I look forward to a full Orange parade down O’Connell Street
I strongly object to the argument that the majority must restrict their peaceful free expression because a small minority of violent racist sectarian fascist thugs can’t tolerate the existence of anything which threatens their view of the world.
To do so would be a cowardly surrender to violent intimidation, which only encourages more violence, because the fascists learn that violent intimidation gets results.
If someone is so insecure about their identity that they must react violently to the slightest offence, then that is their fault and not ours. We are under no obligation to apologise for, excuse, or accommodate the hypersensitive feelings of fascists suffering from an identity crisis.
I, for one, can’t wait to see the day when a full Orange parade, complete with fife and drum, sashes, Union Jacks, bowler hats and banners troops down O’Connell Street playing The Sash at full volume. But wouldn’t that be even more provocative? You’re damn right it is, and that is the point.
A nation which is mature, confident and secure about its identity can tolerate any provocation that is thrown at it. Not only that, such a nation should deliberately and actively search for provocation for no other reason than to shrug them off.
We had an opportunity to peacefully express our maturity and confidence by allowing a small unionist parade down O’Connell Street. Thanks to some infantile fascist trash who desecrated our republic, we were robbed of that opportunity.
The day when the Orange Order can parade down O’Connell Street without so much as a dirty look being thrown in their direction is the day when Ireland can proclaim itself as a mature confident nation, which has put its childhood behind, and has put those fascist trash into the dustbin where they belong.
Jason FitzHarris
Rivervalley
Swords
Co Dublin
