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Symbols of Britishness are under threat as never before,
and the Orange Order has been to the fore in defending the
right of the majority of people to have their identity safeguarded.
Almost 1,000 Orangemen protested at Banbridge Council offices
last month, highlighting their opposition to plans to remove
plaques and other items from public view in the council buildings.
The protest came after republicans in Limavady instigated
moves to sweep away symbols held dear by the unionist community.
In Limavady items as diverse as a statue to William Massey,
prime minister of New Zealand, and a mug bearing the portrait
of Princess Diana were included in the great cultural round
up.
At the centre of the moves are a so-called 'neutral' or 'shared
space' agenda.
All sorts of pseudo reasoning is being used to try and push
this republican agenda through.
When it is all boiled down, however, what is at stake is
dilution of the symbols of Britishness in Northern Ireland.
In most other parts of the world, the items involved would
be given an honoured place in a civic building, because they
reflect the history or culture of the area.
But under the cultural campaign waged by Sinn Fein/IRA they
must be removed as part of a process of historical revisionism.
To date this cultural campaign has succeeded in having, among
other things;
- The name of the Royal Ulster Constabulary demoted to the
lesser title of Police Service of Northern Ireland;
- The removal of the Royal Court of Arms from courtrooms
and judicial buildings
- Cajoling of some councils to ensure that the Union Flag
is only flown on 'designated' days.
- An ongoing row over the name of Londonderry, because,
by virtue of its being named after the London companies,
it is simply too British a title for some.
While the IRA guns may be silent, an equally deadly campaign
aims at making Ulster 'culturally neutral'. Once that is achieved,
we will probably see cultural nationalism start to demand
symbolic recognition for itself.
The issue of the Irish Language Act has not gone away, and
is likely to resurface, with the potential to turn our country
into a bilingual zone, where, for example, court cases could
be heard in Irish and residents would have the say in erecting
Irish signs in their streets.
The Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu, writing in the 6th
century BC, said that "To subdue the enemy without fighting
is the supreme excellence."
It would appear that Sinn Fein have followed his advice,
and now plan to wage a cultural war on many fronts.
The Protestant people need to guard against this creeping
process, which will not only involve republicans bent on a
clear campaign, but also unthinking individuals who are sucked
into the process and feel an affinity with the word "neutral".
Unfortunately, you cannot be neutral over as important an
issue as the symbols of state.
The Orange Institution has already taken a stand against
this insidious process, and will work with our political leaders
to ensure the preservation of our dearly-won and proudly held
identity and heritage.
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