Northern Ireland Marches, should they ban them?

[Bobbisox]

Watching MW this morning and was /am interested in peoples take on this, would banning such marches create even more violence?
Is it not time to forget something that took place over 300 years ago? and try to move forward.

[DrFilth]

the english are a very funny race
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oVSmsYM0b8

[Bobbisox]

we are that lol

[ichkeria]

Almost as inevitable as the annual marching season in Northern Ireland are the perennial questions from bemused and largely uninformed Britons about the traditions of the two communities there.
It is a huge myth that the Orange Order marches are the trigger for most of the violence that occurs these days. The fact is that N. Ireland's divided society is the reason for the conflict. As some have already pointed out, some contentous parades ARE banned, but the vast majority take place peacefully and are usually promoted as expressions of cultural identity.
Last night BBC N Ireland screened a 30 minute film of the day's festivities and it was noticeable how many English people were interviewed, who had come over to visit and see for themselves, and were favourably impressed. Perhaps some of the posters here might care to come over next year also? Just a thought.
And by the way I am not a spokesperson for the Orange Order far from it :-)

[ichkeria]

...and that film is available on BBC i-Player ...

[Ankou]

you mean ..actually put down their daily mail, leave the sofa, and go .... abroad ?

never in a month of sunday marches.

[Bobbisox]

Oi I don't read the DM Ankou
I am very happy with most of the responses here, they have been informative and interesting

[Ankou]

do you feel enlightened by them, have they reinforced your view, or have they changed your perception ?

[Bobbisox]

two have I would say but I will always have my own views, that's what being on here means Ankou

[Ankou]

ok, so you like keeping to your views and not having them challenged ?

[Bobbisox]

ha-ha of course my views should be challenged at all times and when I feel I am wrong I would say I am

[Ankou]

so would you advocate a ban then ?

[Bobbisox]

not when I have heard the argument against this it would probably create mor violence by doing that

[Ankou]

ok, no ban.

so do you still think they should forget their cultural traditions and "move forward" ?

[Bobbisox]

yes, if they can move forward to respect one anothers differences, can this be a bad thing?

[Ankou]

by getting rid of catholics a la henry viii ?

[Bobbisox]

and no one wants them to forget their cultural differences, that is never going to happen

[Bobbisox]

now you are being silly, who suggested such a thing, I did not

[ichkeria]

You're asking 2 separate questions, Bobbisox.
"Should they ban marches" and "should people forget things that happened 300 years ago".
My answer to the first is: only if the march is perceived as a threat to law and order - and that already happens.
My answer to the second is no. Why? Everyone has their history. Why ask people in N. ireland to forget history and commemoration and yet allow people in the rest of Britain to carry on commemorating their battles? Unfortunately many of the things commemorated in N. Ireland are seen as insults to or attacks on the other community. The solution to that isn't to enforce some improbable collective amnesia. And if some people in N Ireland have a pretty warped view of that history well I wouldn't judge them too harshly, having read some of the potted cod-history lectures here :-)

[Bobbisox]

I would say collectively, be it NI or Britain, move on from violence, it serves no purpose

[DrFilth]

"Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding
through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from
hate, mischief and jealousy.
Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality.
Wake Up and Live!"
— Bob Marley