Ulsterman24

Hi Jo, I hope you come back tomorrow and see my question. I am a young Northern Irishman in my 20's and thankfully I missed most of the Troubles that permeated my parents youth. Until a few years ago.

My Father was hijacked by paramilitaries and beaten within an inch of his life. The Police, in their haste to make some arrests, opened fire with baton rounds despite my Father and others still being held captive. Would you agree with me that the media in Northern Ireland has a habit of contextualising the Troubles as something that is finished? Not only are there survivors of past traumas such as yourself, there are still those harmed every day by hijackings, drug dealing, paramilitary style 'kneecappings', forced enlistment for loyalists and republicans in hardened areas of Belfast.

Sometimes I struggle with forgiving those who hurt him. His pain is a daily struggle, and I spend most days caring for him. I find myself occasionally wishing I could find those who brought this pain on our families. Most of the time though I just feel sorry for them; bringing pain and suffering to someone they have doubtless de-humanised in their minds. But while forgiveness has left me with internal peace, it has not solved the day to day problems of caring for my Dad.

I think a considerable failure of the solution to the 'Troubles' is the lack of an acknowledgement from both communities that for some they never ended. Thanks for your time, I really am touched by your story it gives me hope for the future when I see the pain my Dad goes through and how it holds back the life of himself and those of us around him.

Hi Daniel, I don't really have a question just a bit of fan gush, hope you endulge me. A friend and I watched the entirety of Lost over a single weekend in our final year of university. It reached the point were 'Jin-Soo Kwon' was our code to describe any incredibly attractive woman who was within earshot, enabling WingMan protocols...

So thanks for that :).

Can confirm. Live outside Belfast- the best part is being 5 minutes away from being far away from people.

Something something Breaking Bad reference.

Also, congratulations on living good Sir. I doff my cap to your good fortune.