http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/talking_and_walking.html en-gb 30 Fri 08 Jan 2010 22:43:05 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/talking_and_walking.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/talking_and_walking.html?page=17#comment7 GarzaofBelfast,I agree that people have the right to assemble but only if it is peaceful like you said. The Police and Orange order promised a crackdown on alcohol at Orange parades. On Monday when the news reporter was reporting live at least 5 people came past at 11.15am carrying tins and bottles of beer. Being the louts they are they interrupted the reporter. Who could enjoy that? Today's comments by Gerry Adams and Drew Nelson are as bad as each other. I wonder how many Orangemen were killed by the IRA but on the other hand I wonder how many loyalist paramilitaries who were Orangemen killed Catholics. It is time for both sides to move and talk. Stormontspy Fri 17 Jul 2009 21:47:24 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/talking_and_walking.html?page=15#comment6 Stormount_spy, you have to consider one of the basic rights of a free society, "the right to assemble", every individual has the right to assembly on any public property in the land in a peaceful manner. It was the right to assemble that was crushed so brutally in Iran. The orange order does have the RIGHT to assembly in catholic areas and vice versa of course.However as a Northern Irish unionist I am too embarassed by the louts of the orange order. Drunken louts passed out on the ground on the lisburn road, the way this bloody country closes up shop on the 12th and the way the orange order celebrates death.Battles and death should not be celebrated, they should be remembered with a quiet and dignified grace like Rememberance Sunday. The only war celebrations we have are on VE and VJ day, which marks the END of war. Fri 17 Jul 2009 13:56:57 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/talking_and_walking.html?page=12#comment5 traditional_unionist,You say "We all know "Gerry and peacemakers" and his group have been hugely influential in inciting attacks on parades" Who told you this? All political parties and the PSNI have both said that dissident republicans were behind this. Sinn Fein in particular Gerry Kelly who has tried to diffuse the tension and as a result now a threat has been made to his life. You also said "Parades that even the local residents didn't have a problem with" Who told you that? Sinn Fein on Monday morning and evening organised a peaceful protest so the locals would have a chance to show that they have a problem with these parades. It was the outsiders who were bussed in then caused the problems. Sinn Fein, the local priests and PSNI all said that it was outsiders that were causing the riots. I agree that the parading issue is all about respect. The whole issue for the 12th July is that Protestants use it to remember a victory of Catholics. St Patrick's day on the other hand does not represent a victory of Protestants. It is quite clear that what is needed to solve the marching issue is a blanket ban on parades. The Orangemen want to walk through a Catholic area to celebrate a victory over them from over 300 years ago. Where was the respect the Orangemen had when they saluted 4 dead outside Sean Grahams Bookmakers in the mid 90's? Stormontspy Thu 16 Jul 2009 21:17:05 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/talking_and_walking.html?page=10#comment4 Traditional_unionist: "Its all about respect. Something which is severly lacking within sections of the nationalist community towards the Orange institution"...and vice versa. We still live in a segregated society and it seems like every year the progress counter on Catholic-Protestant relations here gets reset during marching season, both sides being at fault.I completely condemn this recent spate of violence that's been going on but that unfortunately seems to be the inevitable result when neither side can trust the other.We have a society where, let's face it, everyone is expected to close for the 12th of July regardless of what religion you are, while everyone carries on working on the 17th of March. I agree with Ian Paisley on this issue, we should either have both days off or neither. That would help teach each community to show some civil respect to the other. I for one do not feel that it is remotely fair to expect me to work on a day that I consider important, and also force me to take off a day that I consider to be of much less relevance to me. If you want people to learn to respect each other, then both days some be treated with equal importance.Regarding the ever contentious issue of marching, I agree with Stormontspy. If a parade is too contentious, it shouldn't be held. Or it could even be diverted elsewhere. Whether it's an Orange march through the Falls or a Saint Patrick's day parade through the Shankill, it's just asking for trouble in the current climate. As the entire community slowly edges toward improving tolerance, let's try to minimise any antagonism along the way. Thu 16 Jul 2009 20:21:45 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/talking_and_walking.html?page=7#comment3 stormontspy you say: "What happened in Ardoyne must ultimately rest with the Orange Order. If the Orange Order continue to walk in places where there is a risk of trouble they must do the decent thing and stop."This is a totally unrealistic and unfair point you make hereWe all know "Gerry and peacemakers" and his group have been hugely influencial in inciting attacks on paradesPeople were bused in from all over just to cause trouble and disrupt parades. Parades that even the local residents didnt have a problem withSo going with your logic would simply encourage them even more to bus in their "protestors" and in the end stop nearly every single Orange MarchIts all about respect. Something which is severly lacking within sections of the nationalist community towards the Orange institution Thu 16 Jul 2009 14:30:17 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/talking_and_walking.html?page=5#comment2 I'm going to go inbetween stormount and susie here and say its neither "sinn fein/ira" or the orange orders fault here.What we are seeing here is an organised effort to antagonise the police to fire upon civilians in order to drive the catholic community away from the police and start this vicious cycle over again.I have to praise the PSNI for dealing with this in a professional manner and not playing into the hands of those who would drag us back into the abyss. Thu 16 Jul 2009 00:58:17 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/talking_and_walking.html?page=2#comment1 MarkDISSIDENTS & CRIMINALS HAVE TAKEN THEIR CUE FROM IRA/SINN FEINWhy is everyone throwing up their hands in horror at this latest eruption of violence?Dissidents & Criminals have clearly seen what violence has achieved for IRA/Sinn Fein. Over the years, successive British Governments have caved in to ever more outrageous demands by Republican Fascists, who have worked tirelessly to subvert and undermine any attempt to introduce democracy into the political arena. By goodness, IRA/Sinn Fein were/are good at it.Of course, IRA/Sinn Fein have been ably assisted by the other half of the current Fascist Coalition the never, never, never, never (yes, he said it four times) DUP Party who embraced their like-thinking partners once they saw the political and personal booty on offer that had seduced IRA/Sinn Fein, whose leading members also revel in the trappings of power and luxury second homes.The psychos see that violence pays and that's the terrible but obvious truth. Just have a look at the Assembly Chamber's occupants.SusieCarryduff Tue 14 Jul 2009 18:13:54 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/07/talking_and_walking.html?page=0#comment0 Mark,What happened in Ardoyne must ultimately rest with the Orange Order. If the Orange Order continue to walk in places where there is a risk of trouble they must do the decent thing and stop. Also Mark has Brendan McCionnaith condemned the violence that has taken place?Who pays for this Police operation? There has have been 100 police land rovers in Ardoyne with 400 officers, 3 water cannons and the police helicopter. The next time a school has to close or hospital has to lose some of its services we won't have to ask why.To sicken these youths that took part in this horrific event if they are 16 or over and not in full time employment or study they should be forced to join the British Army and sent to fight in Afghanistan or Iraq.Stormontspy Tue 14 Jul 2009 17:17:56 GMT+1