Achairde All:
Well, I am on Parade Watch again, something I have done for 25 years
and for the first time in my life I am SO totally blown away by the
British Governments answer to the Parade Problem I am damn near
speechless. (WE ALL KNOW HOW RARE THAT IS FOR ME, NOW DON'T WE?)
Since I cannot travel anymore, I monitor the UK and Irish media and
other outlets around the world. I will even monitor news sources such
as the Gulf Times in Qatar to the Seattle Post Intelligencer if they
have anything on the Parades. Then at the end of the month, I put it
all together, write a report and send it off to the PTBs. I do this
because the American press either ignores or grossly skews their
coverage towards the British (Our 'Partners in Peace").
A few years ago, I got in a fine debate with some other members of Sinn
Fein USA over the Parades. I suggested the "Pulaski Solution" be
applied to the problem. The term comes from the town of Pulaski,
Tennessee which is believed to be the founding home of the KKK. Every
year they would have members from all over the US invade their town to
'celebrate' it. They could not stop it because of the ACLU so one
year they decided to handle it in what I like to call the "Mother's
Solution". They let them have the Parade but they closed the town
down. By that I mean NOTHING was open, not even the local 7-11 and
there were no people on the streets. One marcher later remarked that it
was like being in an episode of the "Twilight Zone" where aliens
had beamed all the people up to some space ship."
Folks, that Parade used to be a huge gathering for the Klan, it made
the network news every year. The people in Pulaski were assumed to
support the group because they were 'hosting' it. The media forgot
that Tennessee fought on the Union side. My family had two brothers who
survived Andersonville (the Confederate Prison Camp) only to die on the
USS Sultana. To put it into terms everyone can understand, that is like
surviving Auschwitz only to board steerage on the Titanic. NOT a good
thing! Anyway, long story short, they don't even bother coming to
Pulaski anymore because the participants dropped to the point where
they were losing money.
Let me let you in on a little secret, the Irish whether they are in
Ireland or the US is a wee bit on the sexist side. The largest Irish
American Organization is the Ancient Order of Hibernians and they have
a woman's auxiliary because women aren't allowed to be members. I
attended a statewide meeting of Irish American groups back when we were
trying to get The Mac Bride Principles passed in Florida and I was the
ONLY women there. In fact, an AOH member from Dade County blatantly
remarked that, "I didn't know we were supposed to bring our
wives". After I stood up and outlined a new strategy because we were
on our third and final attempt (and my first year in the fray) no one
said a thing. When the same man from Dade stood up and proposed
EXACATLY the same thing I said they voted for it. The IAUC (my group)
took over the lobbying and we got it passed.
So, I wasn't surprised that no one was taking the idea seriously.
They said there were too many Parades and I suggested they start small
and pick the one or two, which draw the most media attention. It got to
the point where I felt they were arguing just for the sake of arguing.
(Another dirty little Irish secret, we don't need an Enemy because we
fight quite well amongst ourselves!) Finally, I decided to let the idea
blossom on its own. (My own application of the "Pulaski".)
The last three years have been increasingly peaceful on the
Nationalists side. In fact, they are developing quite a problem amongst
the Unionists because of it. When you hear the expression "violence
in war torn Belfast", you no doubt think it's the Catholics again.
No, it's an alphabet soup of UDA, UDF and Ian Paisley and his DUP
fighting over who is caving into the "Catholics" and shooting each
other in the process. The violence against the British soldiers is the
frustrated Parade marchers who are tossing Molotov cocktails at the
Royal Army tanks for not permitting them to march down certain roads.
(*SIDE BAR: Is it me or does shooting at a country's army and setting
fire to their tanks because you SO want to be a citizen of that country
rather a stupid way to show your allegiance? I mean, can you feel the
love?)
Meanwhile the Nationalists are shutting down the shops and even the
pubs when the Parade comes through. This year the Sinn Fein had over
700 republican stewards at flashpoint areas across the Six Counties
these included Martin McGuinness in Maghera, Philip McGuigan in
Dunloy, Pat Doherty in Castlederg, John O'Dowd in Lurgan and Gerry
Adams and Gerry Kelly in Ardoyne. They were there to make sure that
there were no violent reactions by the younger Nationalists whose
neighborhoods are marked for parade routes. They even met with the PSNI
in an effort to make sure that there would be no misunderstandings.
It's working so well that the Orange Order applied for a permit to
cover 2300 marchers and 500 showed up at one of the largest events. You
would think that would be a good thing. Especially since, it costs
millions of dollars in extra security every day of Marching Season.
NOOO...this is where the mother of all absurdities begins. The British
Government awarded 100,000 pounds to the Orange Order to turn the
Parades into a Cross Culture Celebration between the Nationalists and
Unionists. They've suggested that it can be turned into a money
making Festival and have recommended that the Order consider changing
their traditional black suit, bowler and sashes for more eye catching
costumes, bands instead of drums and fifes and adding parade floats.
They're even suggesting that they sell their sashes as mementos.
JUST KILL ME NOW - PLEASE!!!
We're finally getting things calmed down a bit. We're seeing light
at the end of a 36-year-old Tunnel (that's when the marches really
took off) and we want to celebrate The Troubles? What's next a
"Meet and Greet at Wounded Knee"? A "Remember When Picnic at
Treblinka"? An "Anniversary Party in Selma"?
Is there anyone out there who can explain WHY this is a good idea?
Alternatively, why is it an idea at all? This just may be the story
that's too surreal to be non-fiction!
If you were wondering the "Mother's Solution" is that age-old
expression, "If you argue with an idiot what does that make you?"
If you are interested in a peaceful solution and a United Ireland I
suggest the following groups:
SINN FEIN - BUILDING A IRELAND OF EQUALS
http://sinnfein.ie/
IRISH AMERICAN UNITY CONFERENCE
http://www.iauc.org/index3.htm
Keep the Faith!*
Elaine M. Hinchey
Moderator
HUMAN RIGHTS IN ACTION
*Keep the faith represents maintaining our commitment to Human Rights
and Peace no matter what the odds are. But if you are here you already
know that, don't you!