We saw the long-term effects of violence in Northern Ireland: The U.S. can avoid the abyss

Published June 13, 2024

With the November 2024 elections drawing closer, many people have been discussing the specter of political violence. I recently joined a group of 25 faith and community leaders from across the United States on a trip to Northern Ireland focused on that same topic — by examining the aftermath of the 30-year violence there known as The Troubles. The trip was jointly sponsored by The Carter Center and Rethinking Conflict, a nonprofit working on conflict transformation, peace building and reconciliation.

During our meetings with various leaders of Northern Ireland, which included victims of the political violence, terrorism and bombings, our group got a glimpse into the abyss — the abyss of what a community looks like when it devolves into two armed camps, groups of people who have de-humanized each other, and then tries to pick up the pieces afterwards. The vivid images of violence, destruction, fear and trauma will long remain in my memory.

Rev. Dr. Gary Mason, a Methodist minister who founded Rethinking Conflict in 2015 and who organized most of the meetings for us, gave us perspective on the extent of this violence. With over 3,500 deaths and more than 47,000 people injured during The Troubles, in a country with a population of only 1.5 million, it would be equivalent to over 9 million casualties, with over 750,000 deaths, had it occurred at the same level in the US.

The Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, brought peace and compromise to a divided Northern Ireland. Those with whom we met showed deep gratitude for the sustained and cross-partisan role that the US played in bringing about this peace. President Clinton became the first sitting U.S. President to visit Northern Ireland in 1995, and he appointed Sen. George Mitchell of Maine to chair the peace talks.

But what stuck with us was not the details of the peace.

We heard from people on both sides who lost family members, and who are still reduced to tears when they tell the story of how their loved ones died — even 30 years later. We heard from Catholic cab drivers who are still afraid to drive through Protestant areas of town. We saw the wall that still divides Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods — a wall that has been reinforced with additional height two times and has gates that are locked at night. We stayed at the Europa Hotel, that has the dubious distinction of being the most bombed hotel in the world, suffering over 30 bombings through the years of The Troubles.

Yes, there are new buildings going up in Belfast, and the nightlife seems lively, but the pain and trauma are still palpable.

Many Americans are surprised at the violence that occurred between Catholics and Protestants, both Christian denominations, but we learned that these faith identities encompass much more — political connections to the British Empire, cultural identities, history, family connections and more. Our political divisions in the US are similarly complex.

Central Press/AFP via Getty Imag

Political violence leaves scars that do not heal easily — and some never heal. Violence turns many against the original cause, and leaves a path of destruction and pain in its wake that impacts generations to come.

We in America can say no to this type of partisan and sectarian polarization and violence. As all major faith traditions teach, we should treat each other with dignity and respect, however much we may disagree. We can support democratic solutions through engaging with our elected officials, being active and informed citizens, encouraging others to vote and even contributing to political campaigns.

And in the end, we should peacefully accept the results of secure elections. If our candidate does not win, we look to the next election and still engage with those in office to share our concerns. Faith leaders are trusted messengers in their communities and can play a pivotal role by sharing such messages during this election season — and beyond.

We call on others to share in this vision, and to support democracy, with all its flaws. We can speak out against violence, whenever it occurs, and encourage others to do the same. We can vote, and encourage others to do so. If you are interested in joining our Faith Forward Democracy network, you can learn more at our website, NCTrustedElections.org.