How can we integrate Unionism into a possible United Ireland?

You wouldn't say the UK was a modern, outward looking country?

Nether would I, I would say it is a modern country that has decided to isolate itself from it's nearest neighbours.

So you would describe what has happened on the Irish Sea as a hard border? That might help you have empathy with the likes of me who feel exactly the same about my nation being separated by a hard border as you do with regard to what you call your nation.

mot is up to us all to work for a solution

Don't think I will be drinking the Tory koolaid on that one tbh.

😁😁 and Tory ramblings over the last while do stand up to scrutiny?

Gas stuff tbh.

And the effect of Boris is that nobody believes a word out of a Tory cabinet members mouth. Add that to the lies the Scots were told by Tories at the Indy Ref and they have some uphill battle keeping them in the next time there is a Ref. Boris, I suspect, knows this and won't allow a second ref if he can do anything about it.

Read the section on security where there is a commitment to demilitarise the border. And the other commitments such as 'close cooperation between their countries as friendly neighbours and as partners in the European Union'.

Removing the military made it a border just like any other border in the EU, i.e. invisible or soft.

Re-introduce a visible border by leaving the EU and you break the agreement. In fairness to the UK they dared not break that part of the agreement - hence the Protocol.

Read the text and understand what it implies.

The DUP are getting increasingly more angry every day lately, I'm very curious as to how they will react with a SF first minister after the elections in May.

The clue is in the last word of your post ‘implies’. Why not post the statement that prohibits a border. Yes, we all know exactly why.

Not me you need to be talking to about the implications of the GFA downcow, it's your political masters in the DUP and Westminister....who are so far petrified to break the 'implications' of that agreement. Protocol still there and checks still happening on the Irish Sea border.

Couple of points:

First, your so-called abuser lavishing billions of "gifts" on you every year. Interesting that you would characterise government expenditure as a "gift", but let that pass. There are plenty of controlling, abusive marriages in which the abuser treats the abused spouse well, in material terms. In some ways that can be one of the tools of control. I'm not sure that a union in which you receive expensive "gifts" is a substitute for a union in which you are valued, your wishes listened to and your welfare accorded some weight. It is absolutely incontrovertible that if the UK cared about the wishes or welfare of NI it would not have barrelled into a hard brexit designed to maximise injury to NI. You're in the situation you're in right now because the UK doesn't care about you.

Secondly, the union is not voluntary. It wasn't voluntary in 1921, when Ireland had to fight a war of independence to leave, and it isn't voluntary in 2022, when Westminster's position is that Scotland may conduct an independence referendum only if Westminster permits it, and Westminster chooses not to permit it. Cornwall might leave with your blessing, but it's actually Westminster's blessing that it needs and, as long as it needs Westminster's blessing to leave, then Cornwall's participation in the union is not voluntary.

It's only in the case of NI that there is constitutional recognition of the principle that NI may choose to leave the union, but even this is heavily qualified. NI only has the right to leave the union in favour of unification with IRL; it doesn't have the right to leave and become independent, for example, or to leave any choose any status other than unification with IRL. Plus, in practice it only has that right if Westminster chooses to allow it - under the Northern Ireland Act, if the Secretary of State thinks it likely that a majority would vote for unification with IRL, he may conduct a border poll. Or, he may not. It's at his discretion. And the Secretary of State, of course, is appointed by and accountable to Westminster. So, once again, Westminster decides if and when NI gets to exercise the limited degree of self-determination that it is afforded. And - worryingly for unionists? - Westminster has decreed that the Secretary of State can only conduct a border poll if he thinks nationalists are likely to win. UK law doesn't favour NI having an opportunity to express its desire to remain in the Union; only an opportunity to express its desire to leave.

But this distracts from the main point; you have linked us to an article by Sam McBride pointing out that Unionists love Britain despite the fact that Britain does not love them, and suggesting that this creates a problem for northern republicans. You later suggested that you didn't necessarily agree with McBride, but this makes no sense. If McBride is wrong, then how can his misunderstanding create a problem for northern republicans? And, if McBride is right, then not being loved by Britain is obviously a much bigger problem for northern unionists than for northern republicans.

I am here to tell you that McBride is right, and there is a huge problem for northern unionists. It's not necessarily an insurmountable problem, but on their present course the DUP/TUV tendency of unionism is not going to surmount it. They are basically co-dependents in an abusive relationship, in denial about the abuse and so excusing and enabling it. And I think that's going to be a turn-off for a lot of British people in NI- particularly, perhaps, younger people. That's just not how they want to be.

I predict that, so long at the DUP-TUV tendency is the dominant or representative form of unionism, what you will see is a growing cohort in NI who see themselves as British, but not necessarily unionist, because "unionism", for them, will be characterised by all the unpleasant traits of DUP-TUV unionism - not just the craven submission to Westminster belittlement and marginalisation, but also the social conservatism, the misogyny, the bigotry, etc. This is just not who many British people want to be. I think this is already starting to happen, and the Alliance Party has been the beneficiary of it. It also presents an opportunity for the UUP which, so far, they have been unable to grasp, but I wouldn't give up hope yet.

Back on topic

i think the masses in both countries have loads in common and could integrate fine provided roi is able to own up to its sectarianism and make some changes. I think ni has acknowledged the sectarianism in our country and are working to try and resolve and/or manage it. I don’t think roi has began that journey.

some other questions would be

will this new country adopt policies that nationalists have demanded in ni, eg

will official flags only fly on designated days? Will the local catholic boys scout group have to apply for permission to walk in a group? Will the photo of the president need to be removed from areas where unionists are working so as it doesn’t offend? Will there be a minority language act to ensure Irish courts etc can operate in Ulster Scots?

nothing there that would interest me, but it’s what the current minority seem to want in ni so I guess there will be similar requests.

That nonsense aside, I think my community would want freedom to enjoy our culture. To watch our British tv, support our British football teams, enjoy our cultural parades, have our 11th bonfires, etc, etc. I don’t think any unionist will give a toss if Roman Catholism continues to dominate your state television, schooling, etc. Maybe we can introduce you to intigtated schools, integrated sports without gingoistic nationalism, equality in employment, etc

do You currently receive Bbc & itv free to air in roi?

I don’t agree with much of that.

I absolutely don’t mean to patronise you here, but you demonstrate again that nationalists just do not understand the union. You talk as if our parliament is not ours.

we all elect Westminster. It is our parliament. You talk as if it is in outer space and ruled by Martians. The majority in ni continue to want the union.

I would guess those in Donegal aren’t always estactic about dail meeting it’s interests

The 1940's wants it view of the south back.

I think those that have been parrotting the line that the rUK will pay for Scottish and Northern Irish pensions into the future have to start rethinking their fantasies. We have been told this is a done deal, that there is no question about it, and now that there is, it is close our ears time?

Some of us have consistently maintained that there is no obligation on the UK to continue paying pensions, that it is something that will be on the table. This has been in the face of the repeated fantasy from several posters that there is no question that it will happen.

I am satisfied rather than happy to be correct once again.