Democracy! ..... When It Suits

Finnian O Domhnaill thinks the DUP has a very cynical view of democracy. Finnian O Donnell is political writer from Donegal, currently living in Derry. He is the creator of the political page No Bones About It. 
The Democratic Unionist Party pride themselves on being democratic. However, democracy has only suited the DUP when it's swung in their favour. Since the Union Act 1801, which the Orange Order were opposed to, the Home Rule bill 1912, the 1918 general elections, right up to the present rejection of equal marriage, democracy was put to one side by unionists.


As seen below on the map of Ireland during the 1918 general election, the over whelming majority of the people in the 32 counties voted for Sinn Fein, in effect voting for independence from Britain. Unionism at this time was a far cry from democracy. As far a cry as it is today. As partition came into effect only then did unionism have a overwhelming majority over republicanism and that seemed to suit unionism just fine.

1918 General ElectionAs the tide has changed now in the north and nationalist parties are on the rise and level pegging with the DUP, it seems like the so called democrats are not so democratic at all. The majority of parties in the north support equal marriage, The majority of parties support an Irish language act but the DUP are battening down the hatches and once again are holding their ground because of their religious beliefs.

Let's not beat around the bush here. Unionism has held Ireland back. Our island has been carved up and divided for one hundred years now due to a minority on this island that were granted this carving up of Ireland by the British government. Separate laws, jurisdictions, legislation, border customs stops, the conflict, sectarianism, fear mongering, geographical isolation and exclusion from the 26 counties has only made things worse for people, communities and different societies. If the DUP had any back bone it would at least drop the Democratic in their name and simply call themselves the DUP (Disillusioned Unionist Party).

It is a slap in the face of democracy and only blackens its name when the unDemocratic Unionist Party uses it only as a tool to hold on to it's strangle hold in Ireland and Ireland's divided island to keep them in power. The DUP are no more democratic than the Israeli government is towards Palestine and its people. I do not see any difference between the two as regards of occupation, division and oppressing is concerned. A minority that is some how allowed to carve up a country by the approval of British Imperialist forces. A minority that is a self proclaimed superior people over those who they oppress. A minority that sees no other viewpoint but their own and only recognises other cultures and identities only when there is international pressure put on them.

To put the Irish Patriots of old to one side and to remove the 'up da ra' mentality of those who have been looked down upon by liberals and the 'haves' and speak to today’s Irish people in southern Ireland who believe in fairness and equality I ask this: would you or do you protest against Israel's occupation of Palestine and its brutal regime against the Palestinian people while turning your back on the north?


No I am not sectarian. No I do not hate Protestants, loyalists or even unionists. No I do not wish to see the erosion of anyone's culture or heritage as it is every single person's inalienable right to practice their culture, religion etc. No I do not hate British people and all things British. No I do not support the IRA and it's armed struggle. I see it how it is and call it for what it is. I am not obligated nor pressured to sugar coat anyone or any organisation. Once you remove the gloss and glimmer that the oppressor had covered over your eyes you begin to see truth in its raw form.

For too long now, there has been a vail put over peoples eyes. A fake news story running for centuries that the Queen of England has a deep affiliation with the people of Carrickfergus, Ballymena, Strangford, Shankhill and all over unionist areas in the north. People seem to be happy to place themselves lower than someone else born into riches and greed and corruption. They want to be subjected, they want to be a servant to a crown or a family claiming to be British but are actually German. They want to hail a Dutchman and reject all things Irish. To a hard line Orange man, Loyalist or staunch unionist this makes sense but to a republican or anyone else at that matter it boggles the mind completely.

When a person has been denied their culture, their identity, when they are not allowed to be part of a society because of the jersey they wear, the language they speak, when they are told no you can't marry that man because my beliefs say you cannot, then democracy has been completely thrown out the window and you are only looking at fascist.


Equality To The Privileged Is Seen As Oppression

The issue in Ireland is whether the Irish people or the UK Parliament is sovereign. Achieve our freedom and build from there. Arguably, the position republicans should assume, with Brexit speeding down the tracks, is that national sovereignty remains our right and that the All-Ireland Republic should thus be restored. It is for the Irish people - acting as one unit and without external impediment - to freely determine the form and specifics of the 'New Ireland'. From there, socioeconomic change can be effected within the Republic should the people desire it be so' @ Sean Bresnahan - Chairman, Thomas Ashe Society Omagh