Orange Dosh

I started flying across to Northern Ireland to watch July 12th parades towards the end of the 1980s.  This continued through the 1990s; in fact the last Twelfth I went to over there was in 2002.  I was staying in Drummore on the Galloway Rhinns and decided to spend a couple of days in Northern Ireland to soak up the atmosphere.  One of the most abiding memories of that day was the unbelievably heavy downpour as the marchers and bands returned to Belfast city centre.  I was drenched by the time I returned to the Holiday Inn near the Dublin Road and I had to take a hot shower and a change of clothes before venturing out again.

When I look at all the lies and propaganda spouted by Oirish nationalists pertaining to the so-called 'dark side' of Orange marching culture, I am reminded of the reputation of my favourite film, Jaws, and the effect it had on shark populations around the world.  31 years ago this classic movie was into its first month of release in the United States.  Within six months it would become the, then, highest grossing Hollywood picture of all time.  I have read a great deal about the what has become known as the Jaws effect.  Even though I adore the film I am also acutely aware of how misrepresentative of shark behaviour it is.  Sharks do not lie in wait off beaches ready to gobble up the first unsuspecting swimmer that comes by.  Benchley and Spielberg gave their shark a calculating brain whereby it could premeditatingly take the lives of umpteen swimmers and, if necessary, the three men charged with hunting it down.  Despite all the subsequent documentaries portraying sharks in an entirely different light, people still tell me of the fear they have in going swimming - even though they first watched scenes such as the one below more than 3 decades ago.                                                                                    

Why am I elaborating on my favourite movie when I should be talking about the Orange Order?  Simple!  I am making comparisons over the power of propaganda: in Spielberg's case it was the propaganda for the sake of promoting a very powerful movie (the effect on the reputation of sharks was unintentional); in the case of Oirish nationalists it is a systematic attempt to fatally undermine the reputation and, ergo, the existence of the Loyal Orders.

Look at the latest rant from Bigoted Bri! 'The Orange Order has been the cause of civil disorder in Ireland since its foundation.......They are the Ku Klux Klan marching through Harlem, the National Front marching along Brick Lane in London.'  Having digested BB's infantile gibberish, please take a look at the picture below.  It shows an Orange Order march taking place not in Belfast, Glasgow or Liverpool, but in the Togolese city of Lomé.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the marchers all black blokes?  Either they are black, or I've forgotten to take my sunglasses off.  So where does your analogy to the Ku Klux Klan or the National Front stand now, Feeney me ol' mate?

I have one crucial advantage over the many trolls who will now, in all probability, flood this thread with anti-Orange or anti-McCann sentiment: a wide experience of attending Loyal Order marches.  I have done so in Ulster, Scotland and in Liverpool.  These are not displays of antagonistic evil, but demonstrations of Protestant culture, loyalty to the Crown and, in the case of UK parades, a commitment to the Union.  The latter is the reason - the ONLY reason - why nationalists hate them so much.

So what else could we expect but criticism at the very welcome news that the OO has received £100,000 of government cash to help promote the Twelfth and make it into a tourist magnet?  Schomberg House wishes to transform the 12th July into the equivalent of the Notting Hill Carnival (although since I have never read about any murders taking place on the 12th, I think the difference is already established).  Nationalists are fuming.  Just imagine tourists flocking over to Belfast and, after witnessing a colourful day of Unionist culture, finally realising that nationalist nay-saying is nothing more than unadulterated bigotry and spite.  Good luck to the Orange.

Finally, I have one message for all those who are preparing for the event.  Don't choke neighbourhoods by burning tyres at 11th night bonfires.  The stench IS unpleasant.  Stick to burning Irish Tricolours.  It is much more enjoyable.

Comments

[Mardy Bum]

Either they are black, or I've forgotten to take my sunglasses off.

Very clumsy attempt at humour.

One does however wonder whether the good bretheren of Lomé would be welcomed so warmly to Belfast by those whose faith they share.

[Andrew McCann]

They are welcomed on many occasions. I, alone, have seen four Orange parades in Belfast where Togolese brethren were in the procession.

[Cunningham]

>>since I have never read about any murders taking place on the 12th,<<

What?
The only explanation is that you are avoiding such unpalatable news.

[Andrew McCann]

Cunningham

Find me a news article of when a spectator/participant has been murdered at any Orange march on the 12th July.

[Madradin Ruad in British Ireland]

Let's hope that the gutless wonders at UTV and BBC increase the TV coverage.

[Michael Shilliday]

I only ask as I am genuinly interested - are you a member of the Institution Andrew? If you don't want to answer here David has an email address you can get me at more readily.

[Fear Oraiste]

Burning tricolours indeed, Andrew. A lovely way of extending the hand of friendship to the fellow Ulstermen and loyal Orange brethren of Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.

So presumably you'll also be supprting that other group of Orangemen, the Gaelic footballers of Armagh in their campaign to emulate that other British team, Tyrone by bringing the All Ireland title back to the UK?

[Reg]

"These are not displays of antagonistic evil, but demonstrations of Protestant culture, loyalty to the Crown and, in the case of UK parades, a commitment to the Union. The latter is the reason - the ONLY reason - why nationalists hate them so much."

No it isn't.

"Schomberg House wishes to transform the 12th July into the equivalent of the Notting Hill Carnival"

Yes, best of luck with that.

[Madradin Ruad in British Ireland]

presumably you'll also be supprting that other group of Orangemen, the Gaelic footballers of Armagh in their campaign to emulate that other British team, Tyrone by bringing the All Ireland title back to the UK?

