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In my opinion, the Orange Institution has a significant role
to play in the development of A Shared Future for Northern
Ireland. The Institution already plays an important role within
the Protestant community, fostering a moral, religious, political
and cultural fabric - particularly in rural areas. The GAA
plays a similar role within the broad Catholic community and
the same focus can also be said about minority ethnic communities,
also concerned with celebrating and passing on their customs,
traditions and faith to future generations.
A Shared Future, built on the concepts of equality, diversity,
tolerance and respect clearly contain ideals that would fit
within many religious and democratic dogma. Therefore, the
Orange Institution would naturally fit not such a society.
Building A Shared Future does not have to threaten anyone.
Indeed staking a claim in such a future can, in fact, safeguard
one's cultural identity and expression within the wider community.
A key question in the current climate is; 'Do communities
wish to continue living in parallel separation, or do communities
want to create. A Shared Future with their neighbours?'
Engaging with A Shared Future would enable relationships
to be built with others in which fears, preconceptions and
fallacies can be challenged and changed. It would also facilitate
broad discourse on the rights and expression of culture.
Developing A Shared Future will necessitate relationship
building. It will require communities and organisations to
create new lines of contact and will involve developing meaningful
engagement with others. This poses a significant challenge
for communities and organisations that have long been estranged
or who have a history of suspicion, mistrust or even hatred.
It is also a challenge for those who have had no previous
interaction or experience in such processes. Engagement in
this context therefore requires strong leadership and a certain
amount of risk.
Proactive and interactive engagement will mean the Institution
engaging with others in a process that will not only address
the dispelling of myths and stereotypes, but also open up
new and challenging conversations. It may also lead to communities
interacting more fully and collaborating together on issues
of mutual concern. Therefore, this road need not be feared
- indeed the outcomes may well lead to embedding the firm
establishment of the Orange Institution within the wider fabric
of society. However, while mistrust and fear will inevitably
remain both within the Institution and within the wider community,
there are useful frameworks to enable for a challenging level
of engagement with the wider community. These principles,
if applied, will ensure that the Institution can enter into
engagement processes on a safe and solid foundation.
A Shared Future is about seeking a common good for all communities
throughout Northern Ireland - including ones own. A consequence
of effective engagement by the Orange Institution with other
communities and organisations may pose a significant challenge
in relation to how the common good of cultural expression
can be promoted. Defining the common good may be difficult,
but commenting on American society, Newsweek columnist Robert
J. Samuelson recently wrote: "We face a choice between
a society where people accept modest sacrifices for a common
good, or a more contentious society where groups selfishly
protect their own benefits." The common good in this
context applies to how all of society relates to the concept
of cultural heritage and its expression.
A Shared Future has the potential to see the creation of
an intercultural society, in which different cultures have
their rightful place. Currently, probably the best way of
defining cultural expression in Northern Ireland is one of
multiculturalism:- different cultures living side by side
in relative peaceful co-existence - Orange culture, Indian
culture, Chinese culture, Irish culture etc. A Shared Future
would lead to the development of an intercultural society,
with different cultures engaging in positive interaction.
By engaging in a common good strategy, the Order will be contributing
greatly to safeguarding its own future, while at the same
time acknowledging the place and rights of other cultures
and their expression. Crucially, this being reciprocated by
other communities would also mean that other cultures acknowledge
the place and rights of the Orange Institution.
Engaging with the public, the civic and the political on
concepts connected with the common good for all communities
would be a discourse that would involve proactive and interactive
engagement with wider society. This would present both opportunities
and challenges. However, being a key stakeholder in a common
good strategy would in itself be a form of engagement through
which the Institution would build on outreach work already
carried out.
Within this engagement there is an opportunity to develop
a process of two-way dialogue that will inform both the Institution
and the wider community. This will see the breaking down of
perceptions and myths as well as imparting greater understanding
and awareness among the wider Protestant community.
As a result of recent history and the loss of members of
the Institution who were killed during the troubles, engaging
with the wider community presents significant challenges.
Fear, hurt, mistrust and the unknown will be barriers to greater
interactive engagement. Engaging with others on the back of
such factors will require a certain element of strong leadership
and a leap of faith and will involve getting an effective
framework in place to ensure a safe and positive experience
for embracing the engagement process.
The development of a Shared Future, defined by tolerance,
respect and diversity, in an interdependent, intercultural
society, will ensure that all cultures and traditions will
have their rightful expression, thus safeguarding heritage
and tradition for future generations. There are many positive
consequences that can be found through real effective community
engagement. By embarking on such a process, these benefits
will touch the lives of everyone in Northern Ireland, including
the Orange Institution.
David Robinson
Good Relations Officer
Belfast City Council
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