Northern Ireland Struggles

Northern Ireland has a long history of being a Catholic nation. Other immigrants entering the nation, nevertheless, are Protestants. They were assisted in entering the nation by the English colonies. Since the local Catholics were persecuted by these Protestants, the independence fight persisted (O'Hearn 179). Irish people's reluctance to join the Protestant movement led to the arrival of the Protestants in Ireland. Therefore, there was a lot of discrimination towards Irish people as a result of the arrival of these outsiders. The British supported the Protestants during the drought, but the Catholics went hungry. The farms and all the right things belonging to the Catholics were taken away by force (Morgan & Smith 88).

This discrimination fueled enmity between the two groups and a divide was created from that day till today. It is mostly because at the time of independence, the Protestants, who were foreigners, wanted to maintain the ties with Britain (Melaugh 131). The Irish people felt betrayed, and therefore civil war began that exists until today. This conflict has even grown further to a political situation. The disputes have left the country population divided into cultural and religious backgrounds. Both the Catholics and the Protestants cannot be said to believe in different gods. They, therefore, are in continued struggles because of the social and cultural differences that exist between them. The Catholics view the Protestants as the oppressive British who are more privileged, have better jobs, and good wages. On the other hand, they are weak, oppressed, and the rate of employment is low. Therefore, the war between them results from cultural, historical, and social influences and not the religion.

Modern Years Struggle in Northern Ireland

There are still tensions until today in the Northern Ireland. This is because the residents in this place are united with the people of the United Kingdom and do not wish to leave. In the Republic of Ireland where the Catholics are the majority, there is a significant disparity in representation, where the Protestants lack representation (Melaugh 131). The same scenario exists in Northern Ireland where the majorities are well represented than the minority. Therefore, the modern struggles are as a result of the inability to communicate and compromise between the two groups because they feel justified in some way. These conflicts can only be overcome when both parties agree to talk to resolve the problem.

Causes of Violence and Disagreement

Direct Rule Returns

The unionist had been dominating the Northern Ireland for so many years leaving the Catholics who are the native poor and oppressed. During this time, the reforms to end the Catholics and discrimination were so slow and seemed to favor the Protestants. This is to mean that there were little attempts by the unionists to stop the social and political ills against the Catholics (Jarman 140). The reforms were too fast to favor the unionists, and, therefore, the Catholics felt that they were being robbed of their country. This led to the two communities fighting. The tension led to the government of United Kingdom to impose a direct rule on the state to avoid such struggles and dissolved their parliament. This led to more tensions because the government of United Kingdom favored the Protestants (O’Hearn 179).



Divided loyalties

Many of the Protestants traced their roots in the United Kingdom. They, therefore, required remaining in the same union with the British people. They fought so hard for the continued relationships with the people they thought were their own (Morgan & Smith 88). This is because they thought the Catholics would not tolerate their Christian belief. The Catholics, on the other hand, required to be reunited with the Republic of Ireland. Therefore, this loyalty to different groups and the political differences made these two religions to develop a harsh attitude towards each other causing the years’ protracted violence (O’Hearn 179).

Unequal housing allocation

The Protestants were most favored when it came to public housing. The Catholics, on the other hand, were in urgent need of shelter and had to wait for so long before they could get these houses (Cunningham 119). Unfair housing policies were meant to discriminate the Irish Catholic people. This discrimination led to tensions between the two religious groups and hence resulted in violence.

Unequal Employment

The Catholics found it hard to find employment opportunities even when they had the same qualification as the Protestants. They, therefore, got the low paying jobs and unskilled whereas their counterparts got the high paying jobs. Most governments controlled organizations, as well as private institutions, preferred to employ the Protestants. The promotion was also based on the religious backgrounds (Melaugh 131). This discrimination made the Catholics feel that they were mostly being discriminated against. As such, there was more division between these two groups which led to violence.



Lack of Voting Rights

The voting rights were given depending on the houses one had or the type of business they were entitled to (Jarman 140). The Catholics were the minority in both house ownership and trade. Therefore, they formed the least voting percentage. The voting blocs also were made such that there were the majority of the Protestants than the Catholics. Principal business owners were Protestants hence the more impoverished Catholics were discriminated against. The voting stations were also placed very far from the Catholics; a thing that made them revolve against such treatment.

Lack of Social Interaction

The children in Northern Ireland went to different schools depending on the religion. There was no room for them to interact with each other. The places of residence were also based on belief. In college, the Catholics learned about the Irish history whereas the Protestants mostly focused on British history (Akenson 19). As such, children grew with no interactions, and no social ties existed worsening the situation. Therefore, the rift that was created by the parents continued in children since they are brought up without coming together.

