'Parades offend those who want to be offended'

The Waterside Unionist Association have claimed that loyal order parades in Derry only offend those who want to be offended. Welcoming the peaceful nature of the July 12 demonstrations in the city the unionist Association said that they trust the same outcome will result from the ‘Relief of Derry’ events next month. A spokesperson for the Unionist Association said: “The relatively peaceful celebrations throughout the province point clearly to the fact that the parades undertaken by the various Orange institutions and Apprentice Boys Clubs in celebration of their culture do not need to lead to communal and sectarian violence. “This is in marked contrast to the behaviour and nationalist hysteria witnessed in the city during the recent World Cup which interrupted commercial and business life yet drew little comment from resident groups or commercial representatives. “A suggestion perhaps that they are partisan in their nature.” The association went on: “The parades in Londonderry offend only those who want to be offended and in light of this year it would also seem that political expediency and choreographing are key factors.” Irrational sectarianism The spokesperson went on: “The only contribution of those who oppose the expression of a culture which even when not shared deserves parity of esteem is to stir irrational acts of sectarian and violent communal attacks such as those seen on the residents of the Fountain Street and Irish Street areas. “Such expressions of intolerance and bigotry apart from their offensive nature serve only to reinforce those divisions which have become and are becoming more embedded in our society as indicated recently in the findings of researchers based at the University of Ulster.” The statement continued: “The parades undertaken by the local Orange lodges and Apprentice Boys Clubs are well organised and well marshalled. “They are a celebration of preferred values and the positive expression of a preferred way of life which is the human right of the various members to choose. “Given the opportunity they could make a major contribution to the commercial and cultural life of the city, boosting tourism and the economy at a time when both seem staled and they could become the unifying element they once used to be before the dogmatic ideologues of limited vision decided to be offended.” Londonderry Journal July 16, 2002

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