In recent years there has been much focus and attention on cultural differences, traditions and diversity.

Now this focus has come from the angle of justifying the unjustifiable. The Funders and Bureaucrats attempt to rationalise sectarianism as a legitimate cultural expression.

What they fail to do is look at and examine sectarianism - whether it comes from the loyalist or nationalist communities is irrelevent in their eyes.

This has led to the expression of culture being equated with the worst aspects of sectarianism. In an effort to square the unsquarable the irrational hatred of Catholics and anything Irish has been equated with the Ceili or Irish dancing.

I say this as not a matter of cultural supremacy or superiority but as a matter that should concern us all.

Let us look at culture or what is perceived as cultural identity in the six-counties. We have all become obsessed with Orange and Green, so much so that we fail to recognise that real culture everyday culture remains unacknowledged and unrecognised by our political peers.

I remember one of the first marches to Belfast City Hall a few years ago. It was an emotional and proud experience - I don't mind saying that I was close to tears that day.

Reality is far removed from the emotions of that day - it is far removed from the false dawns promised from the peace process.

Yes, all citizens should be free to express their culture, free from demonisation and intimidation.

But what is real life culture that we live everyday of our lives - whether we aspire to the orange or the green?

As a father of three sons, living in North Belfast I know only too well the consequences of so-called "cultural diversity".

Recently, my own children were intimidated along with twenty other primary school children were intimidated out of Oldpark library by Protestant youths.

It would be easy to take the sectarian response to this discrimination but I refuse to do so.

To take such an attitude is to not only ignore the fact that the British government has condoned and now encouraged through the "Good Friday Agreement" such sectarian attitudes but also to ignore real every day, real life culture.

Whilst justifiably angry at this continued discrimination being applied on my children, I refuse to accept this behavior as an expression of 'Protestant culture' - to expect anything other than equality for my children is a betrayal of their rights and ultimately their future as equal citizens.

Our communities are made up of many different people and to declare that we are of one culture or another is to ignore the reality of real life.

Is the culture of unemployment, poverty and sectarianism, alcohol or drug abuse every bit as real as the "Twelth" or the "Ceili at the crossroads"?