If
response to PROTCATH
is 'Protestant community' or 'Catholic community' ...
Have you ever attended any cross-community projects (that is, projects
with young people from different religious communities)?
NB: Square brackets indicate where the text was edited.
[…] I have participated in a number of cross community projects and
these seem to aid inter community relationships. I also go to a mixed
school and I have a mixed group of friends, male and female, Catholic
and Protestant, and none of us have problems with the others' religion.
There are occasional disagreements but they are easily overcome. This
is how I feel the community relations in N Ireland going in the future,
people from different communities will get over their differences
and learn to live in harmony.
Many people judge others on their religion, but if they met someone
in a pub they wouldn't ask [about] it. Schemes [that] bring communities
together and break down barriers. When I went to this, everyone is
the same regardless of religion, these types of schemes should be
more available to all pupils in all schools.
There are not enough opportunities for young people from other communities
[to mix]. If there were more opportunities for young people to mix,
then they would get to realise that everyone is the same and would
not care about each others community background.
I think the main reason for ill feeling between Catholics and Protestants
is that a difference is made between the two religions. I don't think
a difference should be made, children starting school should be of
mixed religions so that they can find out each others lifestyles and
grow up to be friends instead of enemies. Also I think a lot more
cross community projects should be put into action throughout all
schools.
[I] believe there should be more mixed religion schools in N. Ireland,
as I believe lack of knowledge and understanding of the opposite community
is the biggest problem. There should be more cross community projects
for teens whose opinions can be moulded. Single religion sports like
Gaelic and Rugby should be worked on so that both communities play
them. Should be more interaction between the different churches.
There should be more cross community work between schools.
More work needs to be done to bring students from different religions
together.
[There] should be more cross community relation projects in N Ireland
particularly in schools as it may ease tensions between young people.
There are limited opportunities for young people to mix with people
from other religions, backgrounds etc. Schools and churches do not
encourage mixing with other religious groups even though they ought
to.
There should be more places where young people can socialise with
those of a different religion so that the hate between Protestants
and Catholics is not that strong. Young people have a lot of spare
time on their hands therefore can cause havoc on the streets. […]
Young people [should be] taught that religion doesn't make people
bad and you should be able to befriend anyone, otherwise they will
grow up and teach their children the same thing. If this didn't happen
then the amount of sectarianism in N. Ireland might decrease.
I feel that it is very important that more cross community projects
are set up and there should be better inter-denominational contacts
between the churches, to enable people to grow up with a better understanding
of other people's religions. I feel that this would reduce prejudice
between communities and enable future generations to grow up in a
friendlier and safer environment.
I think that the relationship between the two main communities in
Northern Ireland is a major problem. There needs to be more cross
community youth clubs available throughout the country and other education
programmes available for young people so they can be made more aware
of how others from the opposite community are exactly like them. They
should be taught how to get along with others and learn that political
and religious views are not important. This may set examples for others
and could lead to peace among both communities.
People should be taught about other communities and cultures at a
younger age ie primary school (compulsory classes) and be taught to
respect them, be more open-minded and accepting. This should happen
instead of just learning about the hatred and negative issues through
the news. Cross community activities are essential to allow people
to interact with others from different backgrounds. Young people can
receive a biased point of view about other communities from adults
within their own community, they should be given the opportunity to
fully understand the situation for themselves from a much earlier
age from a neutral perspective.
There has to be more communication between both communities. More
cross community groups should be in place.
[There are] not enough social activities.
There need to be a lot more organized projects in smaller and larger
communities aimed at young people to erase the idea of divisions between
religious denominations. if attention is aimed at young people they
may change the views of their parents, teachers and adult circles
generally in today's society. It may take the power of the children
- the new generation - to ensure that mistakes of past are not repeated
in connection to fighting because of religion and that these young
people are growing up in a peaceful world and that in relation to
religious denominations there is an evident integration for the youth
of today to see.
People are all very fond upon making what they predict a certain
community is like. I feel if there were more options available to
allow those willing to mix with outsiders such as day trips, living
with a family of a different religion for a week it would enhance
and broaden peoples minds, then we could look to the next step of
actual living in unity in an area where we are all treated as equals
regardless.
Teachers and other persons in contact with children from these communities
that harbour Loyalist and Republican supporters should try and teach
them that their opposite numbers are just the same as themselves.
This would need to be done because parents teach their children to
hate the other religion as soon as they can talk and encourage abuse
of the opposite side.
There should be more cross community events for young people.
[I] don't think there is enough being done to promote community relations
among young people, its pointless not liking someone because their
religion is different.
What community relations? No amount of money-grabbing cross community
projects will unite two sides blissfully ignorant of any progress.
Even if the 2 sides were somehow magically reunited, people would
find something else to stir up trouble about.
There is a huge gap between Catholics and Protestant and it is not
been solved by cross community projects! There needs to be something
done with 4 and 5 year old Catholics and Protestants so they grow
up together, and being together with each other becomes normal.
I do not think enough is being done to improve relations within communities
of Northern Ireland. More needs to be done!
[…] People should have more interest in relations and work together
to achieve a more positive community spirit. Sectarianism should ease
as people should learn to understand other communities.
A lot of bigots have a strong influence on their children and this
is the main reason why people grow up with prejudices. Young people
need to be taught to respect the differences between the communities
and understand that people have the right to their own opinion and
religious/cultural beliefs and that they should not have to be subject
to persecution or verbal abuse because of these beliefs.
Children learn from their parents. Hatred, fear and anger are all
passed on from parent to child in both communities. People don't get
an objective overview of both communities but are merely conditioned
into the views of families and friends. However I feel children are
becoming acceptant and if they change their views, tension between
communities would lessen. Cross community projects are all aiding
this.
It needs to start at a very early age as a lot of influence is held
by parents. Their bitterness will be handed on to their children and
it will be difficult to change their views. By using sport people
work as a team from either religion. Sometimes discussion can only
produce arguments.
[I] Feel that there are very little opportunities for people of different
religions to get to know each other, perhaps it's this lack of confidence
which breeds mistrust and prejudice. The media has a very definite
influence on community relations, many papers and broadcasts are biased
towards one side. Community relations are only better now because
young people have decided to do something about for themselves, not
because of politicians and government schemes.
