Irish Republicanism - dead or just in hibernation?

Do you have any republican sympathies? Perhaps your family came from Ireland originally and you have quite strong views about the peace process? Are you a Republican or a Nationalist? Do you know the difference?

I was out tonight for the first time in quite a while for nothing but a drink in a local pub. It suddenly became obvious that the singer hired for the night was a republican. Ok, fine. I have a lot of sympathies with the problems that have been encountered with the fight for a united Ireland over the years. The act began with a couple of republican songs that I knew well and I didn't mind, however the songs became more and more bigoted and I started to feel uncomfortable. Then I realised the reason. Republicanism, as it was, a branch of extremist feeling that had ended in so many lives being lost on both sides of the Irish divide, should in this day and age be dead. But it isn't.

The marching season has just begun in the North and already there are injuries and riots and fights. No-one has looked at the historical background for any of these and called a halt saying, "perhaps in the 21st century we can find a solution!"

No-one had said, "perhaps our children are more important that bigotry?"

Unionism is to blame as much as Republicanism. It is EXTREMISM on both sides that has caused the problem.

Does no one remember the days of Apartheid in South Africa? Perhaps things seemed more "black and white"? (no pun intended) Perhaps everyone should look at the children in various parts of the planet and suddenly realise that prejudice of any sort damages a community.

Perhaps we should all realise that we actually should all want the same thing - not division - but unity and peace. Perhaps we should all just cop ourselves on!