For the last 2 weekends I've joined
thousands of Long Islanders who were out on the streets celebrating
being Irish. There's a great LI tradition in at least a half dozen
communities, where the Saint Patrick's Day parade is the weekend after
the 17th, so you can keep the Irish eyes smiling for most of the month
of March.
But there's an even greater reason to smile right now if you're
Irish. The prospect of peace, power sharing and political leadership
that will give what the people want in Northern Ireland -- an end to
decades of hostility. They will work TOGETHER now to govern.
A historic meeting between DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) and Sinn
Fein has come up with a date of May 8th for the power sharing to begin.
That means they will establish Catholic and Protestant power sharing!!! This is a picture shows both sides. Ian Paisley (Protestant is on the left) and Gerry Adams ( Catholic on the right )
The Pope has described the progress made in the Northern Ireland
peace process as "a very powerful Christian witness" for other areas
where conflicts include a religious component, according to Irish
President Mary McAleese.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the deal would not stop
republicans or nationalists being republicans or nationalists, nor
unionists remaining unionists.
"What it does mean is people can come together, respecting each
other's point of view and share power and make sure politics is only
expressed through peaceful and democratic means.
And in that it will give the people of Northern Ireland the future
they want and give heart to all of us who have wanted this process over
the past few years.
Now at last we have a date certain for a remarkable coming together
of people who have, for very obvious reasons, been strongly opposed in
the past."
Now that these 2 enemies have met and agreed on a time table for a
fresh start I wonder if the Middle East can take note and effect change.
Because from peace comes prosperity!
These 2 former gunmen in the battle of Northern Ireland were once
the face of troubled times. 3,600 people died. But right now they are
the faces of compromise and possible peace. Ian Paisley
(Protestant)--has been reffered to as " Dr. No" for his staunch
refrusal to have anything to do with Gerry Admas and Sinn Fein. Now
he's saying " we have agreed with Sinn Fein".
And what is even as amazing is the 80 year old Paisley has been
able to get hardliners behind the compromise. I have to admit-- I
wasn't sure that there would be peace in my time. If you want to get
some background on the conflict check out this historical essay that
starts in 1170 with the Norman invasion and outlines the problems in
the region since then just click here.
It really shows how the problem went from one between irish and
English-- to relationships on the island with the Anglo-Irish
agreeement in the 80's to direct clashing between protestants and
Catholics.
To hear, "We must not allow our justified loathing of the horrors
and tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and
more stable future for our children," from Paisley gives me such hope
for the future. It has often been the atrocities of the past that are
the stumbling blocks to a future with understanding and unity.
Adams says, "There is a new start with the help of God." This move
is also a big step for the Sinn Fein (generally accepted as the
political arm of the IRA). Disarming, accepting police reforms and
changing the way they operate is a massive step for an organization
which, at its core, has belived that its mandate is historical and that
force is necessary to remove the British.
Of course everything can't be rainbows and butterflies. The road to
true peace may be rocky. Adams and Sinn Fein want Northern Ireland to
reunite with Ireland -- where Paisely's Democratic unionist party
wants the north to stay with England. The core is still the same BUT
the change comes in working together toward the future.
But right now the desire for a better life seems to overshadow the
difference. The new road will be tough with identity issues, cultural
differences,the future of the Irish language in the region, the
constitution. The list is long but having both parties togther making
the descions for the betterment of the whole was but a dream just days
ago.
Paisley is expected to become first minister in this Northern
Ireland administration while Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness would be
deputy first minister.
Elizabeth Hashagen