General Chat

Jacquie - see you picked up on the vote for Catholic home - this is one which was always broadcast and still is and is one statement which in the late sixties and today has me yelling that it is incorrect. It is a sad state of affairs - it is always some one else's fault. It is a beautiful country, friendly people (irrespective of religion) and their (in some cases) dislike of the English goes back to 1690! I was only ever accepted and told this because I was married to a N. Irish man. Ann

Pat - the third paragraph in your posting - as I read it and perhaps others will - that it was only Catholic residences which had the ruling of one vote per house imposed upon them. Where the house was occupied by a couple with or without children the couple each had a vote - two votes per house. However this rule was not specifically aimed at Catholics but applied across the six counties irrespective of religion. How do I know? I was married to a N. Irish man at one time and yes - we got two votes for our home - his and mine. In his parents home - there resided his parents and at the time during the late sixties also living at home with his parents were 7 siblings - however only two votes were allocated to this home as well and quess what Pat - both homes mentioned in this paragraph were Protestant homes. Ann

Hi Jacquie, Yes many people forget why the Catholics of the North Of Ireland wanted CIVIL RIGHTS at a time when everywhere in Great Britain had them. As long as your brain isn't pickled with Rum like mine would be if I was living in the Caribbean lol. Maybe I should state here again I am an Atheist, when I see the sadness in the World in the name of Religion I am glad I am not a believer. Thank you Jacquie One Love, Pat x

its a fight thats all over my head im afraid, i have no idea why they are still doing this, its like sheer stubborness, maybe attention seeking, like have you forgotten us, why cant they just give it a rest

Very eloquent Pat... thanks for that. I did know about Bernadette Devlin and the like. It just confirms to me that, although you say this isn't only about religion but tradition, it still stems from religious differences - which as has been said before on other threads is such a shame that people can't just live and let live. With all the religions we have in the World it seems to me people just use it as an excuse to disagree... It all comes down to God ultimately!! It is a sad comment on our Society that this is still an ongoing problem, every religion should surely have it's place. I was particulary shocked about the Catholics only having one vote per household... Pat that is something I had forgotten!! (how bad is that to admit to)... Brain is stagnating in the laid back Caribbean!!! One love Pat... Jacquie xxxxx

Awful sad for this to flare up again it seems as some small group are not prepared to give and take a little I feel so sorry for the people that want to live in peace Howardxx

Hi Jacquie, I have just seen your question and thought I would write this, I am very sorry its so long but I needed to say some of this if people are interested as to WHY we still have the Troubles in the North Of Ireland. PEACE! the last time that would be in 1968 before people started to stand up and peacefully march in protest demanding their rights, people such as Bernadette Devlin, John Hume and the late Gerry Fitt (Socialists not Republicans) came together & formed the Civil Rights Movement. When the people of the North of Ireland marched for Civil Rights they had watched the African American Civil Rights movement under Dr Martin Luther King (yes a Protestant) win some concessions & forced some progress from the American Government. Hard as it may seem to us now but the Catholic community in Northern Ireland did NOT have 'One man One Vote' as in the rest of the UK, they had One House One Vote, it didn't matter how many of voting age in a Catholic Home there was only ONE allowed to use it, yet the Protestant Community DID have One Man One Vote, also there were many places the Catholics were not allowed to get work this includes the most famous shipyard in the World Harland and Wolff. In many other areas of life they were discriminated against including housing where they wanted live. This is obviously Apatheid not 1,000's of miles away just in Zimbabwe (when it was Rhodesia) or South Africa but in a part of the United Kingdom. People are sick of hearing about the the North Of Ireland as they are sick of many conflicts that go on for years but it will NOT go away its there and now at least people who blamed Republicans/ Catholics for all the trouble will see that it wasn't a one sided affair it was the para-miltaries on both sides who enjoyed the last 30 odd years of strife keeping working class people divided and making fortunes out of these peoples miseries. The marching season starts on the 12th July, (it's not just one march but many of them) these Marches are a provocation by the Orange Order, they are not satisfied going down loyalists streets, they want to show off to the Catholic community. David Trimble of the Unionist Party who helped the peace process along has now lost his seat in Parliament to one of Ian Paisley's extremists of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party), the Protestants are divided and always have been. They feel so let down because they have had to make concessions to their greatest enemies 'the Papists' as they are known by the Orange Order, their Power base has almost diminished, they DO NOT want to share Power with the Catholics and when they don't like Westminster's Laws they soon get the hump and storm off & hold the next stage of the Peace talks & Power sharing executive to ransom, this includes the Government. The UDA (Ulster Defence Army), the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force ), LVF (Loyalist Volunteer Force) all these are the Protestant Military Organisations none have never been asked like the IRA (Irish Republican Army) or INLA (Irish National Liberation Army) to hand in their weapons, one rule for one one for another. There are many exchange programmes trying to get the Children to meet up and share experiences, but its very hard as after spending a week or two together they then return back to the same thing they had left, segregation. Although it seems to be in the name of Religion it isn't just Religion its traditions and beliefs, it runs far deeper than that. Republican or loyalist beliefs do not lend themseleves to Internationalism they are National ideologies, which are outdated. Hope you stayed to read it all One Love, Pat x

