I used to be at an occasion final month the place the speaker instructed a narrative. He’s a instructor, and at some point at school, certainly one of his feminine pupils mentioned to him, ‘I wager you don’t know my identify’. He replied, ‘in fact I do know your identify, it’s…’ and at this level he drew a clean: he didn’t know her identify. The pupil replied that it was okay, none of her academics knew her identify. The remarkably self-aware younger girl then went on to elucidate that the academics at all times knew the names of probably the most tutorial children within the class, and so they additionally knew the names of the troublemakers. The quiet center children who get on with their work at a gradual tempo merge into the background.
I used to be fascinated with this story in the course of the Twelfth after we had our annual routine of big bonfires, burning effigies, election posters and many others. If you happen to step again a minute, the message we appear to be sending to Loyalist communities is that society solely notices you whenever you misbehave. Any instructor will let you know that dangerous behaviour is a cry for assist, a symptom of one thing incorrect in that pupil’s life.
Sticking an effigy of Noami Lengthy on a bonfire appears the easiest way to get the media and society’s consideration, and even the solely manner.
Likewise, on the opposite aspect, how a lot thought will we give to the working class of the New Lodge, Poleglass and many others? It will be very simple to conclude that the best way to spotlight a difficulty in your space is to start out a riot.
I’m not condoning these acts, generally obnoxious behaviour is simply that. But when we’re trustworthy with ourselves, how a lot thought will we give the remainder of the yr to those communities? Our problem as a society is to take heed to and contain everybody on a regular basis.
As an alternative of the media descending on Loyalist communities in July, possibly they might name in February or October to see what’s going on. Likewise, they might spin round Twinbrook or the Bogside to see what is occurring there.
Let’s strive listening earlier than individuals scream.
I assist maintain the nice ship Slugger afloat by managing the enterprise and techy stuff.
