<div dir="ltr"><br clear="all">
<h1>OPINION: Good Friday Agreement hasn’t transformed dyed- in-the-wool hardliners </h1><div id="gmail-article_sub_header">Monday, 26th February, 2018 12:00pm<br></div><div id="gmail-article_content"><div id="gmail-article_img"><img src="http://www.southernstar.ie/cache/220ha6a90a591f26055ec3d23c6bc61d3f8f.jpg" alt="OPINION: Good Friday Agreement hasn’t transformed dyed- in-the-wool hardliners" width="220"><p>Archon.jpg</p></div><p>THE
uncompromising attitude recently shown by Unionist leaders towards the
Irish language shocked those of us who once sort of believed that the
Good Friday Agreement had transformed dyed in the wool hardliners into
folk who encouraged the existence of opinions they did not agree with. </p>
<p>So, fair dues to the <i>Indo/Sindo</i>, which in a unique way
recently gave an insight into the latest phase of Unionist
pig-headedness. To do so, it sought the assistance of a former turf
accountant and one time Fine Gael minister, Ivan Yates. </p>
<p>Using to-the-point language, Mr Yates informed dumbbells down South
that the current crisis should be seen within the context of a football
match, ‘Blue Glasgow Rangers versus green Celtic. Protestant versus
Catholic.’ His wonderfully deft analogy explained in a jiff a highly
complex political crisis! </p>
<p> Oh yes! Mr Yates was very much on the ball!</p>
<p>The I<i>ndo/Sindo</i> man went on: the DUP and Sinn Féin had seized
on Brexit to drive their individual tribal agendas; Sinn Féin seized
upon a harder border to leverage a border poll for a united Ireland,
while all the time driving home the core message that ‘Northern Ireland
was a failed state, tribal rivalry trumping what is best for the
community.’ </p>
<p>Yes, that’s what it’s all about: tribal rivalry!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Discussion fatigue</b></p>
<p>Was it any wonder then, he asked, that tribal rivalry people had
turned people off, or made them tone deaf to the ‘incessant circular
argument.’ (Hopefully, in such a sweeping assertion Mr Yates was not
including his own TV3 discussion show. Scathing critics describe it is
as boring as going to the toilet despite ‘its unique take on the big
stories of the day’). </p>
<p>As for the ‘united Ireland’ canard, correct us if we’re wrong but is
it not a fact that during the recent negotiations between Sinn Féin,
Vardakar, Theresa May and the DUP, the incorporation of the North into a
unitary state was not a feature of the talks? </p>
<p> If it had been, Unionists gleefully would have seized upon it as an issue of serious disagreement.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Tribal North</b></p>
<p>But for reasons best known to themselves, the <i>Indo/Sindo</i> and
Mr Yates lazily threw ‘Irish unity’ into the debate like an old bone
before coming to the earth-shattering conclusion that ‘tiresome tribal
baggage was hindering progress’ in the North. </p>
<p>Now, the word ‘tribe’ has a very distinct definition and to suggest
that Northerners were akin to a socio-political organisation consisting
of a number of clans that had a natural tendency for violence – rather
like the legendary man-eating natives of the Spice Islands – was … well …
not nice. </p>
<p>On the other hand, perhaps Mr Yates did not have cannibals in mind
but the mysterious Bedouins of the Euphrates who, according to ancient
texts, were so chock-full of narrow-mindedness that travellers who
encountered them ran the risk of being bored literally to death. Much in
the same way that reports on the Six Counties bored the pants off Mr
Yates and his readers in the <i>Indo-Sindo</i>!</p>
<p>All of which emphasises the failure of distinguished media
commentators to make a coherent analysis of Unionism’s poisonous and
deep-rooted antagonism towards the Irish language. Or is it that
preconceived opinions are preferable to facts?</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Nasty stuff</b></p>
<p>For instance, last year the DUP callously withdrew a £50,000 grant
for underprivileged children to attend holiday courses in the Gaeltacht
districts. No mention of this by Mr Yates.</p>
<p>Nor was there any reference to the comment from former Stormont
culture minister, Gregory Campbell, who disgustingly warned nationalists
in this fashion: ‘On behalf of our party, let me say clearly and slowly
so that Catriona Ruane and Gerry Adams understand, we will never agree
to an Irish Language Act and we will treat their entire wish list as no
more than toilet paper. They better get used to it.’</p>
