The Irish Republican Army has announced it’s giving up its armed struggle and will only use political means to fight British rule in Northern Ireland, as of 4 p.m. local time Thursday.
Back in grad school, I wrote a report about the creation of the Good Friday agreement, which led to the cease fire between the IRA and the Unionist paramilitaries, and created the power-sharing framework that is trying (to various degrees) to settle Northern Ireland’s status peacefully. It was an extraordinary feat…and now, we have another extraordinary feat.
From the day I started my research, I came to believe that the IRA was playing fair — far more than the Unionist paramilitaries and loud-mouthed bigots such as the Rev. Ian Paisley. I’m not excusing their acts of violence…but it’s important to examine the history and context from which that violence came. The story of Ireland and the IRA isn’t a simple one…but since 1997, the IRA has kept its word on the ceasefire, and its willingness to negotiate peacefully. Actions back up their words.
That said, what happened today — this declaration of peace — is simply stunning. It’s one of these moments that, despite the rise of other forms of terrorism around the globe, prove the worthiness of mankind…and offers us hope for the future.
We might just make it. 
