Oral History Abroad: The Youth of Belfast

Ireland has been terrorized for the past century by political separatists, the Irish Republican Army, and guerilla warfare. Though the direct combat has died down since the turn of the century, the danger still remains and is prevalent in the everyday lives of Irish citizens. Religous warfare and political terrorism manifest themselves annually during riots that are widely publicized around the globe. Racial relations have taken a back seat in Northern Ireland as segregation based on religion increased in frequency. For William, a 21 year old Catholic student living in Belfast, having diverse opinions can be dangerous. William's life was shaped by his cultural upbringing in the Belfast area, his social interactions with peers, and the history of the warfare in Belfast.

William was born in the district of Glengormly, in the Greater Belfast area. Looking back, William thought it was a nice area to grow up, yet the people had different mindsets from his own. Glengormly is a very sports-oriented small town where everyone followed Gaelic League football that William was less than interested in as a child. Around the age of 10, William had a selectively small group of friends who were also not included in the football craze. When he was old enough, William decided to leave Glengormly and the sports oriented people behind and retreated into a secluded world of video games and movies.

To further distance himself from his fellow townspeople, William looked forward to grade school, which in Belfast is composed of the seven years of primary school and seven years of secondary school. In Ireland, students are divided into classes based on their proficiency in certain subjects. William's class, however, was separated by age and last name. His core classes, such as english and mathematics, were taken with the form class, the original people he was lumped together with at the start of the first year. Unfortunately, William was placed in a class with a group of other students who were not interested in learning. This was the only year this system applied to. The following year, the school administration realised their mistake and reinstated the old system for future classes. William's class was rated the worst in his school for ten years, but during the final two years, as the college years approached, the mood of his class changed. Students were finally interested in learning, non-sports extra-curricular activities were offered, and William thoroughly enjoyed the topics he learned about. In fact, when his class participated in a mini-business venture as a project, they won the Northern Irish regional competition and were invited to participate in the main event in the Savoy Hotel, London. He described the venture as selling "random stuff, having a laugh doing it, and raising £400." Half of their profits were donated to charity.

After graduating from secondary school, William felt immense pressure to attend a university immediately. According to a study by the Minister of Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empley, Northern Ireland has the highest participation rate in higher education in the United Kingdom (2010). This statistic can be explained using William's expereince during his final year. Secondary schools pressure all of their students to gain acceptance to a university immediately after graduation to raise their status. It is marketed as the logical next step in education, and William did not want to deviate from that social norm. Additionally, William didn't think he could afford to take a year off before continuing at a university. Most of the jobs available require experience. Experience is learned with higher education. Higher education required money, and William had very little. According to William, he chose to the wrong university first and then took a half year off to recollect his thoughts and spent the time working full time at a supermarket. Even though William has returned to school, part of him thinks its a waste of time. During his time between univeristies, William developed a back-up plan to open a cafe in downtown Belfast. In his own words, "a degree in biological sciences won't get me a job and I now have about £18,000 of debt." Robin Wilson, who wrote an article on the student debt for the Chronicle of Higher Education, a vast majority of college students feel the same sense of hopelessness about their debt situations. Most college students do not, in fact, borrow much money to pay for their college education. Only one third of college graduates leave with no debt at all, and 65% of graduates will owe upwards of $20,000 (Wilson, 2009). Sometimes, William thinks his choice to attend the university was a mistake. "I just continually think about saving up and opening a business so I could have started earlier on that. However if I hadn't went (sic), I wouldn't have met the most interesting people, had the random experiences and generally arsed around that led me to come up with my awesome business idea."

When William moved from Glengormly to Belfast city, he made the transition with ease. However there was a strict line dividing the natives of Belfast from the rest of Northern Ireland. Since Glengormly is only a fifteen minute bus ride from the center of Belfast, William posessed the modern Belfast accent. Just beyond Glengormly, the accent drastically changes and those residents of Northern Ireland are known as "culchies." These "out of towners" stand out in a crowd and are generally not respected by the citizens of Belfast. They are, in a sense, the "rednecks" of Northern Ireland.