Failed Intermarriages

The two communities in Northern Ireland have maintained their grounds such that they do not want to intermarry. Intermarriages are right in bringing union and functional relations within communities. However, in Northern Ireland, the two cities have low percentages of intermarriages limiting the interactions between them hence affecting relationships (Cunningham 119).





Northern Ireland Peace Treaty

The Peace Treaty was named the Good Friday agreement that involved the two warring religions. The main aim was to bring to an end the continued wrangles that had existed for many years. It included some political parties in the Irish government, British government, and Northern Ireland government (Jarman 140). This agreement came into place in the year 1990 after several years of multi-party talks. This contract was later signed in 1998 on the day of Good Friday. Voters in both Ireland and Northern Ireland voted in support of the agreement. The agreement was to have all the parties becoming committed in the decommissioning of the arms and weapons from the warring groups. It was also intended to bring security in the country by having the British army maintaining peace and order. This agreement also was meant to ensure that the people arrested for paramilitary activities were released from the prison early. It was to provide that the civil rights of people in all the warring groups so that they could have the freedom of worship without interference (Akenson 19). This deal consisted of three parts to ensure that the established peace agreement lasted.

First was creating a Northern Ireland Assembly that was responsible for dealing with all the local matters. This body consisted of both the Protestants and the Catholics. As such, the grievances of both religious divides would be heard. This was also to ensure equal representation and interaction between these religious groups. Secondly, they were to establish cross-border cooperation in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (Sharp 38). This would ensure good working relationships and reduction of tension that existed. The third agreement was that there was to be continued consultation between the British and the Irish governments which were to remain neutral in the deal without showing support for any group but instead supporting peace. As such, the Catholics will stop feeling that they are being discriminated against by the British government, and then there would be peace.

The Orange Order

It was founded in the year 1795 when the conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants was great (Farrell 17). The primary aim of this order was to use a Masonic-style brotherhood which was geared towards maintaining the Protestant Ascendancy. It was established in honor of the Dutch king who was a protestant and defeated the Catholic king. The members wear orange sashes as a distinguishing factor. This group is seen to be the custodian of the new culture and their civil and religious rights. They were the people who have been continuously campaigning against the Scottish independence especially in the year 2014 (Sharp 38). The membership of this group is strictly Protestants and does not even allow people who have intermarried to be part of the movement. They carry out marches in the Northern Ireland and those that are near the Catholics neighborhoods always trigger violence. Therefore, this group can be said to be a significant contributor to the disorder that occurs in the Northern Ireland because they still oppose the Catholics hence causing violence.

The Beliefs and Activities of the Orange Order

Protestantism

The orange order mainly works under their slogan of promoting and propagating the teachings of Protestantism as well as reformation. The primary goal of the orange movement is to keep their beliefs alive in the hearts of many in Northern Ireland to avoid being overcome by the Catholics (Sharp 38). Other denominations that do not believe in creed, such as the orthodox and Mormons, are also not included in this movement. The former campaign strictly forbids the Catholics from joining, whereas nowadays only those who are not reformed are not allowed to participate (Akenson 19). Therefore, this is just a religious group that has to date remained divisive to the people of Northern Ireland because they discriminate people based on their religious background hence propagating division.

Masonic Influences

One of the primary reasons why the group was formed was to use Masonic influence in enhancing Protestantism. Some of the evangelical groups claim that the orange order is up to today under the control of Freemasonry. It can be said that this belief exists because some of the Masonic traditions remain with the movement such as the organization of the order into the lodges (Sibbett 32). The said belief is also because the members of the group have levels of degrees through which the members advance. Even though these degrees have biblical references, it is said that ritualism occurs in higher degrees such as the Royal Arch Purple (Farrell 17).

Sabbatarianism

The Protestants lean on the fourth commandment that forbids the Christians from doing unreligious activities on a Sunday. These people do not even hold marches on a Sunday because they believe the day is holy(Sibbett 32). Therefore, the orange order has a purpose of upholding the day of worship which biblically, they think, people should rest.

The Annual Parade

12th July is a big day for the Protestants of New Ireland. It is a day they march in the neighborhoods commemorating the victory of King William Orange over King James II (Evans & Jonathan 18). The marches are always viewed as a form of supremacy that the Protestants are trying to show against the Catholics. As such, there has always been violence every time these marches are held. The most renowned conflict that was as a result of the parade is the Drumcree conflict (McManus 420). In the recent days, people have discovered that this day only brings violence and hence attempts have been made to make it a time for the family to celebrate and a cultural day so that even the tourists are allowed to be part of it. This has gone a long way in ensuring that some of these events go without reporting any violence.

