The Nobel Peace Prize has gone to some less-than-deserving recipients over the years (understatement). But in honour of St Patrick's Day, here's some homework for you on two recipients who did, in fact, deserve the prize.
https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/laureates/1998
You can read the entirety of the Good Friday Agreement online. For such an incredibly important document, it isn't that long.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-belfast-agreement
@astronomerritt I’m a kid of the early 70’s (from Dublin).
I remember going on a school trip to Donegal (aged 9?). Bus stopped at the border. UK soldiers got on the bus and walked up and down the aisle, full army fatigues and guns. Scary.
Years later, in the late 80’s, working with an intern from West Germany in Dublin.
He went to Belfast and said it reminded him of his trips to Berlin through East Germany…machine gun posts and soldiers.
Really brought The Troubles home to me.
@astronomerritt That made me laugh!!! Kids have no fear! Love it!!
Crazy how we normalise things.
I was in Sri Lanka on my honeymoon when the IRA cease fire was announced in 1994. Tears came to my eyes. It really felt like a tipping point.
And yet, living in Dublin, I was completely isolated from the day-to-day issues.
Now? I feel some sympathy for the Unionists who feel their culture and ethos are under attack by a renewed “united Ireland” conversation taking place. Crazy.
@t3rcermillenium It's a complex situation, isn't it? If you want my opinion, unionists are and should always be entitled to a life here: this is their home as much as it is any Irish person's, and that needs to be acknowledged. However, Northern Ireland is still stolen land, and rightfully should be returned to Ireland. Whether you lot want us or not 😆
Not at the cost of peace, though. Nothing is worth giving up our peace. It'll be a few years yet before they chance a referendum, I'll wager, but it may still be in my lifetime. I'm 38. I'd like to live to see it, I think.
@astronomerritt Completely agree with everything you say.
It’s occupied but it’s complicated.
Any solution has to provide solutions everyone wants. Nothing can be imposed.
Imposition of unwanted solutions lead to “The Troubles”.
Now, all we have to do is persuade everyone else :-)
Steph (crisis version)
T3rc