William experienced religious oppression when he was still in his teens. He was hanging out with a group of friends when he met a young woman. From the instant they met, they were inseparable. For two years their freindship blossomed into a young romance. Unfortunately for William, this young lady's father did not approve of their friendship. In the police database, certain areas of Northern Ireland are blacklisted as the most dangerous for police officers. Her father was a high-ranking police officer, and their Protestant family was accustomed to living in a rather rich neighborhood. William happened to live next door to one of those highly Catholic blacklisted areas. Previously, when violent riots occurred rather often, there were a great number of police officers killed in the line of duty. For the safety of her family, William and his girlfriend agreed to stop seeing one another. While this may have seemed unfair at the time, William now recognizes the danger of the situation and is thankful that his girl friend's family would not be in danger because of his actions.

In the Belfast area, one Protestant tradition is marching in the Orange parades. Not all Protestants participate, though even a small amount will cause public outcry. The Orange Order was originally established to suppress the Catholics. One area was called Ardoyne, where the orange men always march, and unfortunately, is extremely Catholic. William further explains: "Riots traditionally break out most years, but this year was particularly bad. Some kids, kids being the operative word here, dropped a breeze block on a police woman's head and nearly killed her." The riot began in Northern Belfast on July 12 and continued for three days. The news confirmed that the police woman was in stable condition in the morning. Children as young as 8 years old were videotaped participating in the violence. The Orange Order rejected a new route proposed by groups attempting to mediate during the annual march, and William plans to avoid the blacklisted areas during that time.

Religious prejudice is not just located in the urban areas but has permeated the Irish culture right down to the pubs. Though some pubs are separated by political factions of the religious groups, two have polarized businesses in Belfast. The Republicans are typically Catholic followers and would prefer Norther Ireland to separate from Britain and return to the political unit of Ireland. Unionists, on the other side of the spectrum, are typically Protestant and want to keep the link with England. William has noticed that in certain areas where the beliefs are very strong in one way or the other, the bars tend to be marketed toward that group. However, the vast majority of bars are neutral which accounts for their popularity, and only a select few enforce the separation.

A recent study by the Journal of Youth Studies used a 2006 Life and Times Survey to update their findings about the adoption of a Northern Irish identity and a positive view of community relations is increasingly common among Protestants. The surveys also showed that 36% of young Northern Irish adults considered themselves Protestants where as 17.8% identified themselves as Catholic. Adults, on the other hand, were more evenly split, 25% Protestant and 23% Catholic (Table 1). Studies further show that the Protestant religion is a rising trend, particularly among teenagers (Figure 2). When questioned on how importantly they value their national identity, 51% of the Northern Irish surveyed responded "very" or "quite important," while only 40% of the Protestants responded the same. Therefore, even though the young adults of Northern Ireland are primarily Protestant, they are not as positive about their national identity.

There is a strong sense in Northern Ireland that anyone outside of the group is "bad" or "dangerous." This violence is not as widely publicized as the sectarian killings. However, there may still be hope for younger generations. According to William, "I hang out with Protestants because they're the nicest guys you'll ever meet, even though I'm from a Catholic background." The origins of the conflicts are barely mentioned in school around grade 3, and William describes it as learning how the roles were reversed, yet most students and parents argue that it was a lie. At the annual Fresher Fair on campus, each political faction has a booth, but otherwise the students are not bothered by the propaganda. All political and religious groups do not receive funding in order to promote a unified front so the university is not seen supporting one arguement or the other. If a society requires more funding, the bursaries are based on needs rather than an automatic budget. By down-playing the differences between separate groups and treating them the same from the school-age up, William predicts that more of his peers will agree that there is a rational way to heal the differences between the Catholic Irish and the Protestant Irish populations.

William has maintained a positive attitude towards the separate religous and political factions. The militant leaders he read about in the news as a young boy have reformed and joined the peace process. William, while not personally affected by the riots or the violence, has learned to value his friends for their company rather than their ancester's religious beliefs. Once he graduates from the university, he is prepared to enter the professional world of Northern Ireland. He is a self-proclaimed Catholic British citizen, but more than that, he is a student and a friend. Religious intolerance has no place in the next generation of William's peers.





