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Why defining identities is more than Armalites and Ulster Scots
Monday, 9 November 2009
If you think you're a unionist or a nationalist can you define what you mean?
I venture to suggest that the definitions are not so straightforward as they were before the Troubles started. As a result, the major parties in Northern Ireland are having to dust down their political outlooks and set out new visions for the future.
Older unionists and nationalists may hanker after a past where choice in life was simple — not black and white, but orange and green. You were either for a united Ireland or against it. Either for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or against it.
Life today, post Good Friday agreement, is not so simple.
First it was the Republican movement dispensing with Armalite guns and donning Armani suits. More recently the Ulster Unionists joined forces with David Cameron. Next up, the two contenders for the leadership of SDLP say they need to take their ailing party in a new direction.
Finally, Peter Robinson revealed recently that the Democratic Unionists are undergoing a root and branch makeover. All in all, we are witnessing a shake-out in unionist and nationalist |thinking.
The main choice for unionists at election time will be between the Conservative and Ulster Unionist candidates and the Democratic Unionists. We know what the former stand for. To quote David Cameron: “I'm proud that at the next election we will be the only party fielding candidates in every part of the UK.
“Britishness is not mechanical, it's organic. It's an emotional connection to a way of life, an attitude, a set of institutions. Make these stronger and our national identity becomes stronger.”
The Ulster Unionists have decided for better or worse to hang their red, white and blue hats on Cameron's coat peg. What of |the DUP? What does it stand |for in 2009?
It began to steal the Ulster Unionists' clothes shortly after the Good Friday agreement was signed and it has been doing so ever since.
The DUP still has good old-fashioned unashamedly Protestant Unionists within its ranks but to what extent is the Paisley Free Presbyterian influence on the wane? Is Peter Robinson leading it towards a more mainstream message? His comments in an interview in the Belfast Telegraph last month were intriguing and interesting.
He said: “There has been a major operation which I don't believe any other political party anywhere has undertaken?. we have a raft of issues which will mean a seismic change in the way the party operates and which impacts on every level in the party.
“We have looked at how we encourage greater community involvement in politics in Northern Ireland. So we are talking about fundamental change in the way we do business. It will be a very different DUP operation.”
I can understand the party not wanting to throw its lot in with the Tories as the Ulster Unionists have done, and certainly not with poor beaten-up Gordon Brown and his Labour party. We await with interest. What kind of unionism Peter Robinson is actually asking |people to vote for.
It is not only unionism which needs redefining but also as the SDLP and Sinn Fein are discovering, the message of nationalism as well.
Is there anybody out there who sees any hope of a united Ireland on the far horizon? What exactly does Irish nationalism mean today in the wake of the Good Friday agreement which seems to have put the aspiration of unity to bed in the woolliest of nightgowns?
Are the people of west Belfast, the Bogside or south Armagh having sleepless nights over whether the next north-south ministerial meeting will take place or not?
Is it not a fact of life in that nationalism is in the doldrums and probably will be for years because the Good Friday deal is where we are and are likely to stay?
And yet, when the election comes, most of us will vote unionist or nationalist as ever. Why should we do so if politics in Northern Ireland is not really about the constitutional link with London or Dublin?
The Good Friday agreement has put us all in a new limbo land. The link with Britain may not be what it was but neither is the promise of a united Ireland.
In reality politics today is about our heritage, and principally about our British/Protestant and Irish/Catholic traditions.
With the constitutional issue on the back burner, unionists and nationalists are falling back on their respective traditions, habits and social background. They want their politicians to preserve their separate cultures. Defining what makes a unionist or a nationalist in today's world is a challenge facing every major party.
The Good Friday agreement and subsequent St Andrews deal parked the constitutional argument between unionists and nationalists in neutral gear. Northern Ireland is not as British as Finchley but it is the case that it remains a British governed and funded state in which even ardent Irish republicans are prepared to co-exist with unionists.
We will not be voting at the next election to be part of the UK or a united Ireland. We will be voting mainly to defend and promote our British or Irish way of life, our individual habits, religious and social beliefs.
Our political choice will be determined by how we identify ourselves in our daily lives and which candidate fits the bill as far as preserving that lifestyle. That is why the major parties are having to reinvent their messages and readjust their strategy to show how they are defending different cultural interests.
We can see that in the bitter debate over the future of grammar schools, or the promotion of Ulster-Scots traditions or Irish music, language and gaelic sports. The more unionist and nationalist parties have joined together at Stormont, the more people have returned to their respective cultural trenches and appear to want to stay there.
They don't really object to political partnership but they still like being unionists and nationalists in their day-to-day life.
The challenge for the parties at the next election is to satisfy them. Think about it. Why are you a unionist? Why are you a nationalist? In your heart of hearts, are you really comfortable with your answer?
