Today, the news came through that the council in Northern Ireland voted to change its policy of flying the Union Jack all year round. It will now only be flown 15 out of the 365 days in a year. 1,000 Loyalists protesters had staged themselves outside the City Hall while the debate was going on. When the outcome was announced only minutes after, chaos ensued: numerous rioters tried to force their way into the City Hall and tricolours were burnt. Not only that but two police officers were sent to hospital after being hurt in the ongoing riot and violence among others being injured. And what is this all for? Because of a flag. Northern Ireland has once again proven itself to be incapable of governing itself without petty arguments and irresponsible behaviour as a resulting of dissatisfaction.
Across the internet there have been numerous tweets and statuses of everyone's opinion the most common being one of pure 'embarrassment' and a lack of surprise. This country is completely backward in its thinking and has not progressed as much as it should have since the troubles. We still let religion and faith dominate our politics in the most immature way, and when people don't get their way, they look to violence and crude comments at the opposition. Over here, people don't like change, they don't like people 'speaking out'. Only recently, within the past month, did we finally get our first abortion clinic - not only that but no laws have changed nor can any surgical procedures be taken out, yet protesters standing outside the first day it opened.
There have also been numerous statuses that have been 'outraged' and 'disgusted' by this behaviour - people going as far as calling Alliance 'Nationalists in disguise' and claiming the republicans to be 'taking over the country'. First off, a flag does not define who you are and, we are supposed to live in a democracy - people rule and everyone has their say. Northern Ireland has once again, proven to not understand this concept. We are supposed to be 'special' in the sense we can chose our identity so why should only one flag be put up outside our City Hall. Better that, why don't we not flag any flag and leave it up to everyone to decide their stance.That way, no one is offended and everyone is free to decide, no one will have to look upon a flag they feel does not stand for themselves and their beliefs.
Just because, for once the unionists lost and didn't get their way everyone is going crazy and slandering the republicans and Nationalists. This is what our country has amounted to, and it sickens me. We are supposed to have our own say in these things - yet the unionists do not seem to understand that. In their eyes equality is their beliefs being 'oppressed', but what about the others? Their response is immature and childish, huffing because they don't get their way. The Alliance are also hardly 'Nationalists in disguise' especially considering they designated themselves as unionists when they were voting to get Trimble back. Furthermore most of their views are more British than others, including wanting woman to have the choice to do what they want with their own body.
The debate has led to illogical, backward and immature arguments. They say 'we're a British country' - yet how does that mean we can't disagree with the laws? Were we not given freedom of speech and the ability to debate politics? Just because you don't agree with someone else does not mean you can slander them and call them all the names under the earth, calling them 'disgraceful' and 'scum'. It is people like that that prove our country to still be rotten to the core. We will never fix ourselves if we continue like this. It may be a mere dream, but we want, or at least I want a country that I can express my views without being pounced about and critically analysed under a scope.
Furthermore, Northern Ireland continues to demonstrate its lack of movement and inability to think properly as people continue to link the IRA and the tricolour together. The tricolour does not stand for the IRA taken over the country or the violence of the troubles, it stands for IRELAND and its independence. Yet somehow, people seem to manage to forget all those loyalists and unionists who killed. Have we forgotten the Black and Tans or the British soldiers who killed 26 protesters on Bloody Sunday? Which David Cameron apologised for - people cannot just 'forget' these yet remember the rest. Both Unionists and Nationalists cost innocent lives, there is no sugar coating it.
Okay, so the flag has now been there for a hundred years, but that really doesn't matter. It is irrelevant - things change people of Northern Ireland can't you see!? We seem to be incapable of grasping this concept. Not everything will always be permanent or will fit with society - change is needed for our country to grow and develop. We should be allowed to speak up if we are unhappy, no matter when. Just because someone does not immediately stand up does not mean they are happy, they may contemplating it or thinking of the best way to approach it.
So, Northern Ireland continues to be stuck in the past, unable to move but able to full heartedly stage protests resulting in violence and petty immature arguments. It is always reassuring to know that the country you live in is in safe hands.
- Jay