References

Empey, R. (2010, October 18). Northern Ireland’s higher education participation rates are best in UK. Department for Employment and Learning. Retrieved November 27, 2010, from http://www.delni.gov.uk/index/press-releases/press-releases-october10-december10/northern-ireland-s-higher-education-participation-rates-are-best-in-uk.htm.

Hayes, B., & McAllister, I. (2009). Religion, identity and community relations among adults and young adults in Northern Ireland. Journal of Youth Studies, 12(4), 385-403. doi:10.1080/13676260902866504.

Wilson, R. (2009). A Lifetime of Student Debt? Not Likely. (Cover story). Chronicle of Higher Education, 55(37), A1-A22. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

TRON and TRON: Legacy-- Reflections

When I watched Steven Lisberger's sci-fi adventure recently in preparation for the release of its belated sequel, it appeared incredibly dated, with the visual effects now looking very creaky, and the lack of a strong storyline or characters making for a dull viewing experience. However, the film still possesses one memorable sequence, the light-cycle race, and at the very least, its then-groundbreaking attempt to engage with the newfangled world of computers has the feel of filmmakers trying to give their audience something new. Plot sequences and characters were briefly introduced and promptly forgotten, a theme that continued to the sequel (i.e. Bit, gladiator games, and the only woman in the film kissed two men within 5 minutes). TRON is not a good film, but it was a bold one with fresh ideas and a unique style, and that alone is enough to set the bar at a level that TRON: Legacy doesn't come close to reaching.

Almost everything that exists in TRON: Legacy has been lifted from another film, and the filmmakers appear to be gambling everything on their shiny presentation being enough to paper over the cracks. It isn't enough to make the film stand out, however director Joseph Kosinski does have one fairly brilliant idea up his sleeve, with the opening "real world" sequences of TRON: Legacy being shot in 2D before 3D is introduced as we move into the computer world. I guess this is the 21st century update on the way color was used in films like The Wizard of Oz.

I went to this film with my best friend Addam, one of few diehard TRON supporters. I think he knew the movie would be made before the writers did. We even had matching light disks to clash horribly with our 3D glasses. As such, our excitement levels were at peak capacity when we walked into the shadiest theater this side of Reading with about 20 other viewers. Apparently no one told this town it was opening night. Throughout the film, we found enough amusement in our side conversations to cover for whatever was lacking in plot or dialogue. It was, in essence, our own personalized Mystery Science Theater 3000 viewing party. If the movie was bad, we were having too much fun to notice. In fact my largest complaint was that there was still no sign of the orange that was sent to the grid during the opening sequences of the original. And I still want a light-cycle.

But how could a movie even come close to "bad" when Daft Punk composed the soundtrack? I'm convinced they even made an appearance in the movie, though this is up for debate. It was certainly an upgrade from the digitalized soundtrack of the original. In my opinion, can't go wrong with digitechno.

When making the decision to see TRON: Legacy... don't listen to me. Decide for yourselves, but take someone with a sense of humor. And for god's sake, pay the extra three bucks to see the fucking thing in 3D!

Midsentence

I've been procrastinating again. I'm testing out a new sugar cookie recipe this weekend, so hopefully I will have the results to share with you next week. However since I've been writing history papers for the past three days, I needed some me time. Indulge me.

25. I want to feel like there is something special about me; like I'm different in a more than mundane way. Superpowers would be perfect here.

24. I temper every action by worrying about the consequences. Most of the time it doesn't keep me from doing something dumb so much as it keeps me from doing anything at all.

23. My favorite color is green, yet almost everything I own is red.

22. If I was rich or if number 24 wasn't true, I would major in ancient history and write books for a living.

21. I still regret things I said to certain people, some of whom probably don't even remember my name. What I regret more are all the things I never said.

20. I'd rather waste my life waiting for something better to happen then try to find it on my own.

19. I've been trying, but the truth is that I'm still awkward around people, even my best friends.

18. My favorite part of each day is making the people around me laugh.

17. I love marshmallows. They are my favorites.

16. Star Wars: Episode IV,V, and VI changed my life; I don't care how nerdy it sounds, those movies and the books that went with them is a part of who I became.

