This morning I read in a newspaper that a movie called “Omagh” received a prize at the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie deals with the dreadful bombing, which took place in Omagh, Northern Ireland, on August 15, 1998. Some of the people involved in the movie are the relatives of the victims. They accepted to take part in the project to tell the world something about their lost beloved relatives.
A lot of people between us get to know what happened in Omagh thanks to U2’s “Peace on earth”, where Bono lists some of the names of the victims of the attack, which happened after the victory of “Yes” to the referendum for the approval of the “Good Friday Agreement”. The Omagh bombing was one of the most tragic events in the history of Northern Ireland. Omagh is a market town and all the 28 people who lost their lives were common people who were in the wrong place in the wrong time.
I think it’s vital, especially in this dark era for our world, to keep in mind events like this one, which are there to remind us that violence and terror don’t bring anything but pain, dead and a sense of desperation, that can just lead to other violence and pain. I think it’s right to commemorate victims and to keep on talking about this kind of events. But I also think that forgiveness is necessary and that we should work with great efforts to put a ban on terror and violence.
Every time I hear about Omagh I think about Bono performing Peace on earth at Slane Castle show. He ended that part of the song with tears in his eyes and a shaking, broken voice.
I can’t imagine how many tears were shed for the victims of the troubles in Northern Ireland. And I can’t imagine how many tears are falling still now for all the victims of terrorism, of course not only in Northern Ireland.
The only thing I know is that, as Bono said, the victims are “Too many!!”.
____________
“Will we ever leave in peace?”
A lot of people between us get to know what happened in Omagh thanks to U2’s “Peace on earth”, where Bono lists some of the names of the victims of the attack, which happened after the victory of “Yes” to the referendum for the approval of the “Good Friday Agreement”. The Omagh bombing was one of the most tragic events in the history of Northern Ireland. Omagh is a market town and all the 28 people who lost their lives were common people who were in the wrong place in the wrong time.
I think it’s vital, especially in this dark era for our world, to keep in mind events like this one, which are there to remind us that violence and terror don’t bring anything but pain, dead and a sense of desperation, that can just lead to other violence and pain. I think it’s right to commemorate victims and to keep on talking about this kind of events. But I also think that forgiveness is necessary and that we should work with great efforts to put a ban on terror and violence.
Every time I hear about Omagh I think about Bono performing Peace on earth at Slane Castle show. He ended that part of the song with tears in his eyes and a shaking, broken voice.
I can’t imagine how many tears were shed for the victims of the troubles in Northern Ireland. And I can’t imagine how many tears are falling still now for all the victims of terrorism, of course not only in Northern Ireland.
The only thing I know is that, as Bono said, the victims are “Too many!!”.
____________
“Will we ever leave in peace?”
