Betty Williams: Contagious Courage (2018) - full transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[NARRATOR]
BY THE 1970s, THE TENSION
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
REACHED AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
CATHOLICS, PROTESTING FOR
BETTER JOBS, DECENT HOUSING,
AND EQUAL VOTING RIGHTS,
WERE OPPOSED BY
PROTESTANT-CONTROLLED
SPECIAL POLICE,
WHO USED BRUTAL FORCE.
THE BRITISH ARMY
TOOK OVER AND MOVED IN
AT THE URGING OF SOME MEMBERS
OF THE PROTESTANT MAJORITY.
FOR THE LARGE CATHOLIC MINORITY,
THIS MILITARY OCCUPATION
SERVED ONLY TO INCREASE
SUPPORT FOR THE DREAM
OF A UNITED IRELAND,
AND FOR THE VIOLENT,
PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
HEAVILY-ARMED PROTESTANT
MILITIA GROUPS RESPONDED
WITH FULL FORCE,
AND IN KIND.
NORTHERN IRELAND WAS ON
THE EDGE OF CIVIL WAR.
[MAN] IT COULD COME
TO CIVIL WAR, AND MAKE
NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT,
WE AS PROTESTANTS
AND LOYALISTS WILL FIGHT,
AND WE WILL WIN.
[NARRATOR]
IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND CITY
OF LONDONDERRY,
MANY RESENTED
THE BRITISH PRESENCE,
WHICH BROUGHT WITH IT
AN INCREASE IN THE
SECTARIAN VIOLENCE.
ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 30TH, 1972,
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MARCHED
TO PROTEST A NEW POLICY
OF INTERNMENT,
A CHANGE IN LAW THAT ALLOWED
THE POLICE TO IMPRISON
AND HOLD PEOPLE--
IN PRACTICE,
ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY
CATHOLICS--
INDEFINITELY AND WITHOUT CHARGE.
THE PROTEST, WHICH THE
AUTHORITIES DECLARED TO BE
ILLEGAL, WAS MASSIVE.
WHEN THE PROTEST MARCH
STARTED TO WIND ITS WAY PAST
A MILITARY OUTPOST,
SOME PEOPLE BEGAN TO APPROACH
THE POLICE BARRICADES IN ANGER.
WATER CANNONS AND TEAR GAS
WERE USED TO DISPERSE THE CROWD.
WHEN MOST OF THE PROTESTERS
WERE GONE,
FOUR NEW UNITS WERE SENT IN
TO THE BOGSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD
ON AN ARREST MISSION...
AND THEY OPENED FIRE.
IN TOTAL, THE ARMY FIRED
108 ROUNDS
OF LIVE AMMUNITION THAT DAY.
-[SHOUTING]
-[GUNFIRE]
[NARRATOR]
14 PEOPLE WERE KILLED
AND MANY MORE WERE INJURED.
[REPORTER] YOU'RE QUITE SURE
THAT NOTHING WAS FIRED AT
THEM FIRST.
THERE WAS NOTHING FIRED AT THEM.
I'M ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN OF THAT.
I CAN SPEAK OF THIS WITHOUT
ANY DIFFICULTY WHATSOEVER
BECAUSE I WAS THERE.
I WAS JUST STANDING AT THE FLATS
WHEN THE SOLDIERS MOVED IN,
FIRST OF ALL,
AND THERE WAS NOTHING
FIRED AT THEM,
POSITIVELY NOTHING FIRED
AT THEM WHATSOEVER.
THERE WEREN'T
EVEN STONES THROWN.
PEOPLE RAN IN ALL DIRECTIONS
AND THEY OPENED FIRE.
MOST PEOPLE HAD THEIR BACKS
TO THEM WHEN THEY OPENED FIRE
AT THE TIME.
MY INFORMATION AT THE MOMENT,
AND IT IS VERY, ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT,
IS THAT THE PARA BATTALION
FIRED THREE ROUNDS ALL TOGETHER.
AFTER, THEY HAD SOMETHING
BETWEEN 10 AND 20 FIRED AT THEM
FROM THE AREA OF
THE ROSSVILLE FLATS, OVER THERE.
[REPORTER] THEY FIRED
THREE ROUNDS ONLY.
MY INFORMATION AT THE MOMENT--
[REPORTER] I BELIEVE
THERE ARE MORE THAN THREE DEAD.
I CERTAINLY-- I HAVE SEEN THREE
DEAD MYSELF.
WELL, THEY MAY WELL NOT HAVE
BEEN KILLED BY OUR SOLDIERS.
[NEWSCASTER]
THE REACTION IN BELFAST
TO THE SHOOTING WAS QUICK.
LAST NIGHT, FIRES WERE RAGING
IN THE ANDERSONSTOWN AREA,
AND FOR SOME TIME, THE FIRE
BRIGADE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IN.
THIS MORNING IN CATHOLIC AREAS,
BLACK FLAGS WERE OUT
AND FEELINGS WERE NO LESS
BITTER THAN IN LONDONDERRY.
FLEETS OF TRUCKS AND CARS WERE
HIJACKED IN ANDERSONSTOWN
AT THE FALLS AREA,
DRIVEN AWAY,
AND THEN BURNED
TO PROVIDE BARRICADES.
AFTER WARNINGS OF RETALIATION
BY THE PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
FOR YESTERDAY'S SHOOTINGS,
TROOPS WERE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS.
THE PEOPLE OF THE BOGSIDE
WERE STILL STUNNED BY
THE SHOOTINGS.
THEY WALKED ABOUT
AND STOOD IN GROUPS,
TALKING ABOUT THE TRAGEDY.
IT WAS A CRISP, SUNNY DAY,
JUST LIKE IT WAS ON THE DAY
THEY'VE CALLED HERE
"BLOODY SUNDAY."
I WAS AFRAID.
WHEN I LOOK BACK ON IT NOW,
IF I'M TELLIN' YOU THE TRUTH,
I'D BE OUT DOIN' ME SHOPPING.
MAYBE YOU'D BE STANDING
AT THE GREEN GROCERY
END OF THE STORE,
AND YOU'D MEET SOMEBODY,
ANOTHER WOMAN YOU KNEW,
AND YOU BOTH HAD YOUR PROBLEMS,
BUT THEY'D ALWAYS BE IN A
WHISPER.
[WHISPERING]
"WASN'T THAT TERRIBLE
WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?"
"GOD, DID YOU KNOW HIM?"
IT WAS SORT OF PER WOMAN.
[NORMAL VOICE]
YOU KNOW YOU'D HEAR THIS
KIND OF TALK AMONG THE WOMEN.
SO I KNEW THAT ANY FEMALES
OF THE SPECIES THAT I KNEW
WERE VERY ANTI
WHAT WAS GOING ON,
BUT THEY WERE TERRIFIED
TO SAY ANYTHING.
THERE WASN'T A MOTHER
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
THAT WASN'T AFRAID,
BECAUSE IT WASN'T-- YOU KNOW,
YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER...
YOU'D WALK OUT ONE DAY AND
WHAT YOU WERE WALKING INTO.
SO I KNOW WHY THE
WOMEN WERE WHISPERING.
I WAS ONE OF THEM.
[NARRATOR]
1972 WAS A YEAR FULL OF ANGER.
[LOUD EXPLOSION]
[NARRATOR]
WITH SHOOTINGS, BOMBINGS,
AND CIVILIANS DYING
EVERY SINGLE WEEK,
NO ONE WAS SAFE
FROM THE SECTARIAN VIOLENCE.
[SCREAMING, CRYING]
I REMEMBER A BOMB BLAST
WHERE THE WINDOW BLEW OUT.
I JUMPED UP.
WELL, I HAD TO GO TO
THE DOCTOR THE NEXT DAY,
'CAUSE I COULDN'T
COPE WITH THE PAIN,
BUT THAT'S WHERE ALL
MY INJURIES CAME FROM.
LOTS OF PEOPLE
THAT HAPPENED TO.
[NEWSCASTER]
YET ANOTHER BOMB BLAST
OCCURRED IN BELFAST TODAY,
AND AN ELDERLY WOMAN
WAS CAUGHT AND TRAPPED
IN THE RUBBLE.
IT TOOK AN HOUR AND A HALF
TO GET HER OUT.
THEN THERE WAS A SECOND SCARE.
THERE WAS A CRASH
AND EVERYONE THOUGHT THAT
THE WHOLE PLACE WAS COMING DOWN.
[CROWD SHOUTING, SCREAMING]
IT WAS A TENSE AND NERVOUS
SCENE IN THIS AREA OF BELFAST.
AND TONIGHT, THE AUTHORITIES
HAVE LITTLE DOUBT
THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL
OF TODAY'S VIOLENCE,
WAS ORGANIZED BY
THE ILLEGAL PROTESTANT
ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE.
MY COUSIN DANNY...
LOVELY LAD GOIN' TO SCHOOL.
JUST...BEAUTIFUL BOY,
DANNY DUNN.
AND HE WAS WALKING HOME
WHEN THEY RIDDLED HIM TO DEATH
WITH SIGN OF THE CROSS.
JUST--
I'M WAITING ON HIM AND WHEN MY
AUNTIE BRADY OPENED THE DOOR,
HE FELL IN TO HER ARMS.
BRADY WAS NEVER THE SAME
AFTER THAT.
SHE DIED THAT DAY, YA KNOW?
TERRIBLE.
[NEWSCASTER]
IN EAST BELFAST,
A MANAGER OF A LOCAL BAR
WAS SHOT IN THE DOOR
OF HIS FATHER'S HOUSE.
HE STAGGERED DOWN THE HALL
INTO THE KITCHEN.
THE GUNMAN FOLLOWED HIM
AND SHOT HIM AGAIN,
RIGHT TO THE HEAD.
IT WAS THE THIRD SUCH
RELIGIOUSLY-MOTIVATED
KILLING THIS MONTH.
AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW,
JIM MCGEE, HIS COUSIN...
WHO HAD A WEE FARM,
HE WAS A POSTMAN.
AND THE I.R.A. HAD
THIS VAN FULL OF EXPLOSIVE.
BUT A BRITISH ARMY FOOT PATROL
HAD BEEN SET UP
SO THEY LEFT THE VAN
AND RAN OFF,
AND JOE WAS DRIVING AROUND
IN IT AND THE VAN EXPLODED.
SO, A CATHOLIC WAS KILLED
BY CATHOLICS,
AND A CATHOLIC WAS
KILLED BY PROTESTANTS.
DOES THAT MAKE ANY
SENSE TO ANYBODY?
I DON'T THINK SO.
[NEWSCASTER]
THERE WAS ANOTHER BOMB BLAST
IN DOWNTOWN BELFAST TODAY.
THREE OTHER EXPLOSIONS
ALSO OCCURRED
OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN
DOWNTOWN AREA,
WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY
A TWO-MILE LONG SECURITY FENCE.
THE MAJOR FIRE STARTED IN
A TOY AND PRAM SHOP,
AND A SHIPPING OFFICE AND
A MILK BAR WERE BADLY DAMAGED.
THE PROVISIONAL I.R.A. SAID
THE ATTACK WAS IN RETALIATION
FOR THE RECENT CRACKDOWN
BY BRITISH POLICE.
THE I.R.A. APPEARED TO BE TRYING
TO PROVOKE A BACKLASH,
AND TODAY'S ACTIVITIES CERTAINLY
HARDENED PROTESTANT OPINIONS.
[WILLIAMS]
I HAD BEEN TERRIFIED THAT MAYBE
THEY WOULD HURT MY CHILDREN.
I HAD THE "MY" SYNDROME: WHAT
ABOUT MY HOUSE, MY CAR, MY KIDS?
[NEWSCASTER]
MAY 17TH, 1974.
TODAY'S BOMBING
REPRESENTS THE BIGGEST,
GREATEST LOSS OF LIFE
IN A SINGLE DAY,
IN WHAT PEOPLE HERE ARE CALLING
THE "TROUBLES" IN IRELAND.
FOUR CAR BOMBS EXPLODED
WITHOUT WARNING,
KILLING 33 MEN,
WOMEN, AND CHILDREN,
AND INJURING ALMOST 300.
[WILLIAMS]
I SAW TERRIBLE THINGS IN
NORTHERN IRELAND, YA KNOW?
THINGS THAT
STAY WITH YOU FOREVER.
[FEMALE NEWSCASTER]
FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS,
THIS HAS BEEN THE FACE
THAT NORTHERN IRELAND
HAS PRESENTED TO THE WORLD.
PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE NOW
BEGINNING TO WONDER
JUST HOW MUCH THE YOUNGSTERS
OF NORTHERN IRELAND
HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY
THE NEAR-CONSTANT VIOLENCE.
[MIMICKING GUNFIRE]
IN THE SCHOOLS, TEACHERS HAVE
NOTICED CHANGES
IN THE WORK THAT CHILDREN
PRODUCE.
THE "WHAT DID YOU DO YESTERDAY?"
ESSAY
IS NOW LIKELY TO
INCLUDE A BOMB BLAST,
OR A SKIRMISH WITH BRITISH
TROOPS, GUNSHOTS, OR GRENADES.
THE CHANGE IN BASIC
BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN STARK.
THERE'S NOW EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST
THAT SOME CHILDREN
HAVE BEEN
SERIOUSLY AFFECTED
BY THE ONGOING CIVIL WAR.
THE EVIDENCE WAS PUBLISHED
IN A RECENT ISSUE
OF THE "BRITISH JOURNAL
OF PSYCHIATRY."
PSYCHOLOGISTS CLAIM
THAT THEIR JOBS HAVE BEEN
MADE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT
BY THE PHYSICAL SEPARATION OF
THE COMMUNITIES OF BELFAST.
IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE FOR
CATHOLIC CHILDREN
TO GO THROUGH
THEIR ENTIRE EARLY LIFE
WITHOUT EVER MEETING
A PROTESTANT CHILD,
AND FOR PROTESTANT CHILDREN
TO NEVER MEET A CATHOLIC CHILD.
[ALL SINGING]
♪ GOD BLESS MY HOMELAND
IN DEAR OLD SHORT STRAND ♪
♪ GOD BLESS MY HOME
IN THE DEAR OLD SHANKHILL ♪
[FEMALE NEWSCASTER]
THEIR COMMUNITIES ARE DIVIDED
BY WALLS.
[NARRATOR]
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 1976,
WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN BELFAST.
MANY PEOPLE WERE OUTDOORS,
ENJOYING THE SUNSHINE.
AND THEN, TRAGEDY STRUCK.
[NEWS ANCHOR]
OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT...
IN A TERRIBLE TURN OF EVENTS
IN BELFAST TODAY,
IN WHICH THREE INNOCENT
AND DEFENSELESS CHILDREN
WERE RUN OVER.
A YOUNG PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
MEMBER WAS BEING CHASED
BY BRITISH TROOPS
WHO SHOT HIM AT THE WHEEL
AND HIS CAR CAREENED
INTO A YOUNG FAMILY
OUT FOR AN AFTERNOON WALK.
TWO CHILDREN ARE DEAD
AT THE SCENE.
THE MOTHER AND BABY
ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
WELL, IT ALL HAPPENED
ON FINAGHY ROAD NORTH,
AND MY HOUSE WAS
OFF OF FINAGHY ROAD NORTH.
IT WAS VERY, VERY
CLOSE TO THE SCENE.
VERY CLOSE.
JUST LITERALLY
'ROUND THE CORNER.
AND I WAS DRIVING HOME
FROM MOMMY'S.
THAT WAS A TRIP
I DID DAILY.
IT COULD'VE BEEN ME.
FEEL PRETTY TERRIBLE.
