Loyal Orange Lodge - Kevin Bjorke




London, June 2002. The Orange Men (and especially subgroups like the Orange Rangers) function largely as the protestant antithesis of the catholic Sinn Fein (IRA) -- with a somewhat similar reputation.

Camera:   G2
Lens:   28
Film:   Reala
Exposure:   f/5.6
Flash:  
Support:  
Filter:  
Adjustment:  
Posted:   22-Jun-2002

Rating: 7.50 (2 ratings)

Comments

Kevin,

Orangemen are law abiding Protestant people with possibly a few exceptions. Sinn Fein/IRA, until recently supported a campaign of murder on both the Protestant and Catholic people in Northern Ireland. I understand both sides of the argument here and hopefuly they can sort themselves out and live together. Yes, we are facing the Marching season and Drumcree in particular, most of us on both sides dread July but it will eventually sort itself out. Nice photo

Robert Major     23-Jun-2002 at 00:43

The Orange Order

You have successfully caught something in this photograph, Kevin, that is far more important than its technical merit. As a descendant of Ulster folk, I am quite concious of the troubles in both the fair land and in Northern Ireland. If one wonders why these things continue, look at the expressions you've captured: deadly serious, fixed jaws, looking straight ahead and, sadly, not a smile to be seen.

Drayton Cooper     24-Jun-2002 at 05:24

Drayton,

the description, 'deadly serious, fixed jaws, looking straight ahead and sadly, not a smile to be seen' is usually summed up in good aul Norn Iron as being 'Poe Faced'. The poe faces and stance of this lodge would suggest they have been told by the local Concerned Residence Committee in that part of London that they won't be allowed to walk down the road. Now everybody can see the photographic evidence of the harassment the Orange Lodge faces. Didn't someone say a photo can take the place of a thousand words.

Robert Major     24-Jun-2002 at 13:13

Marchers

Actually, they had just ENDED a march. You can just see a few yellow-green police jackets in the uper right. There were dozens of police surrounding the area. The Orangemen were at this point listening to a speech about how much they loved the Queen and despised the media for its wrongheaded portrayals and dangerous tendencies to support the negative element.

Kevin Bjorke     26-Jun-2002 at 23:21