Loyalist protest turns violent as Belfast lowers Union Jack- VIDEO

I don't mind other guys dancing with my girl That's fine, I know them all pretty well But I know sometimes I must get out in the light Better leave her behind with the kids, they're alright The kids are alright Sometimes, I feel I gotta get away Bells chime, I know I gotta get away And I know if I don't, I'll go out of my mind Better leave her behind with the kids, they're alright The kids are alright I know if I go things would be a lot better for her I had things planned, but her folks wouldn't let her I don't mind other guys dancing with my girl That's fine, I know them all pretty well But I know sometimes I must get out in the light Better leave her behind with the kids, they're alright The kids are alright Sometimes, I feel I gotta get away Bells chime, I know I gotta get away And I know if I don't, I'll go out of my mind Better leave her behind with the kids, they're alright The kids are alright

What Me Worry :)

@stephendoyle - Again, agreed, and maybe sooner than you think!! There are a good many Loyalists this side of the irish sea who are in denial over the efficacy of the vote for scottish independence; although I dont think it will get to full cessation from the rest of the UK, it will be more along the lines of an enhanced "Devo Max" model, at least initially. And a fragmentation of the Union is certainly a potential game changer vis a vis Ireland. There is no political will to enforce a sovereign model on the Unionist North-east, so therefore what is left is the further evolution of what is starting to happen; a federal model which allows for two regional assemblies and an all-ireland forum to formulate island wide policy. And dont give up; you might just live long enough to see Jeffery Donaldson lauded as the "Grand Old Man of Unionism" in any such assembly :) !!

Maybe if you you have less "Drumbeating and flag waving in the good old U.S. of a mereflow you may have a better society.

seems most of the troubles in the world have been caused by religions and patriotism ,when you have to fight injustice,discrimination,despotism,intolerance,then they come in handy,but it is so easy to beat a drum,wave a flag and whip people into war like frenzy,if equality and justice have been restored to a degree in NI then ,what should matter,is jobs,tourism,getting on with living,instead of fear,intimidation,war torn towns,death and destruction and waving bloody flags of what ever color,cease the provocation of marches,drum beating and arogant triumphalism and let the young people of NI grow up in a normal enviroment in a country where there is room and equality for all,and no weeping children and widows.

Bye bye Tory Tory, bye bye union jack, bye bye partition. As an Englishman I say good riddance. There is an inexorable march, a democratic and political momentum that will consign these bigots to the dustbin of history. Ireland will be re-united and I will raise a glass of Bushmill's.

The simple and sensible solution would be to add another flag pole and fly the British and Irish flags side by side every day. That would show respect for both the unionist and Nationalist traditions in Belfast.

As a Brit of Protestant background who really has no loyalties towards the UK anymore, I think it's a dumb, provocative act to discard the Union Jack in such a sensitive region as Ulster. Leave things as they are instead of provoking fights. While we're at it, why continue maintaining the Orange Walk marches on 12th July? Dump that caricature and be consistent.

The PSNI?RUC sat on their hands and allowed the riot to continue. If it were a nationalist riot the water cannons would be out and people arrested under emergency powers act. ToryTory condones and condemns in the same breath.

Democracy must be maintained & those Irish Loyalists must grow up & respect it rather than trying to intimidate.

@barneyjo - well said and I agree 100 percent. I look forward where we can look back at these times and see just how far we have come. And a long way it is we have come. True we still have a ways to go and a few more " vacations" to take as you put it. But the die is cast and I might not live to see it but a United Ireland will happen.....

Memo: neither side won or can win. Power is shared. Neither side will lord it over the other with symbols, flags, parades or triumphalism. It's quite simple.

@stephendoyle - You used the word pesemistic, I used the word "pragmatic"; there is difference.Being pragmatic means knowing the difference between what is desirable and what is possible at any given time. The "be fruitful and multiply" theory is no longer valid. I have outlined some reasons earlier and I stand by them. Anecdotally, when you hear about catholic couples deferring a further attempt at pregnancy for a year or more, just so's they can have that foreign holiday, you know there has been a major shift in priorities. Dont get me wrong, I am in full agreement with your view on how far the nationalists in NI have come, and from such a low baseline. I myself am the manifestation of that journey; in middle management in local government, at a grade I should have reached 10yrs before I did. I could be bitter and angry, but that would mean that my oppressors win out by making me into something that I was never intended to be; bitter and spiteful towards "the other tribe" No, the real victory will come by being more magnanimous and generous to show that decency and fairness trumps "might is right" every time. True, no longer a Protestant land for Protestant people. That still does not mean that you can easily frogmarch a rump of several hundred thousand people into a new political dispensation on the island of Ireland without their buy-in. I am content to wait for the dawn of the "New Republic" where Catholic, Protestant and dissenter all have more reasons to be in rather than out!!

Great to hear the Belfast accent again after all these years. Prettiest accent in Ireland.

maireadinmelb: A statement of fact in a Comment is not an 'argument'. The Union Flag is not a 'Jack' as they are only flown from the Jack-staff at at the Stern of a sailing vessel. People respond to flags in personal and particular ways. ~~~ Lord Kitchener sailing down the Nile encountered a enemy French tricolour flying from a makeshift riverside encampment. He sent a message that he was honour and duty-bound to attack the camp so long as it was flying. The French lowered the flag. Kitchener sailed by - the French raised the Flag again. Outcome: no blood spilt,and everyone was happy. Those who voted in Belfast should remember their wee Council is a small part part of the United Kingdom whose proud identity is incorporated in The Union Flag.