The Sash me Father Wore!!!!!!

Oh Dear!!! its the 12th July again, to some that would just mean another summer day. To many protestants of Ulster it is a very important day. A day to rub the noses of Catholic’s in the dirt. The commemoration of the 1690 Battle of the Boyne where William of Orange defeated the Catholic King James 2. This questionable celebration/parade has been an annual hot spot of violence for as long as I can remember. As a boy my father took me to the Lisburn Road in Belfast to watch the hundreds of marchers and bands stride by with banners and union jack flags proudly flying above. For a young boy it was quite an exciting spectacle to see, even if I knew not the reason for it. And there indeed is the problem, few if any of the protestant spectators know much of the history behind this violence provoking parade. On this day in 2013 over 7000 police and security people will be out in force to hopefully prevent the usual ugly and often deadly clashes caused by this stupid march. A march that the Orange Lodge members insist must pass through Catholic districts. Surely it is time this nonsense was stopped, it makes no sense and certainly does nothing to ease the tension between the two denominations. Why not change the parade to a Peace Parade for all Ulster citizens. Allow no national flags banners or other provoking material. Instead have lots of colour with clowns, balloons, professional marching bands, antique cars, floats and so on. Call it Ulster Day, Unity Day, The first day of the rest of our lives, anything but the 12th. Promote a day of peace, love, friendship and neighborliness.
God Bless all Ireland, and keep reading.