Basic HTML Version
IRELAND
(Continued from page 24)
politician, to promoting the inter–
esls of the great Protestant land–
lords" (page 20 2,
Dublin from
Downing Street).
Poli lical and religious bigotry
became mingled together, remain–
ing so to this day. Although there
have been economic and political
aspects, the Ulster- lrish question
has always been colored by reli–
gious conflict.
At the Battle of the Boyne in
1690, for example, it was a mat ter
of a Protestant king (William 111)
being victorious over a Catholic one
(James
11).
That battle is cele–
brated every year on the 12th of
July by Ulster Protestants. To
lhem it is a reminder of when the
Protestant cause was victorious in
the hour of t riumph. But to the
Catholics, it is a reminder of
defeat. These yearly celebrations
furthe r inflame bitterness and
halred.
Why No Peace?
When
1
trave1ed thro ugh the
Republic of Ireland,
1
saw a beauti–
ful and peaceful counlry . Although
there have been occasional riots in
Dublin, the people are living in har–
mony with each other as a whole.
In Ga1way,
1
saw young gi r1s walk–
ing or cycl ing on the streets late at
night without any fear.
But lhere is no peace in North–
ern lreland. Why? The racial, reli–
gious and political differences are
cont ributing factors. But the Bible
reveals another, more important,
reason.
When God chose ancient Israel
lo be his nation, he revealed a code
of law as a basis for their way of life
( Deu t. 32:45-47). This special
knowledge would make them an
exceptionally wise and understand–
ing nation. So much so that other
nations would marvel and say,
" 'Surely this great nation is a wise
and understanding people.' And
what great nation is there, that has
statutes and ordinances so righ–
teous as aii this law which 1 sel
before you this day?" (Deut. 4:6, 8,
Revised Standard Version through–
out article).
The many blessings ancient
44
Israel would receive as a result of
obeying God's commandments are
enumerated in Levit icus 26. Notice
one blessing in verse 6, "And 1 will
give peace in the land, and you
shal l lie down, and none shall make
you afraid." If the nation were to
go the way of selfishness and jeal–
ousy, God said curses would come
as a penalty: "Cursed shall you be
in the city, and c ursed shall you be
in the field" (Deut. 28:16).
That is happening in Notthern
lreland today. People live in fear.
The nation is under a curse for vio–
lating a spiritual law God set in
motion at creation-to love your
neighbor as yourself. Sir Thomas
More aptly described the history of
Ireland by saying, "The curse of
discord has ever been on this
land."
There is a cause for every effect.
This "curse of discord" is th e
direct result of violating the spiri–
tual law that regulales human rela–
tionships- a nd governs human
conduct. This law shows how to live
God's way. It shows how to live at
peace with one's neighbor.
The apostle Paul 's words de–
scribe Ireland's terrorists: "Their
mouth is full of curses and bitter–
ness. Their feet are swift to shed
blood, in their paths are ruin and
misery, and
t he way of peace they
do not know"
(Rom. 3: 14-1 7).
T he way o f peace is revealed by
God's Iaw. "Great peace have
those who !ove thy law," David
prayed to his God (Ps. 119: 165).
Not on1y did he !ove and respect
God's law, as the king with sover–
eign authority he e nforced it in
ancient Israel.
To have peace in any nation,
there must be a consti tuted author–
ily to state the law, state the pun–
ishment and then see that the law–
breakers are punished justly, swift–
ly and consistently.
When the law is not enforced,
crime and violence will increase.
The painful result is anarchy and
gun law. That has happened in
Northern lreland.
Respect for law and order- so
fundamental to the English way of
life- has not been a national char–
acleris tic of the Irish. That's the
observation of Dervla Murphy in
her book
A Place Apart.
She said
her people are more individualistic
than the English. " It is not in our
nature to obey any Authori ty sim–
ply because it is there" (page 19).
Irish hi sto ry is filled with
accounts of rebellion against the
constituted authority of the day
whether it was exercised by the
Danish, Engl ish or Scottish lords.
One roan summed up the sit uation
in a nutshell when he said: "Under
our system, you can govern people
only to the extent that they wish to
be governed. And by now, big
numbers in the North, on both
si des, do not wish to be gov–
erned."
Rebelllon Agalnst Authority
Such an attitude was illustrated las t
November by the actions of Jan País–
ley, a member of Parliament for Bel–
fast and a Protestant minister. After
Prime Minister Margaret Thalcher
discussed in lhe House of Commons
the plan for organizing an Anglo–
Irish council to include the prime
minister of the Republic in Southern
lreland, Garret Fitzgerald , Mr. País–
ley called her a liar and a traitor. He
then stated he would embark on a
program to make Northern I reland
" ungovernable."
The Bible commands both sides:
"Strive for peace with all men" and
" be at peace among yourselves"
(Heb. 12:14 and
1
Thess. 5: 13).
Bombing a million Protestants into
a United Ireland is not the way lo
peace. Nei ther is organizing Prot–
estant murder-gangs to fight
against Catholic murder- gangs.
That's the way to sectarian civil
war.
Reunification is not a magic
cure-all for the Irish problem. The
problem is how to share an island in
conditions of peace and reasonable
fairness . How can people of differ–
ent ethnic origins, religions and
political views live together with
toleration toward one another ?
Cooperation- rather than divi–
sive antagonistic action- leads to
social quietness.
lf
reunification is
out of the question, the North and
South can at least develop the habit
of working together on matters of
common interest. Such matters as
trade, secur ity and the common use
of energy resources. But are politi–
cians willing to work together in
these areas?
Both Catholics and Protestants
The PLAIN TRUTH