It’s not about religion anymore, hasn’t been for many years. It’s all about territory.
I doubt any of the perpetrators of violence could even spell 'transubstantiation’, never mind know what it means.
I wrote this about fifteen years ago, for anyone who cares:
Poem
If the police would give them something to work with perhaps they would.
I’m repeating what I was told first hand by someone who was there. I am also using my logical facilities to deduce that in a community of 800 households, many interrelated, the likelihood that the residents would deliberately entice loyalists and the police to attack them during a street party being held for the community’s children is slim enough to make this person’s story completely believable - far more so than the police/media line.
No, it’s not my own firsthand experience … but to quote Cecil, “I’ve never personally experienced Disney World, either”.
Gee. I apparently hallucinated the ones I saw when I was there. One of which immediately rotated 180 degrees the second someone in our group noticed it and pointed it out, so clearly, they’re still working.
The residents have objected - so far successively - to attempts to install new cameras, but the old ones remain.
Then maybe they shouldn’t be making these allegations if they aren’t willing to provide any evidence to back them up? Maybe they’re just, I dunno, “perpetuating more myths, and more hatred between communities” ?
I’m not even going to dignify this ridiculous distortion of my position with a response.
Aro, just because I refuse to indulge your whataboutery does not mean I’m not aware there are other people suffering. But this thread is not about them. I’m not going to accept that it’s OK for the Short Strand people to have to live like this just because of what the Tigers Bay people may be going through.
Attacking people for having different beliefs is very unchristian. If those extremists would frickin sit down and READ what Jesus actually said, maybe they’d realize that he did not advocate violence.
I’ve just been lurking here, but I’d like to congratulate everyone debating this issue for the level-headedness with which they’ve been arguing. Especially as this is in the Pit.
I do think that ruadh’s bringing this to our attention is both right and proper, and that it’s clear that this particular situation is heavily weighted against the law-abiding Nationalists. Also, in past years the manner in which the (former) RUC was seen to treat, e.g. Nationalist residents of the Garvaghey Road when trying to clear it for Orange marchers, contrasted with the manner in which they treated the marchers themselves, showed clear anti-Nationalist bias.
Though (and I might be playing with fire here) I do pose the hypothetical question: would ruadh ever visit any similar situations being suffered by Unionists?
Revtim, Blalron, if you think that religion is what it’s all about, you need to do some reading!
jjimm,
If I thought I would get out alive from Tiger’s Bay, I would visit it. 
Having accidentally driven into the middle of an Orange march on the Ormeau Road in a van with Dublin plates, I concur…
Good link jjimm, thanks!
I totally understand, and I agree.
Any opinions I posted here were a reaction to your premise that only residents of the Short Strand were under attack. I was merely pointing out that these intimidation tactics happen in many flash points throughout the country. Your rhetoric seemed to hint at a whole society solely and completely attacking catholics. I refuted this premise.
I never meant to imply that it was OK for them or anyone to have to live in a situation like that. I apologise if you feel I suggested it.
I am just so tired of all the blame passing and perpetual hatred that continues on and on. I don’t have any solid answers to fix the situation, I wish I did. But I do know that planting the blame at only one communities door, or at the door of the police, is not the cure.
Twisty, & jjimm,
I find it sad you feel it would be impossible to visit those areas. (although I would probably concur too). I frequently go to Ballymurphy / Lagmore / New Lodge to visit friends and I used to work in West Belfast. I’m sure there would be some who would not be happy with my presence there, but that could be said of most places.
Um, how about “to what I (incorrectly) perceived as your premise”.
jjimm:
I witnessed the Apprentice Boys march in the Ardoyne area earlier the same day I was in the Short Strand. Trust me, this preferential treatment is not so “past”.
As to whether I’d visit the unionist areas, it’s not likely to happen because I would be scared shitless to wander into those places on my own and for some reason us folks down south don’t tend to get many unionists offering to take us there and show us around. If the opportunity presented itself though I would certainly consider it.