Dear Fellow Citizens
I am sure, in common with members of the Orange Institution,
you are concerned about events over the coming days in respect
of traditional Orange parades. In order to assist understanding
of our historic culture and noble traditions we wish to outline
certain facts which are relevant to the situation.
The disputed parades occur along main arterial roads which
are shared by all communities. All are traditional routes,
none have been concocted or organised to cause offence. We
are not engaged in coat trailing, or triumphalism. We simply
want to celebrate our culture and identity peacefully and
with dignity.
We recognise that along with the right to parade comes responsibility,
which we have exercised by talking to residents' groups, local
politicians, clergy from all denominations and other interested
parties. We have taken on board the fears and concerns of
the many people we have spoken to. This has resulted in the
restricted playing of music and the improved marshalling of
our parades. However, in all conscience we cannot talk to
those groups influenced by republican terrorists whose purpose
is to deny our civil rights. The Orange Institution also does
not talk to the Parades Commission, because it is a discredited
Government quango whose remit and actions are clearly in violation
of democracy, justice and human rights.
Traditional loyal order parades are attacked as part of the
republican strategy to remove the British presence from Northern
Ireland. All things British are being opposed on three fronts:
military, political and cultural, the latter being the excuse
to invest time and effort into planning and creating unnecessary
opposition to traditional Orange parades.
The restricting of loyal order parades along main roads creates
cultural apartheid, where one community has a veto on another
community's expression of identity and heritage. Banning and
re-routing Orange parades from shared road and village main
streets will only lead to further segregation of our respective
communities. This is not the way to build a future where there
is mutual respect and tolerance. Ethnic segregation is morally
wrong. It did not work in South Africa and the United States.
It must not be allowed to work in Northern Ireland.
In a democratic, divided society accommodation is the only
way to build a future where people of differing traditions
can peacefully co-exist. Toleration needs to be the approach
when matters of tradition and heritage are expressed. While
much of Gaelic and nationalist culture is politicised, the
unionist community does not go out of its way to be offended
or obstructive. We may not identify with Gaelic and nationalist
culture, but we do not attempt to censure it. All we ask for
is the same in return for our Protestant heritage and unionist
identity.
We would especially appeal to all free-thinking people in
the nationalist community to consider the parading issue carefully.
Are your views based on toleration and mutual respect? Have
you thought about the time it takes a parade to pass along
these so-called contentious routes, and the changes which
parade organisers have made? Or are your views based on bigotry
and an anti-British mindset in which there is no place for
those from the unionist tradition? What we celebrate through
our traditional parades is civil and religious liberty for
all; not just for Protestants, not just for dissenters. But
civil rights for all, regardless of race, creed, denomination,
or gender, and special privileges for none.
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