5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A "must read" for those seeking to understand "The Troubles", April 26, 2000
This review is from: I Am of Ireland -Rev Ed (Paperback)
Over the past few years, I've been fortunate to learn about "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland. One of the first things I learned is that very few sources of information are unbiased. Elizabeth Shannon defies that tenet with "I am of Ireland."
While her husband served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Shannon took the opportunity to explore women's roles, or the lack thereof, in the political spectrum in Northern Ireland. She did this by interviewing women from all walks of life in the North, from paramilitary members to politicians' wives. These interviews culminated in Shannon's superb study.
In "I am of Ireland," Shannon shows the reader there is no cut and dried solution to bring an equitable and just peace to Northern Ireland. She accomplishes this through the interviews. No matter religion, economical stature, or political stance, the women Shannon interviewed all had valid concerns regarding their circumstances.
Through these women's voices, Shannon respectfully reveals the human price all the citizens of Northern Ireland have paid: anguish over lost loved ones, pain from their own injuries, constant terror, apathy to the terror.
This book came highly recommended to me, and I can't recommend it highly enough to others who wish to gain an even insight into the human side of "The Troubles."
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting but not recommended, February 13, 2001
This review is from: I Am of Ireland -Rev Ed (Paperback)
I must admit this book disappointed me. Elizabeth Shannon interviewed several women in Northern Ireland and the only conclusion she seems to draw from them is that the armed struggle waged by the IRA is ethically wrong and completely useless. The author does not even try to analyze reasons for violence in Northern Ireland, she only stresses again and again that violence is wrong and there must be a peaceful solution to centuries old grievances and hatred. Plus, she seems to accept and reinforce British propaganda about Irish Republicans as thugs, sociopaths and racketeers, who are only in it for power, money and excitement. She thinks that hundreds of young lads, generation after generation, have willingly suffered through life on the run, torture, imprisonment, and ultimately death only to prove their masculinity. Some of her comments are simply ludicrous: introducing an Unionist woman politician (and a former Mayor of Derry, mind you)she underlines that Ireland would be a better place if there were more people like her. In the interview the same enlightened politician advocates the return to hanging to do away with all Republican "terrorists". Yes, Elizabeth, you are right, this is what Ireland really needs, that's the way forward for sure! And by the way, is this kind of violence justified in your peace-loving mind? The interviews are interesting though, biased comments and questions notwithstanding. In the end, I recommend this book only to people who already have some knowledge of Irish history and politics. This is definitely not the book to start with if you want to understand the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
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