Flags, here we go again

Belfast activist Davy Carlin, a long time contributor to The Blanket makes a return to article writing with his thoughts on the flags issue that has plagued Belfast since the end of last year.

Over recent times we have seen leaders of Nationalism call for border polls while seeing leaders of Unionism once again using a flag to whip up the loyalist working classes.

Such issues, more especially at this time, do little more than further enhance division and sectarianism, while for some, seeking also to divert eyes away for the real and essential issues for working class communities.  The old adage of ‘you can’t eat a flag’ couldn’t be more apt at this time of recession, cuts, job losses and misery for many.

Yet for many of the professional political classes the flag ascends above the interest of working class communities and at times they will fiddle that tune together  for self-interest and to attempt to avert attention away from their ‘lack of delivery’, ‘delivery’ {their word} that they themselves had promised. 

Stormont may have been set up on the basis of institutionalised sectarianism, yet that does not mean that we can further allow that institution to settle into the seemingly lifestyle choice of a dished out, carved up, wink and nod forte of many.

In working class communities our life expectancy is many years lower, unemployment is higher, mental illness, addiction and suicide over the years has grown, fuel and even food poverty is on the rise.

That is the real world for many outside of the Stormont bubble, and political optics, manoeuvring and shenanigans won’t change that - it is time for us to play our part in changing that.

We have seen much anger on our streets in recent times on the issue of flags, yet rocking the boat on such issues has also risen up many other issues of concern, from poverty and socio and economic deprivation through to lack of housing, unemployment  and  chance for a decent life.

These are the issues that not only divide us from most of the Stormont class but also unite us within our daily lives within working class communities.

Flags won’t change those material conditions and such basic wants and rights, but we can, if we begin to stand together and demand them’.

Posted in: Flags Controversy,Guest Writer