By William Markiewicz
The long awaited news shook the media; Peace in Ulster! Will it really be so, or will it rather be like peace in Bosnia, in Kosovo, or, in the best of cases, peace in Lebanon (between Muslims and Christians)? Let's glance also at Cyprus where peace remains on sword's edge between Greece and Turkey. Nota bene, Cyprus is the only territory in conflict where some common sense prevails because nobody even dares to propose that the Greek and Turkish refugees go happily home and mix again. Everywhere else the politically correct wishful thinkers practically force the refugees to go back, without consideration for their security 'because in America, Australia and in all big cities people know how to live together(!)' This way of thinking requires that the 'new world order' be built in imitation of the order of the New World. We constantly forget that the New World populations and those in the big cities throughout the world are the descendants of 'nomads.' The majority of the old world population is provincial, parochial, inward looking, happy within themselves. It may please or not, but it must be respected. After all, democracy means to respect the will of the people in all that concerns them. The Global Village doesn't force us to make a choice but rather gives us freedom of choice. Now people can with equal ease work at home and travel to antipodes, be gregarious and/or hermits, parochial or cosmopolitan. Let people keep their free choice without inflicting political pressure in one or another direction. I believe in partition within partition as the only solution for durable peace. Bosnia separated from Yugoslavia is OK, but for lasting peace it's not enough. Let Bosnia be divided between the enemy factions as the only way to stop them being enemies. Lebanon should be partitioned between Muslims and Christians, otherwise the Syrian fist has to stay there forever, In effect, annexation of Lebanon by Syria. Quebec should be partitioned, so that the nationalists can have their independence and those Quebeckers who feel both Quebecker and Canadian could keep their own territory. Catholics and Protestants in Ulster should be able to direct their own destinies, and, as they'll never share common goals, they should be able to keep their own territories and merge with whomever they want. Maybe some constitutional rules will have to be rewritten but certainly Common Sense will finally breath easier. Because, what brings more relief than a foundation for steady peace?
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William Markiewicz