{"id":3208,"date":"2015-05-11T09:27:00","date_gmt":"2015-05-11T08:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=3208"},"modified":"2015-05-11T09:27:00","modified_gmt":"2015-05-11T08:27:00","slug":"what-loyalism-means-to-me-posnett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=3208","title":{"rendered":"What Loyalism Means To Me: Posnett"},"content":{"rendered":"

What Loyalism Means To Me<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is my reflection of being a young Prod in the early \u201870s, \u00a0born in the centre of Belfast and growing into a teenager at the height of the troubles.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Loyalism was about colour. The Red.\u00a0 The White. \u00a0The Blue.\u00a0 The Ulster flag with six pointed star. The Crown over the Red Hand.\u00a0 The flag going out before the twelfth. Pride on seeing the street festooned with bunting. An arch. Loyalism was about the badges \u2013 oval and round. Our identity worm on the lapel of our wrangler jacket or the black lapel of the green pilot jacket.\u00a0 Multi shaped badges.\u00a0 Orange Widows badges each year. Collect them all. It was about clean clothes. Wearing shirt and tie to church and to funerals. \u00a0Sitting in church on Sunday morning. \u00a0Sunday school at the halfway mark.\u00a0 Being polite to our elders.<\/p>\n

Loyalism was clean and crisp Wrangler jeans. \u00a0Clean and shining shoes. \u00a0A freshly ironed Ben Sherman shirt.\u00a0 My loyalism was about a \u00a0growing realisation of my identity. Britishness and all that was entailed. \u00a0My family immersed in the British army. The fighting and the dying.\u00a0 Loyalism was about sacrifice. The Somme. Loyalism was a realisation that our identity- mine- was under threat from violent republicanism. \u00a0Loyalism was about being a part of the local tartan. Out walking on the streets. The parades to Stormont.\u00a0 Supporting the boys.\u00a0 Loyalism was about standing up for what we believed in.\u00a0 Even having a general strike.<\/p>\n

Loyalism was about working hard. Loyalism was collecting the boney, the big 11th<\/sup> night and the big walk on the 12th<\/sup>. Easter and down to Bangor. Hail, \u00a0rain or shine. Loyalism was about the dances in the local orange hall which we got dragged to. Belonging to the BB. Loyalism was about defending our wee streets.\u00a0 Loyalism was about the Crown. Our Queen. \u00a0A long and proud history of belonging.\u00a0 Loyalism was about pride and meaning. \u00a0Loyalism was about decency and not getting blocked at every minor excuse.\u00a0 And soon loyalism became joining a paramilitary group.\u00a0 And doing what was required.<\/p>\n

And today?<\/p>\n

Loyalism is a different animal today. I\u2019m a different animal today.\u00a0 Over a decade in the Kesh. Asking questions and discussing points. Having people like Gusty,\u00a0 Mitch\u00a0 and Davy\u00a0 to talk with. Looking behind the superficial.\u00a0 Facing uncomfortable truths. \u00a0If loyalism was about decency and fairness then what about some of things that were committed \u00a0in the name of loyalism? Some of the things I done.\u00a0\u00a0 Times have changed but history is history. I grew up in glory days. Simpler days. Even as the bombs exploded and the shots rang out across the rain soaked Belfast evening.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m still a Brit. But the teenager is long gone. \u00a0I\u2019m a lot older and I hope a lot wiser. \u00a0Loyalism today?\u00a0 The vast majority of people I meet, loyalists , republicans and others are decent people. Wanting to get on. Loyalism today is about respect for others even for those I disagree with.\u00a0 Loyalism is about learning and being able to argue\/debate with anyone. Loyalism is convincing them why I follow my way if life and why I think it\u2019s the best.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Posnett.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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