Opinion

Tom Kelly: Civic nationalism insults unionism by excluding it

So-called civic nationalism - and civic unionism - is preoccupied with introspective conversations that exlude 'the other'
So-called civic nationalism - and civic unionism - is preoccupied with introspective conversations that exlude 'the other' So-called civic nationalism - and civic unionism - is preoccupied with introspective conversations that exlude 'the other'

KWEISI Mfume is a name not well known here in Ireland but he was once President of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, which played a major role in the Civil Rights Campaign of the 1960s in the United States.

Mfume wrote: "Even if they are not reaching out to us, we are going to reach out to them anyway and involve them in a meaningful way."

The organisers behind the controversial 'civic nationalism' letters and now a Beyond Brexit summit would do well to follow Mfume's inclusive approach.

The concept of having a conference to examine the far side of Brexit is admirable - the notion of it comprising solely of nationalists talking to nationalists is not.

If there is something most modern nationalists are beyond, it's the poor mouth.

Furthermore, it invites criticism of being a pan-nationalist plot and unionists don't need much to fuel their paranoia.

The recent book about the Ulster Unionists told us much about what they don't like- but told little about what they do believe in. Their identity seems formed by what they are against rather than what they are for.

These intra-community conversations are like talking to the mirror and agreeing with oneself.

The whole purpose of advocating an United Ireland is that one takes the arguments to the unionist community to persuade them of its merit.

Having a collective gurn over Brexit by nationalists of various hues talking to each other actually plays into current polarisation, partisanship and paralysis in Northern Ireland politics.

We need more compromise, more conversations across communities - not within them.

Pandering to the needs of one's own community has led to us into a cultural and political cul de sac.

We need a collective response to Brexit across the entire Northern Ireland community and not a partisan one.

Brexit, especially the prospect of a hard Brexit, will affect everyone - not just nationalists.

Unionists, nationalists and the non-aligned will all be affected.

If unionist leaders are too thran or too stupid to realise that - then so be it. It is not the first time in their history that they have banged on a Lambeg to keep ordinary unionists in line but impoverished.

If there is an identifiable group who are disadvantaged or diminished by Brexit its not nationalists or unionists - it is all young people.

The Remain campaign in Northern Ireland was successful but it was a hollow victory because of the overall result in the UK.

Not too many of those now complaining about the potential loss of EU rights campaigned during the referendum to make the margin of victory in the north even greater.

If there is an unhealthy predominance - and there is - of the DUP misrepresenting Northern Ireland in the Brexit debate, it is because they are using their Westminster platform without challenge from nationalist MPs, eyeball to eyeball in the Commons.

Standing, as one nationalist MP did, on Westminster Bridge taking selfies on the night of a knife-edge no confidence motion within the House of Commons means we have opted for political tourists rather political operators.

Watching the DUP get away with bluster and bluff on mainstream media is not just frustrating, it makes the blood boil, but it can't and won't be rebalanced by nationalist representatives claiming to speak for all Remain voters within the narrow context of nationalist rights.

Between a quarter and a third of unionist voters voted to remain. Hijacking their position on the EU for Irish unity was not - and is not - smart.

To then write public letters on behalf of civic nationalism and propose to host a conference which also excludes unionists is not only insensitive but insulting.

Politics in Northern Ireland is stagnated swamp because both sides look for binary options. They can't rise above the swamp because the swamp is of their making.

It was John Hume who said: "When people are divided, the only solution is agreement."

He also told unionists: "We don't seek idealogical confrontation because difference is an accident of birth."

"Difference," said Hume, was "the essence of diversity and we must work to ensure that the views and rights of others are listened to as equal to our own."

This is a long way from the introspective conversations of those behind so-called civic unionism and civic nationalism.

The people are divided as never before but the way forward isn't helped by making those differences even greater.

The way forward is by meaningfully reaching out.