A few general comments on the situation in Ireland.
It is a very sad and dark one. The aim of the Catholics, in general, is a united ireland. The republic of Ireland (Eire) which forms the far larger part of the island, is mainly catholic - very catholic in fact. There are protestants there, but they are generally few in number.
Northern Ireland has a Protestant Community which slightly outnumbers the Catholic community. Hence in voting, the 'Unionist' (standing for retaining the Union of Great Britain) parties tend to get the largest vote. Generally speaking, Unionist = Protestant. However, not all catholics support a united Ireland.
In the current climate of european rejection of God, there are not many true believers either side of the border. What y'all must understand is that in Ireland (or Eire) and particularly Northern Ireland, being protestant or catholic isn't really about faith. It is a social/tribal divide. The protestants historically controlled most things in the north, hence they had the best jobs and 'kept down' the catholics. SO you would have a working class/lower class that was mainly catholic and a middle/upper class that was mainly protestant. Thankfully this inequality is slowly changing. Northern Ireland was historically far more prosperous than the Republic, as the UK poured money in. The European Union has done a lot to raise the prosperity of Eire in modern times so that the difference is less pronounced.
To emphasise this more - if you went to Northern Ireland you would be asked 'are you Protestant or Catholic?'. You might reply 'neither. I'm an atheist'. They would say, 'okay then, are you a protestant atheist or a catholic atheist?' and judge you accordingly.
There is no war between Eire and the United Kingdom odf Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most folks deplore the violence and bloodshed. In recent years there has been very little action, and attacks against the UK have largely ceased. To be honest, you yanks have had it easy against terrorists up to Sept 11. Men women and children have been blown up in the UK for generations. I suppose we get a bit used to it!
There are extremists on both sides of the divide, who are or have been terrorists. Sinn Fein, the Republican pro-Eire party, generally supported by 'Catholics' is closely linked with the Provisional Irish Republican Army, although it denies the link. The Unionists likewise have links with terrorist groups, although they deny these - and in the main I would say that the links are not as close. There are protestant politicians (like Ian Paisley) who are in my opinion genuinely christian believers.
The sadness I feel over it all is that such a man as Paisley, in my opinion, wastes his time with politics when the lasting work of the Kingdom could provide a far better use for all his talents. I do not see what place the bitter world of politics has in the life of the genuine believer who has a far more important message to proclaim. But the two seem linked, inextricably.
Hence true christians in ireland (both sides of the border) have a heck of a problem in witness, as by association they are tarred with a very black brush!
Me personally? I have no view. I say let the population of Northern Ireland have the say. AS long as the majority want to be part of the UK, let them stay. I think one day this might change.