15. I am an insomniac. I can't stop daydreaming long enough to have a real dream.

14. I miss my friends and wish I had spent more time with them instead of hiding in my apartment.

13. I didn't think I'd miss school until I became a senior. It happened for high school and it's happening again for college.

12. My friends are great, they're the best people I know. Still, I keep myself distant from them so they won't see me for what a dork I really am.

11. I'm not as depressed as this makes me sound.

10. I always wanted to be in a band but I never wanted to do any of the work. Hopefully the Jazzberries pulls through.

9. I lack motivation. Not "I'm lazy." I legitimately fight with myself each morning to see if I can convince myself its not worth it to even get up. I'm afraid that I'm closer to believing that each day.

8. I hate lying alone. I long for someone I can stand to be close to.

7. I took this note seriously even though its a great chance for an easy laugh. I guess I hope I'll figure something out by doing this.

6. When I talk about myself too much, I automatically apologize and change the topic of conversation. Usually I get reprimanded for apologizing since I only talked about myself for about 30 seconds.

5. I love to read. I can read whole books in a single day, up to around 8-900 pages. I frequently do this because I have nothing else to do.

4. I don't know that fighting solves anything but that wouldn't stop me from taking a swing at a few select guys and chicks. I've been a jerk many times in my life but if I ever thought I was like one of them I think I'd kill myself in a mixture of shame and self-loathing.

3. One of the few things I'm good at is reading and understanding what people are going through. It might let me make connections and go far in life if I could bring myself to find the right response.

2. A text message or notification is usually the most exciting part of my night.

1. I didn't mean to write a whole page about how my life is a sham and that there are only a few people I can bring myself even close to being honest with, maybe just one I can be completely honest with. I didn't want it to sound like I can't trust my friends, I know that I can. But, then again, you don't-

Tenderness Itself

I just finished reading "Persuasion" by Jane Austen. She is my guilty pleasure. As we do while reading literature of this ilk, I found myself identifying with the heroine of the novel, Miss Anne Elliot, in ways I never imagined. As one of the lesser known Austen novels, Persuasion doesn't get the credit it deserves. This is a true tale of romance pushing the boundaries between what is expected from the privileges of rank and what is practiced.

For Miss Anne Elliot, at the age of 19, the course of true love was a mystery. She had fallen in love and been proposed to by a handsome, intelligent gentleman who truly valued the worth of a beautiful woman with a kind heart and sweetness of character. She was persuaded by her close friend and only mother figure to deny her own feelings. The future Captain Wentworth, as enamored of Anne as she was with him, wished to marry her before becoming an officer in the British navy. Looking back on the situation 9 years later, both Anne and Wentworth understand the reasons behind Anne's decision. To wait for years on end for a husband to return from war causes strain and heartbreak on both ends. Their love was deep enough to survive their separation, and after 8 long years trying to forget the other they were reunited by chance and lived happily ever after.

Women like to be crossed in love every once in a while, it gives them something to think about. During the time period, an unmarried woman over the age of 26 had little to no prospect of ever marrying and became a burden to their parents. Anne had 8 years to reflect on the tenderness she experienced around Wentworth and to contemplate on how her life would be altered had she run away with him at the opportune moment. The Elliot family was well off, and either daughter would have made a profitable connection. However, Anne's father was not as fond of her as he enjoyed his younger daughter, and Anne would not be treated with the respect or given the fancy baubles her sister received. As such, she was able to blossom into a delicate, caring, kind hearted young woman, as beautiful on the inside as Wentworth (and the rest of the town) found her on the outside.

Women do not move forward as quickly as men, we are not so easily diverted from our past loves. Anne suffered for years on end alone, throwing herself into her humanitarian works rather than developing the pride that would be the downfall of the Elliots. Meanwhile Wentworth compared the merits of each woman who captured his interest to those of Anne and finally declared none other came close to an equal.

The greatest wish I could ever ask would be for a man to love me as Wentworth loved Anne.

"You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight and a half years ago. Dare not say that a man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant."
- Jane Austen, Persuasion, Chapter 23.