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Comments
102 Comments
To Euskal Herria , you talk about letting real democracy happen.
What makes you think that all Roman Catholics are Irish Nationalists and want a united Ireland , thats a fallacy.
The green fascism of Sinn Fein/IRA is not appealing to all Roman Catholics and the watered down version of the SDLP is not appealing either.
Posted by Steve | 31.12.09, 13:17 GMT
To Niall , thanks for the history lesson on your family , your Dad from Banbridge and your Mum from Mayo. Interesting that you are an Irish citizen living in Australia , if you were born in Australia why are you not an Australian citizen ?
If you love the Irish Republic so much as to keep its citizenship , why not live there ?
As for your comment "
do not surrender - is further resistance illegal" ,I hardly think that shooting people in Churches, bombing civilians in a restaurant ie La Mon is resistance , its terrorism.
Posted by Steve | 31.12.09, 13:13 GMT
Let's do as Mickey wishes. Self-determination for all.
There is no reason why Northern Ireland should exist according to its current borders, it is an artificial region formed due to Edwardian considerations and political interests.
4 of the 6 Ulster counties which make up "Northern Ireland" have nationalist-voting majorities and have since partition. Let them have self-determination and rejoin Ireland - the state Derry City Council, Fermanagh County Council et al. all voted to join in 1921, before, of course, being silenced by Stormont.
The resulting rump state centred around Belfast with its (real) Unionist majority is welcome to go as it wishes.
An artificial majority in North-east Ulster was created in 1921, now is the time for change, for a real democratic mandate.
You want to be British? Fine. Then subscribe to British democracy and let the areas which do not share your identity leave. If Ireland can be divided, so can the North. Let's make real democracy happen.
Posted by Euskal Herria | 09.12.09, 17:04 GMT
"Anyway, didn't Southern Ireland relinquish its so-called territorial claim over Northern ireland?"
That's as it may be, but politics is one thing and submission to reason is another. If you look at the island of Ireland, there's nothing to suggest that it should be divided along the current borders. Borders of the mind included, by the way.
Posted by Sine | 08.12.09, 11:57 GMT
"The Irish Republic is entitled to, and hereby claims, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman."
HAHAHA, the Irish Republic can stick this makey-uppy allegiance where the sun don't shine! Anyway, didn't Southern Ireland relinquish its so-called territorial claim over Northern ireland?
Posted by mark's nemesis | 08.12.09, 10:45 GMT
Now here's a quote to think about:
"The Irish Republic is entitled to, and hereby claims, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman."
Surely that includes all people in Ireland, regardless of creed and background? Call me a dreamer if you must.
Posted by Sine | 08.12.09, 09:48 GMT
"What really irritates me is ignorant republicans who childishly chose to pretend that Northern Ireland doens't exist, wise up and stop being so offensive. "
What really irritates me is ignorant Loyalists who childishly chose to pretend that Northern Ireland is not part of Ireland, and instead mistakenly claim it to be part of Britain and they by virtue of this, are British (sic), wise up and stop being so offensive.
Posted by Titus Andronicus | 04.12.09, 11:56 GMT
Steve73
Is that why you live by your own admission in the Republic ?
What you WANT or what I WANT is not the point. What WILL happen IS, and has to be faced by us all.
Any predictions about how the UK will look in 10 - 20 years time when there will be a nationalist majority in todays NI?
Posted by Patrick | 04.12.09, 11:41 GMT
Steve - not that I should have to justify my right to comment to the you - I am an Irish Citizen resident in Australia and the son of an Irish father born and raised in Banbridge and an Irish mother from Mayo and fully cognizant of Irish affairs on either side of the border so I will speak my mind. You are an empty headed populist bigot - master of taking comments out of context and twisting things (albeit laughably and ineffectually) to your own devices (although "mastery" probably rather overstates things in your case you parrot). And Steve, my comments were mostly directed at historical conflicts. At what point in an historical conflict where the invaded party - and their descendants - do not surrender - is further resistance illegal? In any event, that is now a moot point in NI because there is now no need for armed conflict from republicans or anyone else because of the armed stalemate which has given rise to the present constitutional process).
Posted by Niall | 04.12.09, 11:08 GMT
To Steven73 , you make a lot of good points.
You regard yourself as Irish , that is your right.
Unfortunately the Pan Irish Nationalist front have tried to politisize the term Irish , and have politisized Irish Gaelic and St Patricks Day.
I think that Unionists can be British , Irish , Northern Irish or Ulstermen , as long as the spectre of the Irish Republican gunman is taken away.
As long as the cancer of the Irish Republican apologist for murder is taken away .
Posted by Steve | 04.12.09, 10:47 GMT
"I like the international security of the UK, I like the UK's senior role in the EU"
You like the international security of the U.K. (sic) and it's senior role (sic) in the U.K.
