know the aspirational message that the flag represents.

You are just being very defensive and silly again. Of course there is something culturally unique about the Ulster/British marching band scene. Same as there is something unique about the Irish traditional dance scene.

I have just shared a hotel in Glasgow for several days with OWC football supporters and families participating in the Irish dancing world championships. The crack was great with good interaction, but the lack of understanding of each others pastimes was evident and led to much shared amusement