I HAVE read the contributions of Fidelma Cook ("Unless you're Catholic, you cannot imagine how deeply personal this is", Herald Magazine, July 14), Kevin McKenna ("Sneering Liberals must accept the rights of the Orange Order", The Herald, July 14) and the letter from Kevin Orr (Letters July 18) and would have to say that I disagree with each of them in some area.
At the age of 10 while visiting relatives I was taken by my uncle to watch the Orange walk in Belfast. This was pre Troubles and the Ulster Orange lodges all marched with a fixed, almost military intensity which was truly intimidating while the Scottish flute bands danced and staggered about as though half-drunk, which was equally unpleasant. This engendered in me not only disapproval but also a basic fear as I felt it was similar to the cinematic depictions of warriors psyching themselves up prior to battle. I genuinely believed that anyone could be in danger as their drink-fuelled followers might pick on any random passerby.
Years later this was proven when, attempting to get to a cricket match, I was held up in the centre of Glasgow by the Orange walk. I explained my predicament to a policeman who was supervising the event and he said when he signalled I was to drive through a gap in the parade but not to stop on any account for he could not do anything if matters got nasty. Almost as soon as I started to move beer cans started to rain down on my car. I got through but it was patently obvious that the police were not in control and hatred bubbled very near the surface.
So allow me to say to both the excellent Ms Cook and Mr Orr that it is not just Catholics who are intimidated. In fact anyone is at risk of random violence if they happen to become a target. To Mr McKenna I would say that freedom of speech is a bedrock of our democracy but with it comes responsibility. When the priest was attacked ("Police probe after priest ‘spat on’ during Orange walk", The Herald, July 9) the Orange Order was quick to deny that any of its members were involved yet does anyone not believe that the parade was the proximate cause of the incident? Perhaps it is time for these walks to take place inside a sports stadium where they will not endanger the rest of the population.
David Stubley,
22 Templeton Crescent, Prestwick.
CAN you say you are being inclusive if you exclude Catholics?
When Catholic midwives are sacked because they refuse to commit sin by assisting in the killing of babies as yet unborn, the courts uphold the sackings despite the fact that discrimination is forbidden by the Equality Act.
When a Catholic baker refuses to commit sin by celebrating a travesty of marriage he is fined (ironically on grounds of discrimination). The discrimination against him on grounds of religion is ignored.
It seems that all citizens are equal, but some are more equal than others.
John Kelly,
43 Baileyfield Road, Edinburgh.
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