Month: November 2020

At the beginning of the semester, I knew absolutely nothing about Irish history, the Troubles, or even the state of Ireland today. After reading so many Irish texts about the Troubles and reflecting on American texts about things that were much more familiar to me, I think there is something to be said about the universality of the human experience all around the world. It seems that people in such different circumstances, with varying motives and experiences all went through similar emotions and came to similar realizations.

All of the movements described in the texts we have read, despite making enormous progress in some cases, failed to reach their idealistic and lofty goals. There comes a sense of frustration in all of the texts– frustration when things have not been progressing quickly enough, frustration with a system designed for some to fail, and frustration with being ignored and silenced. However, this anger is also met with hope for a government and a society that is fair and equal for all, which drives them to continue the fight. Without hope for a better future driving these movements, they would fall into indifference and helplessness, accepting the fact that things will never change. The fact that anger and frustration partners so clearly with hope in almost all of the texts we have read demonstrates a desire for a better society, a better life, and a better future that is present in all of us.

If I have learned one thing from reading about these movements from very different parts of the world, it is that change is extremely difficult to bring about, but it is possible with hope, persistence, and passion. These people like Martin Luther King Jr., Huey P. Newton, Eamonn McCann, Bernadette Devlin, and many more made our world what it is today not only by their actions, but by sharing their ideals and their stories in writing. They demonstrated persistence and passion for their cause, and they managed to make a change in a system so resistant to it.

Listening to Stephen O’Neill speak both in class and in the webinar a couple weeks ago I was most intrigued by the depth of the issues in Ireland. My pre-conceived notions of Ireland held that it was a relatively unproblematic place. However, it has become clear in my studies that such a place simply does not exist. Every nation and people on Earth experiences hardships and quarrels; whether they be large or small, problems are a universal truth to life. In drawing parallels between the Troubles and the Civil Rights movement it has become clear that division remains the most prominent reason for these problems. This is the concept I have written about in my essay; it seems rather clear to me that the source of humanity’s problems stems almost entirely from self-made divisions that we build. This can be seen in the works we have read this semester. Further, it can be seen today. The Black Lives Matter Movement is still fighting to resolve the discrimination faced by African Americans that is the result of the institution of race and racism.

Another point that has resonated with me from this class is that parallels can be drawn in more places than one would expect. Drawing comparisons and finding meaning within them has provided me deeper critical thinking skills and has driven me to be more thoughtful when it comes to social issues. I feel I have come to a deeper understanding of racial and socioeconomic inequality. And I believe this understanding is invaluable for one to have. While I can certainly say I learned a lot about 1968 and the turmoil of the period, I think this understanding will be my greatest takeaway from the course.