A society divided - Tribal hubris at the root of divisions

Events of recent days have shown that we have a distance to go before mastering the art of conflict resolution. That does not mean that anyone south of the border who remembers the horrors ignited by sectarianism, appalling bigotry and unfettered hatred will look north today without feeling bewildered and concerned.

As ever, and as ever, sadly, the July 12 climax of the North’s marching season rekindles an air of threat. It is an annual reminder that the age-old antagonisms survive barely hidden by the veneer covering a society still to fully realise the opportunities offered 15 years ago by the Belfast Peace Agreement.

PSNI chief Matt Baggott has said that 43 of the 550 parades planned today are considered sensitive. The recent Parades’ Commission ruling banning Orangemen from marching past an Ardoyne flashpoint in Belfast may change that ratio negatively. Simmering resentment and barely concealed violence over rules limiting the use of the Union Jack flag on public buildings have exacerbated tensions. They have also provided another valid, re-energising soapbox for extremists of all hues to vent their tribal hubris and intransigence.