<p>Ignored too was the DUP’s manic readiness to believe the rumour that
if an Irish Language Act were passed, Sinn Féin would replace Edward
Carson’s statue at Stormont with one of Peig Sayers! </p>
<p>On another occasion, Sammy Wilson, now one of the ten ‘Honourable
Friends’ who keep Theresa May’s minority government in power, said Irish
was ‘a leprechaun language’ (Last month, he dismissed Our Taoiseach as a
‘nut case’).</p>
<p>And let’s not forget Sammy’s sidekick, Gregory Campbell who seems to
debate according to the principle that a sneer is irrefutable. While
discussing minority language policy, he infamously commented, ‘Curry my
yoghurt can coca coalyer.’ It mockingly was meant to sound in Irish like
‘thank you, Speaker.’</p>
<p>Even the dogs in the street can see that the DUP lacks any sort of political philosophy, other than a collection of prejudices. </p>
<p>For instance, the official promotion of Welsh and Scots Gallic hasn’t
undermined the character and culture of Wales and Scotland. Yet,
according to the DUP, a Language Act would allow ‘Sinn Féin put a gun to
the unionist head and say “move forward or else”.’ </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Putrid little statelet</b></p>
<p>Incredibly, an elite at Queen’s University shares the loony-toon
ideology. Staff and students of the college’s Orange Order warned that
an Irish Language Act had sinister ‘far-ranging ramifications’ that
would impact negatively on what they quaintly called ‘the nation.’ </p>
<p>Against such a background, Alex Maskey had a point when he referred
to the Six Counties as a ‘putrid little statelet.’ For good measure, we
also might throw onto the compost heap Mr Yates’ extraordinary
depiction of Northern politics.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Not literally, surely?</b></p>
<p>And now for a wry smile, courtesy of <i>The Times</i>, which is an
integral part of the British Establishment and an affectionate observer
of the Royal Family. The following was spotted by a sharp-eyed reader
from Clonakilty: ‘A heron has been feasting on the koi carp at
Kensington Palace … As children, princes William and Harry fed the carp
with their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.’</p>
</div>
<div id="gmail-mc_embed_signup">
<form action="https://southernstar.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=ea96d59b5f9622c6ab6c5ca21&id=6c6c6b3d16" method="post" id="gmail-mc-embedded-subscribe-form" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" class="gmail-validate">
<div id="gmail-mc_embed_signup_scroll">
<label for="mce-EMAIL">Subscribe to our mailing list for the latest news and sport:</label>
<input value="" name="EMAIL" class="email" id="gmail-mce-EMAIL" type="email">
<div style="left: -5000px;"><input name="b_ea96d59b5f9622c6ab6c5ca21_6c6c6b3d16" tabindex="-1" value="" type="text"></div>
<div class="gmail-clear"></div>
</div>
</form>
</div><div id="gmail-left_column" class="gmail-green gmail-two-thirds gmail-column gmail-alpha"><div class="gmail-three_column"></div><div id="gmail-left_column_insert"><div id="gmail-left_column_insert_social"><ul><li><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/02/26/4152597-opinion-good-friday-agreement--hasnt-transformed-dyed-inthewool-hardliners-/#" class="gmail-link_read_small" title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank">Read <span class="gmail-social_count">185</span></a></li><li class="gmail-social_count_sharethis gmail-st_facebook_hcount"><span style="text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline-block" class="gmail-stButton"><span><span class="gmail-stMainServices gmail-st-facebook-counter" style="background-image:url("http://w.sharethis.com/images/2017/facebook_counter.png")"> </span><span class="gmail-stArrow"><span class="gmail-stButton_gradient gmail-stHBubble" style="display:inline-block"><span class="gmail-stBubble_hcount">2</span></span></span></span></span></li><li class="gmail-social_count_sharethis gmail-st_twitter_hcount"><span style="text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline-block" class="gmail-stButton"><span><span class="gmail-stMainServices gmail-st-twitter-counter" style="background-image:url("http://w.sharethis.com/images/2017/twitter_counter.png")"> </span><span class="gmail-stArrow"><span class="gmail-stButton_gradient gmail-stHBubble" style="display:inline-block"><span class="gmail-stBubble_hcount">0</span></span></span></span></span></li><li><a