Blame it on the kids - again
A leading member of the Orange Order has blamed “The MTV generation” for recent rioting.
Drew Nelson the Order’s Grand Secretary was quoted by the BBC saying "My analysis is that these young people, what they think is cool and socially acceptable they don't take their lead from the Orange Order or the churches or the traditional organisations, but they take it from the media, they take it from people like MTV.”
Mr Nelson is also opposed to the MTV European Awards coming to Belfast which he describes as ‘damaging’. The Belfast Telegraph described the event as “the biggest showbiz event Northern Ireland will ever have witnessed.” It will be held in the Odessy on November 6th and is expected to boost the economy by £10m.
Heaping blame on young people for the recent riots, Mr Nelson also said "We are finding that a lot of young people, more than there used to be, are on the streets not just during our parades, but at other festivals and fleadhs that happen in the province,"
The MTV Generation was first used in 1984 by music trade magazine Billboard. On Twitter journalist Keith Anderson (@keithbelfast) said “I'm pretty sure the mtv generation is about 30 years old, fighting in the aisles of homebase...not the streets of east Belfast.”
WIMPS Crew member Karen Devlin responded to Mr Nelson. “The group who raised the MTV generation should get off their high horse.”
Speaking last week when the violence in east Belfast was yet again blamed on young people, Public Achievement Director Paul Smyth said “We have to stop scapegoating young people for all society's problems. Young people did not create sectarianism, nor did they create the problems this society has with alcohol and other substances. Until adults stop being hypocritical about both these issues, it is unlikely that we will address either problem successfully.”
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Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Carál Ní Chuilín represents North Belfast constituency at the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Carál is currently Minister of Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
Constituency office 02890740817
