Tuesday 28/2/06

(pic:www.rte.ie)

My well worn saturday ritual is to head to dublin for shopping, cinema, meeting a friend etc. This saturday as I'm still getting over the flu, and not firing on all cylinders, I went by car to a shopping centre on the suburbs of the city with my brother. Normally, I might have gone into the city centre. We heard on the radio that the ulster unionists were planning a march that day. I don't consider myself very patriotic at all, but I felt like going in and waving my tricolour. The orange order are viewed by the majority in the republic as I'd imagine black people in mississippi view the kkk. They are a bunch of sectarian bigots, and the thought of them peacefully marching, and airing their viewpoints, was never going to happen. However the thugs who rioted, played right into their incendiary hands. Even though I cannot imagine how angry I'd be if I were living in a british colony in 2006, I am glad that those morons, who will petrol bomb you without a second thought aren't in charge. "A nation once again" is a laughable fantasy, that everything is going to be ok, once ireland is reunited. Give me a break! I think the majority in the republic, are aware that that day would be like going from the frying pan into the fire. I base this claim on the fact that sinn fein have only 5 TD's elected in the republic. Why is it never talked about, that the majority of people in the republic are catholic unionists?

We all know the history, and many of our grandfathers, and those who went before them, often paid a heavy price to ensure that we had control over our own country. The north for me is six counties stuck in limbo, we don't want/need the hassle they bring, and yet the reality is there is a million+ people up there who consider themselves british. Its a bit too late to ask them to piss off back to scotland! So there are 2 camps up there and both have to be respected. Terrible atrocities have been committed on both sides, but neither community has a monopoly on pain, hurt and suffering. I think they are finally on the right road, self governance with more dublin/less london influence. I remember seeing on tv, that the majority of british, resent having a large proportion of their tax money, being spent on this tiny colony. When there were almost daily killings and bombings up there, the anger and hatred were relayed through tv here almost daily, and we all heard the stories of catholics just up and staying with relations south of the border, just to avoid the chaos and headaches caused by the july triumphalist marching season.

Personally, even though some of their candidates are powerful speakers, I could never in good conscience, vote for sinn fein. There are still vigilante activities, drugg trafficking continued by the IRA, and it is insulting to be told now that they are one and the same. But I would like to shake gerry adam hand, so what does that say about me? One of my favourite films ever is "In the name of the father", and I have for a long time wanted to go on pilgrimage, to milltown cemetary in belfast, to visit the grave of Guiseppe Conlon. Hopefully one day..............

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