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There is an unrealistic attitude on the part of some people
in Northern Ireland towards aspects of society post-ceasefires.
At its most extreme, the argument advanced by such people
is that the murders of many innocent Ulster people, while
regrettable, must be consigned to history, while the province
moves on.
Then there are the people who feel that Northern Ireland
needs a 'truth and reconciliation' commission along the lines
of the South African model, conveniently overlooking the fact
that the issues in that nation were completely different to
that in Northern Ireland.
Most recently, another argument being advanced by well-meaning
people, but totally unrealistic of the situation, is that
the 'peace walls' erected in Belfast, Londonderry, and Portadown
should be dismantled.
It is significant that most of the people who support the
case for removing the security walls live in 'safe' areas,
well away from the potentially volatile interface areas.
Happily, there has been a distinct reduction in serious incidents
at interfaces during the past year, and hopefully this will
continue to be the case.
But most people living in the areas adjacent to the peace
walls feel that they can sleep more peacefully in their beds,
and go about their daily business, because of the presence
of the walls.
That applies to people from both communities, and the demand
for their removal rarely comes from the folk living on each
side of the peace walls.
Protestants living in vulnerable areas of North and West
Belfast would not be in favour of the demolition of the peace
walls. It is not that long ago that houses in areas like Workman
Avenue, Glenbryn, Tiger's Bay, and Manor Street were under
attack.
And even in predominately Protestant East Belfast, people
in loyalist Cluan Place were subjected to fierce attacks just
a few years ago.
In Londonderry, the small Protestant community in the Fountain
estate, the last loyalist enclave on the west bank, regularly
come under attack, and they would certainly not want the security
wall to be taken down.
It is very regrettable that such measures are deemed necessary,
but that is the reality, and no amount of naïve will
convince the people protected by the security walls that this
is the opportune time for their removal.
Northern Ireland is not alone in having such security walls.
In Israel, similar structures have been erected by the army
to protect its citizens from bomb and missile attacks from
extreme Palestinian forces.
All decent people will hope that the time will come when
the peace walls disappear in Belfast and other places, but
the memories of uproar on the streets, forced removal of people
from their houses and districts are too vivid for them to
come down now.
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