Challenge Of Culture In The North
We write about the recent disturbances in North Belfast and in theWoodvalearea especially. We have worked there for the past six years with grass roots community groups.
The simplistic reporting of the tensions that boil over at this time of year do nothing to help people in the South understand the complexities of the situation and the need for real solutions.
This is an interface with the Nationalist Ardoyne. There has been bloodshed and violence with the accompanying grief and trauma in this community during the Troubles to a degree that is greater than in many other communities,
The legacy of the Troubles is still very real. Cross community initiatives are few although they do take place with Nationalist communities further aflield. Trust between these communities inWoodvaleand Ardoyne is low.
Woodvaleis 90% protestant and loyalist just as the Ardoyne is 90% catholic and nationalist. The sectarian housing policy pursued by the Housing executive militates hugely against any mixing and thus mutual respect and understanding. With segregated housing goes segregated schooling, compounding the whole sectarian nature of Northern Irish society.
Into this tension filled scenario, issues such as flags and marches take on a significance that seems insane in less troubled communities. Any intelligent person who operates inNorthern Irelandknows this fact of life.
So loyalist communities felt deeply disrespected by the decision ofBelfastCitycouncil not to fly the Union flag except on designated days . Sinn Fein and some Nationalists saw this as a victory and their followers in communities such as these taunted loyalists with “we’ve taken your flag, now we will take your culture” in various fora.
So, when there is a stand off taking place in Woodvale, supported and organised by he Orange Order, about their 12th March not being allowed back past the Ardoyne shops, while this is on –going, how is the presence of the Sinn Fein Lord Major going to be viewed inWoodvale?
As arrogance and triumphalism at best, as both with stupidity and a deliberate attempt to insult at worst.
A reasonable request was made by theWoodvalecommunity that the deputy Lord Major, not Sinn Fein, should attend the opening of the park. Why was that refused?
The result was inevitable. LoyalistWoodvalesaying clearly that a Sinn Fein Lord Major is not welcome in their community while they are not allowed to finish their parade past the Ardoyne shops.
What is the way forward? At present the main elected parties in Stormont, Sinn Fein and the DUP behave like sectarian bullies towards each other. Working class loyalists are not electorally represented but are used by the DUP as fodder in their sectarian manipulations. The same is true on the Nationalist side except that Sinn Fein does represent working class nationalists. So no good example there.
There is excellent peace building and cross community dialogue taking place at grass roots level in these communities and we are involved in that.
However, all that work is set to nought when the sectarian politicians play their stupid games as happened a few days ago inWoodvale. Good publicity for Sinn Fein, another victory for lazy sectarianism.
Any chance the political classes inNorthern Irelandmight learn how to act as responsible leaders in a difficult situation and if they cannot, why do they think people in disadvantaged and distressed communities should?
Mick Rafferty and Patricia McCarthy are two long standing community practitioners who are based in Inner City Dublin. They work for Community Technical Aid and offer help and training to communities in need. They are currently working with a number of groups in various working class areas of Belfast.
