Theme and message

The main theme of the article “Belfast Protests Leaving Scars on Schoolchildren” by Brian Lavery is represented by the impact of the conflict between Catholics and Protestants. A sub-theme of the article is represented by the effects of political conflicts on children.

The Troubles

The conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland is also known under the name of “The Troubles”. Although it concerns people of different religious beliefs, the conflict was never based on religion, but on politics.

The Catholics (also called Nationalists), view themselves as Irish and wish to live in a separate Ireland, away from the rule of the United Kingdom. The Protestants (also called Unionists), on the other hand, view themselves as British and wish to remain under the rule of the United Kingdom.

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The effects of political conflicts on children

A sub-theme of the article “Belfast Protests Leaving Scars on Schoolchildren” is related to the effects of political conflicts on children.

As the title of the article states, the Belfast protests have left several scars on children, both Catholic and Protestant. On the one hand, Catholic schoolgirls seem to have suffered severe psychological damage after being attacked with stones on their first day of school:

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