Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Flute band controversy continues…
THE row over the Pride of the Raven (see vid) flute band’s controversial parade planned for November 24 continued on Talk Back just now. Band spokesman ‘Nigel’, said the band’s intention to walk down Donegall Pass (after a protest at the Parades Commission’s offices) was to reach Alliance Assembly member Anna Lo‘s office. The reasons why are detailed here, but the spokesman denied the accusation that this was to intimidate the Chinese community. He also refused to comment on the BNP jumping on the bandwagon, after the party lent its support to the band and had a dig at Lo. Responding, Lo appealed for the march to be called off, and said a letter from the band to Chinese residents explaning their march would probably cause even more fear in that community. She also denied that she had placed the matter in the public domain, saying the band had generated the publicity itself, which she was asked to respond to. Lo also revealed that her initial letter to the band organiser - which the recipient claimed compromised his security - was suggested by the police, who provided her with the bandsman’s address, although the band makes numerous appearances on Youtube. The band seems to be blaming everyone but the Strandtown police, who are the only party in this dispute not to have made any comment on the matter, despite having a central role in the whole affair.
Belfast Gonzo @ 12:50 PM
The band missed an opportunity to put clear blue water between themselves and the BNP but Anna Lo is playing a blinder.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 01:42 PMThose who like marching band culture might want to pop over to West Belfast the following day for a supposedly non-contentious parade - followed by a night out in the Felon’s Club.
Are these two events representative of the ‘new’ marching band culture in Belfast? Perhaps the Minister for Culture could come on Slugger and give us the Executive’s considered view. Are there implications for Patricia Lewsley’s NICCY?
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 01:44 PM“Indeed, many of the bandsmen may on their way home enjoy a Chinese meal.”
Quote of the week.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 01:45 PMThis issue simply illustrates in a very public fashion that many, though not all, of those involved in Loyalist groups or bands have an affinity with right-wing, racist organisations.
The proposal to parade on Donegal Pass is disgraceful and should be not be given the go-ahead.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 02:17 PMMost objective observers will surely be aghast that this sort of shite is still being tolerated in the North nearly ten years post-Agreement. What does it take for the DUP/UUP to start providing leadership to ‘their’ communities? Would the bands have to actually start carrying banners stating ‘Chinks Out’ etc. (judging by the previous antics of Michael ‘Sandy Row is Sandy Row’ McGimpsey it’s doubtful whether even this would cause the UUP any particular concern)?
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 02:32 PMOnly unionists could be thick enough to claim that a man fearing for his association with a OKKK band being put into the wider public domain is going to lead a 3000 strong march through Belfast which aims to put his hitherto unknown in the wider public domain association with the band well and truly into the said wider public domain.
So your man is claiming that he’s leading a 3000 strong parade in his name through Belfast in order to avoid drawing attention to himeslf?
My god.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 02:42 PMAnna Lo’s office is not on the Donegall Pass. the Chinese Welfare Association’s office is on the Donegall Pass. Anna does not work for the CWA and has not since she was elected to the Assembly.
Anna’s office is on University Street (co-sited with Alliance HQ), which is a matter of public record.
Donegall Pass is, however, the centre of the largest concentration of Chinese owned businesses in Belfast. Many of these businesses have suffered intimidation at the hands of loyalist paramilitaries in the past.
I leave people to draw their own conclusions as to why the Pride of the Raven want to march down Donegall Pass.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 02:43 PMActually, I’m talking balls too now. The CWA isn’t on the Donegall Pass either.
So there is even less justification for this route.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 02:52 PMban the Chinese new year parade. all those dragons on parade are offencive
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 02:58 PMTo recapitulate. A nurse, trying to get to her place of employment, found that she was hemmed in by unco-operative Orangemen. This obviously constitutes a health hazard, because if nurses cannot get to their place of work, patients will die.
