Recently Queen Elizabeth visited Ireland, and laid a wreath to commemorate those who died fighting for that country’s independence. Not so long ago this would have been unthinkable. I remember, back in the 80s, feeling hostility towards Americans who donated to NORAID, an Irish-American Republican fundraising organisation, and shock when members of the British Government were killed in an IRA terrorist attack in Brighton.
When I visited Sweden as a teenager in the early 80s, a time of great tension during the Irish Troubles, my father reacted with anger and frustration when questioned by teenagers who felt sure the British were the baddies and the Irish, like Bobby Sands, innocent victims. His views are actually very liberal – but most people will jump to their country’s defence when it is criticised by an outsider.
When I asked an Irish Catholic friend whether he’d ever experienced prejudice, he bitterly remembered taunts when he was at university in the UK. He was doing an electronics degree and was subjected to endless jokes about how he must have chosen that course in order to make bombs for the IRA.
There are still tensions between Britain and Ireland – but great strides have been made. I hope young Israelis and Palestinians will see similar improvements – and perhaps help make them happen.
Professor Sarah Brown, a Trustee of Children of Peace
