violence was necessary or acceptable, if any? No. I'm saying soldiers who served there with the constant threat from a bomb or a snipers bullet would have a rather different perspective from non-combatants like (I presume) you and me. Quote: Personally, I abhor violence, and I find any violence against civilians particularly unacceptable whether conducted by a military, paramilitary, terrorist organization, or anybody else. So I have no sympathy for the people who perpetuated those acts during the Troubles, and no sympathy for the people who supported the violent ones. I do, however, see that the colonization of Ireland, with the attendant cultural imperialism and deliberate destruction of the indigenous language and culture (not to mention the poverty, misery, and death of a large number of Irish), is a pretty terrible crime in its own right, and one that endured for many centuries. A lot of cultural institutions were so thoroughly destroyed that they cannot be brought back. So neither side comes out well. Can't argue with that... Quote: In the Irish situation, I think the only honest thing to do is admit that it's extraordinarily complex, and neither side is in the right. The Irish people, on both sides, seem to be coming to terms with it and moving forward, so who am I to second-guess them? I know there are still splinter groups active, but hopefully we'll see a long term peace and a political solution. there must be at least one of you can think of a