Just had to deal with somebody comparing the White Man march to the Orange Lodge marches in Liverpool. He wanted to know where the protesters were for the "Catholic killers". Tried to explain to him that, whilst the Lodge has certainly been a hotbed for threats, violence and intimidation in NI and elsewhere, in Liverpool most people don't view it that way and haven't for at least a generation. I realise it wasn't always like that but that's part of what makes Liverpool such a unique city - such issues have (mostly) been transcended.
I just don't see Liverpool as a sectarian city; as a Catholic myself who has openly prayed using rosary beads, I've never been threatened or intimidated by anybody. And the lodge marches right pasts my church and home. I've had more religious prejudice from those people handing out leaflets in the street.
Well he went on to talk about how there was always a police escort for the march and at the station and it was clear they were looking for trouble. Told him they have police presence at football matches and at Gay Pride and the Music Festival so it was hardly any different from those.
Ended up being called a hypocrite. I just pointed out I'd never heard him complain about the Lodge before now yet he was using it as a stick to beat people who had the balls to stand up and protest against something that made them angry, so who was the bigger hypocrite.