href="mailto:?subject=Article%20you%20might%20like,%20seen%20on%20the%20The%20Southern%20Star%20website&body=OPINION:%20Good%20Friday%20Agreement%20%20hasn’t%20transformed%20dyed-%20in-the-wool%20hardliners%20%0A%0Ahttp://www.southernstar.ie//news/roundup/articles/2018/02/26/4152597-opinion-good-friday-agreement--hasnt-transformed-dyed-inthewool-hardliners-/" title="Send a link to this article via email" class="gmail-link_email_small" target="_blank"><span></span>Email</a></li><li><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie//news/roundup/articles/2018/02/26/4152597-opinion-good-friday-agreement--hasnt-transformed-dyed-inthewool-hardliners-/print" class="gmail-link_print_small" target="_blank"><span></span>Print</a></li></ul></div><div id="gmail-left_column_insert_related"><h3>Related Articles</h3><ul><li>27 Feb 2018<a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/sport/roundup/articles/2018/02/27/4152702-coleman-makes-his-mark-in-muskerry/" title="Coleman makes his Mark in Muskerry">Coleman makes his Mark in Muskerry</a></li><li>27 Feb 2018<a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/02/27/4152616-niamh-fears-life-of-hell-without-her-pain-patches-/" title="Niamh fears life of ‘hell’ without her pain patches">Niamh fears life of ‘hell’ without her pain patches </a></li><li>27 Feb 2018<a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/sport/roundup/articles/2018/02/27/4152700-phil-is-still-the-golden-girl/" title="Phil is still the gold-en girl">Phil is still the gold-en girl</a></li></ul></div></div><div class="gmail-article_offer"><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/epaper" title="ePaper Subscription Service"></a><p><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/epaper" title="ePaper Subscription Service">Stay
up-to-date with the latest West Cork news with a Southern Star digital
subscription on your phone, tablet or computer. Click <strong><span></span></strong></a><strong><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/epaper" target="_blank">here</a></strong> for more.</p></div><div id="gmail-left_column_share">
<span class="gmail-st_facebook_hcount"><span style="text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline-block" class="gmail-stButton"><span><span class="gmail-stMainServices gmail-st-facebook-counter" style="background-image:url("http://w.sharethis.com/images/2017/facebook_counter.png")"> </span><span class="gmail-stArrow"><span class="gmail-stButton_gradient gmail-stHBubble" style="display:inline-block"><span class="gmail-stBubble_hcount">2</span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="gmail-st_twitter_hcount"><span style="text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline-block" class="gmail-stButton"><span><span class="gmail-stMainServices gmail-st-twitter-counter" style="background-image:url("http://w.sharethis.com/images/2017/twitter_counter.png")"> </span><span class="gmail-stArrow"><span class="gmail-stButton_gradient gmail-stHBubble" style="display:inline-block"><span class="gmail-stBubble_hcount">0</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</div><div class="gmail-news_box gmail-blue"><h3><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/news/" title="News">Previous Story</a></h3><div class="gmail-news_box_item"><h4><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/02/25/4152595-editorial-brexit-phase-one--deal-unravelling/" title="EDITORIAL: Brexit phase one deal unravelling">EDITORIAL: Brexit phase one deal unravelling</a></h4><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/02/25/4152595-editorial-brexit-phase-one--deal-unravelling/" class="gmail-news_box_item_img_width"><img src="http://www.southernstar.ie/cache/140wc9add6e2fe37bb9abc65f67d03f1efc4.jpg" alt="EDITORIAL: Brexit phase one deal unravelling"></a><p><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/02/25/4152595-editorial-brexit-phase-one--deal-unravelling/" title="EDITORIAL: Brexit phase one deal unravelling"><span class="gmail-news_item_date">25 Feb 2018</span>All
the promises that were made last December to get phase one of the
Brexit negotiations between the European Union and Britain over the
line, particularly in relation to the border between Northern Ireland