Presumably she is of foreign, possibly Chinese origin, otherwise she would know that complaining about the OO is no use. Meanwhile, the good Orangemen set about portraying themselves as the victims. Anna Lo’s letter to the person organising this march is putting his life in danger, despite a general ceasefire: a few intemporate words on a Slugger O’Toole post are further proof.
Interesting. With the Unionist vote down to 48%, you’d think they’d be concerned to reconcile the 4% plus of other voters (mostly Alliance) who come down on the side of the Union. But no, the orangey crew is still out to piss off everyone who is not of them.
The long post-mortem debate from the UUP about the loss of South Belfast simply ignores what is going on. How can the Nationalist faction, with at most 41% of the vote, secure the Westminster seat and 3 out of 6 Assembly seats, leaving Unionists with only 2? The answer is that it is not Nationalism, but moderation which is the criterion which interests most voters in this constituency. The sitting MP is definitely the most likely candidate.
Meanwhile, keep up the good work. One looks forward to the next assembly with the Unionists definitely in the minority, with a majority that is anti-Orange (though not necessarily pro-Nationalist). Not of course, that this will be sufficient to stop the Orangemen doing what they want, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 03:41 PMits a racist march, laced with racist intent and the band rep on Talkback simply confirmed that.
A total and utter disgrace by the band and by Unionist politicans from east and south Belfast. Where is the MP for east Belfast now, isn’t he the same guy who was on his feet last week supporting the private sector and the economy? now his constituents are more than happy to shut down the city centre 5 weeks before Christmas.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 03:47 PM“Many of the bandsmen enjoy a chinese meal on their way home” LOL
Maybe that should read?
“Many of the bandsmen shovel in chicken balls and curry half’n’halfs while trying to stay upright after 15 (conservative estimate)tins of Tennants.”
God bless their wives and mothers trying to wash the luminous sweet and sour sauce out of the uniform the next morning.
Q:What’s the difference between loyalists and a yoghurt?
A: Leave a yoghurt on its own for 300 years and it will develop a culture.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 03:49 PMSlartibuckfast
LMAOChrist, yes.
Such obvious contradictions fly straight over the heads of the determined-to-be-offended-by-the-people-we-just-happen-to-dislike-anyway brigade.Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 03:54 PM“Meanwhile, the good Orangemen set about portraying themselves as the victims.”
Have I missed something? Have the Orange Order organised this protest or expressed support for it?
Why is the UUP being mentioned in conjunction with a distasteful and possibly racist march that the party has absolutely nothing to do with?
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 04:08 PMAlthough I would have to place myself in the “not too keen on the loyalist marching tradition camp”, I find it hard to believe that there are not a large number of OO memebers really pissed off by this loyalist band’s behaviour. I dont know if this band is directly linked to the OO but either way all Orange marching organisations will suffer by association.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 04:13 PM“Such obvious contradictions fly straight over the heads of the determined-to-be-offended-by-the-people-we-just-happen-to-dislike-anyway brigade”
Their expressed reason (which has to be the greatest piece of MOPEry ever) for the march is only slighly less funny than the quoted loyalist who reckons that the marchers can’t be racist because they eat fried rice.
Is somebody making all this up? Sometimes I think I’ve got too stoned on something and am imaging this place.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 04:26 PMBecause Chekov, Michael Copeland - UUP cllr and not MLA, is all over it. supporting the parade and bashing the Parades Commission.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 04:50 PMthe Pride of the Raven are not the Orange Order as some have quoted they are a marching band, those who hype on about the racist thing maybe should take a closer look at band parades as their are chinese people in a band.
I am not a member of the pride of the raven nor am i chinese but i do attend plenty of parades across northern ireland and the fact is there is nothing racist about them far from it, i have seen bands welcome tourists and people from all nationalitys creads and colours to stand in front and have their picture taken while on parade, I ahve also witnessed the same watching parades, surely if bands were racist this woud not happen.
