Single Identity work in Protestant areas - some insights...
Macphisto
community development, the point of this little exercise was simple. Take
five Protestants. Gauge their feelings about being Protestant in Northern
Ireland today, in a group situation. Ask them questions about stuff they
see on TV and the news, and in life everyday. What follows are the
pertinent points that each made. I hope to be using these in a wider study
which may be presented to the Community Relations Council after
transcription. The lack of formalisation may invalidate what has been said
here. However, at the end of the day, discussion of "how do you feel being
a Protestant at this moment in time" is pretty subjective anyway.
Sensible comments which do not refer to events which happened 300 years ago
are welcome.
All this and I have to say - NO-ONE said that awful fuckin' phrase, "some
of my best friends are Cafflicks"......
Some points to remember as you read:
1. this is merely a brief breakdown of what was discussed
2. names are withheld, naturally
3. GFA = Good Friday Agreement
The Respondents
Respondents volunteered in response to a mailshot list of people
participating in various community events - first-come, first served, to a
maximum of five participants. Mailshot yielded a very surprising 98
potential respondents out of 337. The first lucky five out of the bag gave
me the following information - age, sex, postcode, employment status, vote
at assembly elections, vote at Good Friday Agreement
1. 26, female, single mother, based in rural housing estate, unemployed,
(has formal administrative training), voted DUP in assembly elections,
voted Yes to the Good Friday Agreement
2. 52, male, father of two, based in an urban housing estate, employed,
(welder), voted UUP in Assembly elections, voted No to the Good Friday
Agreement
3. 74, male, father of two, based in a suburban area, retired, (former
civil servant), voted UUP in Assembly elections, voted Yes to the Good
Friday Agreement
4. 20, female, single, based in an urban housing estate, student,
(currently training in Mechanical Engineering!), did not vote in assembly
election, voted Yes to the Good Friday Agreement
5. 29, male, married, father of one, based in rural village, employed,
voted UUP in assembly elections, voted Yes to the Good Friday Agreement
The "interview" had no formal question-and-answer structure, but followed a
"by subject" breakdown. The questions weren't really answered in any
specific order, weaving to-and-fro as a conversation does:
The importance of being Protestant, and how to express it; the importance
of the Good Friday Agreement and its future; what do you vote about, what
is the price of peace.
The main points:
Respect for two traditions didn't seem to be happening. Nationalists
looked on Protestants as having no culture of their own - this group felt
that especially in rural areas, Protestant culture went far beyond banging
drums and painting curbstones. It was inherent in their working way of
life - whether it be in the social aspects of work or on a business basis.
Respondents were mindful of anti-Catholic trouble in their area and beyond
- Portadown came in for special mention. However, constant media attention
on this area, and others, such as North Belfast, meant that respondents
felt that the community relations progress being made in other areas was
never highlighted. No 3: "I have a grandson at Hazlewood Integrated
Playschool. I mean, it falls within Murder Mile, and you never see anyone
covering their work."
With regard to Protestant cultural tradition they were not aware of
specific writers, "thinkers", or artists who promulgated this aspect of
life in Northern Ireland. No 3. felt especially disappointed that none of
the main parties traditionally voted for by unionists promoted culture
beyond the Orange Order and "anti-nationalism".
The Orange Order came in for both support and criticism. Criticism in
terms of how it lacked the political common sense to back down on Drumcree.
Criticism in terms of the dinosaur mentality that leading members
displayed to the media. Support was forthcoming however - regardless of
its sectarian nature, it was perceived as a main tenet of Protestant
culture - Respondent no 2: "It is here to stay, and with a membership of
100,000, the sooner everyone realises that the better."
Generally, the Parades Commission was treated with the same contempt as
other quangos set up to administer Northern Ireland. "They're about as
useful as the DOE!" Interestingly, Respondent No 3 was concerned about the
wider ramifications of having a body which could dictate on what could be
construed as "public meetings" - he mooted the point that such an
organisation could be set up anywhere within the United Kingdom, that
indeed, a precedent had been set, which could affect any group wanting to
march or assemble on any issue.
