Colm Bradley has outlined some ways he thinks the GAA can remove the barriers to Unionists joining. Just over a year ago I outlined that the GAA has a de facto ban in Unionists joining. Unfortunately Google hasn't cached it, so some of the substantive points are below the fold. The main contention I have though, is that the GAA is explicitly a political organisation, and should not be treated as a sporting organisation unless and until it sheds the vestiges of a political pressure group.

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Following recent, rather hypocritical, criticism of culture minister Edwin Poots after he stated in a written answer (AQW 4045/08) he hadn't attended any Irish language events during his first 9 months in the job, Edwin Poots will today attend an Irish Gaelic language event in Belfast. Isn't that a turn-up?

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Is it any wonder unionists feel like their culture and identity is constantly under attack? It's all very well for people in Northern Ireland who are familiar with the bullshit emanating from the likes of the Andytown News group and the various interest groups to just switch off when the latest MOPE appears in the media, and most will. Unfortunately those without such a familiarity of the situation here actually believe some of it and that can lead to situations where, for example, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam ranks Orangeism up there with Nazism and advocates of apartheid in South Africa.

I've said before, and anyone who knows me would testify, as an atheist I'm no particular fan of the Orange Order and they often do themselves no favours. Sometimes it surprises me how much the bullshit slander (they eat babies and rape women, didn't you know?) against them annoys me, but the fact is that the Orange Order is just a 'legitimate target' for the sectarian bile and hatred the perpetrators clearly feel towards unionists and/or Protestants generally.

Why does all this matter? Because once these hateful liars have successfully demonised unionism and the majority population of Northern Ireland they can use these fictitious and/or exaggerated 'evil acts' to justify the extremely real and extremely vicious murders and bombings carried out by the IRA - by pretending they were fighting a dangerous, bigoted, violent group of oppressors rather than an innocent civilian population.

The Assembly has rejected any suggestion that the IRA's sectarian murder campaign was a war. A good thing, and fairly unsurprising.

I've always liked Danny Kennedy, but his performance since devolution has impressed me, and he is clearly im proving as time goes on. I enjoyed this contribution during the debate:

Mr McCartney: The Member made an intervention and stated that Ireland was only ever united under the British Crown. Is that an acceptance that uniting Ireland is a worthy cause?

Mr Kennedy: Yes — under the British Crown. If the Republic wants to rejoin the British Commonwealth and renegotiate the terms and conditions for the union, I would withhold any objection.

Here here. Unionism should never be afraid to espouse Irish unity, it should probably be Unionism's objective - under the Crown within the devolutionary settlement for the Union. In today's world, Unionists have none of the reasons to fear Irish Home Rule that existed 100 years ago, and we should declare our willingness to enter an all Ireland legislature in Dublin, so long as all of Ireland sends its representatives to the national Parliament in London.

I've stated before on this blog that I don't like the legacy of James Craig. I think that he partly caused the insular, anti-Irish Unionism that is everything Carson stood against. Unionism should roll back the fear of it's Irish identity, and not allow the IRA's attempts to rob us of our British identity, to rob us of our Irish identity.

Well said Danny Kennedy.

Limavady Borough Council: redefining "offensive"

Nationalist councillors (who hold a majority) on Limavady Borough Council have ordered the removal of several items from council premises in order to create a "neutral working environment".

Unfortunately they weren't totally sure what should be removed and had to search the internet to decide whether or not they were offended by a statue of Limavady man William (Ferguson) Massey, who had been Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925 and founded New Zealand's Reform Party (now the conservative National Party, the largest opposition party in New Zealand at this time). As it turns out they are offended by the statue. Why? You may well ask. Apparently some hotshot detective work by nationalist councillors turned up that Massey had been a Protestant member of the Orange Order in New Zealand. Thank God for Wikipedia, eh?

Other items which had to be removed include a coffee mug celebrating Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding and a toy dragon.

The Equality Commission said it advised the council, which was seeking to adopt a "policy on neutral public space". The Commission said they prefer the objective of a "good and harmonious" environment to a neutral one.

"The Commission advised that the Fair Employment Code of Practice refers to promoting a 'good and harmonious environment' and drew attention to fact that this concept is preferred to that of a 'neutral' environment... The Commission has not provided advice regarding the removal of any specific items or emblems."
Equality Commission spokesman

But nationalist councillors would not be deterred by that, or by the anger it caused amongst their unionist colleagues. They spent a year and brought in an independent consultant to hunt out anything they might be able to take offence at. While they were doing this, one wonders where it fell on their list of priorities in relation to the loss of 900 jobs in Limavady or allegations of bullying of council staff. But what do they matter when you can protect the citizenry from the horrors of a Charles and Diana mug sitting in a council's display case that most of them will likely never see?

Apparently discussions are ongoing about the possibility of an Orange Lodge taking part in the Saint Patrick's Day parade in Downpatrick this year. The Orange Order seem to be treading with caution, but hopefully the Order and the organisers can make this work.

Can't see it happening in the Belfast parade any time soon though.

Update: According to Slugger, it's not happening. Apparently there were fears for the safety of members taking part as well as issues over what regalia the organisers would allow.

It's past time the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was abolished. It was a waste of time and money when it was set up and it's a waste of time and money now.

