THE recent contribution to The Irish News from Jamie Bryson – ‘Co-existing from a deeply dug trench’ – displays an unparalleled level of confusion and absurd paranoia. In his unqualified utterances he goes to great lengths to explain how there is a perceived notion that the unionist cultural identity has been under threat from certain sections of the nationalist community for the last 20 years.
This is simply untrue. Unionist expression of culture is a unique phenomenon in its own right – however, it is besmirched and tarnished by the burning of toxic material, tyres and plastic, and not forgetting the squalid displays of drunkenness and unruly behaviour which accompanies in the aftermath of the ‘glorious’ exhibition of the ‘parading tradition’.
While he eloquently points out the positives in this cultural expression, it would be interesting to hear the author’s view on an authority much higher than his, retired PSNI officer Jon Burrows, who after serving his community for years was aghast at the vulgar display of cultural loyalism of a police vehicle, albeit fake, on top a loyalist bonfire, labelling it ‘despicable’ and ‘disgraceful’. This was not a “contrived ‘feeling’ thereof rooted more in a political agenda” but a clear and present danger expressed by a concerned citizen.
This is not and should not be looked upon as “superficial analysis”, as Mr Bryson cares to interpret critics or objectors, but a clear indication of a denial of the truth, which in turn is a betrayal of one’s very own belief system.
The ‘middle classes’, as he likes to label those of a different viewpoint, would surely view his analysis with utter dismay and disbelief and it is most assuredly certain that the present ‘manifestation of culture’ as envisioned by the author, the burning of flags and effigies of others and widespread urinating in the streets, is frowned upon by the ‘middle classes’.
Not content with debasing the loyalist tradition, the author, in a mischievous display of pettiness and immaturity, turns his attack on nationalists and their traditional annual festivals of music and displays of cultural expression where everyone is welcome, and in his feebleness attempts to smear it with the same contaminated soil.
The author should be aware this debacle has been a continuous conundrum affecting society long before he was born and therefore should realise that no amount of ensuing adjectives lifted from a thesaurus is going to ‘cut the mustard’.
Kevin McCann
Belfast BT1
Letters to the editor
Readers please note, letters should be no more than 400 words and will be edited as deemed necessary. They should be authenticated with a full name, address and a daytime telephone number. Pen names are not allowed.
