Fighting Back

In Northern Ireland, decades of violent conflict between two opposing traditions-Nationalist Catholics and Loyalist Protestants—have left thousands dead. The cycle of violence is perpetuated as hatred is passed from one generation to the next.

Since a peace agreement in 1998, the violence in Northern Ireland has decreased; people are struggling to overcome deep mistrust and put ancient hatreds behind them. However, attacks by extremist paramilitary groups on both sides of the conflict continue to claim innocent lives.

Teenagers like Mark Rodgers feel the struggle most profoundly, as they have experienced a personal loss that makes them want to strike back. But there is now hope as young people make a conscious effort to break the cycle of violence that has plagued generations before them.


Mark's Story

Mark is a Catholic. When he was just six years old, his father was shot and killed by Protestant gunmen. To this day, sixteen-year old Mark remains deeply affected and finds it hard to deal with the loss. He struggles with the anger and the desire for revenge that often haunts the families of victims.

Mark rarely talks about the tragedy and keeps his memories to himself. "I wouldn't ever tell anyone about it. I would never share it. I just tell them about myself," he says. He finds some release in boxing—a sport he is good at and practices regularly at a local gym.

The death of Mark's father was well publicized by the media, but Mark does not need the television or the newspaper to recall what is burned in his memory. His feelings make the incident seem like yesterday—not ten years ago. He had locked his feelings inside for so long that his anger began pulling him into despair.

Finally, Mark decided to seek help at Belfast's Wave Trauma Centre, which helps Catholic and Protestant children deal with tragedy—together. Like Mark, almost everyone at the Centre has lost someone to the "Troubles" as the Irish refer to the conflict.

At the Wave, kids who would normally be enemies work together to help each other recover. Ironically, their losses often stem from the very same tragedy. The bombing that killed the relatives of Leah and Tamar, two other teenagers seeking help, prompted the retaliatory murder of Mark's father.

Allan McBride, a youth worker at the Wave, is also a victim. His wife was killed in a bombing in 1993. Since then, he has dedicated his life to helping kids cope. At the Centre, Allan leads activities that suggest creative ways for the kids to express themselves and begin the process of recovery. Often, even a simple art project will spark a positive memory.

For one such art project, Mark focused on a good memory of his father and took a snapshot to express it. Taking a simple photograph is just one small step but it is how the Wave helps kids re-focus their emotions. To further encourage Mark and the others, Allan publishes their artwork in a book, which represents their experiences.

What's Next for Mark?

As Mark continues at the Wave, he is able to share his feelings more openly. And although he still battles with anger, he recognizes that he is changing. He reflects on the change, saying, "If I didn't go to the Wave, I would definitely, definitely be a different person. I probably would do something really stupid…probably would join a paramilitary group or something. But since I've gone [to] the Wave and done boxing, it's kept all that away."

When Ronan Tynan, one of the Irish tenors, visits the Wave, his energy and enthusiasm draw Mark out. When Ronan asks the teenager what he wants to do in life, Mark shyly admits that he wants to be "a rapper." "Do it! Do it!" Ronan urges Mark who responds with a rare smile. Since he began attending activities at the Wave, Mark has begun opening up to others and can now imagine a life free of depression and fear.

What Can You Do?

Begin by learning about intolerance in all its forms. UN agencies such as UNHCR and UNESCO sponsor programs that teach tolerance. UNICEF's MAGIC program teaches people how to use the media to publicize the rights of children as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The INCORE program pairs the United Nations University with the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland. The idea is to foster a dialogue on how to manage and resolve the Northern Ireland conflict.

Other organizations offer videos, activities and lesson plans that help combat different types of intolerance, including forms you might have experienced in your own life. Check out the Anti-Defamation League; Court TV's We Are Family program; Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation; Operation Respect and the We Are Family Foundation.