Not if that would be met with "celebratory attacks" on protestant churches and police station as happened when Armagh won a few years ago.

[Cunningham]

Andrew,
Ever heard of the Quinn brothers?

[GH]

Nothing new in Feeny's rant - Just the same old bigotry from before. Does he paid for these articles? If so, it must be the easiest earned money in this part of Britain.

[Daniel Bright]

Why the name "in British Ireland"? Is this to highlight Britain's [alleged] occupation on the part of the Oirish? Or am I missing another amusing bit of Ulster humour?

[Andrew McCann]

Cunningham

They were murdered by scum in the privacy of their own home. They were not attending an Orange march.

Cunningham's logic = a black man murders a white guy in Romford so let's stop the Notting Hill Carnival.

[Daniel Bright]

Why is it held on the 12th when we beat James on the 1st?

[daytripper]

These are not displays of antagonistic evil, but demonstrations of Protestant culture, loyalty to the Crown and, in the case of UK parades, a commitment to the Union.

then

Stick to burning Irish Tricolours.

no, not antaginistic at all. and you prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the 12th is every bit as much about maintaining sectarian divisions, as it it is about loyalty to the crown.
the orange order missed their chance to make the 12th an inclusive celebration. they were played by the sein fein machine and were too stupid to realise it.
as a protestant i feel no cultural connection to the 12th or the marching season. it is nothing more than an excuse for skip rats to travel to province leaving a trail of white lightning bottles everywhere they go. i am not alone either.

[Reg]

"Not if that would be met with "celebratory attacks" on protestant churches and police station as happened when Armagh won a few years ago."

I don't remember that. Possibly it never happened? (Queue MR searching frantically for links to any sectarian attacks in Armagh to "prove" his point)!

[NS]

*Why is it held on the 12th when we beat James on the 1st?*

Some oul Pope - Gregory the One Hundred and Fifty Ninth I think - changed the calendar and we all went along with it - another misguided ecumenical venture, but at least it showed that we do humour them from time to time. Oops...am I am bigot? Read Feeney's next exciting episode to find out.

[Cunningham]

>>I have never read about any murders taking place on the 12th<<

>>Cunningham's logic = a black man murders a white guy in Romford so let's stop the Notting Hill Carnival<<

How you wish the connection were so remote.

But it isn't.
People were murdered by those supporting the OO's right to march solely in order to blackmail the authorities into allowing them march through areas where they are not wanted.

[Mike H]

Andrew

I agree with your post until the end. I don't doubt that you have wide experience of attending the actual parades (as do I with my children) but you clearly don't have much experience of 11th night bonfires.

I'm originally from the Shankill road and latterly East Belfast. There was a time when these were a part of the celebrations but in recent years (certainly in working class Protestant areas) they've become something else.

They are dangerously high and use toxic materials. If you try to mention this (as I have - I have 2 young children) - you'll get told to F*** off by some youth.

At the bonfires themselves, there will be a lot of drunk/drugged up teenagers, fighting and sometimes a "display of force" by the UDA or UVF.

I've spoken to a lot of people who are in the same boat (either elderly or with young children) but, realistically, there's not a lot we can do. We just have to stay indoors and calm the children.

I enjoy taking the kids to watch the parades on the 12th and it is wonderful - especially on a sunny day. It is indeed a celebration of culture but I'm afraid that I can no longer say that of the 11th night.

[Madradin Ruad in British Ireland]

Daniel - For an explanation of British Ireland, have a look at the last half dozen posts in this Thread.

http://atangledweb.typepad.com/weblog/2006/06/president_welco.html#comments

[Andrew McCann]

'Stick to burning Irish Tricolours'

Yep, that's my own personal stance. Just like when republicans burn the Union Flag.

Cunningham

The guy who murdered the Quinn children wasn't even in the OO.

Michael

No I'm not. Though having a Catholic mother would be no bar to my membership because I was baptised CoE.

[Tony]

Look at the latest rant from Bigoted Bri! 'The Orange Order has been the cause of civil disorder in Ireland since its foundation.......They are the Ku Klux Klan marching through Harlem, the National Front marching along Brick Lane in London.'

The OO have more than one string to their bow of hate, don't you know. Just like going to the zoo, they were more than happy to stare at the old native American shipped over a few years ago. That is a very old picture in Togo, but I am sure that some of these "Hiwi's" still exist, bet they don't know the truth about the Scottish and Irish marches.

Wonder how many new immigrants of all colours in South Belfast are being welcomed into the klan(oops force of habit) Is being assaulted and forced out of your residence a new way that the followers of Orangism are drumming up their dwindling band of haters?

[Madradin Ruad in British Ireland]

I don't remember that.

Very Stalinist Reg.

http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2002/09/22/story69374.asp

Hundreds of nationalist rioters tonight launched an attack on a police station in Northern Ireland.

Security cameras were pulled down from the perimeter of the building in Lurgan, Co Armagh, as the mob went on the rampage.

Tricolours were erected on a war memorial in the nearby town centre, a Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said.

Trouble flared as Armagh’s footballers clinched an historic victory in the All-Ireland Final in Dublin.

[Tony]

No I'm not. Though having a Catholic mother would be no bar to my membership because I was baptised CoE.

Andrew.

Does the name Lennie Murphy mean anything to you?

[Reg]

Don't knock Comrade Stalin ;)

Well done, you found a link to an attack on a police station in Lurgan on the same day.

No mention of Protestant churches there though. Hmmm. How very mendacious.