Yes, I too find the question of Catholics and Protestants at loggerheads a deepdown problem. Why has there never been a call for the Protestants to hand in their arms. It was always the Catholics who were called in to do this. It must be difficult for peace to be achieved in an area where hatred of the other side is deep-rooted from a child. A bit like just after the war many people having a hatred for the Germans, but fortunately that has got less as the older ones are dying off. Perhaps that will eventually come in Ireland. I always think of the Protestants as being arrogant in their marches and out to incite trouble. Incidentally I'm not a Catholic! Sylvia xxx

The only one who thinks that there is peace over there (in my opinion) and that of friends living there is Tony Blair. Ann

Point taken CB... Does anyone know when there was actual 'peace' in Northern Ireland last!! This my friends is one of the reasons why I don't have a religion! Jacquie xxxxx

Oleander, Yes, that's true. When I lived in London, there were certain roads you wouldn't want to walk along, especiallyat night, but if you did, it wouldn't cause a riot and need the Police and the Army to sort it out. CB >|<

Rox and CB, you have both have a point... as I say I am not up to date on this... so perhaps should not comment! It must be hard for everyone having areas where they dare not go but then this doesn't just apply to Northern Ireland unfortunately it is World wide! Jacquie xxxx

I've only just seen this on the news too. If they want to fight amongst themselves nothing I say will stop them. What I will say though is I do not agree with 'no go' areas for anybody, anywhere, any time. Just my opinion though jan x

Roxanne, I agree. I will never understand why these stubbon die-hards can't just hold their marches somewhere else. They seem determined to cause trouble just to keep up some outdated tradition. We've had to forgo lots of traditions over here for different reasons, so what's wrong with them? As long as they can still have their parades, why does it matter which road they go down. What would they do if a motorway was built across where they usually march? Insist on parading amongst all the traffic? What would they do if John Prescott insisted on building thousands of houses there? Would they insist on marching through people's homes and gardens? CB >|<

Hi Jaquie, i see you point! but wouldent it just have been easier and better to have just let it be diverted, in the name of peace? Rox xx

I said on another thread, WHY do the press insist on calling them Loyalists. They are just THUGS Vivienne

I agree Roxanne... peace should be the most important thing. I havn't actually seen anything about this... but am curious that if there is peace at the moment why would the Loyalists have to change the route of their march?? Jacquie xxxx

Why!! is my question,do they not want peace? do they prefer living in a country that has been torn apart by trouble, all this just because their march was diverted a little, I find it a disgrace, all the hard work thats been done could be for NOTHING!!!