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Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
  Orange Standard

Unifiers Or Dividers

Article 2 ~ April 2003

The intention, initiative, of those who have been anxious to sponsor recent meetings at which Unionist unity is the theme, is to be commended. We have made that plea for years, in this paper, for the reason that remains - disunity among Unionists has so weakened Unionism that nationalists and republicanc have joyfully jeered: "See how these Unionists fight one another." The disagreements among Unionists are never hidden what is not so apparent is that in about 90 per cent of what Unionist politicians declare to be their manifestoes, there is no disagreement. The attacks one on the other are centred now on how they disagree on much wanted devolution and how and by whom Northern Ireland is governed. Since 1998 and the Belfast Agreement, Unionsim has been divided into the pros and cons on it. But even in this main cause of contention there is consent that cross-community government is necessary in our divided society. That was the intention of the first government of Northern Ireland. Its plans were thwarted for reasons that require no re-counting here. The same nationalist intransigence has affected this society since 1922. It is just that to the recognisable majority of unionists, the Agreement has failed by accommodating those who have not met the initial obligation of membership in the Assembly, complete rejection of violence and the threat of violence. The attitudes to the Agreement are well argued, especially by those who feel that the Unionists who entered a coalition government, trusting the promises of nationalists and republicans have been deceived. They claim correctly, that using the threat of violence, that private army, republicans have been hugely benefited to the disadvantage of Unionists. The reasons for goverment concessions, in multiplicity, have included the determination to prevent the reoccurance of the terrorist attacks on Great Britain. To appreciate that is to question a Blair philosophy which seeks to eradicate terrorism from the world, but is otherwise disposed to terrorists over here. Those who opposed the Agreement want it replaced by another one, better balances and more strictly disciplined, just and fair to society as a whole. They remain convinced that something short of that will not do. It would appear, though, that the determination of the governments to restore the Assembly, showed in the pressures on the Agreement parties on March 3-4 and in the promise to present their plan in a few weeks. The setting back of the election to May 29 was to allow the parties that much more time to think on what they must do. The imponderables remain, of course, and with the question - what will be the position if the Assembly resumes and the strengths of the parties are different? We shall ponder the matter no further for conjecture only adds to confusion. We add one thought on Unionist unity, it is encouraging to see among those who are pressing for unity a few who have been charged with being separators rather than uniters. We do allow, of course, that circumstances alter cases.

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