Peace Walls and Memories

by Patrick Brown 
On Thursday we visited Belfast on a tour bus. During this tour we picked up a couple of guest speakers, at separate times and in separate places. Both were ex-participants in their respective para-military organizations during "the troubles," and they served as tour guides on the drive through their respective neighborhoods.

In spite of the "ceasefire" agreements of 1997, the neighborhoods are still distinctly separated by a formidable barrier, known euphemistically as "the peace wall." The wall originally started out at around 15 feet high, made of block or concrete. This barrier was sufficient to slow down human access to the other side, however it did nothing to prevent an occasional "petro bomb" (a local variety of Molotov Cocktail) from being thrown over the wall (in either direction) onto the adjoining houses.

Indomitable "Authorities" then topped the concrete with an additional 15 feet of corrugated metal fencing. This stopped the routine "petro bomb," but was useless against sling-shot-launched projectiles. The indubitable solution, was yet another barrier - 15 feet of finely meshed and tightly strung heavy wire, added atop the corragated metal. The resulting "peace wall" is approximately 45 feet high and runs for quite a few blocks around the area. I could not help but wonder if this is the type of wall that Donald Trump envisions when he talks of building a "great" wall across our southern border?

The "Peace Wall"

Our tour through each neighborhood included multiple stops to get off the bus and view the numerous "murals" that appear like billboards of some not-to-be forgotten past. Most are kept in pristine condition and we were told that many of the more violent murals have been painted over with gentler reminders of past sorrows or battles won. In one area, small red metal "poppies" were embedded into walls to serve as poignant reminders of lost lives.

The "bogside" in Derry is also adorned with murals. I am not sure how I really feel about all this symbolism. As a proud American veteran, I think it is good to remember our "heroes." However, I also remember driving through the southern United States in the 1970s and seeing all the out-of-date and outworn Confederate battle flags proudly displayed, as if the battle was about to begin again.

Belfast Wall Murals

Peace Activist and Facilitator Maureen Hetherington, our guest lecturer today, mentioned that the trouble with monuments is that they don't include the names of all the innocent victims (woman, children, parents, family, friends) that have also suffered.

This trip to Northern Ireland has certainly provided many powerful images and thought provoking insights.