WE WENT DOWN THIS MORNING
TO THE MORGUE
AND WE SAW THE TWO LITTLE ONES
AND JUST TO HEAR NOW THAT
THE THIRD'S GONE.
[SOBS]
HAVING A TRIPLE FUNERAL
ON FRIDAY.
[VOICE BREAKING]
IT'S PRETTY HARD.
THEN I GOT SO ANGRY.
I REMEMBER STANDING IN MY GARAGE
BECAUSE MY CHILDREN
WERE SLEEPING,
AND I WAS SCREAMING.
JUST SCREAMING.
I THOUGHT I'D GO OUT AND
DO A CAMPAIGN FOR PEACE
AND HAVE PEOPLE SIGN
A PETITION FOR PEACE.
AND I HAD GONE DOOR KNOCKING
AND ASKING THE WOMEN
IN THE AREA THAT I LIVED,
WHICH WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE I.R.A. TERRITORY.
I MEAN, I WAS SO ANGRY.
I WAS YELLING AT THE WOMEN.
I WASN'T SORT OF NICE LITTLE
PEACE PERSON.
I WAS THIS RAVING LUNATIC
ON THEIR DOORSTEP.
"WE'VE GOTTA STOP THIS!"
AFTER ABOUT FOUR HOUSES
I NEARLY LOST MY VOICE,
I WAS YELLING AT EVERYBODY.
AND IT JUST TOOK OFF
LIKE WILDFIRE. WOMEN JUST--
BECAUSE I HAD GIVEN A VOICE
TO WHAT THEY WERE FEELING.
YOU KNOW, I MUST HAVE
LIFTED THE LID.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY AND HER NEIGHBORS
COLLECTED
MORE THAN 6,000 SIGNATURES,
AND BETTY SPOKE TO REPORTERS
AT THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER
AND AT THE LOCAL
TELEVISION STATION.
AND I ASKED THE WOMEN
OF NORTHERN IRELAND
IF THEY FELT LIKE I DID.
WOULD THEY JOIN ME IN A RALLY
THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY
AT THE SPOT WHERE THE CHILDREN
WERE KILLED?
I MET MAIREAD ON THE DAY
OF THE FUNERAL.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
I HADN'T GOT A CLUE.
NEVER KNOWN THE MIRACLE
I WAS ABOUT TO WITNESS,
BECAUSE THERE WERE
10,000 WOMEN TURNED UP.
THOUGHT IT WAS
A SEA OF WOMEN.
[NARRATOR]
EVEN AS THE VIOLENCE CONTINUED,
WOMEN IN BELFAST WERE GATHERING
TO MAKE A POSITIVE
AND MOVING PLEA FOR PEACE.
[SINGING IN UNISON]
[NEWSCASTER]
WOMEN FROM PROTESTANT AREAS
OF THE CITY HIRED BUSES
TO JOIN THE WOMEN OF
CATHOLIC ANDERSONSTOWN
STILL MOURNING
THE MAGUIRE CHILDREN KILLED
BY A TERRORIST CAR.
FRESH FLOWERS WERE PLACED
AT THE SPOT WHERE THE
CHILDREN HAD DIED.
SIGNATURES WERE READILY ADDED
TO AN ALREADY LONG LIST
OF PEOPLE WHO WANT PEACE.
BETTY WILLIAMS, WHO PLANNED
THE RALLY, AND MARY MAGUIRE,
THE AUNT OF THE CHILDREN
WHO DIED, WERE DELIGHTED
WITH THE RESPONSE.
TOGETHER, THE WOMEN PRAYED
FOR PEACE, SANG HYMNS FOR PEACE,
AND CRIED OUT FOR PEACE.
[WOMEN SINGING]
[CROWD CHANTING]
WE WANT PEACE!
WE WANT PEACE!
[NEWSCASTER]
THE RALLY BROUGHT COMFORT
FOR MANY,
INCLUDING THE CHILDRENS'
FAMILY.
THEIR MOTHER IS
STILL IN HOSPITAL.
I FEEL FANTASTIC.
HER THREE BABIES HAVEN'T
DIED FOR NOTHING,
BECAUSE THIS HAS BROUGHT OUT
HOW THE PEOPLE FEEL.
WE ALL WANTED THIS,
BUT IN OUR FRUSTRATION,
WE DIDN'T
KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT.
[NEWSCASTER]
ANOTHER RALLY WILL BE HELD
ON SHANKHILL ROAD NEXT WEEK.
[WILLIAMS]
WE JOINED FORCES,
AND IT WAS A POWERFUL FORCE.
ONCE I BROKE MY OWN FEAR,
IT ALLOWED OTHERS
TO BREAK THEIRS, TOO.
[NARRATOR]
MEMBERS OF THE PROVISIONAL
I.R.A. WATCHED THE RALLY.
THEIR REACTION WAS BOTH
IMMEDIATE AND VIOLENT.
[WILLIAMS]
AFTER THE FIRST RALLY,
THEY HAD TO GO HOME
TO THEIR OWN HOUSES,
EXCEPT A LOT OF THEM
WERE UNDER THREAT.
IT WAS DIFFICULT KNOWING
THAT THEY HAD TO DO THAT
AND THEY WERE AFRAID.
THE WOMEN WERE SAYING THAT
THEY GOT THEIR WINDOWS BUSTED.
AND SOMEBODY GOT A BUCKET
SOMEWHERE AND STARTED
GOING ROUND TO THE WOMEN,
AND THE WOMEN WERE JUST
GOING INTO THEIR PURSES
AND PUTTING THE MONEY IN
TO GET THE WINDOWS REPLACED.
THE WOMEN
SUPPORTED ONE ANOTHER,
AND IT WAS CATHOLIC HELPING
PROTESTANT, BY THE WAY,
AND PROTESTANT HELPING CATHOLIC.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS
AN EXTREME ACT OF COURAGE.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY AND MAIREAD WERE
APPROACHED BY A LOCAL JOURNALIST
NAMED CIARAN MCKEOWN.
THEY DECIDED TO WORK TOGETHER
TO TURN THE CRY OF THE WOMEN
INTO A MOVEMENT.
[WILLIAMS]
"WE'VE A SIMPLE MESSAGE
FOR THE WORLD
FROM THIS
MOVEMENT FOR PEACE.
WE WANT TO LIVE
AND LOVE AND BUILD
A JUST AND
PEACEFUL SOCIETY.
WE WANT FOR OUR CHILDREN
AS WE WANT FOR OURSELVES,
OUR LIVES AT WORK,
AT HOME, AND AT PLAY,
TO BE LIVES
OF JOY AND PEACE.
WE RECOGNIZE
THAT TO BUILD SUCH A LIFE
DEMANDS OF ALL OF US
DEDICATION, HARD WORK,
AND COURAGE.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE
MANY PROBLEMS IN ALL SOCIETIES
WHICH ARE A SOURCE OF
CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE.
WE REJECT THE USE OF THE BOMB
AND THE BULLET
AND ALL THE TECHNIQUES
OF VIOLENCE.
WE DEDICATE OURSELVES
TO WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS,
NEAR AND FAR,
DAY IN AND DAY OUT,
TO BUILDING
THAT PEACEFUL SOCIETY
IN WHICH THE TRAGEDIES
WE HAVE KNOWN
ARE A BAD MEMORY AND
A CONTINUING WARNING."
AND THAT'S BURNT
ON MY HEART.
CAN I ASK YOU,
WHEN YOU SAY "DEDICATE,"
-[MAIREAD] YEAH.
-IN DETAIL, THAT MEANS WHAT?
LIVING 24 HOURS OF EVERY DAY
POSITIVELY FOR PEACE.
IT MAY TAKE A LOT
OF COURAGE AT TIMES.
I KNOW THE WOMEN
OF ANDERSONSTOWN.
I WAS BORN THERE.
I WAS BROUGHT UP THERE.
I WAS REARED IN
AN ANDERSONSTOWN GHETTO,
AND I LOVE THEM.
THEY'RE GREAT PEOPLE,
AND I KNEW THE WOMEN
OF ANDERSONSTOWN
COULDN'T HAVE APPROVED
OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.
WE'VE GOT 100,000 PEOPLE
ON THE STREETS OF NORTHERN
IRELAND WHO'VE COME OUT.
I'M ONLY THEIR MOUTHPIECE.
THAT'S ALL I AM.
ALSO WHAT IS HAPPENING OUT OF
OUR PEACE MOVEMENT IS
THAT WE'RE GETTING THESE
FANTASTIC LITTLE GROUPS
GROWING UP IN CATHOLIC AND
PROTESTANT AREAS,
AND ALREADY WE HAVE THE
CATHOLICS AND THE PROTESTANTS
CROSSING OVER.
AND YOU KNOW, THE ORDINARY
PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND,
FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HISTORY, ALMOST,
ARE GOING TO HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY
WHAT THEY
WANT IN THEIR SOCIETY,
AND THEY THEMSELVES WILL
TAKE DOWN THE BARRIER OF FEAR,
AND THE PHYSICAL BARRIERS
IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'LL DO IT THEMSELVES,
AS THEY PROVED YESTERDAY
IN THE SHANKHILL.
THE ORDINARY WOMEN
AND MEN OF NORTHERN IRELAND--
I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP,
BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAID
"LITTLE GROUPS DOING SOMETHING,"
IMMEDIATE REACTION IS TO SAY,
"WHAT? WORDS CANNOT FIGHT
THE GUNMEN."
BUT YESTERDAY WAS
THE FIRST DIRECT ACTION
THAT THE PEACE PEOPLE TOOK.
-THEY STOPPED BUSES FROM
BEING BURNED, DIDN'T THEY?
-EXACTLY.
THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FALLS
ROAD THE WEEK BEFORE,
WHERE THE WOMEN OF THE FALLS
HAD GOT OUT AND STOPPED IT,
AND WE'VE HAD A FEW
INTIMIDATIONS STOPPED--
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
BY INTIMIDATIONS, EILEEN?
-I MUST EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU.
-YOU MUST EXPLAIN THIS.
I.E., A CATHOLIC FAMILY,
LIVING IN A PROTESTANT AREA,
SOMEONE WILL GO TO THE DOOR
AND SAY,
"YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES
TO GET OUT.
YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE."
WE HAD TWO OF THOSE STOPPED
BY THE CATHOLIC WOMEN.
WE HAD BUS BURNINGS STOPPED
BY THE CATHOLIC WOMEN
IN TWINBROOK
AND ON THE FALLS ROAD.
AND YESTERDAY,
THE PROTESTANT WOMEN GOT OUT
AND DONE EXACTLY
THE SAME THING.
THEY STOPPED THIS HAPPENING,
SO THE TWO COMMUNITIES WILL
NOW START HELPING EACH OTHER.
[NEWSCASTER]
THE TROUBLES IN NORTHERN IRELAND
CONTINUED ON THIS WEEK,
BUT THERE IS A NEW OUTSPOKENNESS
AMONGST THE VICTIMS
AND POTENTIAL VICTIMS
OF VIOLENCE.
IT'S DEMONSTRATED TODAY
IN A BELFAST NEIGHBORHOOD,
WHERE HOUSEWIVES BANDED TOGETHER
TO STOP A HIJACKING.
-WE STOPPED THE BOYS FROM
COMING UP--
-[WOMAN] HIJACKING A LORRY.
HIJACKING A LORRY,
AND A BUS THEY TRIED, TOO.
AND THEN THE WOMEN
HAVE ALL GATHERED--
THERE'LL BE MORE LATER ON.
-AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND
FOR THIS ANY LONGER. RIGHT?
-[CROWD] RIGHT!
[NEWSCASTER]
AND BOTH PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC
WOMEN, AND EVEN A FEW MEN,
MARCHED TOGETHER
ON THE SHANKHILL ROAD.
[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
[WILLIAMS]
WHEN I STARTED THE PEACE
MOVEMENT,
DADDY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT
UNTIL HE SAW ME ON
THE TELEVISION.
HE WAS VERY NERVOUS.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS WORRIED.
AND HE SAID,
"IN THE NAME OF GOD,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, BETTY?
DON'T YOU REALIZE
THAT NORTHERN IRELAND HAS A
PROBLEM FOR EVERY SOLUTION?"
AND THEN PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
CAME AROUND AND BROKE ALL
OUR WINDOWS IN THE HOUSE.
HE TOLD THE PROVISIONAL I.R.A.,
"YOU BREAK 'EM, I'LL FIX 'EM.
AND YOU'LL GET TIRED
BEFORE I DO."
SO HE HAD
EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE AS WELL,
BECAUSE WE LIVED RIGHT IN
THE HEART OF ANDERSONSTOWN.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY'S HOUSE BECAME THE OFFICE
FOR THE PEACE PEOPLE.
AND BETTY'S FATHER VOLUNTEERED.
HE STARTED ANSWERING HER PHONE.
[WILLIAMS]
"NO," I SAID.
"YOU'RE OUT THERE STANDING.
I'LL STAND RIGHT
ALONGSIDE YOU."
[NEWSCASTER]
TOM JONES, REPORTING
FROM LONDONDERRY.
THEY CAME FROM
THE WATER SIDE, AND THEY CAME
FROM THE CITY SIDE,
AND THEY MET
TOGETHER IN THE MIDDLE.
THOUSANDS OF WOMEN,
AND QUITE A FEW MEN FROM
BOTH COMMUNITIES
JOINED FORCES ON
THE CRAIGAVON BRIDGE
THAT LINKS
THE TWO HALVES OF DERRY,
THE CITY WHERE THE RIOTS
BEGAN EIGHT YEARS AGO.
THE PEACE MOVEMENT,
JUST FOUR WEEKS OLD,
MET SOME OPPOSITION AS A SMALL
GROUP OF SINN FEIN SUPPORTERS
DEMANDED BRITISH WITHDRAWAL,
WHICH THEY CALLED
"PEACE WITH JUSTICE."
THAT DEMONSTRATION WAS QUITE
OFTEN LEFT UNNOTICED,
AND THE MAIN RALLY
STUCK ONCE AGAIN TO SIMPLE
PRAYERS AND PEACE,
AVOIDING POLITICAL ARGUMENTS
THAT COULD SPLIT THE MOVEMENT,
AND ALREADY ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO MORE MARCHES,
AND THEY HOPE,
MORE SUPPORT.
[WILLIAMS]
IT WAS LIKE A MEDIA
FEEDING FRENZY.
IT REALLY WAS...
OFF THE CHARTS, MEDIA-WISE.
MY PHONE WOULD START WITH
CALLS FROM JAPAN.
DADDY ENDED UP TAKING
THE PHONE OFF THE HOOK.
WE WEREN'T GETTING
ANY SLEEP, YOU KNOW?
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
BUT, OH, MY GOD,
THE COURAGE WAS SO CLEAR.
WOMEN DRIVING
FROM THE FALLS ROAD,
UP THE SHANKHILL ROAD.
BOTH ORGANIZATIONS,
CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT,
WELL, THE I.R.A.,
THEY KNEW THE CARS.
THEY EVEN HAD
ROADBLOCKS SET UP.
OUR WOMEN DROVE
THROUGH ALL OF THAT,
AND THEY GOT
TO THEIR MEETINGS.
YOU KNOW, THEY DID
WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO
FOR ONE ANOTHER.
[CHEERING]
[WILLIAMS]
THERE'S A POWERFUL FORCE OF
GOOD IN NORTHERN IRELAND NOW.
NOTHING IS AS STRONG AS
AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME.
[SINGING]
[WILLIAMS]
PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE
A LOT MORE TO UNITE THEM
THEN THEY EVER HAD
TO DIVIDE THEM.