Expressing being a Protestant was becoming increasing difficult.
Respondent No 1 felt that Irish culture was immediately identified as
"Catholic" or "Nationalist" culture. When it was pointed out by another
participant that music, art and writing were there to be enjoyed by all,
Respondent No 1 said that she had no problem with the original thinking
behind the "culture" - it was how it had been hijacked to represent one
particular culture today.
Respondent No 2: "It's nearly like that bit in the Commitments,
y'know...the blacks of Europe bit...."
(laughter)
Respondent No 4: "It gives a new meaning to the phrase "black bastard!!"
(worringly, not so much laughter - bloody student)
Me: "Like an ethnic minority?"
Respondent No 2: "Aye. The border has meant that people in the North are
different from people in the south in a lot of ways. But because
Catholics feel closer to the way things are in the South, they probably
can use a lot of stuff like the music and the books in a way Prods in the
North can't. Or maybe won't. And I think it is important that we are
different. After all, yer average Brit doesn't know or care that it's
important to me as a Unionist to fly the Union Jack...."
General optimism about the Good Friday Agreement and the possibilities
opened up by it. Respondent No 4 was keen to see the parties sitting down
together at some stage. Again, the role of quangos and government
departments was questioned, and self-rule for Northern Ireland was
generally accepted to be better than Westminster rule. However, Respondent
No 4 was disappointed to see the same old faces at the Assembly. I pointed
out to her that if that was the situation, perhaps she should consider
entering politics herself. "And just who would you throw your hat in
with?"
This lead naturally to voting issues. Respondent No 4 felt that a lack of
issues pertinent to reality meant that disaster loomed. She felt that
given the upcoming decisions that had to made regarding the reorganisation
of health services in Northern Ireland that
"Tony Blair must have smiling more like a Cheshire Cat than usual. And
the worst of it is, you'll get Gerry on one side saying, "United
Ireland", and Trimble on the other saying "No surrender", and all the
time the whole ship will be sinking"
Interestingly, Respondent No 5 made the following observation. Change in
voting issues would become more obvious once a few schools had been closed,
a couple of hospital services relocated and some factories had closed down.
Generally it was felt, in terms of the wider national economic picture
that recession loomed - ALL parties would feel a backlash once they had had
a taste of having to make real decisions, decisions which three of the
respondents felt the current faces in the political arena were not ready to
make or take. A bit of discussion revealed that this stemmed from the fact
that many assembly members were local councillors - people who, it was
felt, had consistently mismanaged affairs over the years. And would
probably continue to do so!!!
"But don't you feel that politically, economically, socially, whatever,
that as Protestants, you've had an upper hand over Catholics through the
years? That is probably the base line of the problems we've been
experiencing...." I ventured, thus causing mini-uproar:
Respondent No 1: "Would that be why I'm living in a shitty council house,
and can't get a job? Would that take into account......why I, as a
Protestant, get the same crap from the 'bru as the Catholic sitting next
to me? It doesn't matter what religion you are when you can't afford
new clothes for the kids..."
Respondent No 4: "When I finish (college) next year, where do I go for a
job? It won't be here. It won't be Belfast. It won't be Derry. It'll
be across the water...."
Respondent No 3: "I saw many changes at work (civil service) which did
improve working conditions and opportunities for Catholics within the
public sector. But it's run out of control now. I saw Protestant
people being turned down for jobs even though their ability was
better....just for the sake of numbers. I consider myself lucky not to
have lost anyone to a bomb or a bullet, but when you see that kind of
political correctness, stuff you only usually read about happening across
the water or in America, you get very bitter...."
Reform of the RUC taken as read. Everyone expressed dissatisfaction with
general "customer service". Everyone wanted to see "bobbies on the beat",
and a police force more acceptable to the whole community. However after
further discussion, it became apparent that this particular group of
Protestants had become tired with the RUC's own particular baton of power
wielded through the years. Words such as "arrogance", "lack of
initiative", "no public presence", and, not surprisingly, "unfit" in the
physical sense of the word (!) were used. After talking through some of
the issues that surround a new police force, these five respondents
definitely felt that at the very least, a lot of the dross that the years
had allowed to remain within the police force should be basically laid-off.
