The Orange Institution's July parades and demonstrations
provide an opportunity for Orangemen to express their commitment
to what is essential to Orangeism, the Protestant faith and
attitudes to life which are ethical, cultural and political
outworkings. There is in the Twelfth the opportunity to enjoy
congenial company in a "happy families" holiday,
giving no offence to anyone. There is never any other intention.
Life in July for most people is without untoward incident
and hurtful experience. For very many the month is made the
more enjoyable with the activities of the Orange Order and
the pageantry of the Twelfth. A time that should be free of
fear and sectarian conflict has seen in recent years and in
a few places, a violence condemned utterly by the Orange Institution.
The violent reactions of would-be Orange "supporters"
to decisions taken by the Parades Commission, on the threat
of violence if Orangemen were to walk in procession on what
are traditional routes, was used to charge Orangemen for being
the cause of the rioting and lawlessness which brought injury
to people and police and wasted large sums of public money
on policing what were horrific happenings. Those whose threats,
and the Parades Commission which was influenced by them, were
not blamed even though the opposition of the residents to
the walks was instigated by Sinn Fein/IRA for purely political
purposes. All this is regardless of the fact that in the great
multiplicity of Orange Order parades there is never cause
for complaint; and an ignoring of the large contribution Orangemen
make to society. The critics vented their spleen in words
that said more about them and their incompetence to evaluate
a happening from which they were removed by distance and ignorance.
We hope that this year the Twelfth and the church sevices
and events around it, will be happy occasions for all engaged
in them, whether as participants or spectators that no sensible
person will be offended by them. We thought it right that
Gerry Adams, who has been talking about reaching out to Unionists,
should be asked to have his people act reasonably to Orangemen,
who walk near where they live to pursue their cultural heritage.
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