Political Unionism and Operation Fear

So what are we to make of the threats by some Unionist leaders over the Irish Protocol? Do we ignore them? I think not.  Even though we have heard all this all our lives it is too serious to ignore. Operation Fear needs challenged. Threats of violence or the use of violence by Unionists to get their own way have been a regular feature of Irish political life going back to the nineteenth century. Sectarian pogroms, the use of the “Orange Card” by unionist and Tory politicians, discrimination in jobs and housing, the gerrymandering of elections, state collusion with death squads, have all been part and parcel of unionist strategy when faced with anything that could be construed as a threat to their domination.It is important that we are attentive to this mindset within political unionism. But we should not acquiesce to it.  Unionism is no longer the monolith it once was. Its electoral majority in the Assembly and at Westminster is gone. Dialogue and a common sense approach to the constitutional status of the North is a part of the way forward. It’s time for unionists to decide that we dont need leaders from another country to rule us. As James Connolly said once, ‘Ruling by fooling is a great British art. With great Irish fools to practise on’. Let unionists say NO to any more betrayals.