The last writhings of a society left beached by history

[UnrepentantFenian]

Excellent article in today's Guardian by Mark Hastings.

Not so. The latest riots seem a manifestation not of Protestants' power, but of frustration and impotence. They see their tiny world decaying towards oblivion. The unionists' transfer of allegiance to Paisley and his kind, the extinction of David Trimble, represent a rejection of rational politics, a resort to absurdity such as only desperate people could entertain. Most middle-class Protestants now expect a united Ireland, and are untroubled by the prospect. As so often in modern history, economics is achieving what politics has not. In 1969, Ulster's prosperity and welfare state, viewed against the south's poverty, provided powerful reasons for many Catholics, as well as Protestants, to fear a united Ireland.

Today, the position is transformed. Northern Ireland has nothing to lose but its subsidies, while the south is rich and successful. No constituency which gives its political support to such a leader as Paisley possesses a plausible vision of its own future. We are witnessing the last writhings of a society left beached by the march of history

When unification comes, Northern Ireland's Protestants may be amazed by the wealth and happiness which accrue to their children, once they shed the baggage of Cromwell as icon, the Orange Order, mafia rule and institutionalised bigotry. I was wrong about the proximity of Irish peace in December 1969. But in September 2005, it seems closer than the petrol bombers might make us suppose.

[aodh_rua]

Excellent article in today's Guardian by Mark Hastings.

Not so. The latest riots seem a manifestation not of Protestants' power, but of frustration and impotence. They see their tiny world decaying towards oblivion. The unionists' transfer of allegiance to Paisley and his kind, the extinction of David Trimble, represent a rejection of rational politics, a resort to absurdity such as only desperate people could entertain. Most middle-class Protestants now expect a united Ireland, and are untroubled by the prospect. As so often in modern history, economics is achieving what politics has not. In 1969, Ulster's prosperity and welfare state, viewed against the south's poverty, provided powerful reasons for many Catholics, as well as Protestants, to fear a united Ireland.

Today, the position is transformed. Northern Ireland has nothing to lose but its subsidies, while the south is rich and successful. No constituency which gives its political support to such a leader as Paisley possesses a plausible vision of its own future. We are witnessing the last writhings of a society left beached by the march of history

When unification comes, Northern Ireland's Protestants may be amazed by the wealth and happiness which accrue to their children, once they shed the baggage of Cromwell as icon, the Orange Order, mafia rule and institutionalised bigotry. I was wrong about the proximity of Irish peace in December 1969. But in September 2005, it seems closer than the petrol bombers might make us suppose.

Beat me to it! Definitely worth a read alright.

[Carrier]

Seems a very optimistic interpretation. Sugguesting middle-class unionism is unworried by the prospect of a united Ireland is way off. If that was the case the DUP wouldn't have swept the board at the last elections and the Alliance party would have done a lot better.

[Bogwarrior]

I'm sure similar sentiments were expressed after the Loyalist riots of Sunningdale, Anglo Irish agreement, and Drumcree. People are reading too much into this, and are misleading themselves, if they feel because the Middle class don't riot, they're somehow less bigotted

[Carrier]

Exactly, people shouldn't read so much into this. I mean, if it wasn't for the Kaiser Chiefs it wouldn't have kicked off at all.

http://www.random************************e.co.uk/i-predict-a-riot.html

Uncle Hugo Orde, the head of the former RUC said, "This group have a hold over the youth, they predicted a riot and it happened, what more evidence do you need. Maybe the youth should pay more attention to the title of their album rather than their hit single."

[ChrIreland]

I'm sure similar sentiments were expressed after the Loyalist riots of Sunningdale, Anglo Irish agreement, and Drumcree. People are reading too much into this, and are misleading themselves, if they feel because the Middle class don't riot, they're somehow less bigotted

Yeah, of course.................no matter who is right or wrong the loyalists just CAN'T be.......... in their own eyes and some of the apologists in the Republic too.

[badinage]

thought this bit was interesting as well:

Contrary to modern Protestant belief, the murderous Republican campaign almost certainly postponed Irish reunification by two generations. Fanatics need enemies. If the IRA had not been bombing, it is hard to believe that militant unionism would be in such rude health.

contrary to modern Republican belief as well

[green]

Seems a very optimistic interpretation. Sugguesting middle-class unionism is unworried by the prospect of a united Ireland is way off. If that was the case the DUP wouldn't have swept the board at the last elections and the Alliance party would have done a lot better.

I don't know. Remember the 200,000 odd unionists who voted for the GFA and haven't surfaced since? That seems to suggest that they don't really care either way about the whole thing.

[badinage]

I don't know. Remember the 200,000 odd unionists who voted for the GFA and haven't surfaced since? That seems to suggest that they don't really care either way about the whole thing.

or it means that they think the Union is safe and secure, and they think the Loyalists rioting in the street are mindless, fatalistic thugs with no reason to be rioting.

[Justin]

Seems a very optimistic interpretation. Sugguesting middle-class unionism is unworried by the prospect of a united Ireland is way off. If that was the case the DUP wouldn't have swept the board at the last elections and the Alliance party would have done a lot better.

I don't know. Remember the 200,000 odd unionists who voted for the GFA and haven't surfaced since? That seems to suggest that they don't really care either way about the whole thing.

There is a middle class constituency there who must be getting increasingly alarmed at the direction unionism is headed.Interesting that Alliance sees that and have been confident enough to among the strongest critics of the recent antics.