Historic day
The last watchtower has come down in Northern Ireland, signaling a belief that the country has — at last — found true and lasting peace.
It makes me hopeful that, perhaps one day, we will see an end to Iraq’s occupation and its bloody civil war. Can the Shiites and Sunnis resolve their differences peacefully (if not fully) like the Protestants and Catholics have done? Will they stop using subtle differences in their worship of the same God as a reason to kill each other like the formerly warring factions in Northern Ireland are trying to do?
And will the atrocities that occurred under the occupying nation’s watch be partially atoned for by its commitment to solving the problem?
I’m not sure any of this is possible. And even if it is how long will it take and at what cost will it be?
If The Troubles taught us anything, the answer is too long and too high.
Still any step toward peace should be celebrated by the world’s citizens.
So here’s a bittersweet cheers to the Upper 6. May you be an example to others.