Do you ever wonder why you have so many restrictions and cant march down or up certain roads? Try looking at the behaviour of some of your followers who it seems to go because they love the flash points more than the music which on its own doesnt give the same kick. Truth be told the flash points are needed to keep the numbers up at parades at its the reason why the want to plan specific routes. Time the OO and ABOD had a serious rethink about keeping supporters under control and for once show some leadership.
No I dont wonder, as I know the flash point areas were created by Sinn Fein gang members to try & appease, keep other Sinn Fein gang members happy, active, & away from joining socalled dissidents, at the start of the Peace Process/Republican Appeasement Policy. I also know that......... they need flash points to keep numbers up......... is as daft an answer I've ever heard, & believe me, I have had all sorts of Republicans spit all sorts of rubbish at me. Just watch the 12th videos from else where & you will see that the streets are lined with people, watching it from Malone Road, back through the Belfast town centre, & those watching dont even know how to get to Ardoyne. As for numbers... over 500.000 people, half a million, take part, celebrate, enjoy the 12th of July alone, & it brings £50 million to the economy. There is over 600 bands, with over 30.000 members, these members attend weekly practises all year around, in turn learning kids a musical instrument, taking them away from possible anti social behaviour etc, & there is over 3000 parades/competitions each year. The Orange Order has over 35.000 members, with 700 halls, halls that are used by every section of the community, for functions, dances etc, even though many wont say they use them, as doing so may lead to danger. The A.B.O.D has over 10.000 members. Between them they donate £millions each year to different charities, charities that help everyone, Protestant, Catholic or other. Also the video above, the people within this community, Catholic & Protestant, wanted that parade to go up the road, as covered/shown within the Panorama TV Programme survey, & it was the threat from a small number of Sectarian killers, like Ardoynes Paul Carson, who threatened, & if honest was able to organise for the first year or two, to have it stopped. Then when the security forces seen he/they were weakened, they put it through. Is there idiots among large groups, yes there is, is there frustrations about a small number of Catholic Extremists dictating where & when people can parade, yes, did that lead to violence on the year the parade was stopped yes, but the real threat was from Republicanism, & that is why both the voices of the Protestant & Catholic communities were not listened too until they could cope with that threat. Also, maybe given you are interested you could get the over all crime stats for every parade I have mentioned, let us know just what crime there is being committed, maybe put it against other festivals, events. As for keeping control, that is the job of the police, who I may add, get paid from the taxes that members of the Orange Order, A.D.O.B, Bands etc all pay.
Yes & No. The Orange Order was formed to defend Protestantism in 1795. The Orange Order, just like the Catholic Ancient Order of Hibernian's, are single identity/religion organisations. Though Im not in the Orange Order, nor have any desire to be, I know they do great charity work etc within the community I come from. The bands are slightly different, I know of some/few Catholic band members who live within Protestant areas, however no Catholics that live within Catholic communities.
Is it possible to become a member of the orange order without being a canadian citizen? I´m moving to Toronto this year and I really would like to join them! Someday I will also pay a visit to my brothers in Belfast
The Orange Order has lodges in Canada & other countries around the world, it doesn't matter your place of birth, country you live, if you are from a Protestant faith, you can join.
Eric Steele Catholics join the Orange Order parades? Why would they want to? The Orange order has two main requirements for membership, 1) you have to be a Protestant 2) you have to be a narrow minded bigot. These days if you are both of those things, happy days you're in. You can join in all the fun of marching up and down peoples streets playing instruments celebrating the victory of a Vatican backed Dutch King over an English King.
