Comments on: Finding community amid conflict http://www.denison.edu/theden/2011/08/finding-community-amid-conflict/ Denison University news, stories, & ideas Fri, 03 May 2013 15:05:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Meg gaertner http://www.denison.edu/theden/2011/08/finding-community-amid-conflict/comment-page-1/#comment-301 Meg gaertner Sat, 10 Sep 2011 16:49:30 +0000 http://www.denison.edu/theden/?p=9312#comment-301 Hello, Professor Jones! While I did notice a number of signs of the presence andcommunity support of the Continuity IRA (namely through graffiti), I did not realize that this had been increasing over time (I was only there for a few months). I have a few thoughts on why this may be the case. When I visited, I was struck by how much Northern Ireland seems to be in a crucial transition stage, even though it's already been 13 years since the signing of the peace treaty. While the majority of society seems to be following a strategy of avoidance of all contentious issues and politeness when interacting with the "other side," this general apathy and acceptance of low levels of violence and high levels of community division could easily dissatisfy those who want change. As far as I can tell, not much has changed in the past 13 years; the important issues of identity and nationality have not been addressed, and so it does not surprise me that there may be increasing discontent among those who expected far greater advances. From what I’ve read, the Good Friday Agreement was seen as a relative victory for the republicans. Unionists in general felt like the agreement reduced the “Britishness” of Northern Ireland, while Catholic communities were generally more positive about the agreement. Now, however, many in the Catholic community might think that nothing has changed since then and no more gains have been made through the work of Sinn Fein and the political republican movement. So perhaps they would be willing to resurrect the paramilitary movement if that is seen as the only way to change the current situation. I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter! Meg Gaertner Hello, Professor Jones!
While I did notice a number of signs of the presence andcommunity support of the Continuity IRA (namely through graffiti), I did not realize that this had been increasing over time (I was only there for a few months). I have a few thoughts on why this may be the case. When I visited, I was struck by how much Northern Ireland seems to be in a crucial transition stage, even though it’s already been 13 years since the signing of the peace treaty. While the majority of society seems to be following a strategy of avoidance of all contentious issues and politeness when interacting with the “other side,” this general apathy and acceptance of low levels of violence and high levels of community division could easily dissatisfy those who want change. As far as I can tell, not much has changed in the past 13 years; the important issues of identity and nationality have not been addressed, and so it does not surprise me that there may be increasing discontent among those who expected far greater advances.

From what I’ve read, the Good Friday Agreement was seen as a relative victory for the republicans. Unionists in general felt like the agreement reduced the “Britishness” of Northern Ireland, while Catholic communities were generally more positive about the agreement. Now, however, many in the Catholic community might think that nothing has changed since then and no more gains have been made through the work of Sinn Fein and the political republican movement. So perhaps they would be willing to resurrect the paramilitary movement if that is seen as the only way to change the current situation.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter!
Meg Gaertner

]]> By: Elizabeth Jones http://www.denison.edu/theden/2011/08/finding-community-amid-conflict/comment-page-1/#comment-291 Elizabeth Jones Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:07:53 +0000 http://www.denison.edu/theden/?p=9312#comment-291 Hello, I am a colleague of Professor John Nass at California University of Pennsylvania. For 35 years I have been traveling and studying the conflict in the North of Ireland. My last visit in the summer of 2010, I sensed that the Continuity IRA was increasingly gaining ground among those who once supported the peace process. Do you have any thoughts on why this may be the case. Professor Elizabeth A. Jones Hello, I am a colleague of Professor John Nass at California University of Pennsylvania. For 35 years I have been traveling and studying the conflict in the North of Ireland. My last visit in the summer of 2010, I sensed that the Continuity IRA was increasingly gaining ground among those who once supported the peace process. Do you have any thoughts on why this may be the case. Professor Elizabeth A. Jones

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