I had a conversation recently
with a local, "good living" politician, living
on Northern Ireland's "Gold Coast", which can
be summarised as follows: Where I live, "we" have
no problem. We live together; we play golf together. Sure,
we are educated apart in primary school, but when we get
all to grammar school, we forget our differences and learn
to get on with it. If only "we" can deal with
"them" and "their sectarianism", think
where Northern Ireland could go?
I think that what concerned
me most was not the "we" and "them"
euphemisms, not even the social stereotyping which identifies
sectarianism as a working class virus, but the fact that
an otherwise well adjusted, indeed "churched",
individual could actually believe what he said to be acceptable.
It is a classic case of Northern
Ireland "compartmentalism" which deals with issues
by refusing to see any inter-connectedness between my own
thoughts, emotions and actions and the lot of others. Such
thinking may manifest itself in the "gay plague"
approach to AIDS, or in the belief that the flooding of
recent months was simply God's judgment on a wayward society.
It is a worldview predicated upon reaping and sowing - in
short, people get what they deserve - thus, "they bring
on themselves". The end result is that no responsibility
falls on "me" for what is happening to "them".
This worldview manifests
itself in many ways. Take, for example, the "separate
but equal" policy, which allowed for the development
of segregated schooling in the USA on the one hand, and
segregated living in South Africa on the other.
As Christians, we need to
remember that we are one human race, equally and individually
culpable and responsible before a God who is beyond bias.
I believe there is a danger
that our Shared Future might become what Dr Duncan Morrow
has termed "a share-out future" - one which is
based on self-interest and silo thinking.
Now we have a restored Assembly,
it is natural that our politicians will want to take control
of how we move towards that shared future - indeed, that
they will want to mould the terms and conditions of what
we share, who we share with and, perhaps more importantly,
on what terms we share.
May I offer one practical
example through which we might become creators rather than
consumers of this shared future?
In terms of segregation,
there are now more "peace walls" than in 1998
and greater separation in housing in Belfast (63% in 1994
and 66% in 2004). And in case anyone thinks this is a small
problem, in 2003/4 the Housing Executive spent £45m
on moving people from intimidation under the SPED (Special
Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings) scheme.
So, why not take a risk?
Take one small step towards creating that shared future
and begin a serious engagement with "the other"…whoever
that is for you. Sure, it carries risks, but after all risk-taking
is part of a true incarnational theology. God took a risk
by sending his son to live amongst us and it is that same
unfettered, selfless love which distinguished Jesus from
other preachers and healers, that demands that we take risks
for His sake.
As John F Kennedy reminds
us: "Peace is a daily, weekly, monthly process, gradually
changing opinions, slowing eroding old barriers, quietly
building new structures"
Michael Wardlow