I won't ever bother to disabuse you of these notions. Their, let us charitably say non-validity, stand for themselves.
P.S.: I like Holland's health-care system and their quality produced cannabis, I'd like Ireland to join the Netherlands.
Posted by Donald Goines | 04.12.09, 10:46 GMT
"The simple fact is, I like being part of the UK, I speak English, I watch UK sports such as football, rugby, boxing, I love the NHS, I like the international security of the UK, I like the UK's senior role in the EU, I am proud of the UK's role in defending itself in two world wars; wanting to be part of the UK is not bigoted, I just don't want to leave the UK to join Eire."
Bravo. But in the warped and myopic world of Irish Republicanis/Nationalism, all the above just makes you a backwards bigot...apparently.
When they 'evolve', they may even grow to like our wee country too.
Posted by mark's nemesis | 04.12.09, 10:41 GMT
"In reality politics today is about our heritage, and principally about our British/Protestant and Irish/Catholic traditions. "
Nicely put Ed. Now lets have a national debate on religion -both on Roman Catholic and Christian religions.
As a Protestant, I can see a united Ireland being viable, being united in Christ as a Christian nation. But being united to a Roman Catholic country, where the popes laws can override the states, no thanks. It would rapidly be back to the pre reformation times.
Posted by Dave | 04.12.09, 10:26 GMT
Am I British or Irish? That's easy, I'm Irish, I wasn't born in Britain, I was born in Northern Ireland and that makes me Irish and very proud to be Irish.
What really irritates me is ignorant republicans who childishly chose to pretend that Northern Ireland doens't exist, wise up and stop being so offensive.
How are you ever going to hold a rational discussion with a unionist when you deny his country even exists; on that basis we cannot even start to have a conversation on building a future together in a 'united Ireland', do republicans seriously not see how bigoted they are being denying NI exists?
The simple fact is, I like being part of the UK, I speak English, I watch UK sports such as football, rugby, boxing, I love the NHS, I like the international security of the UK, I like the UK's senior role in the EU, I am proud of the UK's role in defending itself in two world wars; wanting to be part of the UK is not bigoted, I just don't want to leave the UK to join Eire.
Posted by Steven73 | 03.12.09, 10:33 GMT
I always have and always will see myself as NORTHERN Irish i dont care about this pathetic bigotted Irish nationalism based on lies and propaganda.
And I certainly dont even see a good arguement to remian part of Britain (im from a unionist backround)
NI should be independent i know it in my heart, weather or not it would work is another issue...
Posted by Connor | 01.12.09, 19:56 GMT
Thanks Evergreen for applauding me for standing up for my beliefs , that really makes my day , I am grateful ,not.
My beliefs and traditions and culture are what they are , maybe some people do not like them or agree with them , c'est la vie.
You and like minded people need to stop living in the past , with your outdated romantic Irish nationalism.
Its not popular , its passe .
And I think you know that but cannot admit that.
Posted by Steve-Nevergreen | 28.11.09, 10:57 GMT
I wonder if some of the posters like Niall and Evergreen are even from Northern Ireland or ever been there.
Their posts have a hint of opinions straight from an Irish Republican publication that they could have read on line.
They seem to write about a situation that does not really exist , except in the minds of fanatical extremists and not the general populace of Northern Ireland or Eire.
Posted by Steve | 26.11.09, 12:28 GMT
Steve
About 120,000 German children, women and old men were incinerated by "your" air force in early 1945, in the beautiful medieval city of Dresden (since wonderfully restored) hundreds of miles from any military target and with Germany on her knees. But of course they were nasty Germans - isn't that right Steve ?
Posted by Fair Play | 26.11.09, 12:13 GMT
Sine
At last a voice of sanity !!
Well said !!
Posted by Evergreen | 26.11.09, 12:05 GMT
Steve
The problem Steve is not that you stand up for your beliefs. We all admire that. The problem is that your beliefs don't stand up to close examination. NI is a part of the province of Ulster and was carved out of that province for the sake of MONEY and Tory investors. "Loyalty" ran a poor second. Partition was imposed against the wishes of over 80% of the people of Ireland - including the majority of (all) Ulster people. Facts.
A UI is a long way off. Most Unionists are decent people but have been programmed to regard the rest of Ireland with fear and contempt. But you are no longer useful to the English Establishment who do and always have USED you but really regard you as Paddies like us.
They will drop you like a hot brick but will TIME it so that enough "Steves and Mcs are still around to cause ongoing turmoil and havoc in all of Ireland. They have a long track record in such behaviour all over the world. Divide and rule. Works like a charm.
God Save Your Queen.
Posted by Evergreen | 26.11.09, 11:58 GMT
102 Comments