Blessed Are The Peacemakers

The unimaginable has come to pass. Speaking Irish and dressed in white like a dove of peace, Queen Elizabeth, along with our own president, Mary McAleese, brought a beautiful and amazing end to the troubled times between our two countries. In both women's speeches at last night's unprecedented state dinner they extended warmth and understanding and firmly re-built the bridges that have been shaky and fragile for so long. These are days that we never dared dream of. It is the end result of years of reconciliation and sheer hard work on behalf of our president and many other politicians and peacemakers from both countries. They had a vision and it has become reality. The blood split for cause and country can be washed clean with the healing tears that so many ordinary people are shedding today as they are moved by the significance of this visit from a brave old lady who believed it important to call on us. No, of course no-one will forget the losses of life and soul but we can forgive, move on, be friends and remember there is no perfect situation; it's through the cracks that the light gets in....

The years of unease have been bookended with peace and that is a beautiful thing.

Thank you Queen Elizabeth and Mary McAleese - two powerful women who had a shared vision.

'There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.'

A.J Muste

'War is over. If you want it.'

John & Yoko

'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. 

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.'

Martin Luther King