Good evening, I have just finished up reading some of the most powerful expressions of what it was to live in N. Ireland through the troubles. They were probably so powerful because I lived them. I know the street names. I rode my bike and delivered my Irish News and “Teles” to some of those addresses. As I read, I recall the experiences, the soldiers’ accents, the emotions, and the smells of the many times I was stopped and “checked out”. I will share this site with my wife, as I have never been able to fully explain what it was to grow up in Belfast. Perhaps this will help her and my children understand why I prefer not to discuss this aspect of my childhood and young adult life. As I read, I re-experienced the atmosphere at hunger strikers’ funerals, being gassed during Operation Motorman, ducking from rubber bullets and plastic baton rounds and cooking in the back garden on the outside fire during the general strike The irony of this is that I am sitting in my office at work. I am and active duty US military officer, (one of many from N. Ireland including my wee brother) who teaches young officers how to approach irregular warfare and counter-insurgency. These are hot topics for the US military as you might expect. I find that as I approach the preparation of these young officers I am drawing ever more frequently on my experiences in Northern Ireland. You have started an amazing project. A truth and reconciliation process similar to the one in S. Africa was probably never going to happen in N. Ireland however, you have created a virtual place for our parents, us and our children to travel back and hear perspectives of the events of the troubles that would otherwise be lost. I applaud you for your commitment to your children and to their understanding of what we, as humans, are capable of doing to each other when we fail to understand the basic humanity we all share. We condemn ourselves and our children to repeat the mistakes of the past when we fail to educate the succeeding generations about our failures. Continue this great work. One day I will return to my home. I had to leave. My choices were narrowing by the day. I am glad that my nieces and nephews do not have to face the choices we had to. Keep up the good work. I have thought hard about signing my name to this… To this day I still worry that my family left behind will be subject to something?? I know this is not a reasonable thought but it is a legacy of the troubles I still carry. Maybe one day I will not have this baggage.
Until then, Major, United States Air Force Proud graduate of Saint Oliver Plunkett Primary School and the streets of Lenadoon, Belfast
