peace train take me home again

This is a bus that was hijacked and burned. Lots of people say that the riots are a distraction so other illegal activities can take place... drugs and crime lord kinds of things. I don't know.






This is what I encountered on the road to work on Monday.



I wish the peace train would come through Belfast so that I can get home from work in the evenings. The rioting seems to have subsided, but the PEACEFUL protest that have left the city in gridlock aren't over. My usual drive to work takes about 20 minutes, and I have spent 4 hours in the afternoon over the last two days waiting in traffic. I am so glad that my friend Eimher has been driving to school with me, because both days we have been redirected from the motorway to other roads. Sadly I only know one way home (up until yesterday I was feeling pretty good that I at least new that!) and the protestors were on the streets there. So the police in their riot gear came out to send people the wrong way around the roundabout. Finally, and easy right turn in Belfast! I have managed... without stalling (well only twice) to spend 4 hours in stop in go traffic... including an hour of hill starts... yes.. I am looking for affirmation! I also went and got groceries all by myself... I am such a big girl! Seriously though, this rioting has not been good. Most of the people say they haven't seen it like this in decades. It all started because the protestants wanted to march through the Catholic neighborhood, and the parade commission said no. So of course they had to make petrol bombs, and shoot at police, and generally reek havoc on the city, or at least a good part of it. Thankfully I live in an area that isn't being effected. I think that is one of the strangest things about this past weekend. The city continued as it usually would while this craziness happened. It is sad that such a small percentage of people are responsible for such a large disruption. I was also amazed at how many children are involved in the protesting, some maybe younger than 10. What hope is there when children are being trained to hate? I was also shocked that the leader of the Orange Order didn't condemn the violence... You can read a really general piece about it at http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/09/12/nireland.riots.ap/index.html. This evening on my way home from work, I saw three children walking down the street with about 30 bottles in hand... I am guessing they were not recycling. So there is a good chance that tonight might not be any better. I am certainly praying that it will subside and life can become normal...I'll let you know when I know what that is!