'In Ireland, Tuesday’s Grace'

20 Jun 201036
'ONE of the most extraordinary days in the mottled history of the island of Ireland was witnessed on both sides of the border last Tuesday.

The much-anticipated and costly Saville report... the 12-years-in-the-making inquiry into 'Bloody Sunday', a day never to be forgotten in Irish politics... was finally published.

On that day, Jan. 30, 1972, British soldiers fired on a civil rights march in the majority Catholic area of the Bogside in Derry, killing 14 protesters.

It was a day that caused the conflict between the two communities in Northern Ireland €” Catholic nationalist and Protestant unionist - to spiral into another dimension...'

Read Bono's latest column for the New York Times.
Comments
36
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lassche
DON`T BE AFRAIT FOR PARALYSE
BE STRONG BONO AND KEEP GOING FOR THE LONG WAY TO THE LIGHT........................................... PLEASE 4 TICKETS FOR THE GIG IN HANNOVER FOR THE LONG TALLEST U2 FAN IN HISTERY: PLEASE GET UP OF YOUR KNEES, PLEASE. GO ON WITH EXERCISES FOR YOU BAG: GREETINGS FOM A PHYSICAL THERAPIST, U2-FAN- HOUSEMAN, WRITER, TRAINSPOTTER, LOVER, MASSEUR AND LONG DISTANCE RUNNER(RUNNING TO STAND STILL)! LOVE AND LIHGT FROM THE VERTIGO-HUNTER: DETLEV LASSCHE(YOU KNOW MY NAME, WHERE SHALL I ENTER MY NAME? FROM THE UNDERGROUND OLDENZAAL I SEE BY, BY.
missyboo
Powerful
My sister & I just got back from a 17 day trip to Ireland. It was especially poignant for us because we were connecting with our family history in the North. Our grandfather had been interned on a prison ship in the Belfast Lough from June 1922-December 1924. We got to see the file they kept on him and his brother while they were interned for those 2 1/2 years. As we read the letters from his sisters requesting visitation of their brothers and requesting their release so that they could assist their mother who needed the men to come home to help with their farm back in Gortin, our hearts grew heavy. We then went on to Derry to visit our cousin whose wife was at Bloody Sunday. Being in these places and getting a first hand account of the events at Bloody Sunday have weighed SO heavy on my heart since we have left the North. I appreciate Bono's commentary so as to remind those of us who are so far away from this terrible conflict that there is a sense of hope for the future. I will continue to keep Protestants and Catholics of Ireland in my prayers. The people of Ireland are so amazingly special. They deserve all the happiness that life can bring them. Slainte! Joanne Gonzales, Oceanside, California
Jim Bacon
Thanks
Wow
withathankfulheart
In God's Time
He is there, at last in a glimmer of light, it sounds like the peacemakers are stepping out into the light. Praise God!
JOLANTA
Wanting to let you know
The Music has made me a better person, thank-you. Waiting in Edmonton until you get better!
Moving
Such a moving artice, loved it. Get well soon, see you in Paris!
Moving
Such a moving artice, loved it. Get well soon, see you in Paris!
pault9
Sorrow
Bono, a moving article, some of it feels more like a ballad. Marc, being sorry for the deaths on one side does not imply that other deaths were more justified. The death of anyone is a tragedy. The wounds of NI are slowly healing, it would be good to be able to say the same of other conflicts. There are too many pointless deaths in the world. I don't come to this view lightly, 20 years ago I was a member of the forces, I didn't sign up with a death wish, or to do wrong by others. I signed up to defend this country and our freedom. Best regards Paul, I hope you are recovering well, looking forward to San Sebastian. AF Paul
bawbby
Bawbby
Gracefully done. Heal up and get your arse back to Seattle, you owe us a concert ;p
Renas menas
Thank You
My husband is a soldier that has served several times in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am so impressed by the last part of this column. Thank You. Peace doesn't happen over night. It is hard and there will be mistakes but we must not give up. Northern Ireland is a shining light. They have much work to be done but it shows what can happen if we don't give up. There can be peace in the Middle east. No one wants peace on earth more than a soldier and a soldiers family. Always pray for peace. God Bless
diana2deth
38yrs to finally get the truth of it.
YES's Jon Anderson said it best:All 'Religion' means is one group of people wagging their fingers at another group and informing 'them' how much better or more pious they are..I grew up in an Irish RC house where they made sure I attended services every Sunday;but my parents never accompanied me-Pomp,ceremony,hypocrisy,and inebriating incense are all I recall about Sunday 'Mass'.The Irish were freer and less repressed before St. Patrick came to our lovely Island and dinked around with our Spirituality;here's to the ancestral ways and good old days..May You get well at light-speed,live long &prosper Bono Dearest..
petemcartman
