Young people’s voices are often the last to be heard when it comes to serious issues.
When they do get to speak it is always the same voices, not those considered to be from minority groups. For example, how often do we hear disabled young people giving their views on something other than disablity.
All young people have views on sectarianism, homophobia and racism, to name but a few.
Headliners spoke to young people from ASBAH (Association for Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida) on the subject of sectarianism in the Northwest. 17-year-old Matthew who is a Protestant says that there is only one Catholic family where he lives but that they get on great with everyone. Sectarianism confuses Matthew. He says: “I don’t really know why it exists. I think it’s partly because they support different sports teams and they like to play different sports. I go to football and basketball and as far as I know there are Catholics there.
“People should just get on with everybody. We are all human. I get on with everybody but I have a friend who keeps saying stuff about Catholics. He says rude stuff and at the end of the day I know he shouldn’t be doing it. Matthew’s solution for sectarianism is for the government to open a youth club and, ‘bring all the Catholic and Protestants into it.’
He adds: “They need to be brought together to see how they get on. They need to be given the chance to get on, to go out together and do things and chat.”
Aaron (13) who is a Protestant just doesn’t understand why sectarianism exists. Like Matthew, he thinks a cross-community club could help but feels that responsibility lies with police and council who should, ‘go to where the people are fighting and tell them to go home and stop fighting.’ He did admit that at the minute he isn’t friends with any Catholics and doesn’t go to any activities where there are Catholics. He attends an all Protestant school .
He also insists: “I don’t know anyone who is sectarian.”
15-year-old Rebecca is a Catholic and at the minute doesn’t have any Protestant friends although she used to be in a dance group where she had Catholic friends. She recalled: “We just had great fun together. We used to go to trips to Omagh and stuff.”
Rebecca is very clear on who she thinks is responsible for stopping sectarianism.:“The Catholics and Protestants themselves need to stop it. They are the ones that are fighting so they should help themselves. I think people need somewhere they can go together where they can talk to each other and where they are helped to believe in themselves.” Caitlyn (13) offered the same solution: “We should talk to each other and try to get along better.”
Shannon who does not consider herself neither Catholic nor Protestant believes sectarianism could be genetic. She says: “People don’t get along because that is just the way they feel and it has been going on for a very long time. The gene of hating each other has been passed on in the future.”
And her solution? - “Put it in the laws – no fighting with other religions.” As simple as?
She adds: “The government or the mayor should help to stop it.” Asked what she could do to help Shannon didn’t hesitate: “I could make friends with a Protestant and a Catholic then get them to make friends and then the friendship between them will hopefully rub off on others.” Shannon stressed: “I don’t know what religion anyone is at the activities I go to. And I don’t want to know. I just make friends with people.”
About this article
This story was written by Grace, 16. The interviewees were from the Foyle ASBAH Group.
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