Brid knew without being told that the Northern Ireland conflict was "set in stone." Treaties have largely kept the peace, but still education and neighborhoods are heavily segregated. How can deep divisions be overcome?

As a child growing up in the 1990s, Brid knew without being told that in Northern Ireland the conflict is between Protestants and Catholics, and that it's "set in stone." Treaties signed 25-years ago have largely kept the peace, but still education and neighborhoods are heavily segregated.

Is there a way, in your opinion, to overcome such deep divisions?

I'm not sure we can ever overcome deep divisions - we are seeing that play out every day.

If the Catholics believe Ireland must be one country and the Protestants believe the North should be part of England and neither are willing to compromise.

If the Palestinians believe they can only exist if Israel does not.

If people with any strong political view believe that anyone who disagrees is evil

I'm not sure how these beliefs are overcome at this point.

Lyris makes a good point that some divisions are just too deep. Maybe time (lots and lots!) and each new generation refusing to/failing to see the signifigance of what their parents believe and acting on those feelings could go a long way to "overcoming deep divisions".

I can only echo the thoughts expressed by Lyris and and Becky D. and given today’s climate it’s easy to loose hope. These divisions can only be solved by individuals listening to each and searching for common ground.

A few years ago Colum McCann wrote Apeirogon (an apeirogon is a shape that has an countably infinite number of sides). It tells the story of 2 men one Israeli the other Palestinian who both suffer the loss of children. They recognize that their loss connects them and attempt to use the greif as a weapon for peace. It is a beautiful book that offers hope and a path forward.

I agree with the previous answers. Hatred and prejudice
passed down through generations is difficult to change. Usually it takes a profound experience to change someone’s belief system. Brad’s mother’s hatred and her sister’s death led Brid to join with the IRA and deliver a car that ended a life. The guilt and shame she experienced caused her to flee from the pressure to continue to fight for the IRA. I think leaving Ireland and her mother behind as well as becoming a mother helped her realize continuing working for the IRA would turn her into someone she didn’t want to be.

This is such a tough question. There are so many divisions in our current world. As others have mentioned, with events in Gaza, Ukraine and even in this country, people seem to be on firm opposing sides. Maybe some generational changes, but I don't think people change overnight.