You're right about war generally having no real winners, but in this case I think that while much has changed, some very fundamental things are still the same in Northern Ireland -- it's still part of the UK. I don't know if laws have been put in place to make Catholics and Protestants equal, or to make blatant prejudice at least illeagal, but I doubt that either side truly feels as if they've won and in the meantime so many lives have been blighted and lost. And yet, if nobody ever stood up for their rights, the Catholics would still be third-class citizens, Hitler would have taken over Europe and perhaps North America. On the other side of the coin, the situation in the Middle East has only gotten worse for the people there with no hope of a better future in sight. -- Cindy's Cottage

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Date Posted: 13:19:53 09/25/07 Tue
Author: Carla
Subject: You're right about war generally having no real winners, but in this case I think that while much has changed, some very fundamental things are still the same in Northern Ireland -- it's still part of the UK. I don't know if laws have been put in place to make Catholics and Protestants equal, or to make blatant prejudice at least illeagal, but I doubt that either side truly feels as if they've won and in the meantime so many lives have been blighted and lost. And yet, if nobody ever stood up for their rights, the Catholics would still be third-class citizens, Hitler would have taken over Europe and perhaps North America. On the other side of the coin, the situation in the Middle East has only gotten worse for the people there with no hope of a better future in sight.
In reply to: celtgirl 's message, "40.3- I am one person that thinks no war can ever really be won, it's tragic no matter how you look at it. And someone is always going to be on the losing side. But a war fought the way this one was in such a claustrophobic arena and with three sides to it, pitting families against one another and friends as well. There was no way for it to go well." on 12:16:52 09/25/07 Tue

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I know some wars are necessary, but I still think no one really wins despite the outcome, there's too much collateral damage during. I think N. Ireland really has a shot at peace now- and in a couple more generations no one will care what your religion is, because not so many go to church these days. I think though when things have been nursed along for eight hundred and some odd years, the scars are going to take time to heal. Belfast doesn't even seem like the same city anymore though, just in my six year gap between visits. (NT) -- celtgirl, 14:48:44 09/25/07 Tue
- Some wars are definitely one of those 'damned if you do, damned if you don't" situations. I'm glad to hear that the religious prejudice is dying down somewhat and that Belfast is coming back to life again. That type of prejudice between Catholics and Protestants was alive and well in Newfoundland when my parents were growing up, and now it's mostly fizzled. Fifty or sixty years ago people were disowned by their families (on both sides) for marrying "outside their faith", now very few would even raise an eyebrow. Hopefully the same will be true in Northern Ireland in a very short time. (NT) -- Carla, 16:04:56 09/25/07 Tue

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