Perspective on Religious Rule

03/26/2007

Paul Munnis


I’m surprised that nobody that I have read has contrasted the situation in Ireland with the situation in Iraq. There are certainly similarities.

Ireland had a religious, sectarian civil war in progress and it lasted for years. It used guerilla fighting tactics and insurgency to disrupt government and to destabilize the nation even as deaths mounted due to use of guerilla tactics.

For many years the Irish fought against one another and used the British as foils for their battles. The battle was religious on the surface but highly political at the core.

To the credit of the Irish, they came together and are now truly forming a unity government while trying their best to live in peace and harmony.

The Irish have set a standard for Iraq to emulate.

Bill Clinton acted as the catalyst that brought them together. He tried to do the same for mid-eastern peace and will certainly be remembered for efforts he made right up to he last hour of his presidency.

By contrast the Bush people have encouraged mid-east chaos and have made the problems worse. By their behavior they have helped feed the fires of religious animosity in Iraq and have helped precipitate a sectarian civil war. They are a major part of the problem and for peace to come back to the middle east they must be disengaged. That is what is happening right now – they are being restrained and disengaged from the mid-east.

A few years ago people were in despair over Ireland and its troubles. Today Ireland is serving a beacon of hope for other lands embroiled in political and religious strife. It gives us all hope that Iraq can solve its problems and become a land of national unity.

One last thing -- I am finding it pretty hard to find any examples of successful religious based governments here on planet earth. All become repressive and intolerant and that leads to war between the government and the people. America should not back a sectarian solution in Iraq that establishes a religious based government. We should also continue to demand separation of church and state right here in the USA. That is one key way to fight terrorism and to prevent civil war right here at home.