Northern Ireland rivals told to settle disputes

[ButterflyBlood]

Prime Ministers Tony Blair of Britain and Bertie Ahern of Ireland Thursday gave Northern Ireland's rival Protestant and Roman Catholic parties until this fall to work out their differences on their stalled provincial government. Otherwise, the prime ministers said, they would abandon the Belfast legislative assembly and find a new way to govern the British province.

In a joint statement, Blair and Ahern laid out plans to call together the elected officials to Northern Ireland's mothballed legislature on May 15, in the hope that the officials can agree on appointing ministers to an executive branch. If the ministers are not appointed by Nov. 24, the British and Irish governments will take over running the province.

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/07/MNGNGI4SBG1.DTL&feed=rss.news

[David in Canada]

1. Two words: Ian Paisley

The one person most responsible for the violence and political is the "Reverend" Ian Paisley, who leads the "Democratic" Unionist Party.

The man has basically attacked anyone NOT Protestant, wished the Pope to Hell, and has called for violence against Catholics in the past.

When the old codger pops his clogs Northern Ireland will have a chance for peace and reconciliation. Not one minute before then, i'm afraid. :-(

The guy is their version of Fred Phelps. Seriously.

[David in Canada]

2. Young People are Rejecting Sectarianism

Another thing...

In Northern Ireland, the young people are rejecting sectarianism and the blowhard bigotry of their parents.

The young generation could be the generation that finally ends bigotry and jingoism in this world.

It is hard to whip people into us vs. them when people can communicate, debate and make friendships via the internet all over the planet.

[sg_]

7. And yes, you are correct on this issue.

I've many catholic friends, who no doubt probably support a united ireland and all that stuff that goes along with it. But all is good just aslong as politics/religion is not brought up.

[sg_]

6. Id rather see all (extreme) parties/politicians get out of the picture

Not just Paisley, the same goes for Adams and McGuinness in particular. All of them do more harm than good. Also, I dont want any sort of people with any sniff of a connection to the IRA or any other terrorists groups with any sort of political power here. Whether their weapons have been destroyed or not.

[cartach]

3. Northern Ireland

Catholics -- anti-British. Protestants -- anti-Catholic. Which side is more justified?

[sg_]

4. Whoop. Another NI protestant bashing thread this will turn into.

Each side is as bad as the other.

Hun, orange bastard, black bastard etc.. (this from ~15 year old girls !!). You name it and ive probably been called it.

[T_i_B]

5. "Each side is as bad as the other"

I could not agree more!

[Henny Penny]

8. It is exactly this kind of "thinking" that

has allowed the problem to fester for so long, with such tragic consequences.

In a political vacuum uncertainty reigns and when uncertainty reigns people get scared. Particulary if there is a recent history of violent conflict. Scared people often resort to hiding behind the wall of their own particular ethnic group and lobbing rocks at the opposition.

A lot of people in Northern Ireland are rejecting bigotry, but a lack of political progress will result in people going back to their trenches.


"Catholics -- anti-British. Protestants -- anti-Catholic. Which side is more justified?"

And we could probably do without this kind of "racial profiling."

[ButterflyBlood]

9. I don't blame anyone for hating the Catholic church with their Nazi Pope

especially considering how insanely backward the Republic of Ireland is.

The place didn't even legalize condoms until the late 70s and didn't even legalize divorce until a decade ago! And it still has the same Rapists' Reproductive Rights law that South Dakota passed. Until that place is dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century, I sure as hell don't blame any Protestants that don't want to live in such a place.

[David in Canada]

10. Ireland is a Changin'!

Ireland is moving towards the 21st century. The chains of the Catholic church are rusting away.

Ireland has legalised divorce since 1994. Many of the 'old guard' that voted 'NO' in that referendum have since died, so any past referendum results should be much more Progressive in their results if repeated today.

Ireland is currently debating gay civil unions with most of the equal rights of marriage. Such a subject was taboo only 5 years ago!