More focus on Catholics?

[Jonjo]

I know the current atmosphere in the southern government is trying to molly cuddle unionists into a UI but what about the catholics in the north? I know they will be happy enough in a republic what about helping them integrate into the republic aswell? they may be pissed off for being neglected for so long and IMHO... rightly so.

Some republicans both sides of the border seem to think its going to be the Irish brigade walking up the falls road with people throwing red roses at them from the buildings in celebration of a full Ireland republican but that is unrealistic.

Catholic people in the North need some assurances from the southern government on how things would be handled when/if the all Ireland does come along.

[S.Down]

The economic, social and political shift will effect catholic, prodestant, unionist, nationalist, loyalist....ok, gettin tired now...

All that lot as well as everyone else will be effected in the same way in thier day to day lives.



I don't see how it would be a problem as far as identity is concerned for catholics.

Irish nationalistism sits comfortably in ideolgy, the only problem catholics would have would be the bread and butter stuff.




Not that i know too many catholics in the true sense of the word these days, do you?



You muddy the waters by saying unionists (a political idoelogy) are one side against a united state, then the other as catholic (a religious ideolgy) for it.

[Jonjo]

Either you, me or anybody else likes it or not... the terms are interchangable in the north.

Yes it will effect all, but it seems to me the southern government is only focusing on what protestant/unionist/loyalist will think and adding more sugar onto the UI lollypop while they continue the terrorist activites.

While the IRA stop theirs but secterian crime has went on the increase by about 30% or so on the last newspaper count.

So if I am an IRA member I would be saying.. "Why bother stopping ours when we are obvously not getting anything out of it while loyalists can go merry along their way and the south will still clean their arse for them in an attempt to get a UI"

[S.Down]

Either you, me or anybody else likes it or not... the terms are interchangable in the north.

Yes it will effect all, but it seems to me the southern government is only focusing on what protestant/unionist/loyalist will think and adding more sugar onto the UI lollypop while they continue the terrorist activites.

While the IRA stop theirs but secterian crime has went on the increase by about 30% or so on the last newspaper count.

So if I am an IRA member I would be saying.. "Why bother stopping ours when we are obvously not getting anything out of it while loyalists can go merry along their way and the south will still clean their arse for them in an attempt to get a UI"

There are IRA groups out there that are doing the very thing you say as well as loyalist paramiltaries doing the same. They have thier own loyal following of blowhards and it makes for good news.

Its not the general sentiment amonge the vast majority of people. People want change and they they want peace,...if they give a sh*t at all.
Its hard to stay interested or feel engaged, its like watching paint dry.
The foaming at the mouth ideolog's seem to be oblivous to this which is probably part and parcel of the problem.




I think if you look only to the extremes as a measure of judgement, your judgement will be impaired and you will, whether you know it or not, become an extremist to a certain degree.


Thats my Gerry Springer final thought.

[st333ve]

People have to think in reality and remember that a large prcentage of jobs in northern ireland are in the governments civil service.
Catholics have fears also, and although i think any sane person can see why it would be good to create a larger more balanced irish state, and the vast majority catholics are ofcourse in favour of this, people also need reassurances that their jobs and way of life will not be turned upside down, and the sheer lack of information on a wide range of topics arnt yet known and could create doubts.

Some kind of official planning, information, and facts about what exactly is a united ireland needs to be created,and put into the public domain to try nd get people thinking about whats right or wrong for them and to take the emphasis off voting on the basis of religious divide.
A lot of catholics in northern ireland also feel sold out, forced into a british state and betrayed by the south, which lets admit does contain large quantities of northern irish hating southern irish.

A lot of the roi doesnt seem to acknowledge that the north and the irish in it should have as much right to be included in the irish state as they do and even political parties like fine gael actually seem opposed to the idea. to think of how many lives were lost to create the irish republic in the name of equality, in contrast it doesnt seem that much effort has been put into helping out those in the north whatsoever,so we need the facts and reassurances from them today on how a united ireland will effect people, instead of standing idoly by trying to sell something to unionists which they have no interest in and very little facts about.

If fianna fail really is "the republican party" its about time it got off its arse and done something useful to prove it