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@IrelandsFuture @think__32
With talk of a United Ireland continuing to gain pace and recent debate over whether we should celebrate the anniversary of the creation of Northern Ireland I feel I need to say something. 1/9
With talk of a United Ireland continuing to gain pace and recent debate over whether we should celebrate the anniversary of the creation of Northern Ireland I feel I need to say something. 1/9
I was born and raised in N. I. My family lived here for generations. I was lucky to be born in the early 80’s & most of my life has been lived on the other side of the Good Friday agreement, but my family & I like most still experienced and were affected by the troubles. 2/9
I identify as "Northern Irish". Not Irish or British. I make this distinction because I don& #39;t salute any flag or anthem, I don& #39;t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or the 12th. I don& #39;t practice any religion. Down south feels just as foreign to me as England. 3/9
I would never entertain voting for the DUP or Sinn Féin. But this place is my home. I don& #39;t believe N.I. is equipped to stand alone on it& #39;s own 2 feet. But whether we remain in the UK or become part of a United Ireland, I think I& #39;ll always feel simply "Northern Irish." 4/9
It& #39;s the only identity I was left with as growing up sectarianism blighted the other options for me. Even today I will still hear the odd time disappointing comments that slip out of friends and family. I don& #39;t blame them, the place has been saturated in it for so long. 5/9
If we left the UK the only thing I would genuinely miss is the NHS. I think a United Ireland makes sense in many ways, however the Republic have plenty of issue of their own so no course will be perfect. 6/9
One thing I dread if we see a United Ireland, even for all the talk of inclusion - there will be many trolls who will be gloating and saying if you don& #39;t like it leave. I& #39;m not going anywhere and this is my land as much as anyone else’s. 7/9
In the event of a United Ireland, future generations in the north hopefully will not feel as orphaned as I am from the wider communities and identity here will be a much simpler affair. 8/9
Anyway until such a day I have a feeling there are others out there like me who feel similarly and I think our existence deserves to be acknowledged more in any ongoing discourse. 9/9
