GAA need to step up

It’s all about our definitions of sectarian. I would equally say it was sectarian if the OO looked unfavourably on the alliance party because they perceived they were doing Sinn Féin’s work. That would not mean I thought alliance were catholic.

mad already stated you are hiding behind a dictionary definition of sectarian. I am using the common definition of sectarianism in ni

Your dictionary definition does not fit in ni. By your definition the most sectarian people are decent Roman Catholics like mother theresa. I think everyone knows that is nonsense. The definition is much more nuanced in ni

but let us agree to differ on this one. I am not going down a rabbit hole on it. I am finished responding to this nonsense on defining sectarian

I don’t know why I allow myself to get sucked into this nonsense when we both know right well that you understand.

but tell me this? There is plenty of research, and we all also know anecdotally, that in rural areas where there are two shopping towns within easy reach that most catholics shop in the predominantly catholic town and prods in the predominantly prod town. These towns are by no means exclusively one or other.

Would you agree that stems from sectarianism? Or are you going to continue to argue that unless the towns were 100% one or other it can’t be sectarianism?

yes francie regarded by many that lots of our daily choices are impacted by a deep subtle unconscious sectarianism that runs through most of us here. It’s improving but it will take generations to eradicate.

I live equal distance between Newry and Lisburn. I can assure you that the ‘go to’ town for local catholics is Newry and for prods is Lisburn. Of course we all do occasionally be in the other. You make a really good point (which demonstrates that deep down you understand). You say “Are they the ones bedecked with symbolism and proudly announcing 'we own this wee town’”. Of course that is part of it. But what you need to work harder on is seeing the chill factors to ‘others’. You arrive in Lisburn and you notice the flags, the ni football shirts and all the little tell tail signs that you are not among your own (NB I am aware of them also).

I arrive in Newry and I see the GAA flags, the GAA shirts and all the little tell tail signs that I am not among ‘my own’. (NB you are completely oblivious to the messages nationalist towns send out).

you have a way to travel to be aware. I’ve said it before, many in your community have not yet arrived at square one.

ps I have just noticed this sentence from you “I live on the border and people go to shop where ………. they feel welcome and comfortable.” This is very astute. You now need to do some work on your selective observation skills. A little challenge for you - next time you are in your local town, have a wee look around and see what you can spot that, if Downcow visited, would tell him he was in a nationalist dominated town. Might be the old election posters still up? might be the sports gear on the shop rails eg could you buy a ni or rangers top? Might be the gear kids are wearing? Might be the flags up for the local team achieving? Etc etc etc.

id love to hear the results of your study.

the big challenge for most nationalists, and still some unionists, is to start to notice how their towns, clubs, schools, etc have loads of chill factors for the other.

that is not to say everything needs changed - that’s just diversity, but awareness is very important

Yes absolutely. Great to see Irish culture being so warmly welcome in strongly unionist areas. This is something I have been arguing on here for some time. Whether it’s republican parades in kilkeel, Gaelic football played in east Belfast or Irish dancing in Lisburn or uup party conference. It’s excellent and to be encouraged, and I agree the William smiths are small in number. maybe thats part of why people like francie feel comfortable in unionist areas

the challenge is to get the Liam Smyth’s to follow suit and welcome ulster-British culture in the same way To have some of our culture being welcome to Newry square on an ordinary shopping day would do wonders the remove the nationalist ‘our wee town’ syndrome. Just this weekend my culture had to hold their event at the roundabout outside my local nationalist town (downpatrick) in case it may hurt Liam Smyth’s eyes. We have also endured several attacks on our culture in our locality over the last days

so yes let’s stand up and call out the William Smiths and the Liam Smyths and work towards respect and inclusion

maybe a sunglass company could invent glasses that cut out ulster-British culture and we could offer these to Liam Smyths in downpatrick