roblem of two communities who are thrust together by history and need to find ways to manage their differences. Contradictory views are certainly categorized among the main or key reasons why such a conflict remained unsolved for more than a decade. One party would think that they have the right of what they are claiming and work accordingly, while the opposing party would be fighting from their own point of view with the aim to sustain their personal claimed right. In that both parties are totally disregarding the other's standing point and their motives for the conflict. Each of those parties would insist on their goal to achieve in a rather persistent, relatively ignorant way. The concept of the 'double minority' may give the best insight into why the conflict has persisted. Nationalists have felt themselves to be a marginalized minority in Northern Ireland while Protestants are aware that they are a minority within Ireland as a whole and have consequently developed a siege mentality. In the context of the British Isles Irish nationalists are aware that they again comprise a minority of the total population. The nature of the conflict has encouraged the fear in each community that it will be undermined from within by individuals and groups becoming more accommodating to the other side. While the conflict is unacceptable to many, some consider it to be tolerable and that any change could make the situation worse. There is a fear of assimilation of one community by the other because there are so few differences between them. In this context small differences become important and symbolic. Practices such as the aggressive display of flags and slogans and, especially among loyalists, parades and marches are a way of giving both an uncompromising message to opponents and maintaining internal cohesion.Rally and counter rally led to minor violence and the confrontations were joined by more militant sections of each comm...
