What is the solution to the Irish border?

[MegCleary]

Keen to hear, as I am struggling.

@54321go - how old are you?

@54321go - it was as resolved as it could be with GFA. Fucking that up is not something NI has done.

I am 10, my mum told me not to go fighting in the playground.
The GFA has not been scrapped (yet) so what's the excuse for any ongoing problems as it has been 'in force' for 20 years?
I can use bad language too, but it's not polite in public.

Ah, now I see where your "why can't everyone be nice/you're as bad as each other" analysis comes from.

My impression as an English person who spent most of her childhood in Wales, so has a slightly non-English perspective, is that the ordinary people in NI were sick of the violence and loss of life. So they found a hard won compromise in the GFA. This has now been trashed by the Leave voters who voted because they were beguiled by empty slogans of 'sovereignty', 'take back control' and believed Farage's lies. A much more astute politician than Theresa May or any of the expensively schooled idiots who inhabit her Cabinet would have known that the GFA was a key issue, that had to be treated with the utmost respect and care. It's 100% England's fault now - the vote in NI was for Remain, by both Catholic and Protestant communities.

There are loads of things that could be done to improve the situation here. But they all cost money and no one wants to spend money. Similar to social problems in the rest of the UK, but with an added dimension.

54321go

Those bombing and maiming are either patriots or terrorists depending on your point of view.

I asked you to read the part of the GFA I quoted for a reason, because you didn't seem to realise what the fighting was for. You've just showed me that you didn't and still don't. If you don't know what the fighting was for and you don't understand the levels of fear people still live with I don't think your opinions are really worth sharing on this thread. All you are achieving is displaying the level of unconcern and ignorance (I mean this in the genuine don't know rather than insulting) regarding Northern Ireland that seems to be unfortunately common in the rest of the UK. Don't know and don't care.

I often wonder why Unionists want to be part of the UK. The rest of the UK don't seem to care about them at all.

Well it is certainly not London's fault is it -as we were overwhelmingly for Remain and most MPs were for Remain too so it is people outside London. Don't blame Londoners or all of the English.

I think most people do not post on this mind of thread (and no one would dare after the strengh of feeling becomes clear) so those of us happily engaged in debate perhaps need a pat on the back from our polite pleasant Irish neighbours may be?

I apologise to anybody from the Unionist community for my last comment. It was insensitive to your traditions and heritage. I do understand your position in wanting to be part of the UK. I often think it must be very hurtful when other people from the UK don't.

those of us happily engaged in debate perhaps need a pat on the back from our polite pleasant Irish neighbours may be?

😂😂😂😂

54321go you are still demonstrating nothing but arrogant, imperialistic opinion. You appear to be incapable of anything else.

Maybe you would be 'happier' if this had been settled 100 years or more ago by genocide

True colours revealed.
What a charmer you are.
Off you fuck now, please.

Haven’t RTFT but just wanted to say that I was appalled at the dismissive way the issue of NI was treated in the run up to the referendum. I am now even more annoyed at having to listen to comments like ‘the Paddies are interfering and mucking up Brexit’ and ‘why don’t they just leave the EU with us’.

I have been attempting to get any suggestions for 'improvement' of the situation in NI with open questions such as 'what would improve matters' but no it is the same old 'we were persecuted 300 years ago and we need to still have violent demonstrations about it'.
As a further question, roughly how many people of all sides are prepared to engage in violence and risk, by accident or being caught, death or serious injury. Is it around 50, 100, 300? As a society how are you prepared to let so few blight the whole community for exactly what 'gain'.
Bear in mind that over the last few days over 70 have tragically perished in Greece due to wildfires.

300 years ago? Goodness me.

the people in NI need to follow the GFA 'rules' and overall, stop fighting

The vast majority of people in NI do no fighting. Have you been to NI recently? Have you spoken to NI residents? Do you honestly believe we are all chucking petrol bombs over 14ft barbed wires fences? That we are all either parading around in orange sashes or draping tricolours over coffins while firing rifles into the sky?

Just want to put a thank you out there to people like Peregrina who do their best to understand both sides and the reasons for the conflict.

Is it still the case that Protestants want to stay as part of the UK, and Catholics want reunification, or have things got less black and white in the time since the GFA?

No it isn’t the case and hasn’t been as black and white as that since at least my parents were born in the 50’s. They certainly weren’t raised as republicans and didn’t raise me as a republican. I know my grandparents didn’t want that either. They wanted peace. That’s all. Just peace. It’s what most people still want. Just peace.

54321go, how cloth eared can one person be. A few posts above you is a poster talking about a British soldier pointing a gun at her as a child and you talk about persecution 300 years ago? You are so unbelievably ignorant about Britain’s activities in Northern Ireland I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Bloody Sunday? British forces/loyalist terrorist collusion? And the genocide 100 years ago that would have solved things, is that of the Catholic or Protestant population?

If we don't talk and try to understand each other we will get nowhere so I am pleased with everyone's contribution on the thread.

We have divisions and differences in England too of course and a history of those differences so I don't think we are entirely lacking in understanding - we have people who find it hard to get jobs just because they are black or some from Sunderland where my mother is from.

I just checked believe in God in ireland. 70% do and in the UK they are now under 50% . i was going to suggest that once invented Gods come out of the picture we might all live happier side by side. We English Remainers are certainly united with both bits of Ireland surely much more than any English Brexiteer is?

'we were persecuted 300 years ago and we need to still have violent demonstrations about it'.

Yet if you had read these threads closely, 54321 you will have seen Somerville reporting that her daughter was driven past a bonfire in NI only a few days ago, with 'Death to Taigs' emblazoned upon it. Who is being violent there?

Thanks Apileof ballyhoo (which I am sure you are not!) I do my best to understand.

{You do sound like a rotten specimen of humanity.}
For simply asking questions?
Apart from your helpful appraisal of the situation there have been no other real suggestions about a way forward apart from telling me to 'F345' off. I am of course fully aware that the bombing and whatever are not a regular occurrence, and you will see I asked roughly how many 'you' (those who live in NI) think are deep seated converts to the violent cause. (no answer yet). I mentioned genocide, but not which 'faction' should stay or go.
For so many of you to say 'its difficult' and we need to struggle on without attempting to explain WHY it need be so (thank you Heartsease) will mean that any form of sympathy/understanding will not be forthcoming.
The GFA was signed about 20 years ago, why are there significant numbers without suitable employment, over and above the situations in NE, SW and indeed many parts of Britain? Do they expect handouts or are there other factors preventing the creation of jobs?
My point about not to be seen to be fighting MAY be a clue. Those with money to invest from outside NI will want reassurance that investment will not be destroyed.
I ask again, how would the people of NI want to move forward? It's an open question and I am not taking an imperialist view. The imperialist stance taken by Britain has always been wrong and it is now coming home to roost how wrong it was.
I realised that by asking any questions on a thread about NI there would be a considerable amount of negativity but I am really disappointed that so few are able to hold a constructive dialogue and simply prefer to tell me to '£$%^ off'. You have an opportunity to correct any incorrect things I have written but it would appear it is all too difficult. The simple concept of 'not fighting' and show some unity is not for my benefit but yours. The GFA was a decent start. The EU don't want it 'broken' and for what it is worth (nothing) nor do I. I do appreciate it is a tough call but only you can make the changes that are necessary to move forward in peace.