The ``Glorious 12th''
The ``Glorious 12th'' with its ``carnival'' type trappings was the
theme of all the pro-Orange broadcasters on both television and
radio reporting 12 July demonstrations from around the six
counties. Listening to the commentaters one could quite easily
fall into the trap of believing that the ``traditional'' Orange
processions were nothing more significant than a day's outing for
the family ending up with a fun-filled picnic at the field.
The heavy media coverage ensured that the message of Protestant
supremacy reached every corner of the six occupied counties.
Keady in County Armagh was the setting this year for a huge show
of force by the Orangemen. The dictum that ``no town or road is
closed to the Orange Order'' is as true today as ever.
We were assured by UTV's reporter in Keady that the local people
welcomed the Orange procession with ``politeness''!.
No amount of window dressing by the BBC, UTV or Downtown Radio of
the Orange Order's role in the six occupied counties will fool
those people who don't want to be fooled.
The loyalist MP at Westminster, Harold McCusker, defending the
torturers in the RUC, said, ``let us not desert these men. I know
of no innocent man behind bars because he signed a confession''.
Thomas Passmore, Grand Master of Belfast, called for sterner
``security'' measures: ``Every political shackle must be removed
from our security forces, so that they can get on with the job of
rooting out terrorists. We told Mr Mason about the IRA bolt holes
such as Crossmaglen, Andersonstown and the Bogside last year when
we demanded an end to the Poleglass Housing Scheme''.
No doubt one of Mr Passmore's marching friends, a leading member
of the Housing Executive in Belfast, will assist in delaying the
building of Poleglass as long as possible. The marching Orangemen
and their leaders were in no doubt about their role of defending
the British crown in Ireland.
Republican News, 20 July 1978.
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