Letter: A new and more inclusive Northern Ireland flag could carry the two major national identity colours in reverse order
A letter from Micheal O'Cathail:
There was a very interesting letter in the News Letter recently under the headline, Unionism has not embraced a distinct NI identity (February 1).
The heading is a bit misconstrued, I think, because there is not, and cannot be, a sole and exclusive distinct unionist Northern Ireland identity unless the unionist community is prepared to up and head off to colonise some undiscovered territory of which, I understand, none exists - at least on planet Earth.
The alternative, I suppose, is for unionism to face the bewildering reality that there are two distinct and major historic communities living side by side in Northern Ireland, of which unionism is but one and Irishness the other.
This dual identity reality is reflected in the neighbouring Republic of Ireland inclusive national flag which carries the colours green, white and orange.
Perhaps a new and more inclusive Northern Ireland flag could carry the two major Northern Ireland national identity colours, say in reverse order: orange, white and green.
Micheal O'Cathail, By email