Last night I had problems getting home to East Belfast from my mother's house. All the roads seemed to be blocked as I came off the motorway. Reading the newspapers today, I know why.
Was this good for the Protestant community? I think not. Once more we fall into a trap.
Today's Newsletter (click link to read) includes the line 'If Orangemen do nothing in response to the commission decision over north Belfast, then the ban will become a precedent, and — like Drumcree — the settled position.'
I used to live in Ballynafeigh and used to regularly cross the bridge past the Lower Ormeau on my way to meet friends in the city centre. Most of the time it was safe, but on occasions there was trouble.
On one occasion we were stoned by Donegal Pass kids on the way up the Ormeau Road because it was assumed we were Lower Ormeau Catholics, then we were stoned as we crossed the bridge by Lower Ormeau residents who rightly guessed we were Prods on our way home, and then on the other side of the bridge we again had to run for it as our own side mistook us for Catholics. The reason things were so tense was of course because of a parade, which back then was forced through.
One of the arguments used in favour of insisting on marching past the Lower Ormeau was that the Orangemen had to keep the road open for the Protestants of Ballynafeigh. As I found out, their parade had exactly the opposite effect.
The newsletter may well be right - perhaps we will never again see a parade past the Ardoyne shops. However, the rioting of last night made this outcome more likely, not less.
Perhaps we in the Protestant community need to think a little further ahead.
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