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Drumcree parade true test of political progress

Friday, 20 November 2009

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Ed Curran's column (November 16) details an imaginery scenario of the potential conflict between any future devolved policing and justice powers and the resolution of contentious parading.

There is no need to imagine.

On July 20, 2004 Gerry Adams demanded that the two key issues of policing and of contentious parades needed to be addressed if there was to be political progress.

Mr Adams continued that, "Nationalists want to see the parades issue resolved.

"Nationalists want to see the issue of policing resolved.

"This can only happen through open and honest dialogue which addresses these difficult issues."

The failure of Sinn Fein and the DUP at St Andrews to seriously address and resolve the issue of parading has remained as a cancer at the heart of the political process.

As the political horse-trading continues on the devolution of policing and justice, the DUP must make clear that it is interested not just in resolving the mechanisms or bodies for managing parades, but in directly negotiating with Sinn Fein over the resolution of the most contentious parades, so that a political settlement for parading is agreed before any further devolution takes place.

Here is a defining issue upon which we will be able to judge whether Peter Robinson's DUP is guilty of the charge of pushover unionism, or if any progress can be made for one parade in particular and that Portadown LOL No 1 are facilitated to complete their journey from Drumcree Parish Church - not just in 2010, but every year.

PHILIP GRIMASON

Ulster Unionist Party, Portadown

Comments

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It must be fun in the wee world you live in, Mickey. Do animals talk and lollypop trees grow in abundance?
In case you had not noticed the wrapping up of this argument, and I do agree that it was a pitiful one, happened 5 days ago.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 08.12.09, 10:19 GMT

Useless32, let's just say that you WANT to say homophobes aren't prisoners in their own home if Gay Parade goes dandering by - but you know that it will totally undermine what pitiful argument you've already put forward regarding Orange Parades.

Thanks for confirming this, finally. You can wrap this one up now Moderators and sincere thanks for your patience.

Posted by mark's nemesis | 04.12.09, 11:05 GMT

Ask a homophobe, Mickey. You seem to have a fixation concerning it.
Maybe you can pass on my advice.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 03.12.09, 16:28 GMT

Ok Useless32 - one...last...time....

Is a homophobe a "prisoner in his own home" if a Gay Rights Parade is passing by?

Posted by mark's nemesis | 03.12.09, 15:42 GMT

Should anyone find anything offence (irrelevant of whether popular culture agrees with it or not), they have a right to protest within the law and bring the matter to the appropriate authorities so as to seek an appropriate resolution to their concerns.
Hey, it worked in the Drumcree situation.
Seriously, Mickey, circular arguments are a bit pointless. But, if you wish, to I'll let you have some sort of feeble, pointless last word.

Posted by Ulysees 32 | 03.12.09, 14:23 GMT

Useless32, it's very simple.

Is a homophobe a "prisoner in his own home" if a Gay Rights Parade is passing by?

You either have an answer....or you don't...

Posted by mark's nemesis | 03.12.09, 12:26 GMT

ho·mo·pho·bi·a (hm-fb-)
1. Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men.
2. Behavior based on such a feeling.
Get a life Mickey. Comparing ordinary decent people with bigots? Please.
Now you can go off on one about the lovely, innocent, twee Orange Order and how they are soooo victimised.
When you do, know how I have won.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 02.12.09, 14:30 GMT

Face it Ulysses. The moment you started deviating from the discussion and instead questioned whether or not I was in fact a homophobe, was it not the moment your tail disappeared between your legs and with it, your argument?

I hope you're not "feeling like a prisoner in your own home" with my line of questioning. That would never do.

Posted by mark's nemesis | 01.12.09, 15:16 GMT

Actually, Mickey, its the mockery of a fool who continues to forage for scraps to bolster a side of an argument that has already been lost.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 30.11.09, 13:51 GMT

Would a minority in the United States be forced to endure a KKK parade going through their area?

Would those in Brixton be forced to endure a BNP parade going past their homes?

(Did those at the Battle of Cable Street in 1936 let Mosley and his band of fascist thugs spew their hatred through the East End of London? Indeed one eyewitness movingly said at the time: " "I was moved to tears to see bearded Jews and Irish Catholic dockers standing up to stop Mosley. I shall never forget that as long as I live, how working-class people could get together to oppose the evil of racism.")

Why should those in Northern Ireland be forced to endure an Orange Order parade going past their homes?

Posted by Donald Goines | 30.11.09, 11:48 GMT

The response of a man/boy who's argument has fallen flat on its backside and has no point to make.

Take a bow Ulysses...

Posted by mark's nemesis | 30.11.09, 11:40 GMT

I don't know, Mickey. Are you?

Posted by Ulysses32 | 30.11.09, 10:05 GMT

Dear oh dear Ulysses. Is a homophobe a "prisoner in his own home" if a Gay Rights Parade is passing by?

Posted by mark's nemesis | 27.11.09, 16:39 GMT

Sorry, Mickey. I do apologise. I didn't realise you were an agoraphobic.
Travelling across the front doorstep must really be going out of your way.
Suffice to say your comment, again, goes a long way to bolstering the argument of other. For instance those who feel like prisoners in your own homes when a sectarian parade passes by.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 27.11.09, 14:42 GMT

'If a parade took place in my neighbourhood where symbols & banners being displayed were "not relevant to my beliefs", personally, I'd draw the curtains and turn the telly up!'

Posted by Mickey/MC/Gandhi

It would appear Mickey's one of the great pacifists of our time! An advocate of turning the other cheek. I'm pretty sure he's Jehovah....and I should know....I've followed a few!!! LOL

Posted by mark's nemesis nemesis | 26.11.09, 10:52 GMT

Ulysses, if I was a homophobe and a Gay Rights Parade was taking place in my neighbourhood, it's extremely unlikely that I would deliberately head out the front door to view it in case what I saw was offensive or not "relevant to my beliefs".

Only someone with half a brain would go out of their way to be offended like that ....eh Ulysses?

Posted by mark's nemesis | 26.11.09, 10:15 GMT

Dead on, Mickey. Even your incredulous comments have now lost all credibility by your last comment.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 25.11.09, 17:41 GMT

NM - "not relevant to my beliefs" - I think that's were your analogy hits the wall.
The OO is about celebrating a battle inwhich the pope backed armies won against the irish/french/rightful king of merry old England. How you might think that isn't relevant to the irish, and catholics (but I won't point out the total irony again) is madness.

Posted by Common sense | 25.11.09, 17:23 GMT

P - I'm happy to respond to your not unreasonable question.

If a parade took place in my neighbourhood where symbols & banners being displayed were "not relevant to my beliefs", personally, I'd draw the curtains and turn the telly up! I definitely wouldn't put my Rangers or NI top on and (ahem) innocently pop out for a pint of milk.

Also what specifically is it about the music you "don't agree with"?

Posted by mark's nemesis | 25.11.09, 10:33 GMT

drumcree - english dictionary:
tedious, boring, monotonous, tiresomely long, lacking in variety, routinely dull, uninteresting,

lets move on and enjoy our short lives..... drumcree will probably forgive us !

Posted by Norman Wilson | 24.11.09, 19:13 GMT

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