10 July 1997 Edition
Back issue: Tyranny of sectarianism
This week our loyalist brethren in the North will be celebrating the victory in the 17th Century (1690) of the non-English speaking Protestant William of Orange from the Netherlands who, in alliance with the Pope, overthrew his Catholic father-in-law, the English king James II at the Battle of the Boyne. The Orange Order, which was founded 100 years later (1795), to defend Protestant sectarian interests under a unifying banner, will once again be organising this week's bonfires and marches.
In reality they will be celebrating the perpetuation of Protestant colonist supremacy over the native Catholic Irish by `kicking the pope' and beating their Lambeg drums into thunderous resonance when they pass by nationalist districts.
Pomeroy, a 90% nationalist town in County Tyrone, got an early taste of the 12th last Monday when over 200 RUC men blocked off the town centre to allow an Orange throng to unveil an arch in Main Street. The loyalist takeover is an annual event and lasted until 1am Tuesday morning.
Were the 12th of July just a traditional festival then that would be fine, but for nationalist districts of the North it is a time of siege with areas like the Short Strand and Unity Flats in Belfast being screened off and scores of towns being no place for Catholics to get caught up in.
Their message is no surrender. But no surrender to what? They are the ones who are slaves to British imperialism; they are the ones corrupted by colonialism.
In reality they will be celebrating the perpetuation of Protestant colonist supremacy over the native Catholic Irish by `kicking the pope' and beating their Lambeg drums into thunderous resonance when they pass by nationalist districts.
Pomeroy, a 90% nationalist town in County Tyrone, got an early taste of the 12th last Monday when over 200 RUC men blocked off the town centre to allow an Orange throng to unveil an arch in Main Street. The loyalist takeover is an annual event and lasted until 1am Tuesday morning.
Were the 12th of July just a traditional festival then that would be fine, but for nationalist districts of the North it is a time of siege with areas like the Short Strand and Unity Flats in Belfast being screened off and scores of towns being no place for Catholics to get caught up in.
Their message is no surrender. But no surrender to what? They are the ones who are slaves to British imperialism; they are the ones corrupted by colonialism.