hi,bono hope you are getting better, had the same op 12 months ago, take it easy man
SacredRose
Healing
A very powerful and moving article that makes me think of my lineage of my Dad/Protestant and my Mom/Catholic and how the two came together and found peace with each other. I was in the womb when Bloody Sunday happened and I never knew what an impact it would make upon my own life of living in the states. God bless all who died and their families for going through what they have. Grace is abound and has been brought to the forefront. Peace & Grace to all.
virgopolaris
well done
would like to read on, will look forward to the next one.
villamarc
Birmingham pub bombings
PLEASE,PLEASE let us not forget the 21 innocent civilians killed & 182 injured on 21st November 1974 in the Birmingham pub bombings.
tan_lejos_tan_cerca
Some light relief
The lost lives can't be brought back, but it was necessary that the truth was recognized to start recovering the wounds. It really has been something unusual and an example for the world. Things can slowly change for the better... and yes, we would need a change. Thank you so much for your so lucid words!!
anjuna
At-One-Ment...
There can never be a price put on truth or justice.Hopefully the people of our island can continue to move further forward towards a brighter future,at one with each other.
Bloody Sunday
Least we not forget the other 6 Bloody days of the week ....Enniskillen, Omagh, Guildford, Warrington, Brighton, london etc.....Murderer's should never be given a voice or a place in society regardless from which backround they come from!!! Peace all the way!!!
electricco
Bloody Sunday . . .
Still Writing The Song . . . Anyway !
elsa11
Visit Derry
My husband and I visited Derry last year and after a private tour along the murals and the monuments of Bloody Sunday and having been in the Museum of Free Derry we understood what an impact that day had and still has. And how the people were waiting for the result of the inquiry. We were very, very impressed. Later on, in Dublin on the the 25th of July 2009, hearing Sunday Bloody Sunday in Croke Park gave us shivers down our spine, realizing now more than ever what that song means for the Irish and the people in Northern Ireland.
Celticjohnny
A moving & an emotional Tuesday
A moving article by Bono that was written with an articulated and emotionally mood. I can still remember that Black & White TV image, as a seven year old from Cork, of Father Daly, who is now Bishop of Derry, with that handkerchief as British Army bullets and anarchy was spraying the streets of Derry to its innocent victims. Justice has been finally been done and it was so, so refreshing to hear a British PM, and a Conservative British PM at that, to finally apologize for those atrocities that were committed when David Cameron was a five year old! I was equally moved by a post by, a fellow Irish and U2 fan, FargaloDerry with the personal account of that dreadful day. Thank you for sharing “Your memories, my memories”. As for you Bono, hopefully I´ll see you in Seville on September 29th, where I now live. Therefore, good luck with the back recuperation.
norwaylad
Let The Healing Begin
That littel island out in the atlantic ocean has suffered long enough - hopefully this is The End . Lets reise up and look to the future , a future for all Irish men and women North & South of the border . Make Music Not War.
nick12202
How Long.
Bono, you finally have your answer to that most famous of musical questions - "How Long, how long must we sing this song?" - It's just a shame that the question still applies to so many other current situations. Get well, my friend. You have some rocking to do!
celticfc09
The only good piece of the NYT
is Bono
BONOBOMUSIC
Justice!
At last, justice, but it won't bring back the victims of this awfull crime. I was in Derry in 2007, went to see the museum in Glenfada Park and the Bloody Sunday monument. I will never forget that day! Robert, The Netherlands
Hammy441
God is in the details
We're not sunk as long as we still believe in the dignity of humankind. In contrast to the tragic events of January 30th, 1972 my beautiful daughter was born on that day 28 years later. My wedding anniversary pre-dates 9/11/01 by exactly eight years. On these dark days these blessings help to remind me that God is still at work. Hope and faith can take them back.
Yogic
Silence
My mind and heart promptly found silence...first for the victims ... second for after decades... hearing the sound of Tuesday's Grace... Thanks Bono...that's ONE tough article : ).
wolfgirl1
finally..
such a thoughtful article...let the healing begin..i love you!
lisa_usa
Never forget....
You can't take away the pain, but it is important to NEVER FORGET those innocent lives lost that day, as this is the only way societies can learn from and evolve (hopefully)....may there NEVER be another bloody Sunday..... J & M & L (Adam's Girls)
silvia catia
Justice !!!
Finally the Justice was made !!!!!!!
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