The Sunday Life reports (H/T oneil) that the Rasharkin Orange Hall that was paintbombed/grafittied on the eleventh night was then broken into on the Twelfth and an ABOD banner stolen. It was returned after republicans retrieved it from a group of youths.
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I say it every year, and I say it again. There is no excuse for this behaviour, and it should be condemned outright.
The sad thing is that some of the artefacts in Orange Halls are irreplacable and priceless. In our new dispensation, we should start to practice mutual respect and ensure these attacks are stopped.
“It was returned after republicans retrieved it from a group of youths.”
Good for them. Steady progress towards a better society.
I would be considered a pretty hardline Unionist however all I can do is tip my hat to those who returned the banner.
The report’s now online:
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/article2771104.ece
It is indeed a very good sign. The fact that there are now lines of communication between these 3 groups still begs the question.
If it had been the other way round could Mainstream Loyalism have had the same level of influence over their dissidents?
‘Dissident’ republicans? It was a group of teenagers who daubed dissident graffiti on the hall as far as I’m aware. SF set about tracking the bannerette down as soon as they were notified of the break-in and ensured it was returned when it was located – fair play to them.
looks like Rasharkin has “policing”
Unionists now know who to report crimes to!!
Willis: “It is indeed a very good sign. The fact that there are now lines of communication between these 3 groups still begs the question.
If it had been the other way round could Mainstream Loyalism have had the same level of influence over their dissidents? ”
On the matter of could they, yes, I think they could, although I doubt it would have been a subtle thing. In recent memory, it has taken shows of strength to bring “free-thinking” sets of these groups back into the fold.
A more pertinent question, however, is would they have made the effort?
Daithi Mckay has said that matters are not being helped by the Orange Order’s insistence on marching through a Catholic cul-de-sac in the village every year on the 12th. Yes, its good to see that sinn fein are using their influence to tackle sectarian behaviour in rasharkin but surely if the Orange Order stops marching through Catholic estates there then there would be less hostility toward them??
Times are certainly changing. I like the anonymity of all concerned, as I take it as a sign that nobody wants to be seen as the one who got the banner back to the Orangemen, rather the act of a community. A glimmer of hope, it is.
How can anyone march through a cul-de-sac?
In and out – shake it all about …
It is good that Republicans returned the banner.
Who took it in the first place—-dare I say Republicans?
confused
your name says it all
just wish I was the first person to make this observation
missfitz @ 12:28 PM
>>I say it every year, and I say it again. There is no excuse for this behaviour, and it should be condemned outright.< <
If only you meant the behaviour in returning trinkets to an outdated organisation that at the very least facilitates hatred towards a large section of society. Sadly you don't.
Barry and Dread touch on important aspects here. My contention is that while we still allow belligerent hate groups to operate freely in society they will always attract the unwelcome attention of those not willing to bend the knee.
>>we should start to practice mutual respect and ensure these attacks are stopped.<<
Attacks??? Hardly! ask the young fella in North Belfast what an attack feels like. And just when will this mutual respect from the OO or affiliated organisations begin toward their neighbours.
It is a sign of progress that this is happening. Perhaps loyalists would not bother to do the same, but otoh there is a DUP councillor who supported a SF councillor recently.
And that is truly amazing.
i recall a unionist councillor returning hunger strike commemorative items to their owners after they had been stolen to be burned on a loyalist bonfire. That was an act of courage so yea unionists have done the “same”.
When will the DUp condemn the placing of Sinn fein posters on the top of unionist bonfires? Surely the posters are ‘stolen property’ as much as any banner?
merrie: “It is a sign of progress that this is happening. Perhaps loyalists would not bother to do the same, but otoh there is a DUP councillor who supported a SF councillor recently.
And that is truly amazing.”
Amen.
Truth be told, the truth lies in the middle, somewhere. Mayhap I should give more credit for what has been accomplished… mayhap some Unionists / OO supporters should be more concerned over what has been left undone…
But this past Twelfth was not what some have been, either.