Mike Nesbitt’s vision of “partnership not domination” on eamonnmallie.com has been welcomed by a swathe of the political spectrum. Here is “strong” Unionism which exhibits a fuller understanding of strength. It sets forth an understanding of other aspects of strength, such as flexibility, which enable inclusivity. It defines Unionism by that of which it approves rather than by that of which it disapproves.
More than that, people see in it the hopeful, elemental, qualities of positivity and cordiality. As in any fractured relationship, these are crucial in a divided society. This has been vividly demonstrated in recent weeks.
So crucial are these qualities that Nesbitt’s prospective political partners will need to tread lightly, mindful that building is more difficult than wrecking.
This will be a matter of political judgement, as unthinking partnership could also be problematic.
Nesbitt wants to “define unionism for the second century. A real fresh start, if you like, but unlike the false dawn of the previous DUP / Sinn Féin effort.” Instead, he commits to a return to “the original fresh start document, the Good Friday Agreement.”
That comparison magnetises strong desire for positive change, though it incorrectly conflates two things. Defining Unionism is the work of Unionists. Political partnership is the work of all.
Nesbitt posits John Hewitt’s expression of plural identity as a template for progress:
‘Firstly, I am an Ulsterman steeped in the traditions of this place. Secondly, I am Irish, of this Ireland. Thirdly, I am British, and finally, in a more diffuse way, I am European. It may make it easier for you to understand if you remove one of those elements, but if you do you are no longer describing who I am.’
It is elegantly expressed by the St.Patrick’s Day ceremonies of Queen Elizabeth’s Irish Guards, and Royal Irish Regiment.
The Agreement equally honours the validity of Irish national identity, as the Queen did in Dublin, when she addressed the Irish nation in its mother tongue.
This is comfortable without an additional national identity, nor does it require validation with a northern prefix.
This defines nationalist, republican, consent.
The Agreement “recognises that it is for the people of the island of Ireland alone, by agreement between the two parts respectively and without external impediment, to exercise their right of self-determination.”
Accordingly, this “original fresh start” came into being through referenda by the people of Ireland only, north and south.
Unionism’s failure to respect the equal legitimacy of the all-Ireland identity of nationalists remains a blind spot for pro-Union supporters.
Martin McGuinness invited his Executive partner to attend two football matches during the European Championship, to watch both teams who represent the people of Northern Ireland. This was dismissed in a manner consistent with Arlene Foster’s claim that she is the leader of the people of Northern Ireland.
This was the ‘We Are The People’ notion of domination, which potentially led to the collapse of the power sharing executive.
In marked contrast, Martin McGuinness attended both matches.
One must guard against the idea that partnership is compatible with courteous, urbane, behaviour which masks domination.
In this Decade of Centenaries, it might also be worth observing the lessons of history from 1912-1916 about failure to honour constitutional commitments.
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Colm is careful to be careful with his words. It betrays either his age or his great understanding of the Unionist mind, or both. Nesbitt does talk about a place where he thinks the UUP are at – they are not. This place is one which the DUP know they will never go to.
Cont; Part 2>
Phycology has often investigated the relationship between those in ascendancy in a Society and those in servility. The findings are mainly along the lines of Colm Dore’s fears that in the main the so-called liberal “Urbane” group totally fail to grasp the situation and think that tiny gestures are enough to balance the said Society – and that they will feel little discomfort in the process.
Any such Society must be studied in the finest detail to discover the problems arising from its basic inequality. When this exercise is carried out it is usual to find that many in the servile section acquiesce in a sub-conscious way to what they have learned to perceive as the norm. This is the crux of our problem in the 6 Co. State. It exists therefore it is. Yet it does not have to – in this form
Equality can never be found in such models.
The simplest example of this in our divided Society is the status of the 12/13 July Public Holidays.
Basically all in this Society are expected to join in the celebration – yet what is being celebrated is the basis of the inequality in the first place.
So the defeated must take it as normal that they should acquiesce to enjoy the anniversary of the defeat which really sealed their fate.
Without this 17thC. Battle of the Boyne the servile section of the 6 Co. State would not have been excluded from a democratic Society and forced to live in this gerrymandered State.
Now, when the UUP call for this grave injustice to be undone, removed, sent to the dustbin of history – it is then we, the servile Nationalist community will know that Unionist desires to discontinue domination are genuine.
The 12/13th July Public Holidays are a litmus test for all.
Is this really a very long winded way of saying that Mike Nesbitt and the UUP will have to understand that it will take more than words to live up to the idea of partnership and not domination? If so, it really could have been put in a tweet and saved us all the bother!