What price, peace? One immediate answer here - while there are guns on the
ground, peace will only be an illusion. Respondent No 5 said, "There was
all the palaver about the 400 troops moved out of Northern Ireland last
year. Now, as far as I'm concerned, that's 400 weapons out of the
equation. What did we get in return? Not one fucking bullet." General
dissatisfaction with regard to decommissioning, but two people came in for
special mention here. Respondents all felt that Adams and Ervine were the
best chances offered for some form of decommissioning.
Indeed, it was thought that Adams credibility had greatly increased over
the past three years. Hume was admired as being a frontman that a
Protestant could acceptably vote for, but it was roundly accepted that
Adams had definitely had to face down internal wrangles that could have put
paid to the entire peace process.
Respondent No 1: "I didn't think I'd say it, and I certainly couldn't
have ten years ago, but (Adams)...has played a central role in this
whole thing - I can't see anyone else who could have brought Sinn Fein
to the table of a Northern Ireland assembly"
Respondent No 3 (ex civil service) felt that Adams', but not Sinn Fein's,
votability now extended well beyond the Catholic/Nationalist working class
that it had always been perceived as. Nonetheless, there were some down
points, as is only to be expected within a session of this nature. Where
Gerry Adams is now perceived to be more acceptable, Martin McGuinness is
not. After further probing of this issue, I could get no clear tangible
reason why, other than the persona he projects. "They come as a package",
I pointed out to the group. Not acceptable, was the reply. Respondent No
4: "Everybody in this process has some sacred cows to give up. For some
it's the RUC, for some it's the freedom to march whenever and wherever they
want. But I will never accept McGuinness making decisions about my life in
a political process." But what about David Ervine's past? "At least he's
open about it". And a united Ireland?
Respondent 1: "It may happen, it may not. It's out of our hands, really."
Respondent no 5: "As far as I'm concerned, the bottom line is this," as he
takes pound coin and places it on the table, "if I can be guaranteed the
same standard of living under an Irish Government, as I have under a
British Government, I'm happy enough."
No 4 wouldn't be drawn on the issue. "Think I'm still a bit too
indoctrinated to give a rationale opinion!" So I pushed - what fears do
you have about closer North-South links? "They (Southerners) *are*
different. It's like what (No 1) said earlier. We've grown apart because
of a border, and I think the difference that has emerged over the
years...is important to keep". I think the word she was looking for was
assimilation.
Springer's Thought for the Day
So there you have some of the main points discussed over a two hour
session. Bearing in mind that this is a tiny sample, what pointers does it
give us in terms of promoting a "fair and equitable society". This has
only been a few snippets of quite a long session, but it gives more of a
glimpse into a Protestant mindset than most exercises. For me the most
interesting thing was that whilst most of us think there is an indifference
within Protestants, with regard to their identity, this wee exercise showed
that the opposite is true:
Obviously not all Prods are members of the Orange Order - nor do they want
this to be the benchmark by which they are all measured. Nonetheless, a
culture with which they can identify is not there either; With this wee
group, Northern Irishness seemed more important than Britishness.
They are glad to see a peace process, but the problems that some of them
have with it are not immediately apparent. They care about their jobs,
their hospitals, their education, but while they see the GFA and Assembly
as good opportunities for peace, they are mindful of the potential balls-up
that can be made through sheer lack of experience;
They are coming round to the idea of working with Sinn Fein as a major
political player, but are still exceptionally wary of the characters
involved;
The basic bottom-line which has divided us, namely, religion, is not
getting the same high profile it used to. As one respondent said, "The
Church won't feed you".
Reform of the RUC is becoming a more acceptable idea to Protestants, though
not for the same reasons as Catholics;
This group were fed up of being "lumped in" with their brethren at
Portadown, but still saw the importance of the Orange Order within
Protestanism.
More to follow.......