As Americans we have long had a somewhat isolationist attitude to the turmoil in other places across the world. This is true today, even with the two ongoing foreign military adventures in what was once called the "War on Terror" and now referred to as "The Overseas Contingency Operation" today. But this is not an editorial about my grievances with the current administration’s policies here stateside. It is about something very dear and close to me, Ireland. Having family that live there, and witnessed some of the horror of the troubles first hand, and being able to claim dual citizenship myself, I keep a very close eye on the climate.
I have not been back to Ireland in nearly two years. My family is from Newcastle in County Down originally. But some of them reside in Bambridge today. On my last trip in 2009 I had the opportunity to tour The Irish Assembly at Stormont. Mr. John McCallister very generously gave an extensive tour of the building, as well as let us observes a hearing and new propositions. The Ulster Unionist Party member and representative for South Down also treated us to a wonderful lunch. We even saw notorious Sinn Fienn and former IRA brigade commander Martin McGuiness (who I observed first-hand sleeping through proceedings). My gratitude for Mr. McCallister for this as well as his patience and explaining quiet extensively the rules and workings of government, cannot be expressed enough.
But it was something else I noticed, something profound and unexpected that nearly brought tears of joy to me, for it seemed so beautiful; it was the cooperation and progress for peace between the Protestant majority and Catholic minority that struck me. In 2006 my last visit prior to 2009, there seemed to be a sense of unrest, check points were at roads, the RUC was at the ready. Things seemed to have boiled down then, but also seemed that they could explode without warning once again. But in 2009, not just at legislative level was progress being made, but at the level of the common man. Neighborhoods had integrated together. Protestant and Catholics alike detest civic unrest, first when The Real IRA killed British Soldiers from the Para shoot Regiment about to be deployed and a pizza man. They also gathered together to defend the molestation towards a family of Polish Immigrants by common thugs on the street in Belfast, organizing a neighborhood watch to help insure their safety. Things looked great.
It was at the end of last week that Gerry Adams announced his resignation from his post to immigrate and run for office in the Republic of Ireland. Adams ignored a long tradition of accepting an Office for Profit from the crown. To which he has said this: "I have had no truck whatsoever with these antiquated and quite bizarre aspects of the British parliamentary system." The belligerence is nothing short of disgraceful, although he may be a firm supporter of home rule, it was in accordance with the ongoing peace process following the Good Friday Agreement that he accepted along with other IRA members a post in Government. Although this episode does leave a sour taste in the mouth, it is a step in the right direction. Ireland and indeed anywhere would be benefited with a few less Gerry Adams' and Ian Paisley types for that matter too. Progress I believe is still being accomplished. A permanent peace will one day be reached, in a land that is so beautiful, so rich with culture but also tragedy. It is time for the old dogs like Adams and Paisley to step down, and let a new generation step in. Already this latest lot of MP's like the above mentioned McCallister have advocated and acted in bipartisan legislatures to make for a better tomorrow. This is Democracy in action, this is idealism, this is Patriotism, not for home rule or unionists alike, but for duty to country. This is Northern Ireland today.
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