Hi guys, It's Dan again and I wanted to share with you all my first impressions of the troubles, past and present here in Northern Ireland. Like I mentioned in the previous post the first thing anyone will notice who is from outside Northern Ireland are the physical walls dividing entire neighborhoods. Much like the neighborhoods from back home one has to pay attention to the messages written on the buildings, sidewalks, or signs to know who is welcome in which neighborhood and who is not. Murals praising martyrs of the past tell you whom this neighborhood considers a hero. Sidewalks spray painted patriotic colors establish where you can walk and where you may not, and finally messages on buildings will warn you that if you are not of a certain faith you better watch your back.
Coming from a city where we have our own gang problems I can pick up when a group of people are marking their territory while telling others to back off. Northern Ireland seems to be much more in your face with their disrespect for the other side, and it appears to be a much more organized, established, effort to ward off anyone who is of the other faith. I hope to learn much more as I continue walking these streets.
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