and the...</a></p><div class="gmail-clear"></div></div></div><div class="gmail-news_box gmail-green"><h3><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/news/" title="News">Next Story</a></h3><div class="gmail-news_box_item"><h4><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/02/24/4152599-letter-may-be-grounds-to--terminate-seaweed--harvesting-licence/" title="LETTER: May be grounds to terminate seaweed harvesting licence">LETTER: May be grounds to terminate seaweed harvesting licence</a></h4><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/02/24/4152599-letter-may-be-grounds-to--terminate-seaweed--harvesting-licence/" class="gmail-news_box_item_img_width"><img src="http://www.southernstar.ie/cache/140w310d7c058915627645141991f9f2a22d.jpg" alt="LETTER: May be grounds to terminate seaweed harvesting licence"></a><p><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/02/24/4152599-letter-may-be-grounds-to--terminate-seaweed--harvesting-licence/" title="LETTER: May be grounds to terminate seaweed harvesting licence"><span class="gmail-news_item_date">24 Feb 2018</span>SIR
– Without an Environmental Impact Statement (EIA), Providence Resources
had been granted a Foreshore Licence to do exploratory drilling for oil
6km off Dalkey, Killiney Bay area, in September 2012.</a></p><div class="gmail-clear"></div></div></div><div class="gmail-clear"></div>
</div>
<div id="gmail-right_column" class="gmail-one-third gmail-column gmail-omega">
<div id="gmail-mpu_box">
<div id="gmail-mpu_1">
<div id="gmail-google_ads_iframe_/88958119/SS-MPU1-300x250_0__container__" style="border-color:currentcolor;border-style:none;border-width:0pt"></div></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-fb-like-box gmail-fb_iframe_widget"><span style="vertical-align:bottom;width:300px;height:450px"></span></div>
<div id="gmail-mpu_box_2">
<div id="gmail-mpu_2">
<div id="gmail-google_ads_iframe_/88958119/SS-MPU2-300x250_0__container__" style="border-color:currentcolor;border-style:none;border-width:0pt"></div></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-twitter-box">
</div>
<div id="gmail-right_mini_ad_container" class="gmail-highlight_box">
<div id="gmail-right_mini_ad">
<span id="gmail-button_1"><div id="gmail-google_ads_iframe_/88958119/SS-Button_1-300x250_0__container__" style="border-color:currentcolor;border-style:none;border-width:0pt"></div></span>
</div>
<div id="gmail-right_mini_ad_pager">
</div>
</div>
<div id="gmail-right_option_box">
<div id="gmail-rob_tab">
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/placead" target="_blank">Book an Ad</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/classifieds/">Classifieds</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/jobs/">Jobs</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div id="gmail-rob_classifed" class="gmail-rob_content"><div class="gmail-rob_content_item gmail-rob_content_item_1"><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/classifieds/classified+ad/employment" title="BUSHES BAR BALTIMORE"><strong>BUSHES BAR BALTIMORE</strong><br>Requires Bar/Waiting Staff.
Experience helpful but not essential.
Also recruiting Summer Staff
Please send...</a></div><div class="gmail-rob_content_item gmail-rob_content_item_2"><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/classifieds/classified+ad/education-courses" title="DATES TO REMEMBER"><strong>DATES TO REMEMBER</strong><br>@
BANDON TUITION CENTRE
Sat March 10th Irish Mock Orals
Mon March 19th Maths Problem Solving
Sat March 24th...</a></div><div class="gmail-rob_content_item gmail-rob_content_item_3"><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/classifieds/classified+ad/employment" title="RESTAURANT STAFF REQUIRED"><strong>RESTAURANT STAFF REQUIRED</strong><br>For busy Bandon Restaurant. Day time hours only. Tel: 087-8530820 </a></div><div class="gmail-rob_content_item gmail-rob_content_item_4"><a href="http://www.southernstar.ie/classifieds/classified+ad/employment" title="CLEANING SERVICES"><strong>CLEANING SERVICES</strong><br>We do cleaning services rentals,offices,apartments move-ins and outs.Complete house cleaning one time or regular...</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-clear"></div>
</div> <div class="gmail-clear"></div>
<br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+<br><br> Harold F. Schiffman<br><br>Professor Emeritus of <br> Dravidian Linguistics and Culture <br>Dept. of South Asia Studies <br>University of Pennsylvania<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305<br><br>Phone: (215) 898-7475<br>Fax: (215) 573-2138 <br><br>Email: <a href="mailto:haroldfs@gmail.com" target="_blank">haroldfs@gmail.com</a><br><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/" target="_blank">http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/</a> <br><br>-------------------------------------------------</div>
</div>