Prince Charles in Ireland

I agree Iam - Mandela and Tutu are also examples in a different context. They weren't 'fooled' by the Nationalists but knew that to move on, compromise and a veneer of civility towards past enemies was essential. That's what makes people 'statesmen'. I'm a rabid republican but I really respect Charles for being prepared to do this meeting and handshake - another step in the slow process. And Merlot, I'm surprised that you think anyone is 'fooled'. This wasn't about fooling but a symbol about about moving forward - it was a carefully thought through act that people considered would make a positive contribution to the Irish situation.

I'm not sure anyone commenting on here is "fooled" as you put it merlotgran. I'm sure Prince Charles isn't "fooled" either. Sometimes, the greater good means compromise and diplomacy. That is what we're seeing here imo.

Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness have re-invented themselves.

Many of us are not fooled.

Is it less insulting to call someone "crass"?
I don't know what you know about the peace process but acknowledging the efforts of all involved is a part of understanding it.

Didn't the dwindling funds for the IRA from America have something to do with it?

What makes you think you followed the peace process more carefully than I did?

"How do you think we came to the situation today? By some sort of magic"

Don't be so bloody insulting.

Yes jbf I admire Gerry Adams. It wasn't an easy decision to sign up to the peace process, there were amongst the IRA some people who thought of it as being a traitor to the cause. There still are some who regard him as such. He took a difficult decision and brought a movement with him. If he hadn't done so we might still be suffering the bombs and killings. How do you think we came to the situation today? By some sort of magic? The peace process needed the commitment of all concerned. Shaking hands with the Prince of Wales, Commander in Chief of the Paras, the regiment responsible for Bloody Sunday, shows an ability to move on that some people, less involved in the conflict than GA, seem to find impossible.

Not fear for myself jingle, fear for those in danger of harm ,

I think it helps me.

I felt fear during the early days of the troubles when it seemed impossible to spend any time in a store/theatre/cinema/court building in manchester without a bomb scare. Within a few weeks some kind of denial / resistance seemed to take hold of the population and we transformed into the kind of Brits who simply shrugged our shoulders, left the building, hung around outside (usually in the rain) until the all clear was given. The bomb in the Arndale centre rattled us but somehow made people even more determined not to "give in". What on earth does that mean? I remember a friend whose parents moved to manchester from ireland before she was born, saying "we'll be bombed to the negotiating table". How right she was.

I understand feelings of anger and mistrust, I've said earlier I share those feelings towards Gerry A and Martin M, as well as the gangsters who ran the UDA. I don't like extremism in any form but I don't believe that feeling hatred towards people helps any of us.

which side

I don't remember feeling any fear. You never think it will happen to you do you. I remember sadness and feeling anger. I remember hearing of a mother and her children killed by a bomb in Ireland, one of the children still in a pushchair. I don't know which was responsible, but I hated the perpetrators. Still do.

Jingle, the comments they bombed England too and the dead horses in Hyde Park, the fear felt by the English, I felt fear for the country and by country I mean the four countries of the UK

Who thinks that Anniebach? I doubt if anyone on here does.

"However" tenuous!

They don't have peace now. There are still bombings (one very recently) and shootings happening in Ulster and I refuse to believe that the men who were behind the Provos do not have associations - how we tenuous - with the so-called 'Real IRA'. Leopards don't change their spots that easily.

I just do not understand how anyone can think killing innocent people in England is so much worse than killing innocent people in Ireland , they are part of us, yet dead horses in England seem more brutal than dead people in Ireland . NIMBY it seems

Dreadful things have been done but we just have to move on.

This means putting aside these old hatreds and resentments or we will never have peace anywhere.

That does not always mean we have to forgive but unless we all stop holding grudges we will never have peace and reconciliation.

N Ireland isn't part of the UK, the innocent N I people are not British? Not part of us ? Killings in Hyde Park was an atrocity , Bloody Sunday can be dismissed because it didn't happen in England ?

Perhaps the cup of tea was provided by Mrs Doyle. Ah! Go on! Go on sir! Have a cup of tea and a sandwich! He would not have dared to refuse.

jings I am 100% with you. I would shake the hand of anyone who has genuine forgiveness for terrible evil committed against them. But I would never be able to shake the hand of the one who committed it.

To listen to Gerry Adams these days, you would think butter never melted in his mouth but he and McGuinness - especially the latter - have more blood on their hands than bears thinking about. If I were Prince Charles I would not have been able to be in the same room with either if them.

Have you forgotten Warrington? And all the others? Yes. Move on with peace. Forgiveness is something I, for one, can't manage.

You admire Jerry Adams???

That is crass.