Cultured Views

Northern Ireland…the next stage.

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Anyone with an interest in the people, future and politics of Northern Ireland would have watched the massive ‘posturing’ last week of Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness as they took over the reins of the Northen Ireland Assembly.

These two men, both longtime sworn enemies and obstacles to the peace process there, form a somewhat odd alliance. For many years throughout The Troubles they both called for resolution and yet both hindered a way to find one.
It would not pay to get too ‘warm and cuddly’ about all of this too soon.

Sure, the men at the top have chosen to stand sort of side by side, but if this new era in Northern Ireland is to bring the people the peace and consistency they deserve, the real work must be done outside of Stormont and inside the homes of the citizens themselves.

So far to date there are only two sides to politics there; you are either Nationalist or Unionist. Depending upon where you live, where you go to church (if you go to church), and where your ancestors came from.
In my opinion, if Northern Ireland is to present it’s people with a greater choice of elected representatives other than Paisley or McGuinness in the future, what is needed is a more ‘diluted’ population. Immigration. People who are not Irish, or Scottish, maybe not even Catholic or Protestant. People whose concerns have no connection with the bigoted and violent past that was Northern Ireland.

Some say the way forward is Integrated Schooling. Maybe so. A nations future always lies with it’s youth. But, to me, a more diverse population may also be the way.

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