What is the purpose of an Orange march?

Question

My father was protestant, and my mother a staunch catholic, which enevitably led to me becoming an atheist (i won't go into the reasons why i think religion is a cancerous and meaningless human pursuit here). An Orange "walk" passed my house this morning banging out a relatively tuneless noise, as it does every year, and I couldn't help wonder what motivated people to participate in such an event. Sure, the battle of the Boyne was a significant (if small) battle in 1690, but my quandry is this: Is there any point to this rather vulgar display, other than try to intimidate catholics? Or is this just another living example of religion's ludicrous value?

Ladydi - "what is it for?" That is my question, did you read my post?

Answer 1

Just imagine a bunch of chimpanzees in a big cage beating on pots and pans to annoy another pack of chimps. That pretty much sums up religious conflict.

But religion is an excuse for conflicts over territory, economic disparity and ethnic competition. It occupies the lower primate part of the brain.

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Answer 2

I had to look that one up.
But I was amazed to see what I found out:

Many of the parades have been the cause of sectarian clashes between unionist Protestants and Nationalist Roman Catholics. Leaders of the Order note that it is not the intention of the Order to stir things up, but that trouble usually finds them anyway.

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Answer 3

I have never heard of an Orange march. What is it for?


After doing a Google search I came up with some very interesting reading. They sure didn't teach us this in World History.

Answer 4

As I understand it the Orange March is to display the Protestant belief that Catholicism is antichrist. Since God is the only one able to awaken the sleeping to this truth, their march seems to be a bit futile, however, my guess is they must believe that it may be a way to let the enemy know they have not laid down their arms.

Answer 5

The great Gaels of Ireland
Are the men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry,
And all their songs are sad.
- G.K. Chesterton

Answer 6

They just do it pretty much just to anger catholics. They had marches through the Irish-Catholic nieghbor hoods just to piss people off.

Answer 7

I think the purpose is to say "Nanny nanny boo boo, we won a battle three hundred years ago."

Answer 8

Really, in the end, all the tribal bigotries have nothing to do with God and everything to do with dominance

Answer 9

Orange = not green...

pure and simple...

and, yes, i can easily see that your family background would lead you to the conclusions it did.

Answer 10

I'm guessing it's meant to piss off the other side. From what I understand, this usually succeeds.