So, according to a tiny (often violent) minority here, our culture is under threat from immigrants. Which culture would that be, then? The Irish one or the British one? Both, if the Tricolour and Union Jack waving crowd of ‘protesters’ in Belfast the other week is to be believed.
It was quite an eclectic group, in other ways too. At least two – yes, two – convicted paedophiles (one from each jurisdiction) were stood amongst the protesters as they chanted “paedos” at an anti-fascist gathering standing opposite. I know, words fail me too.
Some would claim it’s our ‘Christian’ culture that’s under threat, especially from people of the Muslim faith. This would be the same Christianity that was founded on the teachings of a brown-skinned, Middle Eastern man called Jesus, who is honoured by Muslims as their second-most important prophet.
Going by his teachings, I’m pretty certain that the man himself would have been standing with those being attacked recently, whether verbally or physically, rather than with their attackers. (Just as he would have been on the opposite side to his self-declared ‘devotees’ amongst our elected representatives who, a little earlier this year, refused to support an assembly motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.)
But what about the ‘small boats’? Well, people can only apply for asylum from within the UK’s borders, so they have no option but risk their lives trying to get there. And to be clear, nor are they allowed to work while their asylum applications are being processed. Besides, when was the last time a ‘small boat’ washed up on the shores of Northern Ireland?
But enough with trying to explain to the wilfully deaf and blind. It is manifestly obvious that what we witnessed recently has absolutely nothing to do with new arrivals taking jobs, houses, or businesses from so-called indigenous people (oh, the supreme irony of some of those making the indigeneity argument).
It was gutter racism and Islamophobia. Arguments about the state of our health service, for instance, ring hollow, to say the least, when NHS workers are being driven from their homes (such as happened in Antrim and numerous other places) because of the colour of their skin. Our new arrivals threaten no-one. Rather, they enrich our society in innumerable ways.
But there is another element to this besides racism and Islamophobia. Those who have been most active in raising tensions over so-called illegal immigrants are all too familiar. They’re the same people who have been protesting dual language signage (such as exists in most other parts of the UK); Irish language schools and GAA facilities in areas they claim ownership of (the same Irish language that Edward Carson – a GAA fanatic and talented hurling player – was able to speak fluently without diluting his political/religious beliefs); and the rebuilding of Casement Park in time for the 2028 Euros (regardless of the untold numbers of tourists and much-needed revenue this would bring to the cash-strapped Northern Ireland they claim to love so much).
Inadvertently, the fascists have identified common ground upon which the rest of us can make a stand. They have helped put into sharp focus just how little actually divides the decent people of Northern Ireland from one another
Be in no doubt, these ‘influencers’ - some of whom have publicly expressed their admiration for the likes of Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, and Marine Le Pen – are hell-bent on sowing as much discord and division as possible amongst our people.
Our new arrivals are their latest victims. Those out rioting, attacking people, their businesses, their homes and places of worship, while the instigators sit in safety and comfort miles from the mayhem, are but pawns (albeit eager ones) in all of this. And what is the objective of these local instigators? They want to destroy our hard-won peace; any prospects of reconciliation; and ultimately the Good Friday Agreement. At least some of them will not be happy until they have dragged us back into conflict.
So what can we do to counter these people? Inadvertently, the fascists have identified common ground upon which the rest of us can make a stand. They have helped put into sharp focus just how little actually divides the decent people of Northern Ireland from one another.
If we can recognise this, build upon it, stand strong and not waver, then the future will most certainly be ours. In truth, having had a glimpse of the alternative, we have little choice but to come together and stand firm.
Mainstream media also has a critical role to play. Simply put, our media must dump this both-sides nonsense and stop platforming hatemongers. While everyone is entitled to an opinion, no-one is entitled, as if by right, to a media platform from which to express it. It is solely the media’s choice who they platform. For far too long, too many outlets have been making the wrong choices, and we’re all paying the price for it.
