Besides being a U2 song everyone knows, the history behind Bloody Sunday, an unprovoked massacre of Irish protesters by British troops in Derry, is mostly unknown in the U.S. However, the British government has, 40 years later, not only admitted that the killing and wounding of the victims on Bloody Sunday was unwarranted but David Cameron actually issued a public apology on behalf of the British Government.
This rather impressive act of conciliation by the British (after having claimed for years that their troops were fired upon before shooting) is heartening and, hopefully, another step toward them exiting Northern Ireland. In the 21st century, the British occupation of Northern Ireland stands more as an antiquated clinging to former imperialistic glory than smart policy. Why shouldn't the island of Ireland be able to govern itself as a whole? If the British still occupied India or Egypt, wouldn't we consider it poor policy? What makes Northern Ireland different?
For those interested in learning more about Bloody Sunday, the 2002 film by that name (directed by Paul Greengrass) is definitely worth checking out.
This rather impressive act of conciliation by the British (after having claimed for years that their troops were fired upon before shooting) is heartening and, hopefully, another step toward them exiting Northern Ireland. In the 21st century, the British occupation of Northern Ireland stands more as an antiquated clinging to former imperialistic glory than smart policy. Why shouldn't the island of Ireland be able to govern itself as a whole? If the British still occupied India or Egypt, wouldn't we consider it poor policy? What makes Northern Ireland different?
For those interested in learning more about Bloody Sunday, the 2002 film by that name (directed by Paul Greengrass) is definitely worth checking out.
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