Orange Order walks ‘perpetuate division’
Marches ‘communicate outdated ideas’ of Scottishness
AN “inspiring” film about Denmark which is being shown across Scotland has added four extra dates to its tour.
Denmark: The State Of Happiness has been produced by broadcaster and National columnist Lesley Riddoch, and filmmaker Charlie Stuart, and aims to inspire Scots to think differently about how a small country can be run.
Now four new dates have been added to the tour across Scotland, including an extra show in Edinburgh. A number of the events have already sold out but you can still buy them for the following dates: Adelaide Church, Glasgow, March 15 at 7pm; Erskine Arts, March 16 from 1-3pm; Cameo Picturehouse, Edinburgh, April 4 from 6.30-8.30pm; Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkaldy, April 5 from 7-9pm; and YesArran, April 26 from 7.30-9.30pm.
Riddoch previously spoke with The National about the film and said: “Each of these films is trying to colour in essentially just a slogan or a headline people use.
“I’m not suggesting any of these countries are attainable, we’re different from every country and they are different from each other, but the outlooks and values we have absolutely chime. The hope is people after it will feel sad because that (life in Denmark) should be Scotland.
“There’s no reason the level of prosperity and confidence these guys have got shouldn’t be Scotland’s, but there are reasons. We’re not an independent country and we’ve struggled with feudalism.
“This is not trying to ram independence down anyone’s throat, it’s just saying ‘here’s another country that’s got far fewer resources than Scotland, here’s what they’ve done, go figure’.
“Other ways of running a small country are available and they are right over there.”
Tickets can be bought at www.lesleyriddoch.com/events
ALLOWING an “outdated” Orange Order march to go ahead in Aberdeenshire would represent the “very antithesis of a progressive Scotland”, an expert has insisted.
More than 6000 people have signed a petition opposing a parade in Stonehaven to mark the opening of an Orange Lodge on March 16.
The walks are rare in the north east of the country with none having taken place in Aberdeenshire in five years, according to analysis undertaken by The National.
There have been numerous occasions during Orange Order processions in Glasgow where there have been clashes between those taking part and the public. One incident in the East End of Glasgow in 2018 saw a Catholic priest spat on outside of a church, leading to calls for the processions to be banned from passing Catholic churches.
Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart has written to the chief executive of Aberdeenshire Council urging the local authority to block the march as he expressed fears people would leave the town while it was going on amid the “possibility of violence”.
Practical theology expert Dr Katie Cross, from the University of
Aberdeen, said she is concerned the march would promote an “us and them” mentality.
She told The National: “Modern Scotland is a diverse place, and we’re rapidly moving away from religion as an identifying factor. I understand that some people still feel strongly about their identity, but I’m concerned that Orange marches communicate outdated ideas of what it means to be Scottish.
“Women are largely excluded, they are mostly white, and they perpetuate division.
“At a core level, this is less about religious or theological ideas and more about an ‘us and them’ mentality. This is the very antithesis of a forward-looking, progressive Scotland.”
The procession, which is set to have around 200 people take part, has been described as “deeply rooted in sectarianism” by furious locals.
In his letter to council chief executive Jim Savege, Stewart said the march could set a precedent “we will regret”. He wrote: “As you may already know, the north east has had a history of avoiding such marches and it would be in our best interest to maintain that stance.
“While I understand the concerns regarding traffic congestion and disruptions to daily activities, my main concern about this march is the possibility of violence and antisocial behaviour that tends to accompany such events in other parts of Scotland.
“The Orange Order, an organisation with a long history of antiCatholic and anti-Irish sentiment, is behind this march. It would cause undue stress to many Aberdeenshire residents and may even force them to leave the town while the parade is ongoing.
“I reiterate that the north east has always been free from such marches and if we allow one town to host one, we may be setting a precedent we will regret.”
Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee is set to consider the notice on March 5, and decide whether or not to allow the parade to proceed. This could be with or without conditions, or councillors could decide to stop the procession from going ahead.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland said the parade was to celebrate a new lodge opening and is an opportunity for members to “remember those many covenanters in Stonehaven who were tortured and murdered for their reformed faith”.
David Walkers, executive officer at the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, said: “We’re a very peaceful organisation, all of our members conduct themselves in the proper manner.”
This is more about an ‘us and them’ mentality