The news that the Orange Order is considering a much shorter version of its traditional Belfast route on July 12 in future years is belated but welcome.
In what many will see as an attempt to bring the Order more into line with the modern world, it is considering abandoning its 10-mile march across the city and back again.
Instead, next year it would go as far as Elmwood Avenue near Queen’s University and then return to Carlisle Circus for about 2pm.
The review was apparently commissioned by the Belfast County Grand Lodge after it was disappointed by their parade last year, though many will wonder why the disruption associated with earlier parades did not also spark some introspection.
Read more:What is the Orange Order? An explainer
The organisation’s insistence over many years that tradition entitles it to march where it wishes has proved counter-productive in terms of image and public support.
Despite more recent attempts to modernise the Twelfth as 'Orangefest', the Order has insisted that when it comes to parading it should always do what it has always done. Its defence has been that it is celebrating its culture, but it has tended to confuse culture with tradition.
The Order is perfectly entitled to commemorate the Battle of the Boyne. However, in a multi-cultural society, celebrating a claimed historical victory of one religion over another would appear neither religious nor relevant.
This is particularly true since William III’s victory at the Boyne led to the introduction of the Penal Laws, which discriminated against Presbyterians and Catholics. This renders untenable the Orange Order’s claim of celebrating civil and religious liberty for all.
The decision to reconsider the Belfast parade route has apparently been triggered by anti-social behaviour as the marchers return from the field. Such alcohol-fuelled activity is not the Order’s fault, but it is facilitated by the fact that most shops are closed and only the pubs are open.
For that reason it is time to consider not just changing the length of the Twelfth parade, but to look at its overall impact on the social and economic life of the city. That same review process might reasonably be applied to all Orange marches.
The danger with tradition is that it can become an excuse for not thinking. It is time for the Order to loosen the straight-jacket of tradition and think about adapting to the reality of a changing world.
The Orange Order in Belfast may have begun that process. Their review is hopefully the first step of a march in a new direction.