The Human Rights Commissioner Monica McWilliams helpfully demonstrated this point for me when she asked the Northern Ireland Office of the government to go over the heads of our oh so wonderful democratically [sic] elected executive and assembly at Stormont and implement legislation on the Irish [sic] language on the spurious basis of a little-known piece of decidedly dodgy European Union bureaucracy called the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Assuming we accept that Irish constitutes a "national minority" in Northern Ireland (or, more likely, the United Kingdom) they (we) are not disadvantaged by not having our car tax forms available in Gaelic which none of us speak as a first language anyway. We are not denied access to public services because we all speak and understand English as a first language (despite the efforts of some to create language barriers). We would all, I am certain, be much better at defending ourselves against police charges in court using English than broken Gaelic.

Ms McWilliams is not doing Gaelic any favours by trying to have it imposed on the people of Northern Ireland. She was a supporter of the Good Friday Agreement and that means supporting whatever form of "democracy" it is that we have because of it, not running to central government every time they do something she doesn't like. By couhcing support for the language in terms of "rights" she's making the same mistake* of Sinn Fein and some other language "enthusiasts" in Northern Ireland.

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Londonderry MP claims tourist industry fails to differentiate Ulster from "Oireland".

East Londonderry MP & MLA Gregory Campbell is less than impressed with local souvenir shops aimed at tourists. Campbell has asked why the Northern Ireland tourist board gives backing to some shops that sell "stage Oirish" tack like shamrocks and shillelaghs, which tourists could just as easily pick up in a "tip in Tipperary".

He might not have phrased it in the most delicate manner, but there is definitely room for improvement in this area. Just need to look at the "Taste of Ulster" shop at the international airport, stocked with rows and rows of paddywhackery-inspired crap.

Northern Ireland has plenty to offer of its own. Campbell suggested red hands (even if our own tourist board did drop theirs from their logo) and ornaments depicting Ulster cottages/the Mourne Mountains for starters and I could add the Giant's Causeway (naturally) and the Glens of Antrim, Marble Arch Caves and much more. Nobody's suggesting (at least I'm not) that shops shouldn't also stock the Oirish tack for the plastic paddies who lap it up so enthusiastically, just try and offer punters something a bit different, and a reason to remember Ulster - it's more than just another part of Ireland.

Despite the fact that yesterday's 12th July celebrations (BBC pictures), the first in years which didn't see the army assist the police) passed off peacefully and there seemed to be a much more welcoming atmosphere at the parades, it seems some just can't resist getting their kicks from burning Orange Halls, damaging homes or attacking buses. A friend also told me that a hoax bomb had been left outside his grandmother's house near Ardoyne, though I suppose that's an improvement on two years ago. One does have to wonder if this kind of intolerance in any way stems from the Pope's own attack on Protestant churches "ecclesial communities originating with the Reformation".

Whatever, for most people it didn't spoil what was a great day (weather aside) and seems to be a marked improvement on previous years. Hopefully that trend will continue and we can dispatch with the petty violence next year.

After a report on the state of Windsor Park (which I'll discuss at a later date), tonight's BBC Newsline (watch from about 11:10 in) focused on the twelfth celebrations and attempts being made to broaden their appeal. It seems there are a number of groups trying to make the celebrations more inclusive this year. The moves are long-overdue in my opinion but welcome nonetheless.

Bonfires
As far as bonfires go (with particular reference to worries over the toxic smoke emitted when tyres are burned) a Fire and Rescue officer said that the number of tyres at bonfires in Belfast this year had been greatly reduced. Following concerns over this year's bonfire at Ballycraigy estate in Antrim, Councillor Drew Ritchie has also promised that the council's bonfire committee would work to ensure next year's bonfire would be tyre-free.

Parades
Tonight's Newsline featured a group of people in east Belfast handing out leaflets asking spectators, particularly younger ones, at the mini-twelfth last week to remember what the parade was marking (the sacrifice made by Ulster soldiers at the Somme) and refrain from drinking to excess. They rightfully pointed out that this is more than a tad disrespectful to those that were being remembered as well as putting off people from bringing their families to parades (thus disenfranchising large numbers of people from their own culture). Many other spectators seemed to agree that while they could enjoy a few drinks, anti-social behaviour and young people staggering around completely oblivious to their surroundings did nobody any favours and turned people off attending.

Sectarianism
Both bonfires and on occasion the marches themselves have left themselves open to accusations of supporting terrorist organisations. A couple of years ago, for example, a UVF "show of strength" at a bonfire in Belfast put funding, ring-fenced to improve bonfires, in jeopardy. This is something nobody needs. I haven't been to a bonfire myself in years and paramilitary presence is probably the main reason for this. I don't wish to be confused for someone who supports sectarian violence. If it puts me off, imagine how many parents would be put off taking their children.

Winning Support
Many people close to the twelfth are understandably sceptical about criticisms of the celebrations given that they've been under constant attack from opponents who would rather see them destroyed than improved, but I feel that simple steps like this will help broaden the appeal of the twelfth to a wider audience. As a celebration of Protestant and British history, they may not win cross-community support but that doesn't mean there's nothing to gain - like support those in the nominally "Protestant community" who tend to try and escape, rather than embrace, the twelfth and the trouble that became associated with it over the last 10-15 years.

Finally, I hope that everyone has an enjoyable day tomorrow (and that the rain holds off!).