Anna Lo also mentioned if the parade had been advertised, im from Carrickfergus and i knew that parade was on. also most parades all over Northern Ireland are mentioned on news and radio bulletins warning of traffic congestion
On the point of donegal pass, yes it has a chinese population but it is also a loylaist area which is also being overlooked.Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 04:54 PMForgot to mention in above post, This band has also done lots of hard work raising money for various charitys over the years and the parade which held the person behind in was rasing money for a hospital charity, this women was a nurse why didnt she just nip down a side street and divert her jounrney for all it would have taken instead of sitting there behind the parade.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 05:05 PMeddie
Well done, you’ve certainly changed my opinion.
Ever think of applying for an ambassadorial role with the UN?Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 05:09 PMSeamai”
“This issue simply illustrates in a very public fashion that many, though not all, of those involved in Loyalist groups or bands have an affinity with right-wing, racist organisations.”No it doesnt, it illustrates that right wing , racist organisations, like left wing organisations are prepared to jump on any bandwagon going.
Paddy Reilly,
“To recapitulate. A nurse, trying to get to her place of employment, found that she was hemmed in by unco-operative Orangemen. This obviously constitutes a health hazard, because if nurses cannot get to their place of work, patients will die.”
To recapitulate what Paddy, that doesnt even make sense, are you drunk? What the fuck has this got to do with the OO?
“Meanwhile, the good Orangemen set about portraying themselves as the victims. Anna Lo’s letter to the person organising this march is putting his life in danger, despite a general ceasefire: a few intemporate words on a Slugger O’Toole post are further proof.”
“Not of course, that this will be sufficient to stop the Orangemen doing what they want, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
See question above, you are FOS Paddy.
Hogan,
“Many of the bandsmen shovel in chicken balls and curry half’n’halfs while trying to stay upright after 15 (conservative estimate)tins of Tennants.”
God bless their wives and mothers trying to wash the luminous sweet and sour sauce out of the uniform the next morning.
Q:What’s the difference between loyalists and a yoghurt?
A: Leave a yoghurt on its own for 300 years and it will develop a culture.”
God bless your Mother, wife/girlfriend/boyfriend Hogan, having to wash the bile & bitterness out of your bib.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 05:11 PMEddie:
“i have seen bands welcome tourists and people from all nationalitys creads and colours to stand in front and have their picture taken while on parade, I ahve also witnessed the same watching parades, surely if bands were racist this woud not happen.”
A yes Eddie, just as long as they are only there to watch, just as long as they dont move in. Right Eddie?
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 05:26 PMRef, no whistle for our endearing Cromwell? (or what ever his pseudonym is today)
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 05:36 PMMcGrath=
Did you read my post fully, did i mention what you have said once??
not sure what you mean by move in, but if you mean into bands they have as i mentioned, I think somtimes the majority who leave posts are ignorant to the running of parades and what they entail and sometimes most havnt took the time to stand and watch one, maybe if some would take that time they would see for themselfs what really goes on.
instead of all more or less repaeting the same old thing over and over.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 05:37 PMWhat the fuck has this got to do with the OO?
People who march down the public highway expressing approval of William of Orange, his conquest and the subsequent settlement are, as far as I am concerned, Orangemen. Indeed, many Ulster historians go so far as to claim notable Scots Irishmen in America for the Orange tradition, when they were actually from the contrary, United Irishman faction. I do not go so far. There may be an organisational distinction between Orangemen and Royal Black and Pride of the Raven but it is wasted on me and, I suspect, on most Chinese in South Belfast.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, many Unionists feel free to waffle on about Sinn FĂ©in/IRA when these are two different organisations, one military and one political. The fact that there is some small overlap in membership is enough to tar the former organisation with the sins of the latter. Are you telling me that no member of the Pride of Raven flute bank possesses a sash? They seem one and the same to me.
Posted by on Oct 30, 2007 @ 05:40 PM
