TWENTY THREE YEARS AFTER THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT

 ARE THE TROUBLES OVER?

WHEN WILL IRELAND BE  ONE NATION AGAIN?

The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 marked the official end of the Troubles.

 It required the decommissioning of all paramilitary groups, power sharing between unionists and nationalists in government, and — most controversially — the release of all people imprisoned for their role in the conflict.

Everyone walked free, from low-level operatives in on a first weapons charge to those sentenced to die in jail. It’s an imperfect peace, one that calls on all sides to suppress feelings of injustice. Northern Ireland has never had something like South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission to air and heal its grievances. Victims of horrific atrocities now live alongside the people they consider responsible for them.

There’s no amnesty or statute of limitations for Troubles-era crimes. People speak freely only about what they’ve already been convicted of. Everything else is strictly off-limits. People watch their words carefully. If an apology means admitting to something that never made it on a rap sheet, they’ll go to their graves without giving it. 

Fears of mass crime once prisoners were released turned out to be unfounded. A decade after the Good Friday Agreement, fewer than 10 percent of Troubles ex-prisoners had committed crimes. The recidivism rate among the general prison population in Britain at the time was almost 60 percent within two years of release.

The problem for many wasn’t giving up violence. It was figuring out what to do instead.

“A lot of it was traumatic for people. I remember discussing it with a guy in the yard [at Maze Prison]. He said, ‘What am I gonna do with my life now?’” said Sean Lynch, a member of Northern Ireland’s legislature who served 12 years for an attempted IRA ambush on a British special forces patrol.

Undated picture of IRA member Bobby Sands, who starved himself to death in Belfast's Maze Prison to protest for prisoner of war status.

Many prisoners “got involved in the struggle at 16. They knew no other life,” Lynch said. “People who have channeled energy into politics have done much better, people who got involved in what they saw as a continuation of the struggle.”

For the vast majority, politics means Sinn Fein, the nationalist party once called the political wing of the IRA.

HERE IS A  GHAZAL IN HONOR OF BOBBY SANDS THAT I HAVE WRITTEN.

GHAZAL BLESSING ON BOBBY SANDS

.

After sixty-six days, dead at  twenty-seven years, Blessing on Bobby Sands.

Joined the IRA at 18 years and was jailed at 19,  Blessing on Bobby Sands.

What he did right and what he did wrong, his spirit rose like a lark's song

Wiped out by the wrongs done to him and his own, oppressing  Bobby Sands.

His family pushed by prejudice from every home they found.

Attacked after work by workmates who wanted no Catholics around, distressing Bobby Sands.

He joined an old battle to free his native land--A NATION ONCE AGAIN--

First arrest in  '72  for possession of a gun: stop messing with Bobby Sands.

I was sad when ten good men died, I did not see their victory.

Now, my grief  turns to pride in their valiant sacrifice, no suppressing Bobby Sands.

Some  priests preached that Hunger Strike was suicide's sin of despair

Who said "GOD WILL UNDERSTAND"? no guessing, Bobby Sands.

Where is he now? He's gone home to the Mother of Mercy.

Our Lady wraps him in her mantle blue, Blessing Bobby Sands.

WE HAVE PASSED THE CENTENARY OF THE PARTITION OF IRELAND-- EVEN GERMANY AND VIETNAM HAVE RE-UNITED.

NOW IT IS IRELAND'S TURN