Racism in Northern Ireland

Hardly a week goes by without a report of an attack on immigrants in Northern Ireland. They are subjected to verbal and physical abuse, while their homes are frequently petrol-bombed. The source of these reprehensible actions are usually Loyalist youths, inspired and encouraged by their political leadership. These people come from a culture that defined itself in hatred, hatred especially of Catholics. Many, if asked to define what being a Protestant meant, would answer that it wasn't being a Catholic. Tague-baiting was in the blood.

However, it's a little bit politically incorrect these days. But they still need people to hate and despise. The Poles are Catholics - the former "whore of Babylon" (the anachronistic name used to refer to the pope) was Polish, so there you go. Tagues by another name, probably Tadeusz, who are aiming to take over the North and turn it into a boot-camp for the Jesuits, the pope's SAS. The same goes fo the Lithuanians. The Latvians are a different quantity. Those from the Latgale region of the country's south-east are Catholic, but the rest could be Russian Orthodox or even Protestants. But fuck it Sammy, they're fuckin' foreigners.

It is sad that so many of those in the south of Ireland, who would profess themselves the sworn enemies of this loyalist scum, should also have a similar thwarted world view and poisoned vocabulary.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) seem to be doing a very good job in countering these hate attacks. For their fight against extremism and this new form of bigotry they deserve the unqualified support of all sections of the community and all political parties and formations. Remember, the PSNI is not the RUC (the Royal Ulster Constabulary) or the B specials (the loyalist paramilitary squads who were their predecessors). And Thank God, they are not An Garda Siochana (The police force of the Irish Republic), better known as "The fukkin' gyards."