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The confidence of Northern Ireland's young Protestants in
their own identity is continually and deliberately being eroded
in order to promote and preserve the culture of other traditions,
according to the Orange Order.
Submitting its response to the Draft Strategy for Children
and Young People in Northern Ireland proposed by the First
Minister and Deputy First Minister's Office, the Order says
young Protestants often feel threatened if they mention anything
that associates them with the Orange tradition when at school
or attending community, voluntary and sporting clubs.
In addressing what the Draft Strategy refers to as 'growing
evidence of the deep seated nature of sectarianism and racism
within children and young people's lives', the Orange Order
says one factor, rarely taken into consideration, is the promotion
and preservation of some cultures at the expense of others.
"Young people from the Protestant community consider
that government and other influential departments show intolerance
towards their culture and continually try to erode it. So,
naturally in response to these actions, young Protestants,
in order to continue to celebrate their culture, will do anything
to ensure that they preserve their heritage within the community".
The Order's response also says that while the draft strategy
refers to the impact of social exclusion on young people and
their particular lifestyles, "little is mentioned of
how many young people socially exclude themselves from many
activities due to the inability of adults in positions of
power and authority being able to recognise and respect diversity
and each individual's right to self-expression of their own
cultural identity. Too often organisations working with children
and young people try to institutionalise and condition them
into something other than what they are."
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