Alternative Ulster

"An Alternative Ulster
Grab it and change it it's yours
Get an Alternative Ulster
Ignore the bores and their laws
Get an Alternative Ulster
Be an anti-security force
Alter your native Ulster
Alter your native land"

Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster (1979)

When that song was written Ulster was in the grip of "The Troubles" back in the late 70's. Now of course the situation has calmed 'militarily', however the political position of Northern Ireland is just as confused, perhaps even more so today than it was back in 1979.

Today, watching the first meeting of the British-Irish Council since 1998, it is clear to see that Ulster's political position is not as secure as perhaps Ian Paisley would have us believe. With the appointment of a 'new' supposedly 'unionist' Prime Minister in Gordon Brown offset by the minor election victories of Scottish and Welsh nationalists, it is clear that the unity of Britain is shifting towards reform, not necessarily full independence but some alternative arrangement perhaps.

For Unionists in Ulster the time has come once again to re-examine, or at least re-evaluate, the position of Northern Ireland politically within the UK. It is clearly the case that since the fall of the British Empire, while Scotland, England, Wales and the Irish Republic have developed themselves around this fact more completely - Northern Ireland for obvious and not so obvious reasons has been prevented or unable to develop towards a similar acceptance. Nostalgic unionism in Ulster is out of step with the modern reality of the UK, whose people have become steadily more disconnected and therefore disunited; what is shown by this fact is that an increasing number of citizens of Scotland, Wales & England do not retain the same affection or pride for Britain that Unionists in Northern Ireland do.

To forge ahead in Northern Ireland and secure Ulster's future self-development, Unionists will have to envisage a few "Alternative Ulster's" themselves. Irish Republicans have been doing so since Northern Ireland's formation - of course their only alternative is a 9 county Ulster swallowed whole within a 32 county Irish Socialist Republic.

Without at least examining alternative paths for Ulster's future, as some radical thinking unionists and loyalists have over the years, it is impossible to face the uncertainties of the future head on. We must constantly re-evaluate Ulster's position within a changing world for the benefit of her people, so that we are ahead of the pack and not behind as has often been the case. An Alternative Ulster shouldn't be looked upon as a frightening future development, more of an opportunity to plot a new course and direction for our native land.