Effect of the 12th July March

One of the most notable facts is that these movements are met with considerable resistance by the Catholics. This has always led to violence erupting especially when the Protestants march in the general neighborhood. In a country where there is a history of violence, it can be said that the Protestants take it to the streets to show that they have triumphed over the Irish because they were able to overcome the Irish Catholic king. Such a mindset makes the Catholics remember the discrimination they went through and the oppression they have always faced and hence cause them to stand for their rights (Farrell 17). Secondly, the violence is mostly noticed when the Protestants take their march to the Catholics neighborhood which the Catholic views as intolerable. The two religious groups maintain strict grounds with the Protestants arguing that it is their right to celebrate their culture and showcase it in the streets. However, they insist that they can even march in the Catholics neighborhood which fuels violence (Rusciano 176).

Majority of them believe that they have the right to walk anywhere without asking for permission. The Catholics, on the other hand, have always disregarded the March and never taken part in it. Therefore, since all the groups hold strict grounds, it becomes difficult to bring them together (Sibbett 32). The Protestants are seen to be showcasing how superior they are as compared to the Catholics since they have the support of the British. It is this kind of attitude towards the march that has led to continued violence in the old days.



Other Events in Northern Ireland

Anti-Discrimination Regulation

Discrimination has been recorded in many aspects in Northern Ireland. Employment opportunities, education, and housing have all been faced with prejudice with the Protestants looking to be making regulations that favor them in these aspects. The British government has tried to end religious discrimination in the country (Sibbett 32). Mostly, people are discriminated against by religion. Several acts of discrimination have been enacted.

The first one is on fair employment which prohibited discrimination on job opportunities based on belief. This provision provided a new start for the country where the Christians who were the most affected by unemployment had a chance for employment. This policy led to the discovery in the year 2004 that the Catholics were beginning to be well represented in professional careers as well as managerial and other posts (Morrow 211). There was also a trend where the Protestants were becoming underrepresented especially in the health sector. However, all these did not mean that the Catholics were in a better position than the Protestants because their probability of remaining unemployed was higher than that of the Protestants.

Demolishing of the Walls

The walls in Northern Ireland were a symbol of the geographical segregation that has been happening in the country. The Catholics live in their residents away from the Protestants. The demolishing of the walls is a sign of the end of an era that has been so painful on both sides (Evans & Jonathan 18). Therefore, a time when the Catholics and the Protestants should live together in peace has come.



The Effects of the Struggles of the Youth

Low Wages

Even though most of the teenagers who were born after 1998 have not known violence, they have been significantly affected by the harsh economic times (Rusciano 176). They have low wages because of the effects that have been caused by the people who have been making decisions on their lives. It is a situation that makes the youth feel that they are living in a society that has alienated them. The kids, especially under the age of 17, are not allowed to vote and choose the leaders to run their economic development. They, therefore, feel that they have been economically left out (Morrow 211).

Discrimination

The youths in Northern Ireland were born in times of crisis in the country. They were brought up in secluded places where the Catholics and the Protestants do not have a place to interact and socialize. This sets the trend where the children grow up having already set out experience that they are not supposed to associate with other religion (Evans & Jonathan 18). As such, for most youths, though they only know of the cause of the violence from the history they read, the strict grounds, held by their parents, help propagate discrimination. Therefore, the youths lack socialization and interactions which would have been beneficial in understanding the culture (Rusciano 176).

Current Situation in Northern Ireland

Though the current position in Northern Ireland is not entirely peaceful, there has been the peace that was especially experienced after the signing of the peace treaty. However, there is no agreement between these two warring religions that peace will prevail (Morrow 211). Peace can be said to be there, since the grand marches done by the orange order were not faced with violence in the recent years. The movements are also more controlled such that the Protestants do not undertake them in any way.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Northern Ireland has dramatically struggled in violence and war between the Protestants and the Catholics. The main reason is due to the differences in religion that existed between the immigrants and the native Irish people. The Protestants felt like they had conquered Northern Ireland when they overcame the Catholic king (McManus 420). The Irish people, on the other hand, feel that they are being discriminated against, because the Protestants took their lands and settled there. The leading causes of these struggles were discrimination in the housing of the two communities where the Protestants got priority. The employment was also based on religious backgrounds, and since Protestants held significant positions in both the public and private sectors, there were increased unemployment levels in Catholic settlements. The discrimination regarding education system has also been a substantial cause of the violence because the children grow separated and as such without socialization. Intermarriages are too low due to the strict religious backgrounds. The orange order has been seen as a movement for propagating the protestant religion in Northern Ireland. They have held their culture of the 12th July march which has always brought controversies in the country. The youths have been hard hit by such past experiences where they receive low wages and can feel the effect of discrimination. Therefore, some acts such as the anti-discrimination act is a way of showing that the country can go beyond the religious wars.

Works Cited

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