Yeah but my point is that it is not in certain people's interests to proceed with peace.
People are actually benefitting from the situation! Not only financially, there is also a serious bit of ego assuaging going on.
I like living here: I feel a helluva lot safer in Belfast than any other city in the UK: was much more petrified in Glasgow.
... and before I bear the brunt of any Scottish rants I liked Glasgow a lot too.
Joe was walking down the Shankill Road when he was approached from behind by a masked man who shoved the barrel of a gun into the back of his head. The man demanded that Joe tell him if he was "Catholic or Protestant?"
Joe thought quickly and said, "Neither. I'm Jewish", to which the gunman exclaimed, "Wow. I must be the luckiest Arab in Belfast!"
Originally posted by demonseedNo offence taken! My post was probably a little rude too, come to think of it...
That's not what I meant. Re-reading my post I do appreciate that I seem a little rude, so I apologise to the poster.
What I mean is what is your (the poster's) view on the situation?
If I appear cynical it's because:
1. I am a disappointed citizen(?!?) of Northern Ireland, and;
2. I have been involved in (neutral) political groups here for a few years.
As it happens I do have a little experience of Northern Ireland, but really my view is the standard outsider's view: that it's a part of the world where people have a weird obsession with things that happened 300 years ago, and as a result have at times built up differences that are trivial everywhere else into matters of life and death.
I certainly sympathise with the disappointment; I also agree with another poster that Belfast in particular has changed a great deal for the better in recent years. My bottom line is still that permanent change is certainly possible, but only when people believe that it is possible.
BTW, doesn't this thread now belong in the 'debates' forum? It was only someone wanting a photo...