WE'VE USED RELIGION
TO KILL EACH OTHER SINCE
TIME IMMEMORIAL.
NOW THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SAYING,
"NO MORE. WE'VE HAD ENOUGH."
I HAVE TO GO BACK TO SAYING
THAT IF YOU'RE NOT HELPING
TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM,
THEN YOU'RE PART OF IT.
[FEMALE NEWSCASTER]
TODAY, ON THE STEPS IN A CHURCH
IN ANDERSONSTOWN,
THE PEACE MOVEMENT GATHERED
TO PRAY AND TO SING FOR PEACE.
TWENTY YARDS AWAY,
A COUNTER-DEMONSTRATION
WAS HELD BY LOCAL YOUTH,
UNDER THE BANNER
OF THE I.R.A.'S SINN FEIN.
AS THE MEETING BREAKS UP,
A GROUP OF YOUTH MOVE FORWARD,
AND VIOLENCE SEEMS INEVITABLE.
ONE SMALL INCIDENT,
BUT THE PEACE PEOPLE ARE BEING
MADE AWARE ONCE AGAIN
OF THE BITTERNESS
THEY'LL HAVE TO OVERCOME
IF THEIR MOVEMENT
IS TO SUCCEED.
[WILLIAMS]
I'VE SEEN INCREDIBLE
ACTS OF COURAGE FROM WOMEN.
NON-VIOLENCE IS
THE WEAPON OF THE STRONG.
VIOLENCE IS THE EASY WAY.
I BELIEVE THAT WOMEN,
AS THE GIVERS OF LIFE,
HAVE NEVER BEEN THE TRUE
PROTECTORS OF THAT SAME LIFE
THAT THEY SHOULD BE.
I FEEL WOMEN'S ROLE
HAS GOT TO BE A GENTLER ONE,
AND PERHAPS IF WE CAN
DO IT CORRECTLY,
THE MEN WOULD
LIKE TO WALK BESIDE US.
[NARRATOR]
THE PEACE PEOPLE CONTINUED
TO STUDY THE WRITINGS
OF MARTIN LUTHER KING,
LEARNING THE TOOLS
AND TECHNIQUES OF NON-VIOLENCE
AS THEY PREPARED
FOR YET ANOTHER MARCH
ALONG THE I.R.A.-CONTROLLED
FALLS ROAD.
[WILLIAMS]
I REMEMBER READING IF YOU KEEP
THE MARCH MOVING,
PICK UP SOMEBODY
IF THEY'RE INJURED,
BUT DON'T LET IT STOP.
WE KNEW GOING ONTO
THE FALLS WOULD BE HARD,
YOU KNOW?
AND KIND OF SCARY.
I REMEMBER ISABELLE BENNETT,
ONE OF OUR TOUGH LADIES
FROM STITTENHAM, SAYING TO ME,
"WHAT WILL WE WEAR TO
THE FALLS ROAD RALLY?"
AND I SAID,
"FLAK JACKETS AND A HELMET."
THANK GOD IT WAS POURING RAIN,
SO THE UMBRELLAS WERE UP,
AND ONCE THE ATTACK BEGAN,
THEY WERE MOVING THE UMBRELLAS
FROM SIDE TO SIDE,
AND THEN WE'D GET A FLURRY
OF IT, AND THE UMBRELLAS WOULD
ALL COME TOGETHER AGAIN.
IF WE HADN'T HAD
THOSE UMBRELLAS,
WE'D HAVE BEEN LOOKING
AT MASSIVE HEAD INJURIES.
BRICKS WERE LANDING ON
THE UMBRELLAS
AND SOMETIMES TEARING THEM,
BUT MOSTLY BOUNCING OFF.
THE ESSENCE OF THE MARCH
WAS QUIET DIGNITY,
AND KEEPING IT GOING,
ALMOST LIKE A DRUMBEAT,
LIKE A HEARTBEAT.
WE WERE JUST IN SILENCE,
COMPLETE AND UTTER SILENCE.
NOT A WORD.
WE JUST KEPT MARCHING.
BRUTAL PUNISHMENT THAT DAY,
BUT NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY
INJURED.
IT WAS MORE EMOTIONAL SHOCK,
BUT WHAT A FEELING
AFTER IT.
NOBODY HURT THAT BADLY
THAT THEY COULDN'T
GO HOME THAT NIGHT, YA KNOW?
[NEWSCASTER]
THE PEACE PEOPLE OF
NORTHERN IRELAND
HELD A MASSIVE RALLY
IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE TODAY,
WITH AN ESTIMATED
15,000 TO 20,000 PEOPLE
DEMONSTRATING FOR PEACE
AND WITH AN EXTENSIVE
INTERNATIONAL PRESS CORPS
IN ATTENDANCE.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING
FOR THE WOMEN TO DO.
THIS IS SOMETHING
FOR HUMANITY TO DO.
[NEWSCASTER]
THERE WERE ALSO
COUNTER-DEMONSTRATORS
FROM THE I.R.A.-LED
TROOPS OUT MOVEMENT.
MARCHERS MOVED FROM HYDE PARK
TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE
WHERE THE POLICE
HAD TO REMOVE HECKLERS TRYING
TO DISRUPT THE EVENT,
BUT TO NO AVAIL.
AT LEAST TODAY,
THE ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS
OF THE PEACE PEOPLE MOVEMENT
PREVAILED.
[NARRATOR]
WHILE THEY WERE IN LONDON
PREPARING FOR THE RALLY,
BETTY AND MAIREAD RECEIVED
SOME STUNNING NEWS.
THEY WERE TO RECEIVE
THE FIRST-EVER NORWEGIAN
PEOPLE'S PEACE PRIZE
IN NORWAY THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
[TV ANNOUNCER]
MRS. BETTY WILLIAMS
AND MAIREAD CORRIGAN
WERE MET AT
THE OSLO AIRPORT TODAY
BY A NORWEGIAN
RECEIVING COMMITTEE AT
THE CITY CENTER HOTEL.
MAIREAD CORRIGAN,
CIARAN MCKEOWN,
AND BETTY WILLIAMS,
MET THE NORWEGIAN PRESS,
THEIR HOSTS
FOR THIS VISIT TO NORWAY.
AND THEY MET THE JOURNALIST
FROM THE NORWEGIAN NEWSPAPER
WHO MOBILIZED HIS READERS
TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT
FOR THE PEACE MOVEMENT
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
IN A MATERIAL WAY:
THROUGH DONATIONS.
I FELT THAT, UH...
THEY NEEDED THE SUPPORT NOW.
BETTY WILLIAMS AND
MAIREAD CORRIGAN,
I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR
OF ASKING YOU TO RECEIVE
THE NORWEGIAN PEOPLE'S
PEACE PRIZE.
[NARRATOR]
NO NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WAS
AWARDED BY THE NOBEL COMMITTEE
TO ANYONE IN 1976,
SO THE PEOPLE OF NORWAY
DECIDED TO GATHER TOGETHER
AND CREATE AN AWARD
OF THEIR OWN,
THE FIRST-EVER NORWEGIAN
PEOPLE'S PEACE PRIZE.
WHEN I LOOK AT
YOUR HAPPY CHILDREN,
AND I SEE THE CHILDREN
IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
I SAY,
"GOD FORGIVE US.
WE ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN."
WHEN I SEE THESE
CHILDREN STANDING HERE,
SO HAPPY AND SO PURE,
AND SINGING WITH JOY,
AND I THINK OF THE LITTLE
BOYS ON THE FALLS ROAD
OR THE SHANKHILL ROAD,
I DON'T KNOW WHY
WE LET IT HAPPEN.
BUT WITH YOUR HELP,
AND GOD'S,
WE WILL UNDO ALL THE WRONGS
WE HAVE DONE TO OUR CHILDREN.
IT MAY TAKE US
QUITE A FEW YEARS,
BUT AT LEAST
IN THE YEAR 1976,
WE HAVE-- WE HAVE STARTED.
THE VOICE OF SANITY
AND OF REASON
YELLED UP FROM THE GROUND.
IT DIDN'T CRY,
IT SCREAMED,
"PLEASE STOP."
IT MUST START
WITH OUR CHILDREN.
I REALLY CAN'T SAY
VERY MUCH MORE TO YOU
EXCEPT I DO LOVE YOU ALL,
-AND THANK YOU.
-[APPLAUSE]
[SINGING]
DO ANY OF YOU THINK,
AND REALLY BELIEVE,
THAT MARCHING
WILL HELP AT ALL?
MARCHING IS JUST THE START
OF WHAT WE HAVE IN MIND,
AND WE ARE NOW GOING
TO BUILD OUR PEACE,
BRICK BY BRICK,
WHICH WILL BE A HUGE
RECREATION CENTER,
RIGHT ON THE PEACE LINES
FOR CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT
CHILDREN
TO GET TOGETHER
AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
WE ASKED PEOPLE TO RALLY
BECAUSE WE WANT TO SHOW
THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND
BEHIND THE PEACE MOVEMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE VERY FIRST
WEEK OF OUR RALLY,
PEOPLE WENT BACK
INTO THEIR HOMES
AND THE FIRST COUPLE OF THINGS
THAT HAPPENED, ONE LITTLE LADY
SAT ON A BUS WHEN THE BOYS
CAME TO BURN IT AND SAID,
"IF YOU WANT TO BURN THIS BUS,
YOU MAY BURN ME WITH IT."
THAT WAS THE FIRST EXAMPLE
OF PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND
GAINING THEIR CONFIDENCE.
BUT THE SITUATION IN
NORTHERN IRELAND HAS BEEN
BY HISTORY AND RELIGION,
VERY COMPLEX.
DON'T YOU THINK
YOUR APPROACH
IS A LITTLE BIT
TOO SIMPLISTIC?
WELL MAYBE THAT'S WHY
IT'S WORKING SO WELL.
IT IS SIMPLE.
PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND
AND ASSOCIATE WITH IT.
THIS IS NOT A SEVEN YEAR OLD
PROBLEM WE'RE TACKLING.
IT'S A MONUMENTAL TASK
OF 800 YEARS.
INSTEAD OF SITTING BACK,
WAITING FOR SOME GREAT
MIRACLE TO HAPPEN,
PEOPLE MUST COME OUT
AND DO ALL THE LITTLE
SMALL THINGS
TOWARD WORKING FOR PEACE.
THE CATHOLICS MUST GO INTO
THE PROTESTANT HOMES
AND OVER A CUP OF TEA,
BECOME FRIENDS.
IF WE CAN BUILD THESE
FRIENDSHIPS BETWEEN OUR
TWO COMMUNITIES,
AND THEN IN FRIENDLINESS
THEY CAN GO FORWARD
TO DISCUSS ALL THE THINGS
THAT HURT DEEP DOWN THERE,
ONCE THEY BECOME FRIENDS.
BUT EVERY DAY
WE COLLECT NEW MEMBERS
TO THE PEACE MOVEMENT.
EVERY SINGLE DAY IN
THAT OFFICE, THERE'S A NEW
PEACE GROUP STARTS.
WHETHER THAT BE
A BIGOTED LOYALIST, OR
A STAUNCH REPUBLICAN,
WE DON'T CARE,
THEY'RE STARTING
TO THINK PEACE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE
THE GREATEST PROBLEMS
FOR YOU TO FACE
IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS
TO COME?
I THINK OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM
IS OUR YOUTH AND OUR CHILDREN.
SOME OF OUR ADULTS, OF COURSE.
WE HAVE THAT PROBLEM, TOO.
BUT MOSTLY OUR POOR CHILDREN
AND OUR YOUTH,
BECAUSE THE LITTLE BOY
WHO WAS 10 IS NOW 17.
HE'S A JUVENILE WITH A VERY
WARPED SENSE OF VALUES
AND A VERY WARPED VIEW
ON LIFE.
HE'S SEEN NOTHING,
ONLY VIOLENCE, REALLY.
YOU ARE, BECAUSE OF WHAT
YOU ARE DOING,
OBVIOUSLY IN DANGER, EVERY DAY.
ARE YOU AFRAID?
WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.
GETTING ON WITH THE WORK OF
PEACE IS OUR MAIN OBJECT,
NOT LOOKING OVER OUR SHOULDER
EVERY FIVE MINUTES TO SEE
WHO'S FOLLOWING US.
[NARRATOR]
AS THEIR MOVEMENT
CONTINUED TO GROW,
THE PEACE PEOPLE MOVED INTO
AN OLD BUILDING,
WHICH THEY NAMED
THE PEACE HOUSE.
[WILLIAMS]
WHEN WE GOT THE PEACE HOUSE,
AND I'M LEANING OVER
MY DESK,
AND I SAW
THE BARREL OF THE GUN,
AND THE HAND
WAS LIKE THIS.
BOY WAS-- HE WAS SENT
TO KILL ME.
BUT WHATEVER WAY,
I JUMPED FROM BEHIND
AND SHOVED AND HE FELL
ON THE FLOOR.
I NEVER SEEN ANYBODY
JUMP AS QUICK IN MY LIFE,
AND GRABBED THE GUN
AND OFF HE WENT DOWN THE STAIRS.
MY GOD, MY HEART, WAS...
BA-BUMP, BA-BUMP, BA-BUMP.
I NEVER SAID A WORD
TO ANYBODY,
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT
ANYBODY IN THE PEACE HOUSE
TO CALL THE POLICE.
OBVIOUSLY THE BOY WAS SCARED.
AND THEN I WOULD SEE THE BOY
AT VARIOUS THINGS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S,
"GOD, HE'S IN THE CROWD AGAIN."
I'M THINKING
THE I.R.A. HAS ME MARKED.
I'D SEE HIM OUTSIDE
THE GATE TO THE PEACE HOUSE.
ONE DAY I JUST TOOK A CHANCE
AND I SAID,
"DO YOU WANNA COME
AND HAVE A CUP OF TEA WITH ME?"
HE SAID,
"I WON'T GO ANYWHERE WITH YOU.
YOU'RE A TRAITOR.
YOU'RE NOTHING,
ONLY A BRITISH LACKEY,"
YOU KNOW.
BUT WE'RE
STARTING TO TALK.
[NARRATOR]
ACROSS NORTHERN IRELAND,
THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE
CONTINUED ON.
THE PEACE PEOPLE WERE
PELTED WITH ROCKS
AND THEIR CAR WINDOWS
WERE SMASHED.
[SIRENS WAILING]
BOTH THE PROTESTANT
MILITIA GROUPS AND THE
PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
CONTINUED TO CARRY OUT
ASSASSINATIONS, STRIKES,
AND INTIMIDATIONS.
WE DIDN'T GET IN
THAT KIND OF MESS OVERNIGHT,
AND WE WEREN'T GOING TO
GET OUT OF IT OVERNIGHT.
IT WAS GONNA TAKE A LONG TIME
TACKLING ALL THE WRONGS.
I MEAN, UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES
OFF THE WALLS,
PURSE TIGHTENING
IN WESTERN EUROPE.
ALL THOSE THINGS THAT
MAKE A NORMAL SOCIETY FUNCTION,
YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE
ANY OF THAT.
WE WERE OFF KILTER,
OFF BALANCE, OFF EVERYTHING.
[NARRATOR]
AT ONE OF THEIR RALLIES,
BETTY MET A GROUP
OF AMERICAN SUPPORTERS
FROM WASHINGTON D.C.
THEY TOOK ACTION AND SET UP
A MEETING WITH THE LEADING
U.S. VOICE
ON THE NORTHERN IRELAND ISSUE:
U.S. SENATOR TED KENNEDY.
