belfast

Today we took a day trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Only a 2.5 hour drive, but a world a way. It looks just like any other city, I suppose, but physically there were striking differences. When I was in London, things looked so different but in Belfast, we were in the UK but it felt like Ireland, just the occasional Union Jack.

We took a tour of the murals, painted around the city. Each side (republican/nationalist and unionist/loyalist) had murals painted, portraying some fairly startling things. Some of them were memorialising people who died during the height of the conflict, Bobby Sands and the Hunger Strikers. Other's were quite political, most of those we found on the Unionist side of town. In this area, as we stood on the sidewalk taking photos (looking blatantly like tourists), people drove by shouting "Get the F*** out!" and raising the fist of Ulster. In both Unionist and Nationalist areas, you could see enclaves of the opposing party, with high walls around a handful of homes; you'd think it was a military base.

We also took a tour of the Parliament (which is presently suspended) and heard from members of both Sinn Fein (nationalist) and the Democratic Unionist Party (unionist). It was incredible to see for ourselves how the two parties are so fierce. Different allegations arose, all sorts of bad mouthing I guess you could call it.

In my courses I've learned quite a bit more about the Northern Ireland conflict. Previously, all I knew was a bit about the IRA, Bloody Sunday, Hunger Strikers, and an overview of the politics. Seeing it for myself (and still in such a minor way) really made an impression on me.

There's so much to say on the subject, but to be honest, I'm exhausted from the day. It's really a horrible situation though. I wonder if in my lifetime, it will be resolved... and how? Partition? Who knows... I apologize for the vague-ness. You need to go there for yourself.