Parking the tanks onto the opponents lawn
Fair Deal has spent some time arguing that moves on issues such as the Irish Language should wait until Nationalism has something to trade.I disagree with this for a number of reasons, not least that I’m not sure that endless horsetrading and mistrust will run a government in the long run (though the TBGBs seemed to manage it for a while…..) but the one that strikes me most is that it is an attitude that comes purely from the sectarian silo. Why exactly should the Irish Language, for example, be abandoned as one for “t’other”? Even if an ILA is blocked for now, it’s likely that eventually there will be an issue that gives the necessary leverage, and something will be done.
The Irish language has a number of very fervent supporters, but I guess that most Nationalists fall into a similar camp as me: a rudimentary grasp at best and no small affection for the language and a vague desire to see it promoted. With Unionism set dead against it, and the fervent supporters pushing SF, policy in the area is largely dictated by the more extreme end.
Now, suppose the DUP introduced an Irish Language Act into the Assembly. It would blindside both SF and the SDLP for a start. It would also mean that the DUP could set the agenda, shape the initial parameters for discussion and the scope of the debate. If it’s clever, it could maybe come up with proposals that would split more moderate Nationalism from the fervent supporters, and create something more to its taste. It might also have spent more time considering how Nationalism thinks, and maybe that would be helpful too.
Obviously I don’t give a stuff about Unionism does. But the principle still applies for Nationalism. Too many issues are abandoned as simply alien and dealt with by the other side. We need to break those boxes, and start pursuing policy outside of our sectional comfort zone. Pretty soon, cultural issues around Polish-Irish, African-Irish, Chinese-Irish will begin to loom larger as Ireland becomes more multicultural. If we can’t deal with Unionism, can we deal with that? Traditional nationalism is an important and strong component of the Irish identity, but it is not the only one. Only by trying to deal with all these issues do we come close to true Republicanism.
eranu
we all know that no one actually speaks irish as a first language and that everyone speaks english, so theres no disadvantage in anyones day to day life. Is it the case that most people in nationalist areas couldn’t give a monkeys about speaking irish but they don’t want to be seen to go against what people in their tribe are supposed to be into?
No, I’ve always found nationalists keen on the Irish language, if not always keen to learn it due to perceived difficulty. But they are perfectly capable of balancing arguments — and none are particularly keen on wasteful spending either. I think people would be happy to see some increase in visibility and support but probably short of what ggn would want. An argument based on future extension based on success/increased demand would probably fly.
Chekov
That would of course suit your “Nationalism is fine as long as it’s no where near me” approach. Trying to treat it as something you can just box off and just kick out of public life is definitely not the way to go to draw the poison out of anything.
“Of course I welcome any watering down of unionist aggresive towards the Irish language.
But lets be honest, all but a small handful of people who would describe themselves as Irish speakers view the language as a ‘Cultural Language’, most people view Irish as a living language.
Therefore even in the extremely unlikely event that there was some sort of ‘Unionist Irish Language Act’ the struggle for a real one would simply continue.”
Because culture is dead? The language can live without its provision being imposed where it is not needed and where cheap and effective communication must be the priority. Unionists shouldn’t be in perpetual opposition to everything pertaining to the Irish language, but neither should we be shy about pointing out where the parameters should lie. If courts are forced to provide translators for people who can speak perfectly good English, if we are talking car tax forms in Irish or if private businesses must make Irish language provision or be prosecuted, then things have gone too far. Best to be in there from the beginning preventing this type of thing.
Unionists shouldn’t be in perpetual opposition to everything pertaining to the Irish language, but neither should we be shy about pointing out where the parameters should lie. If courts are forced to provide translators for people who can speak perfectly good English, if we are talking car tax forms in Irish or if private businesses must make Irish language provision or be prosecuted, then things have gone too far. Best to be in there from the beginning preventing this type of thing.
I think I would be in agreement that I don’t want an Irish Language Act which merely reproduces a few forms as Gaeilge. I want meaningful support for the Irish language in broadcasting, education and the courts. If someone wants to make a case in Irish, then it should be allowed and not prohibited as it is now by 18th century legislation. If all that is needed is a translator, then why not. Do you actually think the floodgates are going to open for a deluge of Irish language cases. Not likely.
Basically what is required is support for Irish in broadcasting -along the lines that Welsh gets in Wales and Scots Gaelic in Scotland. Unionism is presently fighting against this and last year the DUP minister actually axed a fund for Irish language broadcasting. That fund is now up and running again, even though the fund itself is a minute fraction of what is available in Wales, £3m per year in NI, £120m per year in Wales.
There’s no question of private businesses being compelled to use Irish – but there’s no reason why they shouldn’t offer a service if it is within their power. They may get custom as a result. The technology to send Electric and other utility bills in Irish is as available in Irish as it is in Welsh or Scots Gaelic.