These things escalate because everyone always tends to focus on the differences in ideology rather than working on the more abundant commonalities. My homeland has of course taken this to the extreme. Only in Northern Ireland can two people have been brought up in the same street, go to the same school, have the same colour skin, and the same religion (christianity) and still have their marriage considered 'mixed' (i.e. protestant & catholic).
Stephen Ewart
My grandfather, whom, it was rumored, came to America to escape the noose, had a saying about Ireland. As best as my memory can render it:
Ireland is country with no future. It has only the past happening over and over again.
The FFF monthly publication, _Freedom Daily_, ran three different article series on Ireland and the Irish in the last 6 or 7 months, one of which was by Wendy McElroy.
It was very, very interesting. The same kind of polarization based upon "ideology" is happening in the US, with this endless harping on "red" vs. "blue" states.
I recommend the FFF publication highly, and the FFF web page will have a full archive of the articles in _Freedom Daily_ but delayed a few months to entice you to subscribe to the magazine. I don't mind because I've been subscribed since I first heard about them in 1997.
I haven't seen the article series yet, but I'd be dubious about drawing any conclusions regarding IRELAND, especially since the quote is talking about NORTHERN IRELAND.
I'll look out for the series if it becomes available.
Right now I'm looking for a house, a job, and car. Starting all over again :) Haven't been mssing the auld sod too much yet!