I WAS CHOSEN TO GO OUT
AND MEET WITH TED KENNEDY,
AND WE BROUGHT ANOTHER LADY
WITH ME, NANCY MCDONALD.
SHE WAS PROTESTANT,
AND WE TRAVELED TOGETHER,
HER AND I.
AND I REMEMBER
THE MEETING WITH THEM,
AND I JUST LOST IT
AND SAID,
"WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS WRONG.
YOU'RE SUPPORTING POLITICAL
GROUPS THAT ARE KILLING PEOPLE."
NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT
HE CHANGED HIS MIND, THANK GOD,
AND HE MADE THE FAMOUS
ST. PATRICK'S DAY SPEECH,
SAYING WE SHOULD BE INVESTING
IN NORTHERN IRELAND'S FUTURE...
ECONOMICALLY
FOR HOUSES AND JOBS.
HE TURNED OUT DOING
A GREAT THING FOR
NORTHERN IRELAND.
HE REALLY DID.
[INTERVIEWER]
AND THE CYNICS WILL SAY,
AREN'T YOU BOTH BEING
A LITTLE NAIVE?
EVERYBODY WANTS PEACE.
IT ISN'T AS SIMPLE
AS THAT, IS IT?
NO, YOU'VE GOT TO WORK
DESPERATELY HARD FOR IT.
I'M AMAZED. I THOUGHT PEACE
WOULD COME A LOT EASIER
WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE
SAID THEY WANTED IT.
BUT PEACE IS A THING THAT'S
NOT GONNA DROP OUT OF THE SKY.
IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE WORKED AT,
EVERY DAY, 24 HOURS A DAY.
IT'S MONUMENTAL,
THE TASK THAT'S AHEAD FOR
NORTHERN IRELAND.
[NARRATOR]
THE SEEDS OF THE CRISIS
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
WERE PLANTED MORE THAN
800 YEARS AGO.
UNTIL THEN, LEADERSHIP
WAS DECENTRALIZED THROUGHOUT
THE BRITISH ISLES.
SEVERAL REGIONAL KINGS
RULED IN IRELAND.
SCOTLAND AND WALES
WERE ALSO RULED SEPARATELY,
AND ENGLAND HAD ONLY RECENTLY
BECOME A UNIFIED KINGDOM.
ENGLAND DID NOT PAY
MUCH ATTENTION TO IRELAND
UNTIL THE YEAR 1170,
WHEN ONE OF THE IRISH KINGS,
KING MAC MURCHADA OF LEINSTER,
ASKED FOR HELP IN WAGING WAR
AGAINST A RIVAL.
KING HENRY II OF ENGLAND
WAS TOO BUSY
WITH A WAR OF HIS OWN,
BUT ONE OF HIS LORDS,
NAMED STRONGBOW,
ANSWERED THE CALL,
AND BROUGHT HIS OWN PERSONAL
ARMY OVER THE SEA TO IRELAND.
STRONGBOW WON AND HE WAS NAMED
THE NEW KING OF THE LEINSTER
REGION OF IRELAND.
NOW, KING HENRY II OF ENGLAND
STARTED TO PAY ATTENTION,
AND HE DEMANDED TO BE
NAMED THE LORD OF IRELAND
AND THAT ALL OF THE IRISH KINGS
PLEDGE THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO HIM.
THE IDEA OF IRELAND AS
A TERRITORY OF ENGLAND WAS BORN.
FOR THE NEXT 340 YEARS,
THE POPE AND THE CHURCH
TRIED TO BRING
INDEPENDENT-MINDED
IRISH PRIESTS INTO LINE.
AND MANY ENGLISH FAMILIES
MOVED INTO SOUTHERN
AND EASTERN IRELAND
IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN
BOTH TITLES AND LAND.
BUT IN THE
NORTHERN PART OF IRELAND,
THE PEOPLE REMAINED
ALMOST 100% NATIVE IRISH.
THEN A DECISION WAS MADE
THAT WOULD CHANGE THE FUTURE
OF IRELAND FOREVER.
THE KING OF ENGLAND,
HENRY VIII,
BROKE WITH THE POPE
AND THE CHURCH
IN ORDER TO DIVORCE HIS WIFE,
CATHERINE OF ARAGON,
WHO HAD FAILED
TO BEAR HIM A MALE HEIR.
HE WANTED TO MARRY HIS
PREGNANT MISTRESS ANNE BOLEYN,
SO HE STARTED A CHURCH
OF HIS OWN,
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH,
AND NAMED HIMSELF
HEAD OF THE CHURCH.
AND THEN HE GRANTED HIMSELF
A DIVORCE.
ANNE BOLEYN BORE HIM
A DAUGHTER,
BUT NO SON.
HE SOON FOUND A WAY
TO GET RID OF HER AS WELL,
AND THEN HE WENT THROUGH
FOUR MORE WIVES.
YET WHEN HE DIED,
HE HAD ONLY ONE SON,
A NINE-YEAR-OLD NAMED EDWARD.
EDWARD BECAME THE FIRST
BRITISH KING EVER
TO BE RAISED AS A PROTESTANT.
WHEN THE YOUNG KING EDWARD
DIED ONLY SIX YEARS LATER,
A DEVASTATING STRUGGLE FOR POWER
ERUPTED IN THE BRITISH ISLES
ALONG CATHOLIC VERSUS
PROTESTANT LINES.
WHEN HE STARTED
HIS ANGLICAN CHURCH,
KING HENRY VIII
HAD CONFISCATED
MUCH OF THE WEALTH OF
THE MONASTERIES,
RESTRICTED THE PRACTICE
OF CATHOLICISM,
AND PUNISHED
LOYALTY TO THE POPE.
NOW THAT BOTH HE
AND HIS MALE HEIR WERE DEAD,
HIS DEVOUTLY CATHOLIC
DAUGHTER MARY
BECAME QUEEN OF ENGLAND,
AND SHE AGGRESSIVELY
REVERSED THESE POLICIES,
GOING EVEN FURTHER
AND BURNING THOUSANDS OF
PROTESTANTS AT THE STAKE.
SIX YEARS LATER,
MARY FELL ILL AND DIED,
AND HER SISTER
ELIZABETH I BECAME QUEEN.
PROTESTANT FORCES CONTINUED
TO GAIN POWER AND CONTROL
THROUGHOUT THE BRITISH ISLES
UNDER ELIZABETH'S LONG REIGN.
AFRAID OF HER ARCHRIVAL,
THE CATHOLIC KINGDOM OF SPAIN,
AND A POSSIBLE INVASION
ATTEMPT LAUNCHED FROM IRELAND,
ELIZABETH SENT EVEN MORE
ENGLISH SETTLERS TO IRELAND,
AND HER GENERALS FOUGHT
A BRUTAL NINE-YEAR WAR
AGAINST IRELAND'S LEADING EARLS.
SHE THEN FORCED THEM
TO SIGN A TREATY
STATING THAT THEY WOULD
BE RULED BY ENGLISH LAW
AND NOT IRISH LAW,
OR EVEN MORE OF THEIR LANDS
WOULD BE CONFISCATED.
MANY EARLS FLED SOUTH,
LOOKING FOR SUPPORT
FROM CATHOLIC SPAIN.
AND WHEN HER NEPHEW JAMES,
A STAUNCH PROTESTANT,
SUCCEEDED HER
AS THE NEW KING OF ENGLAND,
HE BEGAN PERSECUTING
EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVELY
THOSE LEADERS OF IRELAND
WHO REMAINED LOYAL
TO THEIR CATHOLIC FAITH.
IN 1609, THE LANDS OF MANY
LEADING IRISH-CATHOLIC FAMILIES
IN NORTHERN IRELAND WERE TAKEN
AND GRANTED TO
SCOTTISH AND ENGLISH SETTLERS.
THIS MASSIVE LAND GRAB
BECAME KNOWN AS
THE PLANTATION OF ULSTER.
IN 1642, A CIVIL WAR
ERUPTED IN ENGLAND,
AND AT THE SAME TIME,
A POPULAR REBELLION OF THOSE
OPPOSING BRITISH RULE
BEGAN IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
THE ULSTER REBELLION.
MORE THAN 3,000
PROTESTANT CITIZENS WERE KILLED.
THEN, IN 1649,
THE VICTOR OF
THE CIVIL WAR IN ENGLAND,
OLIVER CROMWELL,
LANDED ON IRISH SOIL
WITH AN ARMY OF HIS OWN
AND SLAUGHTERED ALMOST
THREE-AND-A-HALF THOUSAND
OF THE CATHOLIC CITIZENS
OF DROGHEDA
IN JUST ONE DAY.
HIS BRUTAL CRACKDOWN
ROLLED ACROSS THE COUNTRYSIDE
AND THE ULSTER REBELLION ENDED.
YET, IN ITS WAKE,
THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND
FOUND THEMSELVES
EVEN MORE BITTERLY DIVIDED.
THE NEXT 200 YEARS
WERE A PERIOD OF
EMPIRE-BUILDING FOR ENGLAND.
AT ITS HEIGHT,
THE BRITISH EMPIRE
HELD SWAY OVER 23%
OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION,
AND 24% OF THE EARTH'S
TOTAL LAND AREA.
ENGLAND HAD CREATED
THE LARGEST EMPIRE
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
IN IRELAND, THE BRITISH RULERS
CONTINUED TO OPPOSE
GIVING CATHOLICS THE ABILITY
TO VOTE OR TO HOLD OFFICE.
IN 1801,
THE ACT OF UNION WAS PASSED,
AND IRELAND
WAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED
TO BE A PART OF
THE UNITED KINGDOM.
THE IRISH PARLIAMENT
WAS ABOLISHED
AND THE PROTESTANT
ANGLICAN CHURCH
WAS DESIGNATED BY LAW
AS THE OFFICIAL
CHURCH OF IRELAND.
BETWEEN 1845 AND 1849,
FAILED POTATO CROPS
CAUSED DEVASTATION
IN IRELAND,
LEADING TO
WIDESPREAD STARVATION,
MASSIVE EMIGRATION,
AND THE DEATH OF OVER
1 MILLION PEOPLE.
THE FACT THAT
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
DID SO LITTLE
TO HELP THE PEOPLE
OF IRELAND AT THIS TIME
FUELED THE DESIRE OF
MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN IRELAND
FOR A GOVERNMENT
OF THEIR OWN.
THE EASTER UPRISING OF 1916
OPENED THE FLOODGATES TO CHANGE.
PRESSURE FOR THE CREATION
OF AN INDEPENDENT NATION
CALLED IRELAND
PROVED TOO POWERFUL
TO OVERCOME.
IN 1921,
ENGLAND NEGOTIATED
A COMPROMISE,
ONE THAT ALLOWED A
FREE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
IN THE SOUTH,
BUT WHICH ALSO RETAINED
TIGHT CONTROL OVER
NORTHERN IRELAND,
WHICH REMAINED A PART OF
THE BRITISH EMPIRE.
POLITICIANS ELECTED BY
THE PROTESTANT MAJORITY
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
PASSED THE SPECIAL POWERS ACT,
ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE
SWIFT AND AGGRESSIVE ACTION
AGAINST ANY CATHOLICS
WHO PUSHED FOR EQUALITY,
REFORM,
OR UNION WITH THE SOUTH.
THE STAGE WAS SET
FOR THE NEXT 60 YEARS
OF LOW PAY, POOR HOUSING,
AND LACK OF POLITICAL RIGHTS
THAT WOULD FINALLY BRING
NORTHERN IRELAND
TO THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR.
AND THE WOMEN SUFFERED
THE WORST OF THAT, TOO.
ALL OF IT FALLS
ON THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
[NARRATOR]
TO BEGIN TO BREAK DOWN
CENTURIES OF DIVISION,
HATRED, AND MISTRUST,
THE PEACE PEOPLE FOCUSED
ON WOMEN HELPING WOMEN,
ESPECIALLY AFTER ONE
OF THEIR CHILDREN WAS KILLED,
A TIME OF TOTAL DEVASTATION.
[WILLIAMS]
THAT'S WHAT WAR DOES
TO AN INDIVIDUAL WOMAN.
IT DESTROYS EVERYTHING
AROUND IT,
INCLUDING THE MENTALITY
OF THE LOSS.
[NARRATOR]
PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC WOMEN
BEGAN CALLING ON EACH OTHER
AT THEIR HOMES
IN FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT.
[WILLIAMS]
A LOT OF THEM WOULD ACTUALLY
GET ON A BUS,
BECAUSE THE BUS
WASN'T EXPENSIVE,
AND MAKE A CAKE
AND TAKE IT
AND THEN SHE WOULD FORM
FRIENDSHIPS WITH THE FAMILY
OF THE BEREAVED.
THERE WERE LINKS
THAT NEVER WERE BROKEN,
AND THEY DID IT EN MASSE.
[WOMAN]
THE NORWEGIAN NOBEL COMMITTEE
DECIDED TO HONOR
TWO WOMEN TODAY
FOR FEARLESSLY TACKLING
THE PERILOUS TASK
OF WORKING FOR PEACE
IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
SAYING,
"WHAT THEY HAVE DONE
IS AN EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD."
BETTY WILLIAMS
AND MAIREAD CORRIGAN
STARTED THEIR MOVEMENT
FOR PEACE
AFTER THE TRAGIC DEATH
OF THREE YOUNG CHILDREN
IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
AND THEY HAVE INSPIRED
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
TO PLEDGE FOR PEACE
IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY.
TODAY'S NOBEL PRIZE CEREMONY
MARKED THE CULMINATION
OF 16 MONTHS
OF TIRELESS WORK
IN HOPE OF SETTING
NORTHERN IRELAND
ON A NEW PATHWAY FORWARD.
BUT THE VOICE OF WOMEN,
THE VOICE OF THOSE
MOST CLOSELY INVOLVED
IN BRINGING FORTH NEW LIFE,
HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN
LISTENED TO
WHEN IT PLEADED AND IMPLORED
AGAINST THE WASTE OF LIFE
IN WAR AFTER WAR AFTER WAR.
THE VOICE OF WOMEN
HAS A SPECIAL ROLE
AND A SPECIAL SOUL FORCE
IN THE STRUGGLE
FOR A NONVIOLENT WORLD.
[APPLAUSE]
[NARRATOR]
BY THE END OF 1977,
ALMOST 100
DIFFERENT PEACE GROUPS
HAD FORMED ACROSS
NORTHERN IRELAND,
FOCUSED ON BREAKING DOWN
THE BARRIERS OF HATE
AND BUILDING BRIDGES
OF FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT
IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
THE ANNUAL DEATH TOLL
FROM THE TROUBLES
WAS CUT IN HALF,
AND IT NEVER RETURNED
TO PRE-1976 LEVELS.
THAT WAS A TRANSFORMATION,
AND IT CAME FROM THE WOMEN.
I KNOW WE SAVED LIVES.
[NARRATOR]
THE PEACE PEOPLE CREATED
TEAMS OF WOMEN
WHO WOULD ARRIVE
AT THE SITE OF BOMBINGS
WITHIN MINUTES
TO HELP FAMILIES
WHO WERE SEARCHING
FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.
IN FEBRUARY OF 1978,
THE LA MON HOUSE RESTAURANT
WAS BOMBED,
AND 12 PEOPLE WERE KILLED.
[NEWSCASTER]
TEN PEOPLE ARE STILL
IN HOSPITAL,
THREE IN SERIOUS CONDITION
WITH MASSIVE BURNS.
THE RESTAURANT WAS
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SPOTS
FOR BELFAST CITIZENS
WHO HAD BEEN AVOIDING CITY
CENTER RESTAURANTS AND PUBS
FOR FEAR
OF BOMB ATTACKS THERE.
