THERE I was, standing in the playground waiting to pick up my daughter from school with all the other mums and dads, quietly listening to all the hellos, day-to-day chat etc., when a strange thought crossed my mind: 'I wonder what religion all these people are?'
Not that I cared, but I tried to put myself in the shoes of someone in Northern Ireland who probably right then was dodging bottles, cans, stones, spit and insults to get their terrified kids back home in one piece and then try to explain to a four year old why all those people hated them.
Those children are Ireland's future, and, if their daily RE lesson is anything to go by, the future is blank.
As one daily paper put it: "The first lesson of the day is bigotry".
P R Willey,
Burnholme Drive, York.
Updated: 10:42 Thursday, September 06, 2001
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article