Can Northern Ireland ever have true peace and democracy?

Question

Splinter republican groups hold punishment beatings, Michael Stone (a "protestant extremist" according to YAHOO news) is arrested after claiming he had thrown a bomb into the Stormont Assembly building. Is it only the real people of Northern Ireland that want peace and democracy and that the extremist groups in the province like creating a climate of fear and don't want to see it disappear?

I would like this question to be answered by residents of Northern Ireland only, or by experts in Northern Ireland politics.

Answer 1

The reality is now that normalisation has been happening for 10 years. People are more concerned about increases in domestic taxation (massive increases in Rates and Water charges) than they are about Michael Stone. Thing about Stone is he's a self-publicist. He became a celebratory of sorts for Loyalists after he attacked a funeral in Milltown cemetery years ago and lived for years of this fame. Giving interviews to Sunday newspapers, slagging off his gangster mates (Johnny Adair, Jim Gray), becoming an artist(!), So it was another stunt. Purely to benefit Michael Stone.
NI Assembly members have been paid £50 million in salaries since the Assembly was shut down. For sitting on their ar$es and waiting for the next election. Local (council) government here works just fine - no different than anywhere else. In January there are more elections were we vote for people to go to an Assembly that doesn't exist. There'll be another round of whataboutery - and they'll fail miserably to agree on what they disagree about. Like they have for the last ten years. No matter what happens here its just not a surprise anymore.

Answer 2

I'm not a resident, nor an expert, but it is my humble opinion that the Northern Ireland problerm can be resolved if de extremists (on ALL sides) would grab onto reality and realise that no extreme idea will ever conquer. The only way to achieve a peaceful solution is to compromise. Compromise does NOT alway equal losing face, it often means constructive thinking to the benenit of all. I apologise for disobeyng the resident/expert condition.

Answer 3

KYRAL - I couldn't have put it better myself! I have lived here in N.I all my life and it is a beautiful country to live in - the people are so friendly and our coastline is stunning. Just ask anyone who's been here and they will tell you.
The MAJORITY here in Northern Ireland don't want the problems we have had over the years. The MAJORITY wish to remain British - we don't want a United Ireland and we just want to live our lives in peace, like everyone else from around the world. Like Kyral says, it all about money and drugs now. We are sick to the teeth with the troubles but what choice do we have when the bombing continues. On a lighter note......
The revolving doors in Stormont were jammed today....apparently there was a stone in it! :)

Answer 4

Ian Paisley is far from the cause of any trouble or shall we just get rid of him and let murderers run the country. Most people do want to live life normally like the rest of the UK but until both sides of the political coin are accepted its not gonna happen.

As for various groups having ceasefires etc they are not all that they seem either! Its about money & drugs these days, not about fighting for their cause.

Michael Stone isnt the only one stirring it up either, SinnFein are under threat from dissident republicans who have taken it upon themselves to burn down as many major stores as possible before Christmas. Who suffers?....the average Joe who loses his job and has to travel the country to do his shopping.

The whole thing is a joke and although Im living in NI and love 'our wee country' sometimes its easier not to watch the news.

Answer 5

Sorry I'm not resident / expert just part Irish!
There will not be true peace while Republicans want a United Ireland and others fight to keep them British. My grandfather left because He saw no end to the conflict and wanted his children to live in peace! He was able to leave but many aren't or dont want to.He said if he had felt Irish he'd have gone to the Republic!
All the real people want to just get on with their lives!

Answer 6

There is no more violence in Northern Ireland than there is in the rest of the UK. There is peace. Do you not notice the difference? Maybe in Belfast there are a few still at it but fighting is common in any major city.

Answer 7

Contrary to what most people seem to think, it's not really about religion, that's just a smokescreen and easy label, and it keeps the whole thing simmering nicely.

It is a tribal struggle where the former top dogs don't want the former underdogs to have a say.
It's also about people on both sides used to having power through their guns being reluctant to give that up.

I know this is not nice, but I hope every morning to hear that Ian Paisley died peacefully in his sleep. He is the worst hypocrite and strife monger of the lot, and with his demise it can be hoped that his party of bigots will fall apart.

As for the people wanting peace, that's what they say, but the last elections turned out a majority for the radicals on both sides with the moderates sidelined, so I'd be a bit skeptical about that.
The Unionists have been long enough on the Island to catch our ability to bear a grudge through centuries, and both sides like to dwell on the wrongs being committed against them in the past.

I'm living in Ulster, but in the "Republican" part of it. (Donegal)

Answer 8

Not unless the fanatics and bigots from both sides are all dropped in the sea without a boat.

Most Northern Irish people that I know just want to live their lives and get on with each other - Catholic and Protestant. Its the vocal minority on both sides who create the hatred and tensions. The average Joe Bloggs who lives in NI just wants to do his job and feed his kids and get on with those around him like evryone else in the world does.

Answer 9

Slowly but surely it will come because it is the will of the majority of the people and they are fed up with it.
So long as you have strong politicians like Ian Paisley who hold the line and do not capitulate to the soft (B-liar) options.
Eventually the gangsters will have no support and will become as the dinosaurs - extinct.

Answer 10

Only when religion is seen for what it really is - A weapon of mass distruction used by governments and terrorists to con the weak minded into believing they are doing the work of whatever "GOD" or to justify murder.