Love thy neighbour?

Over the last couple of weeks we attended two weddings. The first one in Jersey was understandably attended by lots of guests who are to some extent unfamiliar with all the politics of Northern Ireland. The second one was attended by lots of English people, again unfamiliar in a lot of cases with our troubled past. Situations like these usually afford the opportunity to talk about 'the troubles.' Someone asks, so, you give your best 'politically correct' yet honest truthful answer! I talked a few times about the optimism for a better future, the amazing progress of the last ten years and the development of many parts of our little country. Belfast got many compliments from me, i love how it has changed in my lifetime. Anyway, you say all these things and then as if to remind us that we needn't get too carried away, the news reminds us that we still live in a deeply troubled land. Hey, the world is a crazy place BUT we should win prizes on this island for petty useless thuggery. Regardless of what it is, why it happens or what the perpetrators hope to achieve, this stuff is just wrong and i wonder will we ever be rid of it.................

BBC news story to explain what i am on about!!