Commentary on Northern Ireland

The power sharing agreement signed May 8^th in Northern Ireland between the Rev. Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionists, and Martin McGuinness, of Sinn Fein, is a huge step toward peace in a place that has been devastated by generations of bitter hatred, violence and bloodshed.

There are many reasons to suspect that the agreement will not hold. Among them;

· Each party remains committed to a political outcome that excludes the other;

· The two leaders are not co-equal in the agreement, and

· Even at the signing ceremony where Rev. Paisley and Mr. McGuinness were shaking hands with nearly everyone in the room, they didn’t shake hands with each other.

Still, this is such a huge step toward peace that it is almost universally seen as a tremendous coup for Tony Blair as he announced his resignation as the British Prime Minister.

“The Troubles” in Northern Ireland, as it has been known, has been one of the most intractable conflicts in the world. That the representatives of the most polarized parties to that conflict have been able to come together gives us reason for hope; and hope not just for other international hot spots like the Middle East and Africa, but even for our own work places, homes, and families.

Who among us has not thought, when considering a long-standing conflict with a family member or colleague at work, “That conflict just cannot be resolved.”

We may not yet see how or when a conflict may be resolved. But to say that it will not be, is to give ourselves permission to quit trying.

We can give thanks to the people of Northern Ireland that they have not quit trying.