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From Rev Ruth Scott, Anglican Vicar in Richmond:

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鈥楻emember, remember the fifth of November鈥︹�� Judging by the fireworks that have been going off in our neighbourhood for some nights now, we鈥檙e certainly doing that. Guy Fawkes鈥� sectarian plot that marked religious division in the 17th century has become an annual firework party where people regardless of their religious persuasion get together to have a good time. Transforming death-dealing conflict into life-giving community can take decades, even centuries. It demands great courage and commitment, often in the face of condemnation, not least from one鈥檚 own kind who see any compromise as selling out to the enemy. Last week, in Belfast, I joined a group of Unionists and Nationalists who were debating the complexities of parading in the Province. As the two communities work to live together and negotiate areas of conflict through political process rather than violent protest, when and where people parade remains a contentious issue that sometimes threatens to destabilise the peace. There were certainly strong differences of opinion expressed in the meeting but there was also a palpable desire among those present to find a solution that takes seriously the identity, aspirations and fears of both communities. Looking around the hall it struck me that only twenty years ago a number of the men present would have killed one another if they鈥檇 had the chance. Over time they鈥檝e come to seek a different way to resolve the issues that divide them. This is the tough, messy, painful, heart-achingly difficult and often long-term reality of learning to, in Jesus鈥� words 鈥淟ove your enemy鈥� which ultimately is the only way to enable sustainable peace. Those who rise to the challenge turn the deadly bangs of bullets and bombs into the vibrant starbursts of fireworks; and cries of anguish into the 鈥榦ohs鈥� and 鈥榓ahs鈥� of people who are free to live and celebrate life without fear.

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