Healing the rift

Northern Ireland peace talks set example for other nations

After years of turmoil, fighting and death, the explosive situation in Northern Ireland may soon be resolved.

Although the British and the Irish -- including both the Catholics and the Protestants -- will probably not come to an agreement regarding Northern Ireland's fate anytime soon, progress is being made.

Tony Blair, the British prime minister, last week announced that there would be a new investigation into the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre. Thirteen Catholic men and teen-agers were fatally shot after a protest march on what is now called Bloody Sunday. The event continues to be a focus point of the conflict in Northern Ireland; at the time, it was ruled that members of the Irish Republican Army shot at soldiers first.

"But with the Bloody Sunday investigation, coupled with the peace talks, small steps are being taken toward a worthwhile goal for Northern Ireland -- peace."

Blair's request for an investigation comes at a crucial point. Peace talks between groups involved with Northern Ireland, including Sinn Fein, the political faction of the IRA and the Ulster Defense Association, a Protestant paramilitary group, have been moving along. Although peace talks of any sort are beneficial, no solution is in sight.

But with the Bloody Sunday investigation, coupled with the peace talks, small steps are being taken toward a worthwhile goal for Northern Ireland -- peace.

In December, Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein's president, met with Blair to advance the peace process. It was the first time in more than 75 years that a Sinn Fein delegate was in the position Adams was in. And although Blair is repeatedly criticized by some for his willingness to meet with Adams and others, he is responsible for a significant advancement in the peace process.

Despite the fact that the Northern Ireland situation is far from being resolved, those involved are working to make things better. This should serve as an example to other countries and groups in similar situations.

Just as Ireland's Protestants and Catholics have been fighting for years, so have the groups in the Middle East. The Israelis and Palestinians should pay close attention to what is being done with Northern Ireland and try similar tactics -- compromise and discussion.

It's time to begin moving past the years of conflict. As Adams said, "We are here to try and look forward, not to look backward, but to look forward to the future. We're trying to unravel centuries of history."