THE LEADER
OF THE PEACE WOMEN,
MRS. BETTY WILLIAMS,
WAS AT THE RESTAURANT
WITHIN MINUTES
OF THE EXPLOSION.
WHAT SORT OF SCENE MET YOUR EYES
AT THE LA MON LAST NIGHT?
WELL, IT WAS STILL ABLAZE
AND THE FIRE APPLIANCES
WERE THERE
AND CARS WERE LINED FOR,
I'D SAY, A GOOD HALF A MILE
WITH PEOPLE WHO HAD PEOPLE GOING
TO LA MON HOUSE LAST NIGHT
WONDERING WHETHER
THEY WERE INSIDE
OR WHETHER
THEY GOT OUT SAFELY.
IT WAS UTTER DESTRUCTION.
[NARRATOR]
THEY ALSO BROUGHT PROTESTANT
AND CATHOLIC CHILDREN TOGETHER
FOR HOLIDAYS IN THE NORTH
SO THAT THEY COULD LEARN
TO KNOW EACH OTHER
AND SO THAT THEY COULD ESCAPE
THE CONTINUING VIOLENCE.
PEOPLE WOULD SEND MONEY
AND ALL FROM AMERICA
AND BRING THE CHILDREN, RIGHT,
AND GIVE THEM A GREAT TIME,
BUT THEN THE CHILDREN
WOULD HAVE TO COME HOME
TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
THEY'D LEFT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SISTER ANNA AND I GOT TOGETHER.
SHE WAS AN ANGLICAN NUN
AND HER BELIEF WAS LIKE MINE.
WE MUST EDUCATE
THE CHILDREN TOGETHER.
[NARRATOR]
SISTER ANNA WAS PART OF A GROUP
THAT WAS STRUGGLING TO OPEN
THE VERY FIRST INTEGRATED SCHOOL
EVER IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
DESPITE STRONG OPPOSITION
FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
AND MOST PROTESTANT
AND CATHOLIC PARENTS.
[WILLIAMS]
MY DEBRA WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST PEOPLE,
AND HER WEE FRIEND LISA,
UP THE STREET,
MY FRIEND GERALDINE'S
LITTLE GIRL
'CAUSE WE KNEW WE COULD BEGIN TO
GET OUR CHILDREN TOGETHER.
IN FACT,
ONE WEE FELLOW SAID,
"THE ONLY REASON I'M COMING
TO THIS SCHOOL
IS TO FIGHT
WITH CATHOLICS,"
BUT HE FELL IN LOVE WITH WEE
MARY IN THE THIRD ROW,
SO THAT WAS FINE.
BY THE SECOND DAY,
THAT WAS ALL CURED.
HE FORMED
A FRIENDSHIP WITH MARY
AND THAT SAVED
THE WHOLE THING.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING
WE DID.
WE JUST--
YOU TOOK THAT CHANCE.
[NEWSCASTER]
IT IS SUMMERTIME
IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
WHICH MEANS
THAT THE PROTESTANTS' DOMINATION
OF NORTHERN IRELAND
IS BEING PARADED THROUGH
THE STREETS OF EVERY TOWN
ONCE AGAIN
IN THE ORANGE DAY MARCHES,
WHICH CELEBRATES
THE ANNIVERSARIES
OF FAMOUS PROTESTANT VICTORIES
OVER CATHOLICS
IN IRELAND'S VIOLENT PAST.
YOU KNOW, THAT HISTORY
GOES BACK 850 YEARS,
SINCE THE INVASION OF CROMWELL,
BUT I THINK WE SHOWED, TOO,
THAT THE NORTHERN IRISH PEOPLE
DIDN'T WANNA LIVE
LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
IT WAS LIKE BIG JOHN.
THE NEXT TIME I SAW HIM,
HE GOT IN THE CAR,
AND I SAID,
"DO YOU LIKE DRIVING?"
AND HE SAID,
"OH, I LOVE DRIVING."
I SAID, "WELL--"
I PULLED OVER.
I SAID,
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO DRIVE ME?
AND HE FELL IN LOVE
WITH THE CAR.
FELL IN LOVE WITH DEBBIE,
AND HE STARTED TO HAVE
HIS DINNER AT OUR HOUSE,
AND ONE NIGHT,
OVER A COUPLE OF DRINKS,
HE JUST STARTED TO TALK
AND WE TALKED FOR FOUR,
MAYBE FIVE HOURS.
I WAS IN BITS
BY THE END OF IT,
AND HE WAS IN WORSE BITS.
AND SOME OF THE THINGS
JOHN HAD DONE
WERE SO SOUL-DESTROYING,
YOU KNOW,
THAT IT WAS SO HARD FOR HIM.
AND EVER SINCE THAT HE JUST
BECAME PART OF THE FAMILY.
AT NIGHT HE WOULD MAKE SURE
I WAS OKAY
AND THE CHILDREN WERE OKAY.
MY MUMMY AND DADDY ADORED HIM.
HE'D COME AT CHRISTMAS
AS FATHER CHRISTMAS.
HE STARTED GOING
TO THE NAZARETH LODGE,
ORPHANAGE, DOING FATHER
CHRISTMAS THERE.
YOU KNOW, HE JUST STARTED DOING
REALLY GORGEOUS STUFF.
THAT SHOWS YOU THAT ANYBODY CAN
BE BROUGHT BACK FROM VIOLENCE.
[NARRATOR]
AS 1979 COMES TO A CLOSE,
SEVERAL MORE EXPLOSIONS
AND DEATHS
OCCURRED IN COUNTY TYRONE
AND COUNTY ARMAGH
DUE TO TERRORIST ACTIONS
BY THE PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY'S MARRIAGE
STARTED TO SUFFER
FROM THE CONSTANT STRESS
AND TRAVEL,
THE CONSTANT HARASSMENT
FROM BOTH THE PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
AND THE PROTESTANT
PARAMILITARY GROUPS
AND FROM CRITICISM
AND PRESSURE
WITHIN THE PEACE MOVEMENT
ITSELF
OVER HOW THE FUNDS
SHOULD BE SPENT
AND WHETHER THEY
SHOULD BECOME MORE POLITICAL.
[WILLIAMS]
I DON'T THINK
THERE ARE MANY COUPLES
JUST AS HAPPY
AS MY MOTHER AND FATHER WERE.
I WISH I COULD'VE FOUND THAT
IN MY OWN RELATIONSHIPS.
I NEVER WAS LUCKY ENOUGH
TO FIND THAT PERSON
THAT WAS JUST RIGHT.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY'S MOTHER
HAD AN ANEURISM AND A STROKE
AND BECAME PARALYZED
ON ONE SIDE
WHEN BETTY WAS 13 YEARS OLD.
[WILLIAMS]
IT WAS A NATURAL THING
FOR ME
TO LOOK AFTER MY MOTHER.
I DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS
A SACRIFICE OR ANY OF THAT.
BUT THEN I CAN REMEMBER
SOMEBODY SAYING
TO MY DADDY ONE DAY,
"GEORDIE, LOOK, YOU HAVE
A TERRIBLE CROSS TO CARRY,"
JUST REFERRING TO MY MOTHER.
AND MY DADDY SAID,
"I'M NOT CARRYING THE CROSS.
MY WIFE IS.
I'M JUST HELPING HER UP
THE HILL WITH IT."
HOW MANY OTHER MEN WOULD LOOK
AT IT THAT WAY?
JUST AN AMAZING MAN
FOR THE WAY HE LOVED MY MOTHER.
IT WAS PURE LOVE.
[NARRATOR]
IN 1980, BETTY'S MARRIAGE ENDED,
AND SHE LEFT THE PEACE PEOPLE.
[WILLIAMS]
AFTER I'D LEFT
THE PEACE MOVEMENT,
GOT A RECREATION CENTER
BUILT AT THE MARKETS.
WE'D BE DOWN AT THE CITY HALL.
WE DID DOOR-KNOCKING CAMPAIGNS
IN THIS AREA
BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF
THE WORST HOUSING CONDITIONS
IN WESTERN EUROPE,
WAS WHERE JOHN LIVED.
AND HE SLIPPED INTO THE ROLE
OF PEACEMAKER.
HE COULD GET THINGS DONE,
AND SO WE ABSOLUTELY TORTURED
CITY COUNCIL.
THEY WERE SICK OF US,
YOU KNOW?
AND THEY FINALLY, FINALLY
APPROVED A BUILDING.
[NEWSCASTER]
CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN
NEXT MONTH
ON A LONG-AWAITED HOUSING
RENEWAL PROGRAM,
THE SUBSTANDARD HOUSING
BEING REPLACED WITH FLATS,
BOASTING INDOOR PLUMBING,
HEAT, AND ELECTRICITY.
THE MARKETS AREA OF BELFAST
HAS LONG BEEN
THE CENTER OF VIOLENCE
AND TERRORIST ACTIVITY
EVER SINCE THE START
OF THE TROUBLES.
[WILLIAMS]
PEOPLE GOT NICE HOMES
WITH INDOOR BATHROOMS,
ENOUGH BEDROOMS,
AND A RECREATION CENTER
WAS PART OF THAT.
AND WE HAD THEN
A WEE FOOTBALL CLUB
AND IT STARTED DOWN
AT THE MARKETS AREA IN BELFAST
WITH BIG JOHN IN CHARGE OF IT,
AND WE BOUGHT THEM
THEIR WEE UNIFORMS AND ALL
AND OFF THEY WENT
PLAYING TOGETHER.
YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE
THAT CHANGE.
I MEAN, IT WASN'T JUST ME
THAT COULD SEE THAT CHANGE.
SOCIETY GENERALLY COULD SEE
THAT CHANGE
BECAUSE THEN THE MOTHERS
WOULD BE COMING IN MINIBUSES,
AND THE INTERACTION WOULD BE
MOTHERS COLLECTING
AND DELIVERING CHILDREN
AND HAVING
A CUP OF TEA TOGETHER
BECAUSE THE CHILDREN
WERE PLAYING.
WE REALIZED, AS FEMALES,
WE HAD MUCH MORE IN COMMON
THAN WE EVER WOULD HAVE
TO DIVIDE US,
AND THE IN COMMON
WAS OUR OFFSPRING.
[NARRATOR]
IN 1981,
BETTY STARTED TO HEAR
ABOUT FAMINE
AND A GROWING CRISIS
IN AFRICA.
AND I USED
TO WATCH TELEVISION
LIKE EVERYBODY'D DONE,
AND YOU'D SEE CHILDREN
IN DISTRESS,
IN NEED AND STARVING.
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS
OF CHILDREN
GOING TO DIE
BECAUSE THEY HADN'T GOT
ENOUGH TO EAT.
IT'S GROSSLY UNFAIR
FOR A CHILD
TO BE CONDEMNED TO DEATH
AT BIRTH,
AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THEY ARE CONDEMNED TO DEATH
THE INSTANT THEY ARE BORN.
THEY GET NO CHANCE.
THERE'S NO FAIRNESS,
THERE'S NO JUSTICE,
THERE'S NO NOTHING.
THEY'RE JUST CONDEMNED
TO DEATH.
[NEWSCASTER]
THE HUNGRY FACE OF AFRICA.
OVER THE PAST YEAR,
THE OUTSIDE WORLD
HAS SLOWLY BECOME AWARE
OF THE HUMAN TRAGEDY UNFOLDING
ON THIS CONTINENT.
15 MILLION PEOPLE
ARE THREATENED.
IT'S A CRISIS CAUSED
BY PROLONGED DROUGHT,
FOOD SHORTAGES,
BORDER CONFLICTS,
AND REFUGEES,
AND IT'S STILL GOING ON.
AT THIS WATER HOLE
IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA,
THE WOMEN MUST DIG DOWN EIGHT TO
TEN METERS EVERY DAY
TO GET WATER.
FOR EVERYTHING ELSE,
THEY DEPEND ON OUTSIDE HELP.
[WILLIAMS]
NORTHERN IRELAND
IS SO VASTLY DIFFERENT.
WE KILLED OUR CHILDREN
WITH GUNS,
BUT WE DIDN'T STARVE THEM.
WE CERTAINLY
DIDN'T STARVE THEM.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY VOLUNTEERED
TO FLY TO AFRICA
AS PART OF
AN OFFICIAL DELEGATION
BRINGING DESPERATELY
NEEDED FOOD
AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
[WILLIAMS]
I WAS IN A VILLAGE.
WE HAD BROUGHT A LOAD
OF SUPPLIES OUT WITH US
THAT WERE NEARLY FINISHED.
IN THE VILLAGE THAT I WAS IN,
THERE WAS VERY LITTLE THERE.
THAT KIND OF SUFFERING
IN THE WORLD,
WHY DO WE PUT UP WITH THAT?
I MEAN, WHY IS THAT
ALLOWED TO HAPPEN
IN A WORLD
THAT CAN FEED ITSELF?
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN A BABY'S
DYING OF MALNUTRITION,
THE TUMMY IS ALL DISTENDED
AND SWOLLEN,
BUT THE SKULL IS THE HEAVIEST
BONE IN THE HEAD,
AND SO THEY CAN'T HOLD
THEIR WEE HEADS UP,
AND THEIR EYES
BECOME ENORMOUS
BECAUSE THEIR LITTLE FACE
HAS BECOME SMALLER.
AND YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT
THE HEAD, YOU KNOW?
AND MAYBE IT'S JUST ME,
BUT EVERY TIME I'VE HELD
A CHILD LIKE THAT WHO'S DYING...
IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THEY'RE
ASKING YOU WHY.
THOSE WEE EYES
ARE LOOKING UP AT YOU.
AND MAYBE THAT'S NOT
WHAT THEY'RE ASKING YOU.
MAYBE THAT'S ONLY
MY TAKE ON IT,
BUT I ALWAYS ASK THEM TO FORGIVE
US FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE.
[NARRATOR]
THE TRIP BECAME A TURNING POINT
IN BETTY'S LIFE.
SHE DECIDED TO ACCEPT
A TEACHING POSITION
AT SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
IN THE USA
AND TO DEDICATE
THE REST OF HER LIFE
TO FIGHTING FOR THE LIVES
OF ALL CHILDREN
ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
[WILLIAMS]
I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE CAN
WITNESS THE DEATH OF A CHILD
AND NOT BE AFFECTED BY IT,
AND THAT WAS THE CATALYST
TO THE WORK THAT I'M DOING NOW.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A TOWN
OUTSIDE MOSCOW.
I WISH THAT EVERY CHILD
IN THE WORLD
HAD SOMEWHERE SAFE TO LIVE.
THAT'S MY GREATEST WISH,
THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ORPHANS
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE
THE DESTRUCTION OF WAR,
WHICH REALLY IS SOMETHING
A CHILD CAN'T UNDERSTAND.
A CHILD CANNOT DECLARE WAR,
YET THEY'RE CAUGHT UP IN WARS.
MY GREATEST WISH
IS FOR EVERY CHILD TO BE SAFE.
SO THE ANSWER IS VERY SHORT.
I WORK FOR CHILDREN.
THE WORST UNHAPPINESS
THAT I SUFFER FROM
IS WHEN I GO OUT IN THE WORLD
AND SEE THE CONDITIONS
THAT THE CHILDREN ARE FORCED
TO LIVE UNDER.
MY LIFE AND MY WORK ARE ONE.
THEY'RE BLENDED TOGETHER.
WHAT MAKES LIFE UNLIVABLE
IS THE SUFFERING OF CHILDREN.
I FIND THAT GROTESQUE.
