Enough of the half-hearted allegiance and the automatic hatred that gets handed down like a family heirloom. You can see why folk join a band or a lodge — the sense of belonging, the tradition — but that doesn’t excuse the mindless copy-and-paste of attitudes. To be fair, most people never sat back and asked why they signed up to it in the first place.

What we're actually seeing

There are the ones out front, the band members and the organisers who put time into it. Then there are the people who line the streets and shout from the kerb — and they’re the ones who frustrate me most. They care enough to stand and watch, to point and cheer, but not enough to be involved in anything meaningful. It’s easy to follow a parade without ever thinking for yourself. That passive support keeps the whole thing alive.

Why it feels out of step

Our towns and cities have far bigger problems than music and ritual. Poverty, mental health, drugs, community safety — real issues that deserve attention. Yet energy gets poured into pageantry that often reinforces division instead of healing it. I’ve got pals and family on both sides and I pity how many never stop to think for themselves. Surely most people can tell right from wrong without being told by the person beside them.

A simple, fair solution

It’s not about erasing history. It’s about perspective. Maybe one march a year, properly organised and agreed with the police and council, would be a fair compromise. Less regular provocation, more space for the things that actually matter to our communities. You won’t change everyone overnight, but scaling things back might force a bit more reflection and a bit less automatic tribalism. That’s something any of us who care about our towns should be able to get behind.

Written by Stevie_G_new: 29 July 2026

Tags: transfers