As Prime Minister, I am determined to see that hope fulfilled and the development of a stable and successful country, where opportunity and employment is available to all.
The reality:
”Instead of standing outside Stormont protesting, we are inside the building running the country and delivering real and tangible benefits to our community. That is the positive work which the DUP is engaged in – making Stormont work for the benefit of Unionists."
No wishy-washy bollocks there about “shared futures” or pushing Northern Ireland forward for all of the UK citizens living there.
If you’re in any further doubt about the reality of the ethno-nationalism, in its rawest, atavistic form, which has been unleashed by the devolution experiment in Northern Ireland, here’s just a couple of those benefits for "our community", as outlined by Peter Weir:
1.“Never during the period of Direct Rule do I recall Irish cultural activists taking to the streets to protest that they weren’t getting enough cash or support from the government. Not only have the DUP trashed the concept of an Irish Language Act but we have also advanced the interests of our own community.”
2.We have closed the funding gap between Irish and Ulster-Scots for the first time ever and we have also been the principal driver behind the new compensation arrangements for Orange halls. Delivery for the Loyal Orders is a long-standing DUP commitment. Through the reform of Community Festivals Funding we have ensured an increase in funding for Loyal Order cultural activities.
So, the selling point of devolution?
No funding of Irish culture/language and "delivery" for the Orange Order, would appear to Mr Weir’s answer.
And so, I had to laugh when I read this from New York’s Mayor yesterday:
"The historic cultural barriers between the two communities here are slowly coming down," said Mayor Bloomberg who was in Belfast for the investment conference.
"And the sooner they do, and the sooner the physical barriers come down as well, the sooner the flood gates of private investment will open."
When you have two competing forms of ethno-nationalism given the reins of power, then cultural barriers don’t come down- they consolidate.
This, along with the fact that the number of “peace-walls” in Belfast are actually increasing, is the sad legacy of the devolved experiment in Northern Ireland.
5 comments:
>>the sad legacy of the devolved experiment in Northern Ireland.<<
Perhaps if you were reporting this correctly. Nationalists are being forced to invoke equality measures simply because, as you correctly state. To stop them attaining equality is seen as an aspiration by the DUP. Do the OO really represent Protestant opinion in the north of Ireland? Sad!
Don't blame the Orange Order. Drew Nelson is ubercoolio.
Perhaps if you were reporting this correctly.
You may argue the cause, but surely not the effect?
Do the OO really represent Protestant opinion in the north of Ireland?
Protestantism is not a monolith with everybody singing from the hymn-book; that was the whole point of the Reformation, individual conscience determining your relationship with God rather than your church telling you what to think on heavenly and earthly matters.
Same case in NI, the OO do not represent "Protestant" opinion any more than the Primate of the COI, the Presbyterian moderator or the head of the Baptist Church. Weir is addressing a narrow sector of Unionist (not Proestant) opinion, those that the DUP are afraid of losing to the TUV
Is this the same Mayor Bloomsberg that couldn't get Paisley's name right?
abdul-rahim
The very same; don't think he had much of an idea what he was talking about, perhaps he could be invited up to one of the peace-walls next time there's an Old Firm game on, might open his eyes.
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