MY QUESTION FOR MANKIND
WOULD HAVE TO BE,
"WHY HAVE WE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER
AS ONE HUMAN FAMILY
AND NOT ALL
AS DIVIDED TRIBES?
WHY DO WE DESTROY CHILDREN?"
[NARRATOR]
1998 WAS A VERY IMPORTANT YEAR
IN NORTHERN IRELAND.
THE TORTUROUS PATHWAY
TO PEACE FINALLY PREVAILED.
A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN PROTESTANTS
AND CATHOLICS
WAS HAMMERED OUT
BRINGING AN END TO THE 30 YEARS
OF SECTARIAN CONFLICT
KNOWN AS THE TROUBLES,
AND IT WAS SIGNED IN APRIL.
IT WAS CALLED
THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT.
SOME WAY,
THE NORTHERN IRISH PEACE WOMEN--
AND I'VE GOTTA KEEP SAYING THAT.
WE ALWAYS FORGET,
IT'S THE WOMEN WHO HAVE DONE
THIS IN NORTHERN IRELAND--
I THINK THEY TURNED THAT CARD.
BECAUSE ONCE THEY STARTED
RUNNING WITH IT,
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN
THAT'S RAW COURAGE,
INCREDIBLY CONTAGIOUS.
[NARRATOR]
AND BETTY BEGAN WORKING
IN EARNEST
ON A NEW, IMPOSSIBLE DREAM:
CREATING WORLD CENTERS
OF COMPASSION FOR CHILDREN.
[WILLIAMS]
WELL, I HAD BEEN GOING ABOUT
WITH THIS IDEA IN MY HEAD
FOR A GOOD 30 YEARS.
THERE'S NO REASON
WHY WE CAN'T BUILD
CITIES OF PEACE FOR CHILDREN.
I DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE IT WOULD BE.
AND THEN MY VERY GOOD FRIEND,
WHO COMES FROM
THE REGION BASILICATA,
TOLD ME ABOUT THEM WANTING
TO DUMP NUCLEAR WASTE
ON THE LAND,
AND THAT THE PEOPLE WERE OUT
IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
PROTESTING,
SO I IMMEDIATELY CAME DOWN
AND JOINED THEM.
THIS IS A PART OF ITALY
WHICH IS--
SOMETIMES IT REMINDS ME
OF IRELAND.
THE PEOPLE HERE
ARE VERY PASSIONATE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PASSIONATE
ABOUT THE LAND.
THEY'RE PASSIONATE
ABOUT THEIR HOMES.
AND I MUST SAY,
THE WOMEN OF BASILICATA,
THEY'RE MAGNIFICENT
BECAUSE THEY WERE THE BULK
OF THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE OUT PROTESTING
THE DUMPING OF NUCLEAR WASTE.
[NARRATOR]
AFTER YEARS AND YEARS
OF PROTESTS,
LOBBYING, AND BUREAUCRACY,
BETTY AND THE PEOPLE
OF BASILICATA
FINALLY PREVAILED,
AND THEY WERE ALLOWED
TO USE THE LAND
FOR A NEW PROJECT,
FOCUSED ON LIFE
INSTEAD OF DEATH.
WITH HELP FROM THE DALAI LAMA,
SHARON STONE,
AND SO MANY OTHERS,
BETTY HAD FOUND THE PLACE
FOR HER FIRST WORLD CENTER
OF COMPASSION FOR CHILDREN.
WELL, TODAY'S
A REALLY EXCITING DAY
BECAUSE IT'S 16 YEARS OF WORK,
AND TODAY WE'RE ACTUALLY
BEGINNING THE BUILDING
OF THE HOUSES.
AND IT'S INCREDIBLE
BECAUSE EVERYTHING
ECOLOGICALLY
IS ALMOST SELF-SUSTAINING.
AND THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE
TO SELL ELECTRICITY
TO THE GRID.
I MEAN,
IT'S JUST STATE OF THE ART.
IT HASN'T BEEN EASY TO GETTING
TO WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN,
WITH ALL THE BUREAUCRACY
AND EVERYTHING
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
TO ASSURE
THAT YOU CAN BE THERE.
ONCE YOU'RE IN,
ONCE THAT FIRST HOUSE
IS BUILT,
YOU'RE SET IN CONCRETE,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE.
[NARRATOR]
TODAY, THE CORNERSTONE
FOR THE VERY FIRST BUILDING
WILL BE LAID DOWN.
IT'S NOT JUST FOR ITALY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING
IN GHANA.
WE'RE GOING TO
BE BUILDING IN CHILE.
SO THE MODEL IS BEING CREATED
OF HOW WE TREAT
OUR DISENFRANCHISED
BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP
300 FAMILIES SO FAR.
I AM "AMMA DUDRAME"
FROM THE GAMBIA.
[NARRATOR]
THEY HAVE BEEN HELPED
WITH HOUSING,
EDUCATION, AND TRAINING
AS THEY SETTLE INTO LIFE IN
THE BASILICATA REGION OF ITALY.
SO I'LL KEEP WORKING FOR YOU
WHILE I HAVE BREATH.
I LOVE YOU GUYS.
WE LOVE YOU, TOO.
I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.
BYE, DARLINGS.
BYE. THANK YOU.
OH, THE PEOPLE BASILICATA,
THEY LOVE BABIES.
WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT
THE FAMILIES HERE,
THERE WAS AN OLD GRANDMOTHER,
ONE OF THE HOUSES WE WERE
REDOING TO PUT THE FAMILY IN,
AND SHE SAID,
"IT'LL BE SO LOVELY
TO HEAR CHILDREN
LAUGH AND SING AND PLAY.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT
FOR YEARS."
IT'S HARD TO TELL YOU WHAT
MY EMOTIONS ARE RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE EVERY BAD TIME
DURING THE 16 YEARS
HAS BEEN WORTH IT,
AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF HICCUPS
AND BAD TIMES,
BUT NOW WE HAVE THE BUILDINGS,
THE ACTUAL BUILDINGS,
SO IT'S VERY SPECIAL.
IT'S NOW MY HONOR
TO GIVE THE FLOOR
TO MS. BETTY WILLIAMS,
WHO IS THE 1976 NOBEL PEACE
LAUREATE
AND WORLD-ACCLAIMED ADVOCATE
FOR CHILDREN.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM.
I MADE A PROMISE
ON THE STREETS OF BELFAST
TO THOSE CHILDREN
THAT I WOULD FIGHT
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE
THAT THEY DID NOT DIE
IN VAIN.
I WOULD GET INVITATIONS
TO GO ALL OVER THE WORLD--
ETHIOPIA,
CAMBODIA, AFGHANISTAN,
NICARAGUA, CHILE, ARGENTINA,
RUSSIA...
AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE
WHAT I WAS SEEING.
ONE OF MY JOURNEYS TOOK ME
TO BURMA.
I MET TWO BEAUTIFUL
LITTLE GIRLS.
I WAS HOLDING THEM
IN MY ARMS.
THEY WERE HOLDING ME
LIKE I WAS THEIR MOTHER.
THEIR STORY,
TWO LITTLE GIRLS,
HAD TO WATCH THEIR MOTHER
AND FATHER
DIG A GRAVE.
THEY HAD TO WATCH
WHEN SLORC SOLDIERS
BLEW THEM APART,
THEIR HEADS.
THEY THEN HAD TO FILL IN
THE GRAVE,
AND WERE TAKEN
BY THE SLORC SOLDIERS
TO CARRY THE WEAPONS.
FOR THE GIRLS,
IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE.
THEY WOULD TIE THEM TO TREES
AND SYSTEMATICALLY RAPE THEM.
WHEN I SAID
TO ONE OF THE CHILDREN,
"DO YOU REMEMBER ANY OF THE MEN
WHO DID THIS TO YOU?"
AND SHE SAID,
"ONLY THE FIRST ONE."
I GET VERY PASSIONATE
ABOUT MY WORK.
AND IF YOU WERE IN THE S--
LIKE I DO,
WHEN YOU SEE IT UP CLOSE
AND PERSONAL--
I TRIED TO WRITE
A SPEECH COMING HERE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY--
"GOD, I'M GONNA BE
AT THE UNITED NATIONS.
I SHOULD WRITE A SPEECH."
I COULDN'T WRITE IT
BECAUSE I KEPT CRYING.
I HAD TO BRING TO MIND
ALL THE THINGS
THAT I WITNESSED.
IT IS TIME TO ALLOW
THE CHILDREN A VOICE.
THIS IS THE UNIVERSAL
DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS
OF CHILDREN.
WE, THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD,
ASSERT OUR INALIENABLE RIGHT
TO BE HEARD AND TO HAVE
A POLITICAL VOICE
AT THE UNITED NATIONS
AND AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS
OF GOVERNMENTS WORLDWIDE.
WE, THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD,
MUST LIVE WITH JUSTICE,
WITH PEACE, AND FREEDOM.
BUT ABOVE ALL,
WITH THE DIGNITY WE DESERVE.
WE, THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD,
HAVE HAD NO POLITICAL VOICE.
WE DEMAND SUCH A VOICE.
AND, LASTLY,
WE, THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD,
SERVE NOTICE ON OUR ABUSERS
AND EXPLOITERS,
WHOEVER THEY MAY BE,
THAT FROM THIS DAY HENCE,
WE WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS
OF HOLDING YOU RESPONSIBLE
FOR OUR SUFFERING.
[WILLIAMS]
I'VE SEEN THE BEST
OF HUMANKIND,
BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN THE WORST.
FEAR IS VERY CONTAGIOUS.
IT CRIPPLED ME,
PERSONALLY CRIPPLED ME
FOR MANY YEARS,
AND I OFTEN WONDER
WHY I DID NOT SPEAK OUT SOONER.
WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE THAT
THOSE WEE BABIES HAD TO DIE?
WHY COULDN'T I HAVE DONE
THIS SOONER?
I BLAME MYSELF
FOR THAT IN A LOT OF WAYS
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW,
WHEN I LOOK BACK
ON THAT IN RETROSPECT,
IT TOOK THAT INCIDENT
TO BREAK MY FEAR
AND TO SAY,
"WE'RE CRIPPLED HERE
WITH THIS FEAR."
'CAUSE I KNOW--
'CAUSE I HAD IT.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST MY STORY.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN
WERE BETTY WILLIAMS.
ONCE YOU SEE COURAGE
WALKING, COURAGE ON LEGS,
IT'S JUST AMAZING.
TO BE HONEST,
I THINK COURAGE
IS MUCH MORE CONTAGIOUS
THAN FEAR
ONCE A PERSON GETS IT,
'CAUSE NONVIOLENCE
IS THE WEAPON OF THE STRONG.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[NARRATOR]
BY THE 1970s, THE TENSION
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
REACHED AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
CATHOLICS, PROTESTING FOR
BETTER JOBS, DECENT HOUSING,
AND EQUAL VOTING RIGHTS,
WERE OPPOSED BY
PROTESTANT-CONTROLLED
SPECIAL POLICE,
WHO USED BRUTAL FORCE.
THE BRITISH ARMY
TOOK OVER AND MOVED IN
AT THE URGING OF SOME MEMBERS
OF THE PROTESTANT MAJORITY.
FOR THE LARGE CATHOLIC MINORITY,
THIS MILITARY OCCUPATION
SERVED ONLY TO INCREASE
SUPPORT FOR THE DREAM
OF A UNITED IRELAND,
AND FOR THE VIOLENT,
PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
HEAVILY-ARMED PROTESTANT
MILITIA GROUPS RESPONDED
WITH FULL FORCE,
AND IN KIND.
NORTHERN IRELAND WAS ON
THE EDGE OF CIVIL WAR.
[MAN] IT COULD COME
TO CIVIL WAR, AND MAKE
NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT,
WE AS PROTESTANTS
AND LOYALISTS WILL FIGHT,
AND WE WILL WIN.
[NARRATOR]
IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND CITY
OF LONDONDERRY,
MANY RESENTED
THE BRITISH PRESENCE,
WHICH BROUGHT WITH IT
AN INCREASE IN THE
SECTARIAN VIOLENCE.
ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 30TH, 1972,
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MARCHED
TO PROTEST A NEW POLICY
OF INTERNMENT,
A CHANGE IN LAW THAT ALLOWED
THE POLICE TO IMPRISON
AND HOLD PEOPLE--
IN PRACTICE,
ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY
CATHOLICS--
INDEFINITELY AND WITHOUT CHARGE.
THE PROTEST, WHICH THE
AUTHORITIES DECLARED TO BE
ILLEGAL, WAS MASSIVE.
WHEN THE PROTEST MARCH
STARTED TO WIND ITS WAY PAST
A MILITARY OUTPOST,
SOME PEOPLE BEGAN TO APPROACH
THE POLICE BARRICADES IN ANGER.
WATER CANNONS AND TEAR GAS
WERE USED TO DISPERSE THE CROWD.
WHEN MOST OF THE PROTESTERS
WERE GONE,
FOUR NEW UNITS WERE SENT IN
TO THE BOGSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD
ON AN ARREST MISSION...
AND THEY OPENED FIRE.
IN TOTAL, THE ARMY FIRED
108 ROUNDS
OF LIVE AMMUNITION THAT DAY.
-[SHOUTING]
-[GUNFIRE]
[NARRATOR]
14 PEOPLE WERE KILLED
AND MANY MORE WERE INJURED.
[REPORTER] YOU'RE QUITE SURE
THAT NOTHING WAS FIRED AT
THEM FIRST.
THERE WAS NOTHING FIRED AT THEM.
I'M ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN OF THAT.
I CAN SPEAK OF THIS WITHOUT
ANY DIFFICULTY WHATSOEVER
BECAUSE I WAS THERE.
I WAS JUST STANDING AT THE FLATS
WHEN THE SOLDIERS MOVED IN,
FIRST OF ALL,
AND THERE WAS NOTHING
FIRED AT THEM,
POSITIVELY NOTHING FIRED
AT THEM WHATSOEVER.
THERE WEREN'T
EVEN STONES THROWN.
PEOPLE RAN IN ALL DIRECTIONS
AND THEY OPENED FIRE.
MOST PEOPLE HAD THEIR BACKS
TO THEM WHEN THEY OPENED FIRE
AT THE TIME.
MY INFORMATION AT THE MOMENT,
AND IT IS VERY, ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT,
IS THAT THE PARA BATTALION
FIRED THREE ROUNDS ALL TOGETHER.
AFTER, THEY HAD SOMETHING
BETWEEN 10 AND 20 FIRED AT THEM
FROM THE AREA OF
THE ROSSVILLE FLATS, OVER THERE.
[REPORTER] THEY FIRED
THREE ROUNDS ONLY.
MY INFORMATION AT THE MOMENT--
[REPORTER] I BELIEVE
THERE ARE MORE THAN THREE DEAD.
I CERTAINLY-- I HAVE SEEN THREE
DEAD MYSELF.
WELL, THEY MAY WELL NOT HAVE
BEEN KILLED BY OUR SOLDIERS.
[NEWSCASTER]
THE REACTION IN BELFAST
TO THE SHOOTING WAS QUICK.
LAST NIGHT, FIRES WERE RAGING
IN THE ANDERSONSTOWN AREA,
AND FOR SOME TIME, THE FIRE
BRIGADE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IN.
THIS MORNING IN CATHOLIC AREAS,
BLACK FLAGS WERE OUT
AND FEELINGS WERE NO LESS
BITTER THAN IN LONDONDERRY.
FLEETS OF TRUCKS AND CARS WERE
HIJACKED IN ANDERSONSTOWN
AT THE FALLS AREA,
DRIVEN AWAY,
AND THEN BURNED
TO PROVIDE BARRICADES.
