The freedom from religious and political divisions in the United States enables the Northern Irish teenagers to forge friendships with Northern Irish teenagers of a different faith. The project leaders hope to sow the seeds of tolerance. It's easier to become friends with Catholics over here. Relationships between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland are often fraught with suspicion and mistrust. Cautious exchanges between people of different faiths are the norm even among teenagers.
American kids relate differently to each other than Northern Ireland kids do.
Flags are potent symbols of religious and political division even in high school. The long-term effectiveness of UP reconciliation has never been the subject of rigorous academic research. But organizers are encouraged by letters from former participants. Nolan says a letter from a former UP teen stated that the writer, a Catholic, would never have considered going to a Protestant university in Northern Ireland if she had not been involved in the project. FREE Christianity Today Newsletter Subscribe to the CTDirect Newsletter Attack on America Prayer, news, and resources for responding to the tragedy.