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When partitioning occured,(this is only my opinion) the only real industry was in the North, the south being almost wholly dependent on an Agraian society. The Empire at the time was also the worlds greatest Naval power. The Belfast shipyards were the largest and most diverse in the world. (and could be again). There was no way they were going to give that or the other industry away.

When the cesefire first occured years ago, reinvestment started and people were able to work, tourism increased, and things were looking good. For the first time, in many years. the people of N.I. had hope and the paramilitaries on both sides suddenly found it a bit more difficult to recruit. They may have also seen a bit of their own personal power and influence disappearing.

There are professional trouble makers on both sides, we both acknowledge that. They hide behind High Ideals while screwing the people they say they support. I've heard basically the same things being said in the pubs of Falls Road and on Royal Victoria St. in Belfast. Duty, Honor, and God are common to both sides, and both sides have a dark sinister side that they don't want to see the light of day. Drugs are sold by both sides, and punishment squads are sent out by both sides.

The most heart breaking are the children. I remember one young lad being yelled at by his older brother, ALL Catholics are Fenian Bastards and F*cking Papists. On the other side of town I observed a young lad being egged on by his older brother, "Throw the rock at the soldier Sean." The kid chunked a rock and missed. The kid yells at him, "You missed, you don't love your mother. The younger kid almost in tears says, "I do love me mother."

Hate is taught by both sides. There will have to be a change of heart that will start in the Church's and the Orange Halls, instead of being ostracized for working together, maybe it's time to ostracize for NOT wrking together. The U.K. is not perfect and UK intelligence will do what it will do, but only under orders from Whitehall.

I believe there are honorable individuals on both sides, I've observed many concessions given to the IRA during the talks, but can't remember anything significant being given by them, until NOW. We will decommission our arms dumps. I need that spelt out to me what does that mean? If it means the destruction of weapons,I think the IRA is on to something. Be truthful and forthright and publicly either destroy the weapons, or Hell make some money and sell them to us.(You know us crazy Texans, we don't ever have too many guns. By the way I'll take you to a machine gun shoot if you're ever here in Dallas. It will be a blast.)