AFTER WARNINGS OF RETALIATION
BY THE PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
FOR YESTERDAY'S SHOOTINGS,
TROOPS WERE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS.
THE PEOPLE OF THE BOGSIDE
WERE STILL STUNNED BY
THE SHOOTINGS.
THEY WALKED ABOUT
AND STOOD IN GROUPS,
TALKING ABOUT THE TRAGEDY.
IT WAS A CRISP, SUNNY DAY,
JUST LIKE IT WAS ON THE DAY
THEY'VE CALLED HERE
"BLOODY SUNDAY."
I WAS AFRAID.
WHEN I LOOK BACK ON IT NOW,
IF I'M TELLIN' YOU THE TRUTH,
I'D BE OUT DOIN' ME SHOPPING.
MAYBE YOU'D BE STANDING
AT THE GREEN GROCERY
END OF THE STORE,
AND YOU'D MEET SOMEBODY,
ANOTHER WOMAN YOU KNEW,
AND YOU BOTH HAD YOUR PROBLEMS,
BUT THEY'D ALWAYS BE IN A
WHISPER.
[WHISPERING]
"WASN'T THAT TERRIBLE
WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?"
"GOD, DID YOU KNOW HIM?"
IT WAS SORT OF PER WOMAN.
[NORMAL VOICE]
YOU KNOW YOU'D HEAR THIS
KIND OF TALK AMONG THE WOMEN.
SO I KNEW THAT ANY FEMALES
OF THE SPECIES THAT I KNEW
WERE VERY ANTI
WHAT WAS GOING ON,
BUT THEY WERE TERRIFIED
TO SAY ANYTHING.
THERE WASN'T A MOTHER
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
THAT WASN'T AFRAID,
BECAUSE IT WASN'T-- YOU KNOW,
YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER...
YOU'D WALK OUT ONE DAY AND
WHAT YOU WERE WALKING INTO.
SO I KNOW WHY THE
WOMEN WERE WHISPERING.
I WAS ONE OF THEM.
[NARRATOR]
1972 WAS A YEAR FULL OF ANGER.
[LOUD EXPLOSION]
[NARRATOR]
WITH SHOOTINGS, BOMBINGS,
AND CIVILIANS DYING
EVERY SINGLE WEEK,
NO ONE WAS SAFE
FROM THE SECTARIAN VIOLENCE.
[SCREAMING, CRYING]
I REMEMBER A BOMB BLAST
WHERE THE WINDOW BLEW OUT.
I JUMPED UP.
WELL, I HAD TO GO TO
THE DOCTOR THE NEXT DAY,
'CAUSE I COULDN'T
COPE WITH THE PAIN,
BUT THAT'S WHERE ALL
MY INJURIES CAME FROM.
LOTS OF PEOPLE
THAT HAPPENED TO.
[NEWSCASTER]
YET ANOTHER BOMB BLAST
OCCURRED IN BELFAST TODAY,
AND AN ELDERLY WOMAN
WAS CAUGHT AND TRAPPED
IN THE RUBBLE.
IT TOOK AN HOUR AND A HALF
TO GET HER OUT.
THEN THERE WAS A SECOND SCARE.
THERE WAS A CRASH
AND EVERYONE THOUGHT THAT
THE WHOLE PLACE WAS COMING DOWN.
[CROWD SHOUTING, SCREAMING]
IT WAS A TENSE AND NERVOUS
SCENE IN THIS AREA OF BELFAST.
AND TONIGHT, THE AUTHORITIES
HAVE LITTLE DOUBT
THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL
OF TODAY'S VIOLENCE,
WAS ORGANIZED BY
THE ILLEGAL PROTESTANT
ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE.
MY COUSIN DANNY...
LOVELY LAD GOIN' TO SCHOOL.
JUST...BEAUTIFUL BOY,
DANNY DUNN.
AND HE WAS WALKING HOME
WHEN THEY RIDDLED HIM TO DEATH
WITH SIGN OF THE CROSS.
JUST--
I'M WAITING ON HIM AND WHEN MY
AUNTIE BRADY OPENED THE DOOR,
HE FELL IN TO HER ARMS.
BRADY WAS NEVER THE SAME
AFTER THAT.
SHE DIED THAT DAY, YA KNOW?
TERRIBLE.
[NEWSCASTER]
IN EAST BELFAST,
A MANAGER OF A LOCAL BAR
WAS SHOT IN THE DOOR
OF HIS FATHER'S HOUSE.
HE STAGGERED DOWN THE HALL
INTO THE KITCHEN.
THE GUNMAN FOLLOWED HIM
AND SHOT HIM AGAIN,
RIGHT TO THE HEAD.
IT WAS THE THIRD SUCH
RELIGIOUSLY-MOTIVATED
KILLING THIS MONTH.
AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW,
JIM MCGEE, HIS COUSIN...
WHO HAD A WEE FARM,
HE WAS A POSTMAN.
AND THE I.R.A. HAD
THIS VAN FULL OF EXPLOSIVE.
BUT A BRITISH ARMY FOOT PATROL
HAD BEEN SET UP
SO THEY LEFT THE VAN
AND RAN OFF,
AND JOE WAS DRIVING AROUND
IN IT AND THE VAN EXPLODED.
SO, A CATHOLIC WAS KILLED
BY CATHOLICS,
AND A CATHOLIC WAS
KILLED BY PROTESTANTS.
DOES THAT MAKE ANY
SENSE TO ANYBODY?
I DON'T THINK SO.
[NEWSCASTER]
THERE WAS ANOTHER BOMB BLAST
IN DOWNTOWN BELFAST TODAY.
THREE OTHER EXPLOSIONS
ALSO OCCURRED
OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN
DOWNTOWN AREA,
WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY
A TWO-MILE LONG SECURITY FENCE.
THE MAJOR FIRE STARTED IN
A TOY AND PRAM SHOP,
AND A SHIPPING OFFICE AND
A MILK BAR WERE BADLY DAMAGED.
THE PROVISIONAL I.R.A. SAID
THE ATTACK WAS IN RETALIATION
FOR THE RECENT CRACKDOWN
BY BRITISH POLICE.
THE I.R.A. APPEARED TO BE TRYING
TO PROVOKE A BACKLASH,
AND TODAY'S ACTIVITIES CERTAINLY
HARDENED PROTESTANT OPINIONS.
[WILLIAMS]
I HAD BEEN TERRIFIED THAT MAYBE
THEY WOULD HURT MY CHILDREN.
I HAD THE "MY" SYNDROME: WHAT
ABOUT MY HOUSE, MY CAR, MY KIDS?
[NEWSCASTER]
MAY 17TH, 1974.
TODAY'S BOMBING
REPRESENTS THE BIGGEST,
GREATEST LOSS OF LIFE
IN A SINGLE DAY,
IN WHAT PEOPLE HERE ARE CALLING
THE "TROUBLES" IN IRELAND.
FOUR CAR BOMBS EXPLODED
WITHOUT WARNING,
KILLING 33 MEN,
WOMEN, AND CHILDREN,
AND INJURING ALMOST 300.
[WILLIAMS]
I SAW TERRIBLE THINGS IN
NORTHERN IRELAND, YA KNOW?
THINGS THAT
STAY WITH YOU FOREVER.
[FEMALE NEWSCASTER]
FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS,
THIS HAS BEEN THE FACE
THAT NORTHERN IRELAND
HAS PRESENTED TO THE WORLD.
PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE NOW
BEGINNING TO WONDER
JUST HOW MUCH THE YOUNGSTERS
OF NORTHERN IRELAND
HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY
THE NEAR-CONSTANT VIOLENCE.
[MIMICKING GUNFIRE]
IN THE SCHOOLS, TEACHERS HAVE
NOTICED CHANGES
IN THE WORK THAT CHILDREN
PRODUCE.
THE "WHAT DID YOU DO YESTERDAY?"
ESSAY
IS NOW LIKELY TO
INCLUDE A BOMB BLAST,
OR A SKIRMISH WITH BRITISH
TROOPS, GUNSHOTS, OR GRENADES.
THE CHANGE IN BASIC
BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN STARK.
THERE'S NOW EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST
THAT SOME CHILDREN
HAVE BEEN
SERIOUSLY AFFECTED
BY THE ONGOING CIVIL WAR.
THE EVIDENCE WAS PUBLISHED
IN A RECENT ISSUE
OF THE "BRITISH JOURNAL
OF PSYCHIATRY."
PSYCHOLOGISTS CLAIM
THAT THEIR JOBS HAVE BEEN
MADE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT
BY THE PHYSICAL SEPARATION OF
THE COMMUNITIES OF BELFAST.
IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE FOR
CATHOLIC CHILDREN
TO GO THROUGH
THEIR ENTIRE EARLY LIFE
WITHOUT EVER MEETING
A PROTESTANT CHILD,
AND FOR PROTESTANT CHILDREN
TO NEVER MEET A CATHOLIC CHILD.
[ALL SINGING]
♪ GOD BLESS MY HOMELAND
IN DEAR OLD SHORT STRAND ♪
♪ GOD BLESS MY HOME
IN THE DEAR OLD SHANKHILL ♪
[FEMALE NEWSCASTER]
THEIR COMMUNITIES ARE DIVIDED
BY WALLS.
[NARRATOR]
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 1976,
WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN BELFAST.
MANY PEOPLE WERE OUTDOORS,
ENJOYING THE SUNSHINE.
AND THEN, TRAGEDY STRUCK.
[NEWS ANCHOR]
OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT...
IN A TERRIBLE TURN OF EVENTS
IN BELFAST TODAY,
IN WHICH THREE INNOCENT
AND DEFENSELESS CHILDREN
WERE RUN OVER.
A YOUNG PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
MEMBER WAS BEING CHASED
BY BRITISH TROOPS
WHO SHOT HIM AT THE WHEEL
AND HIS CAR CAREENED
INTO A YOUNG FAMILY
OUT FOR AN AFTERNOON WALK.
TWO CHILDREN ARE DEAD
AT THE SCENE.
THE MOTHER AND BABY
ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
WELL, IT ALL HAPPENED
ON FINAGHY ROAD NORTH,
AND MY HOUSE WAS
OFF OF FINAGHY ROAD NORTH.
IT WAS VERY, VERY
CLOSE TO THE SCENE.
VERY CLOSE.
JUST LITERALLY
'ROUND THE CORNER.
AND I WAS DRIVING HOME
FROM MOMMY'S.
THAT WAS A TRIP
I DID DAILY.
IT COULD'VE BEEN ME.
FEEL PRETTY TERRIBLE.
WE WENT DOWN THIS MORNING
TO THE MORGUE
AND WE SAW THE TWO LITTLE ONES
AND JUST TO HEAR NOW THAT
THE THIRD'S GONE.
[SOBS]
HAVING A TRIPLE FUNERAL
ON FRIDAY.
[VOICE BREAKING]
IT'S PRETTY HARD.
THEN I GOT SO ANGRY.
I REMEMBER STANDING IN MY GARAGE
BECAUSE MY CHILDREN
WERE SLEEPING,
AND I WAS SCREAMING.
JUST SCREAMING.
I THOUGHT I'D GO OUT AND
DO A CAMPAIGN FOR PEACE
AND HAVE PEOPLE SIGN
A PETITION FOR PEACE.
AND I HAD GONE DOOR KNOCKING
AND ASKING THE WOMEN
IN THE AREA THAT I LIVED,
WHICH WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE I.R.A. TERRITORY.
I MEAN, I WAS SO ANGRY.
I WAS YELLING AT THE WOMEN.
I WASN'T SORT OF NICE LITTLE
PEACE PERSON.
I WAS THIS RAVING LUNATIC
ON THEIR DOORSTEP.
"WE'VE GOTTA STOP THIS!"
AFTER ABOUT FOUR HOUSES
I NEARLY LOST MY VOICE,
I WAS YELLING AT EVERYBODY.
AND IT JUST TOOK OFF
LIKE WILDFIRE. WOMEN JUST--
BECAUSE I HAD GIVEN A VOICE
TO WHAT THEY WERE FEELING.
YOU KNOW, I MUST HAVE
LIFTED THE LID.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY AND HER NEIGHBORS
COLLECTED
MORE THAN 6,000 SIGNATURES,
AND BETTY SPOKE TO REPORTERS
AT THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER
AND AT THE LOCAL
TELEVISION STATION.
AND I ASKED THE WOMEN
OF NORTHERN IRELAND
IF THEY FELT LIKE I DID.
WOULD THEY JOIN ME IN A RALLY
THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY
AT THE SPOT WHERE THE CHILDREN
WERE KILLED?
I MET MAIREAD ON THE DAY
OF THE FUNERAL.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
I HADN'T GOT A CLUE.
NEVER KNOWN THE MIRACLE
I WAS ABOUT TO WITNESS,
BECAUSE THERE WERE
10,000 WOMEN TURNED UP.
THOUGHT IT WAS
A SEA OF WOMEN.
[NARRATOR]
EVEN AS THE VIOLENCE CONTINUED,
WOMEN IN BELFAST WERE GATHERING
TO MAKE A POSITIVE
AND MOVING PLEA FOR PEACE.
[SINGING IN UNISON]
[NEWSCASTER]
WOMEN FROM PROTESTANT AREAS
OF THE CITY HIRED BUSES
TO JOIN THE WOMEN OF
CATHOLIC ANDERSONSTOWN
STILL MOURNING
THE MAGUIRE CHILDREN KILLED
BY A TERRORIST CAR.
FRESH FLOWERS WERE PLACED
AT THE SPOT WHERE THE
CHILDREN HAD DIED.
SIGNATURES WERE READILY ADDED
TO AN ALREADY LONG LIST
OF PEOPLE WHO WANT PEACE.
BETTY WILLIAMS, WHO PLANNED
THE RALLY, AND MARY MAGUIRE,
THE AUNT OF THE CHILDREN
WHO DIED, WERE DELIGHTED
WITH THE RESPONSE.
TOGETHER, THE WOMEN PRAYED
FOR PEACE, SANG HYMNS FOR PEACE,
AND CRIED OUT FOR PEACE.
[WOMEN SINGING]
[CROWD CHANTING]
WE WANT PEACE!
WE WANT PEACE!
[NEWSCASTER]
THE RALLY BROUGHT COMFORT
FOR MANY,
INCLUDING THE CHILDRENS'
FAMILY.
THEIR MOTHER IS
STILL IN HOSPITAL.
I FEEL FANTASTIC.
HER THREE BABIES HAVEN'T
DIED FOR NOTHING,
BECAUSE THIS HAS BROUGHT OUT
HOW THE PEOPLE FEEL.
WE ALL WANTED THIS,
BUT IN OUR FRUSTRATION,
WE DIDN'T
KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT.
[NEWSCASTER]
ANOTHER RALLY WILL BE HELD
ON SHANKHILL ROAD NEXT WEEK.
[WILLIAMS]
WE JOINED FORCES,
AND IT WAS A POWERFUL FORCE.
ONCE I BROKE MY OWN FEAR,
IT ALLOWED OTHERS
TO BREAK THEIRS, TOO.
[NARRATOR]
MEMBERS OF THE PROVISIONAL
I.R.A. WATCHED THE RALLY.
THEIR REACTION WAS BOTH
IMMEDIATE AND VIOLENT.
[WILLIAMS]
AFTER THE FIRST RALLY,
THEY HAD TO GO HOME
TO THEIR OWN HOUSES,
EXCEPT A LOT OF THEM
WERE UNDER THREAT.
IT WAS DIFFICULT KNOWING
THAT THEY HAD TO DO THAT
AND THEY WERE AFRAID.
