The “Bounce”
Unionism and Loyalism is enjoying a real ‘feel good factor’ at the moment. Outwith the DUP, who are undergoing something of a difficult leadership transition, Unionism is well and truly ‘on the up’.
The election of Doug Beattie as leader of the UUP has reinvigorated that party and the ongoing grassroots opposition to the unworkable Northern Ireland Protocol has galvanised and unified Loyalism in a way that has not been seen for at least 25 years.
Young Loyalists, many of whom were still at school 5 years ago, are rising to positions of leadership and prominence.
Loyalist women are increasingly finding their voice, something which obviously terrifies the nationalist/republican misogynists and troglodytes who infest social media.
Initiatives, such as ‘Let’s Talk Loyalism’, have many people within the working-class Loyalist community buzzing.
All in all, Loyalism is in a tremendously exciting position. Reinvigorated, unified, positive and forward thinking, Loyalism has gone through a period of deep introspection and soul searching to emerge more energised, more dedicated, more focused and much more sophisticated, certainly in terms of things like community engagement and perception management.
In a myriad of different ways Loyalism is leaving nationalism in its wake.
For the first time in a long time, the media are talking positively about Unionism and Loyalism. The so-called “Beattie bounce” has captured the imagination, whilst the emergence of at least half-a-dozen articulate, intelligent and forthright young Loyalists (with a rapidly expanding media presence) has mightily impressed many people, including a growing number of so-called “political neutrals”.
Unionism and Loyalism isn’t just moving forward, it is striding forward! Of course there is still much work to be done, the rejuvination of Loyalism and Unionism is undoubtedly a “work in progress” but the keyword in that is ‘progress’ and Loyalism is definitely going in the right direction.
Subtle Differences
As a Loyalist, rather than a Unionist, there are many issues I will never agree with the UUP on, despite the almost universal positivity surrounding the “Beattie bounce”.
This is, of course, because of the fundamental differences between Loyalism and Unionism.
For the benefit of those readers who do not know; Unionism places the Union above all else. Loyalism places the people, the organic community, above all else.
Unionists are ideologically opposed to the idea of an independent Ulster, Loyalists are not and, in fact, many Loyalists support radical self-determination to some degree or another.
Furthermore, Unionism is a ‘constitutional’ tradition, ie. a tradition in which violence is eschewed in all but the most dire circumstances, whereas Loyalism is a “physical force” tradition, which advocates the defence of the people and the nation by any means necessary.
The vast majority of the Unionist/Loyalist community understand the difference between the two political doctrines, just as they understand the fundamental differences between Irish nationalism, as a whole, and Irish republicanism as a particular strand of nationalist thought.
That is to our advantage. It is patently obvious that the majority of nationalists and republicans do not know the difference between Unionism and Loyalism and have no inclination to learn.
This is symptomatic of the arrogant Irish nationalist/republican mindset. The vast majority of nationalists view their Unionist and Loyalist neighbours as, at best, confused Irish men, and at worst as sub-human “planters”. In either case, nationalists believe that they need not concern themselves with the subtle differences between Loyalism and Unionism.
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Which leads us into to the next issue…
The Stagnation of Irish Nationalism
How far has Irish nationalism progressed in the last 10 years?
Where are the young nationalists and republicans who will lead that community in coming decades?
Where is the nationalist strategy to modify (or modernise) their interactions with non-nationalists, both online and in the real world?
The answer to the above is – nowhere, nowhere, nowhere! And long may that continue.
The so-called ‘leadership’ of the nationalist community, in particular the leadership of Provisional Sinn Fein, is guilty of a gross dereliction of duty towards their own supporters, members and constituents.
They have been assuring them for years now that “victory is at hand”, they have touted everything from “Unionist outreach”, to Brexit, to demographics as being their route to this long awaited “victory”.
They have delivered…..nothing. Unionist outreach proved to be beyond them, being unable to contain their tribalistic hatred long enough to convince Unionists that they were in any way sincere.
Demographics is a dead horse. Catholic no longer equates to nationalist/republican, even if there was to be a Catholic majority in N. I.
But we are getting away from the point here. The point being that Irish nationalists have been convinced by their own political and community leaders that all they had to do was sit back and wait.
And sit back and wait is exactly what they did. They somehow thought that, instead of strategising, narrative building and constructive dialogue, it was a much better use of their time and energy to mock Unionists, dress up in crocodile onesies and post “up the Ra” 300 times a day on social media.
They actually regressed to the point where a large element of the nationalist community, at least online, allowed itself to be lead by an online trolling group for 8 years!
Today the Irish nationalist/republican community finds itself absolutely devoid of fresh thinking. They are in exactly the same position now as they were a decade ago. The best bit is that they don’t even realise it.
Whilst Unionists and Loyalists are engaged in street level activism, serious dialogue, self criticism and a general re-evaluation of our structures and political mechanisms, nationalists are spewing their usual bile and making the world’s most childish memes.
They do so in a state of seemingly blissful ignorance.
“Only Loyalists Have Problems”
That’s basically the message from most Irish nationalists and republicans. To hear them talk or from reading their posts online, one would be forgiven for thinking that their community had no problems.
According to orthodox Irish nationalism, it is only the Loyalist community that has a drug problem, only the Loyalist community that has a problem with social exclusion and economic deprivation, only the Loyalist community that has a problem with anti-social elements.
Suddenly I have a mental image of a certain large African bird!
Do they really not see the damage they are doing to their community by denying the existence of such problems? Are they really that lacking in self awareness?
It doesn’t seem to bother them. As long as they can attack and vilify non-nationalists they are, apparently, perfectly happy to ignore the blatantly obvious.
Loyalism will move on without them. Nationalists and republicans can consign themselves to an intellectual ghetto if they so wish. We have bigger fish to fry.
Of course, in a way, Loyalism and Unionism had to undergo a period of self reflection and rebuilding. We had stagnated in exactly the same way that nationalism is stagnating now.
The undemocratic implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol (and the opposition to it) proved to be a catalyst for change. The restructuring and reorientation of the DUP may yet prove to be another such catalyst.
Sometimes it is necessary to take a step backwards in order to move forwards. Loyalism took that backwards step, as painful as it was, now we are moving forwards – inexorably, relentlessly, incessantly forwards.
Join us, or step aside….
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Þole Aȝe Umquhile Poustie
It's still only thursday 
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