How Free is Free Derry?

How Free is Free Derry?

The statement --- You are now entering free Derry—came into existence with the violent disturbances in the Bogside in the late sixties. Protestant Derry in the Fountain and Waterside don’t identify with the statement so it has a sectarian connotation. The statement could mean that British/Unionist rule is at an end in Derry but it is indubitable that British/Unionist rule still holds in Derry as is clear in the title of the city ---Derry U.K. city of culture.

The statement throws up the question what does “Free Derry” really mean? In the novel ---THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE--- ( Amazon Books) freedom is examined in depth. In this analysis freedom is classified as: -

(a) Individual Freedom
(b) State Freedom

Freedom in the Bogside statement is really about individual freedom. Individual freedom consists of a hierarchy of freedoms: -

(1) Freedom from—such as freedom from unemployment poverty and ignorance et al.
(2) Freedom to become—in this sense the individual is free to become what the individual aspires to become according to age ability and aptitude. This freedom implies the individual has the right of access to an education of excellence.
(3) Freedom to be --- This freedom is realized when the individual is free to be that which the person has aspired to be. This implies the individual lives in a state that is economically strong with a multiplicity of job opportunities for the person.

In a free Derry in the Bogside or Fountain or in a free Falls Road in Belfast or in a free Shankill or Sandy Row in Belfast does these criteria of freedom hold? Certainly not. There is the tyranny of unemployment, poverty and low standards of educational attainment in an economy that is weak in the private wealth creating sector and top heavy in the non-productive public sector.

The Protestant Orange tradition in Ireland has its own sense of freedom bound up with a U.K. constitution. This tradition takes as freedom the right to maintain and impose the U.K. constitution by publicly posturing on the 12th of July through Catholic districts where a U.K. constitution is rejected. In this way a disputed U.K. is rammed by Orangemen along with an armed P.S.N.I. down the throats of those who object. Hence the recent riots in Belfast. However in this the Orange Order has the human right in state freedom to freely express loyalty to the Crown. This human right and state freedom of expression would be suppressed in a Republic of Ireland. For this reason the Orange Order is implacably opposed to a united Ireland. Recognising the free expression of this human right of loyalty to the Crown in Ireland, the Crown would have to be a part of a united Ireland.

It is recognised that U.K. constitution is rejected by the vast majority in Ireland but the state freedom to express Loyalty to the Crown is retained by a significant minority. To make Ireland a truly free democratic country will entail the reform of U.K. constitution in The National Government of Ireland Act to set up[U1] a Federal Kingdom for the Isles of the North Atlantic in which the state freedom of the expression of loyalty to the Crown would be recognised. The nuts and bolts of doing this are given in the Novel ---THE WAY IRELAND OUGHT TO BE--- (Amazon Books). If free Derry is to become truly free it will have to be freed from the shackles of unemployment, poverty and educational under achievement. This will require economic growth and extensive wealth creation throughout Ireland. This is freedom in its true sense and this true sense of freedom is missing in the working class Bogside, the Fountain and in working class inner city districts of Belfast. This true freedom can only be attained in an all Ireland setting with a constitution for all in the National Government of Ireland Act giving unity in a Federal Kingdom context.

Michael Gillespie




[U1]A Federtal