By Brad Schuman, DIS cross cultural communications student, spring 2015
Throughout my travels, I’ve never had the opportunity to visit a war zone or a place of significant conflict. I’ve personally never fought for my freedom or in something I believe in deeply.
I have never been scared for my life or scared to be who I am.
Although the issues in Northern Ireland didn’t directly affect me, my feelings about the conflict changed as soon as I step foot in Belfast.
Large walls divided the city between the Catholic and Protestant and murals honoring fighters lined the streets.
Throughout the city, the radical beliefs of many of its citizens still remain strong. When traveling to Ireland and Belfast in particular, I was excited to see how the civil war affected the people living there. I knew tension was still present, but was unaware the issues were still so prominent.
The Troubles began in the late 1960’s and the final agreement between the two sides ended in 1998. The fighting began due to the people of Northern Ireland’s want to remain apart of the United Kingdom, but tension on both sides were fueled by those fighting for land. The main groups involved were Republican paramilitaries (IRA), Loyalist paramilitaries (UVF and UDA) and the British Security Force.
Many members of these groups were citizens who felt strongly either discriminated against or attacked by “the others”.
In many cases, radical youth from the Catholic side took part in hunger strikes, bombings and shootings, while British army members fought the rebels.
In total over 3,500 people were killed in the fight. To this day, the tension between the two sides can still seem strong.
Peace walls are still erected throughout the city, school are still segregated based on religion; and talking about religion in general is still taboo. The problems in Northern Ireland are far from over.
Belfast roads known for violent conflict
When arriving in Belfast, I wasn’t completely sure what I was going to see in regards to the conflicts.
The main city center of Belfast didn’t show signs that any major event happened. Only when you entered Shankill and Falls Road did you become aware that a war had happened twenty years prior.
These roads are notorious for where a majority of the fatal attacks happened. It is important to know that symbols are a good indicator of what areas support what side of the issue.
When I was walking through the two roads, it was hard to miss the memorials of its victims or the hundreds of flags lining the streets.
These non-verbal symbols are evidence that what happened here is still very relevant. The flags are very important because each one has a different meaning and are backed by differing political, religious and national groups. For example, if the basic flag of Ireland is flown, that means that a person, most likely a Christian supports the notion for Ireland to be free.
Additionally, the numerous memorials and murals immortalizing people who died supporting their cause was another weird site. I was surprised to see how radical and violent the mural were and how each side had a different way to commemorating those who were lost.
Although many of those who died are considered heroes to citizens of Belfast, outsiders might know of them as terrorists. These radical individuals bombed local stores and bars in order to prove their point. To most, the symbols looks like peaceful reminders of ones heritage, but their meanings are much deeper.
The X-combatants
When in Belfast, I was surprised to see how the issues affected generations differently. Obviously, the older generation who lived in Northern Ireland during the “Troubles” were still upset and radicalized in their views.
For instance, when doing a tour of Shankill and Falls road, our guides were still so strongly attached to their sides that they refused to tour in areas deemed opposite their own beliefs and religion.
Many of them served in the war by choice themselves and were jailed for their actions. This spoke very deeply to me because I could understand where and why the hatred towards the other side was still so strong.
Throughout the tour, I would sometimes pick up on strange subtleties mentioned by our guides. William Plum Smyth, one of our guides said it best. “The first causality of war is the truth.” These situations frustrated me and caused me to question how peace has lasted for so long.
In complete opposition to how adults view the situations, children and young adults seemed more un-phased by the issues that occurred and are still occurring.
The youth do not share the conflict
When visiting the Hazelwood Primary School, Principle Patricia Murtagh said that, “the new generation doesn’t see what is happening.” This was very visible and clear. When looking at a drawing the students did about anti bullying, many drew pictures of the Irish Flag next to the flag of the United Kingdom.
People who feel strongly about the cause would never create artwork like this. Despite many schools being segregated based on religion, there are integrated schools in Northern Ireland.
In my time at the integrated school, my casual conversations with these students proved that things are changing.
Many students I talked to knew their own beliefs, but cared very little if their best friend shared a different religion. During my own experience without our class, I met some girls who laughed when I asked their opinion on the fighting. One of the girls, Leah Fegan said:
“This is the older generations fight, we could care less.”
Similarly to the younger kids, these girls cared less about what their friends believed in. Their friends are just their friends, nothing more.
Cross Cultural Communications in Belfast 