The Good Friday/Belfast Agreement reflects on its 21 years of peace and future post-Brexit @BelfastAgmt
It has been quite a run that we’ve had all of us, together. Many of you will doubtless remember the time before 1998 and what it was like. We have all, to a greater or lesser extent, broadly all grown closer together, with a better and more genuine level of interaction across community and religious divides.
One thing that strikes me, however, as I watch the world go around me from my table in Lavery’s, is that the core issue of identity that was at the heart of our previous difficulties hasn’t gone away, rightly or wrongly.
Our peace is still very much defined by identity
In the past, the constriction on identity and behaviour was very much bland, decrepit and self deceitful. Limited only to Catholic or Protestant, masculine and feminine.
But, since 1998, the growth of divergent and differing identities that are often combined with a mix of old and ancient identities, is a rewarding sight to see.
We are all of us free at last to be who we desire to be and it is this that is a key indicator of peace.
I and our peace may not last beyond October 31st – peace as a concept may, but be watchful over in my absence – when those old totemic, singular identities can be observed to dominate again – when groups or individuals begin to enforce their standards of customs on others, then our peace is really in danger.
So, be watchful friends. Stand up for the others in your life – every minority, every right, every expression of those that were not allowed free participation in our society in years past.
And, just maybe, with the safeguarding of our diversity, then our peace might survive…