Ireland won't be united so let loyalists fly flag – Seamus Heaney

As a catholic from just south of the border I could care less if they fly the Queens knickers or our presidents boxers 24/7/365.

Why the **** don't they decide on a new neutral flag and fly that!

The truth is that there are huge segments on both sides of the divide in the north who just want to fight about anything they can. Flags is just the most recent thing they latched onto, if all flage were banned they'd fight about their right to keep flag poles anyway.

If Seamas Heaney said that it must be true. :pac:

On a related note his poetry is completely overrated .

The whole flag issue just proves what I and many other people think. If you thought the troubles were bad. Wait until the demographics swing against the loyalists. As is happening in Belfast right now. If the day ever arrives where a majority favour a united Ireland or even a less British Northern Ireland. The real troubles will start and it will be vicious. We got a taste of it in 1969 when a serious attempt at a pogrom on Catholics was attempted. It took the British army to put a stop to it.

These so called loyalists cared a great deal about democracy when it worked in their favour. After all Northern Ireland was deliberately created to ensure an artificial majority. But things are gradually going against them and they know it.

Now I'm not talking about all Protestants/Unionists in the North. But there is a strong element of bitter sectarianism particularly among Orangemen and the poorer, increasingly disaffected protestants. This is nothing new. It goes back hundreds of years and is the single biggest cause of problems on this island. In reality their Britishness is nothing more than a shield against being called Irish. Remember the North is a place where people can write on a wall, with no hint of irony: 'Irish go home'. Many are descendants of the people who arrived here many years ago into what was enemy territory. It still is it seems.

When the time comes that their Britishness is threatened. They will organise themselves and attempt a coup. At that point even the moderate Unionists will have to choose sides. It will be like Kosovo and just as nasty.

I speak as someone who isn't particularly republican in views and in fact don't see why Northern Ireland can't work as an entity if both sides respect each other's rights. But I fear that cannot happen as long the sectarian bigots reinforce their siege mentality on the loyalist side.

Soups123 wrote: »

Can they not just fly both flags every fcukung day and then everyones happy

You think Loyalists would be happy if the Tricolour was flying on City Hall, even if it was beside the Union Flag?

Ha.

Crooked Jack wrote: »

This "one side is as bad as the other" argument is idiotic and wrong. That flag flew over what was supposed to be a public building for 90 years and nationalists werent outside it every day protesting. The flag was eventually reduced to designated days to create a shared environment for everybody. Loyalists/Unionists couldnt accept this small move towards equality. Loyalists/Unionists blocked roads. Loyalists/Unionists protested. Loyalists/Unionists rioted. Loyalists/Unionists attacked cops and tried to burn a cop alive.

Yes, yes this time it was loyalists/unionists.
But there have been plenty of nationalist protests over similarly trivial issues.
So the each are as bad as each other in general is actually very true.
Both sides protest over poxy trivial issues.
Both sides have rioted
Both sides have killed each other
Both sides have killed innocents to further their cause and prove points.

Both sides are suffering because any saine person will avoid the north as a place to spend money.

So don't tell me that the both sides are as bad as each other argument is wrong, when in fact that is the truth.
Both are continually looking for an opportunity to create "equality" by getting one up on the other. Well do e to all involves, feckin crettins keeping the thing wound up, bringing new generations into the hatred and violence rather than turning their backs on a dark period in their history.