I’ve been thinking about the future prospect of a united Ireland and it got me thinking: what if the new Irish state had no flag, no national anthem, no ceremonies, no parades, no pledges? What if we could separate statehood from nationalism completely?
Surely what you want in a state are competent people to manage your health system, your justice system, your education system, your infrastructure, your national defence and to act on the world stage to further your legitimate national interests? Our expectations for them are to leave the country better than they found it.
Then, it would not matter if you were Nationalist or Unionist, Republican or Loyalist, Irish or British. All that would matter would be fair treatment and competence.
Nationalism is best left to secular groups that exist within a state, or cross multiple state lines. Just like religions, or corporations, or NGOs, I wonder if nationalism should be treated the same way. All very well to have your parades and your flags, just leave them well away from governing your country. Then we can allow our the people we elect to concentrate on the bread-and-butter issues such as jobs, protection, fairness and equality, trade and quality of life.
Maybe it’s high time we dispensed with these old 19th-century ideas that have caused so much suffering and heartache.
What am I missing?
