It’s time sectarianism took a back seat on our city’s buses s
ays Niall Bradley
Most of us in Northern Ireland have fond memories of travelling to Belfast Zoo or the North Coast's famous Giant’s Causeway singing ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ at the top of our voices after countless packets of Sherbet Dip and a bottle of Football Special.
It’s sad to think that ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ has been replaced with the expletive version of 'The Fields of Athenrae’ and Football Special replaced with a cheap bottle of cider. It seems sectarianism has taken over public transport.
Not long ago, Rangers fans were rescued from sectarian assault onboard a flight returning from an ‘Old Firm’ Game. Even at a local level; certain buses are virtual ‘no-go’ areas for members of the public that belong to, or associate with, certain communities.
I get the bus all the time and it has become ‘normal’ to see some kind of sectarianism, racism or even sexism in the twenty minutes that it takes me to get from A to B. Twenty MINUTES? I couldn’t read the paper in that space of time. I want to know why this happens and why it is allowed to happen.
A government commissioned report has revealed that ‘165 extra school bus runs take place daily because it is not considered prudent to mix Protestant and Catholic schoolchildren’.
That is a colossal waste of public spending and let’s not mention how damaging all this is on the environment. But it is the damage being done to students, OAP’s and any member of the public who is affected by meaningless bullying that concerns me.
“How can we stop sectarianism getting onboard?”
In 2007, a 15 year old made the headlines when he was attacked with a snooker cue because of where his bus was going. I fail to understand the ‘logic’ behind the crime! Where does all this hate come from? Although, nobody can say for certain why this overwhelming hatred for ‘the other side’ began and why it escalated to such an extent; I do feel, however, that there exists a bitter and unrepentant older generation whose sole objective is to indoctrinate hate into a young, easily influenced, son or daughter; nephew or niece and even grandchildren.
Doris Lessing, an author and activist, believes that young people; “are being molded and patterned to fit into the narrow and particular needs of this society.” She was referring to the situation in South Africa over 20 years ago; however, what she said has universal relevance. In Iran, America, China and possibly even in your street people are being taught to hate. I have witnessed friends who refuse to get on buses that go through areas deemed ‘unacceptable’ by their parents.
I would understand if the area deemed unfit for their children was full of crack houses, pedophiles or other dangers that actually face young people today. However, this is not the case!
I have one last question – How can we stop sectarianism getting onboard whatever futuristic vehicle that takes our children to school? In essence, how do we end a hatred that is older than some of the socks under my bed? I’ll let you decide, but I will leave you with a quote that has inspired me … “A university is not a political party, and an education is not an indoctrination”
About this article
This article was written by Nial Bradley (18), Headliners Foyle member
