Orangemen and independence supporters: Political contrast in Glasgow today
( Above image is a capture of an Orange Parade in Glasgow today.) Today, benefiting from superb, sunny weather, I ventured into central Glasgow, Scotland primarily to photograph a scheduled Orange March and by chance came across a pro-independence event held in George Square. For benefit of visitors from Alpha Centauri and others I will endeavour to explain the subtleties of the two events whjch are actually at opposite ends of the Scottish political spectrum. Orange March The Orange march is a symbol of the entrenched sectarianism (catholic vs protestant) in the west of Scotland.These religious tensions date back to the Battle of the Boyne (Ireland) in 1690 when a protestant army under King William defeated a catholic army under the exiled James II. The Orangemen are protestants and enjoy close affinities with namesakes in Northern Ireland with both groups participating in the summer 'marching season' which is, essentially, a demonstration of protestant supremacy an...