Good sentiments from Peter indeed, certainly in theory at any rate, practically however I can't see it working. I think the statement that 'nationalists are in favour of the union' is actually a bit misleading. A lot of, if not most are happy with the status quo being maintained. Despite the slip ups around marching season and the other ongoing issues like dissident republicanism, this is the best period in Northern Irish history for a long, long time. People have long memories, the vast overwhelming majority, even those with strong political beliefs would rather we carry on with this level of stability than return to the violence that we all remember. But remaining as we are is more like shelving political goals such as a united Ireland, putting them on a back-burner rather than abandoning them entirely.
That's one reason why a number of people will say they are happy for Northern Ireland to remain as it is, and while technically that means they currently, if only temporarily favour the union, to call themselves a unionist is still a stretch too far.
In addition to that, in this country everything is tribal. Names, colours, territories, to the point were naming convention carries a lot more connotations than its sole definition. Just like how, in Northern Ireland, you can be a Catholic or a Protestant and have no belief in religion whatsoever, words like nationalist and unionist carry a lot more stigma than what the words actually mean. So even if Catholics are in support of maintaining things as they are, voting for a pro-union party and labeling themselves as unionists is a different matter entirely.
Any of the current parties are always going to struggle to attract voters from 'the other side', and all will certainly struggle to become a truly cross-community party. They're just steeped in too much history, and that brings with it suspicion. Even if, as suggested, the DUP removed the word 'unionist' from their name, I still don't think rebranding would be enough. To many It would just come across as a gimmick to try and get nationalists to admit to being unionists in another twist of petty rivalry.
What may actually work, as I've alluded to in the past on here, is a new party altogether. Possibly a super-party, formed in a similar way to the Stormont government, with people from both sides of the community, with the sole intention of looking after the best interests of the people rather than the interests of tribalism.
That's one reason why a number of people will say they are happy for Northern Ireland to remain as it is, and while technically that means they currently, if only temporarily favour the union, to call themselves a unionist is still a stretch too far.
In addition to that, in this country everything is tribal. Names, colours, territories, to the point were naming convention carries a lot more connotations than its sole definition. Just like how, in Northern Ireland, you can be a Catholic or a Protestant and have no belief in religion whatsoever, words like nationalist and unionist carry a lot more stigma than what the words actually mean. So even if Catholics are in support of maintaining things as they are, voting for a pro-union party and labeling themselves as unionists is a different matter entirely.
Any of the current parties are always going to struggle to attract voters from 'the other side', and all will certainly struggle to become a truly cross-community party. They're just steeped in too much history, and that brings with it suspicion. Even if, as suggested, the DUP removed the word 'unionist' from their name, I still don't think rebranding would be enough. To many It would just come across as a gimmick to try and get nationalists to admit to being unionists in another twist of petty rivalry.
What may actually work, as I've alluded to in the past on here, is a new party altogether. Possibly a super-party, formed in a similar way to the Stormont government, with people from both sides of the community, with the sole intention of looking after the best interests of the people rather than the interests of tribalism.
Read the original article for more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/robinson-irsquom-stepping-up-campaign-to-attract-more-catholic-voters-16015567.html#ixzz1QCpdlFAW
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