THE WOMEN WERE SAYING THAT
THEY GOT THEIR WINDOWS BUSTED.
AND SOMEBODY GOT A BUCKET
SOMEWHERE AND STARTED
GOING ROUND TO THE WOMEN,
AND THE WOMEN WERE JUST
GOING INTO THEIR PURSES
AND PUTTING THE MONEY IN
TO GET THE WINDOWS REPLACED.
THE WOMEN
SUPPORTED ONE ANOTHER,
AND IT WAS CATHOLIC HELPING
PROTESTANT, BY THE WAY,
AND PROTESTANT HELPING CATHOLIC.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS
AN EXTREME ACT OF COURAGE.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY AND MAIREAD WERE
APPROACHED BY A LOCAL JOURNALIST
NAMED CIARAN MCKEOWN.
THEY DECIDED TO WORK TOGETHER
TO TURN THE CRY OF THE WOMEN
INTO A MOVEMENT.
[WILLIAMS]
"WE'VE A SIMPLE MESSAGE
FOR THE WORLD
FROM THIS
MOVEMENT FOR PEACE.
WE WANT TO LIVE
AND LOVE AND BUILD
A JUST AND
PEACEFUL SOCIETY.
WE WANT FOR OUR CHILDREN
AS WE WANT FOR OURSELVES,
OUR LIVES AT WORK,
AT HOME, AND AT PLAY,
TO BE LIVES
OF JOY AND PEACE.
WE RECOGNIZE
THAT TO BUILD SUCH A LIFE
DEMANDS OF ALL OF US
DEDICATION, HARD WORK,
AND COURAGE.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE
MANY PROBLEMS IN ALL SOCIETIES
WHICH ARE A SOURCE OF
CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE.
WE REJECT THE USE OF THE BOMB
AND THE BULLET
AND ALL THE TECHNIQUES
OF VIOLENCE.
WE DEDICATE OURSELVES
TO WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS,
NEAR AND FAR,
DAY IN AND DAY OUT,
TO BUILDING
THAT PEACEFUL SOCIETY
IN WHICH THE TRAGEDIES
WE HAVE KNOWN
ARE A BAD MEMORY AND
A CONTINUING WARNING."
AND THAT'S BURNT
ON MY HEART.
CAN I ASK YOU,
WHEN YOU SAY "DEDICATE,"
-[MAIREAD] YEAH.
-IN DETAIL, THAT MEANS WHAT?
LIVING 24 HOURS OF EVERY DAY
POSITIVELY FOR PEACE.
IT MAY TAKE A LOT
OF COURAGE AT TIMES.
I KNOW THE WOMEN
OF ANDERSONSTOWN.
I WAS BORN THERE.
I WAS BROUGHT UP THERE.
I WAS REARED IN
AN ANDERSONSTOWN GHETTO,
AND I LOVE THEM.
THEY'RE GREAT PEOPLE,
AND I KNEW THE WOMEN
OF ANDERSONSTOWN
COULDN'T HAVE APPROVED
OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.
WE'VE GOT 100,000 PEOPLE
ON THE STREETS OF NORTHERN
IRELAND WHO'VE COME OUT.
I'M ONLY THEIR MOUTHPIECE.
THAT'S ALL I AM.
ALSO WHAT IS HAPPENING OUT OF
OUR PEACE MOVEMENT IS
THAT WE'RE GETTING THESE
FANTASTIC LITTLE GROUPS
GROWING UP IN CATHOLIC AND
PROTESTANT AREAS,
AND ALREADY WE HAVE THE
CATHOLICS AND THE PROTESTANTS
CROSSING OVER.
AND YOU KNOW, THE ORDINARY
PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND,
FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HISTORY, ALMOST,
ARE GOING TO HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY
WHAT THEY
WANT IN THEIR SOCIETY,
AND THEY THEMSELVES WILL
TAKE DOWN THE BARRIER OF FEAR,
AND THE PHYSICAL BARRIERS
IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'LL DO IT THEMSELVES,
AS THEY PROVED YESTERDAY
IN THE SHANKHILL.
THE ORDINARY WOMEN
AND MEN OF NORTHERN IRELAND--
I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP,
BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAID
"LITTLE GROUPS DOING SOMETHING,"
IMMEDIATE REACTION IS TO SAY,
"WHAT? WORDS CANNOT FIGHT
THE GUNMEN."
BUT YESTERDAY WAS
THE FIRST DIRECT ACTION
THAT THE PEACE PEOPLE TOOK.
-THEY STOPPED BUSES FROM
BEING BURNED, DIDN'T THEY?
-EXACTLY.
THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FALLS
ROAD THE WEEK BEFORE,
WHERE THE WOMEN OF THE FALLS
HAD GOT OUT AND STOPPED IT,
AND WE'VE HAD A FEW
INTIMIDATIONS STOPPED--
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
BY INTIMIDATIONS, EILEEN?
-I MUST EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU.
-YOU MUST EXPLAIN THIS.
I.E., A CATHOLIC FAMILY,
LIVING IN A PROTESTANT AREA,
SOMEONE WILL GO TO THE DOOR
AND SAY,
"YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES
TO GET OUT.
YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE."
WE HAD TWO OF THOSE STOPPED
BY THE CATHOLIC WOMEN.
WE HAD BUS BURNINGS STOPPED
BY THE CATHOLIC WOMEN
IN TWINBROOK
AND ON THE FALLS ROAD.
AND YESTERDAY,
THE PROTESTANT WOMEN GOT OUT
AND DONE EXACTLY
THE SAME THING.
THEY STOPPED THIS HAPPENING,
SO THE TWO COMMUNITIES WILL
NOW START HELPING EACH OTHER.
[NEWSCASTER]
THE TROUBLES IN NORTHERN IRELAND
CONTINUED ON THIS WEEK,
BUT THERE IS A NEW OUTSPOKENNESS
AMONGST THE VICTIMS
AND POTENTIAL VICTIMS
OF VIOLENCE.
IT'S DEMONSTRATED TODAY
IN A BELFAST NEIGHBORHOOD,
WHERE HOUSEWIVES BANDED TOGETHER
TO STOP A HIJACKING.
-WE STOPPED THE BOYS FROM
COMING UP--
-[WOMAN] HIJACKING A LORRY.
HIJACKING A LORRY,
AND A BUS THEY TRIED, TOO.
AND THEN THE WOMEN
HAVE ALL GATHERED--
THERE'LL BE MORE LATER ON.
-AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND
FOR THIS ANY LONGER. RIGHT?
-[CROWD] RIGHT!
[NEWSCASTER]
AND BOTH PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC
WOMEN, AND EVEN A FEW MEN,
MARCHED TOGETHER
ON THE SHANKHILL ROAD.
[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
[WILLIAMS]
WHEN I STARTED THE PEACE
MOVEMENT,
DADDY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT
UNTIL HE SAW ME ON
THE TELEVISION.
HE WAS VERY NERVOUS.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS WORRIED.
AND HE SAID,
"IN THE NAME OF GOD,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, BETTY?
DON'T YOU REALIZE
THAT NORTHERN IRELAND HAS A
PROBLEM FOR EVERY SOLUTION?"
AND THEN PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
CAME AROUND AND BROKE ALL
OUR WINDOWS IN THE HOUSE.
HE TOLD THE PROVISIONAL I.R.A.,
"YOU BREAK 'EM, I'LL FIX 'EM.
AND YOU'LL GET TIRED
BEFORE I DO."
SO HE HAD
EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE AS WELL,
BECAUSE WE LIVED RIGHT IN
THE HEART OF ANDERSONSTOWN.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY'S HOUSE BECAME THE OFFICE
FOR THE PEACE PEOPLE.
AND BETTY'S FATHER VOLUNTEERED.
HE STARTED ANSWERING HER PHONE.
[WILLIAMS]
"NO," I SAID.
"YOU'RE OUT THERE STANDING.
I'LL STAND RIGHT
ALONGSIDE YOU."
[NEWSCASTER]
TOM JONES, REPORTING
FROM LONDONDERRY.
THEY CAME FROM
THE WATER SIDE, AND THEY CAME
FROM THE CITY SIDE,
AND THEY MET
TOGETHER IN THE MIDDLE.
THOUSANDS OF WOMEN,
AND QUITE A FEW MEN FROM
BOTH COMMUNITIES
JOINED FORCES ON
THE CRAIGAVON BRIDGE
THAT LINKS
THE TWO HALVES OF DERRY,
THE CITY WHERE THE RIOTS
BEGAN EIGHT YEARS AGO.
THE PEACE MOVEMENT,
JUST FOUR WEEKS OLD,
MET SOME OPPOSITION AS A SMALL
GROUP OF SINN FEIN SUPPORTERS
DEMANDED BRITISH WITHDRAWAL,
WHICH THEY CALLED
"PEACE WITH JUSTICE."
THAT DEMONSTRATION WAS QUITE
OFTEN LEFT UNNOTICED,
AND THE MAIN RALLY
STUCK ONCE AGAIN TO SIMPLE
PRAYERS AND PEACE,
AVOIDING POLITICAL ARGUMENTS
THAT COULD SPLIT THE MOVEMENT,
AND ALREADY ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO MORE MARCHES,
AND THEY HOPE,
MORE SUPPORT.
[WILLIAMS]
IT WAS LIKE A MEDIA
FEEDING FRENZY.
IT REALLY WAS...
OFF THE CHARTS, MEDIA-WISE.
MY PHONE WOULD START WITH
CALLS FROM JAPAN.
DADDY ENDED UP TAKING
THE PHONE OFF THE HOOK.
WE WEREN'T GETTING
ANY SLEEP, YOU KNOW?
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
BUT, OH, MY GOD,
THE COURAGE WAS SO CLEAR.
WOMEN DRIVING
FROM THE FALLS ROAD,
UP THE SHANKHILL ROAD.
BOTH ORGANIZATIONS,
CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT,
WELL, THE I.R.A.,
THEY KNEW THE CARS.
THEY EVEN HAD
ROADBLOCKS SET UP.
OUR WOMEN DROVE
THROUGH ALL OF THAT,
AND THEY GOT
TO THEIR MEETINGS.
YOU KNOW, THEY DID
WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO
FOR ONE ANOTHER.
[CHEERING]
[WILLIAMS]
THERE'S A POWERFUL FORCE OF
GOOD IN NORTHERN IRELAND NOW.
NOTHING IS AS STRONG AS
AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME.
[SINGING]
[WILLIAMS]
PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE
A LOT MORE TO UNITE THEM
THEN THEY EVER HAD
TO DIVIDE THEM.
WE'VE USED RELIGION
TO KILL EACH OTHER SINCE
TIME IMMEMORIAL.
NOW THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SAYING,
"NO MORE. WE'VE HAD ENOUGH."
I HAVE TO GO BACK TO SAYING
THAT IF YOU'RE NOT HELPING
TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM,
THEN YOU'RE PART OF IT.
[FEMALE NEWSCASTER]
TODAY, ON THE STEPS IN A CHURCH
IN ANDERSONSTOWN,
THE PEACE MOVEMENT GATHERED
TO PRAY AND TO SING FOR PEACE.
TWENTY YARDS AWAY,
A COUNTER-DEMONSTRATION
WAS HELD BY LOCAL YOUTH,
UNDER THE BANNER
OF THE I.R.A.'S SINN FEIN.
AS THE MEETING BREAKS UP,
A GROUP OF YOUTH MOVE FORWARD,
AND VIOLENCE SEEMS INEVITABLE.
ONE SMALL INCIDENT,
BUT THE PEACE PEOPLE ARE BEING
MADE AWARE ONCE AGAIN
OF THE BITTERNESS
THEY'LL HAVE TO OVERCOME
IF THEIR MOVEMENT
IS TO SUCCEED.
[WILLIAMS]
I'VE SEEN INCREDIBLE
ACTS OF COURAGE FROM WOMEN.
NON-VIOLENCE IS
THE WEAPON OF THE STRONG.
VIOLENCE IS THE EASY WAY.
I BELIEVE THAT WOMEN,
AS THE GIVERS OF LIFE,
HAVE NEVER BEEN THE TRUE
PROTECTORS OF THAT SAME LIFE
THAT THEY SHOULD BE.
I FEEL WOMEN'S ROLE
HAS GOT TO BE A GENTLER ONE,
AND PERHAPS IF WE CAN
DO IT CORRECTLY,
THE MEN WOULD
LIKE TO WALK BESIDE US.
[NARRATOR]
THE PEACE PEOPLE CONTINUED
TO STUDY THE WRITINGS
OF MARTIN LUTHER KING,
LEARNING THE TOOLS
AND TECHNIQUES OF NON-VIOLENCE
AS THEY PREPARED
FOR YET ANOTHER MARCH
ALONG THE I.R.A.-CONTROLLED
FALLS ROAD.
[WILLIAMS]
I REMEMBER READING IF YOU KEEP
THE MARCH MOVING,
PICK UP SOMEBODY
IF THEY'RE INJURED,
BUT DON'T LET IT STOP.
WE KNEW GOING ONTO
THE FALLS WOULD BE HARD,
YOU KNOW?
AND KIND OF SCARY.
I REMEMBER ISABELLE BENNETT,
ONE OF OUR TOUGH LADIES
FROM STITTENHAM, SAYING TO ME,
"WHAT WILL WE WEAR TO
THE FALLS ROAD RALLY?"
AND I SAID,
"FLAK JACKETS AND A HELMET."
THANK GOD IT WAS POURING RAIN,
SO THE UMBRELLAS WERE UP,
AND ONCE THE ATTACK BEGAN,
THEY WERE MOVING THE UMBRELLAS
FROM SIDE TO SIDE,
AND THEN WE'D GET A FLURRY
OF IT, AND THE UMBRELLAS WOULD
ALL COME TOGETHER AGAIN.
IF WE HADN'T HAD
THOSE UMBRELLAS,
WE'D HAVE BEEN LOOKING
AT MASSIVE HEAD INJURIES.
BRICKS WERE LANDING ON
THE UMBRELLAS
AND SOMETIMES TEARING THEM,
BUT MOSTLY BOUNCING OFF.
THE ESSENCE OF THE MARCH
WAS QUIET DIGNITY,
AND KEEPING IT GOING,
ALMOST LIKE A DRUMBEAT,
LIKE A HEARTBEAT.
WE WERE JUST IN SILENCE,
COMPLETE AND UTTER SILENCE.
NOT A WORD.
WE JUST KEPT MARCHING.
BRUTAL PUNISHMENT THAT DAY,
BUT NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY
INJURED.
IT WAS MORE EMOTIONAL SHOCK,
BUT WHAT A FEELING
AFTER IT.
NOBODY HURT THAT BADLY
THAT THEY COULDN'T
GO HOME THAT NIGHT, YA KNOW?
[NEWSCASTER]
THE PEACE PEOPLE OF
NORTHERN IRELAND
HELD A MASSIVE RALLY
IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE TODAY,
WITH AN ESTIMATED
15,000 TO 20,000 PEOPLE
DEMONSTRATING FOR PEACE
AND WITH AN EXTENSIVE
INTERNATIONAL PRESS CORPS
IN ATTENDANCE.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING
FOR THE WOMEN TO DO.
THIS IS SOMETHING
FOR HUMANITY TO DO.
[NEWSCASTER]
THERE WERE ALSO
COUNTER-DEMONSTRATORS
FROM THE I.R.A.-LED
TROOPS OUT MOVEMENT.
MARCHERS MOVED FROM HYDE PARK
TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE
WHERE THE POLICE
HAD TO REMOVE HECKLERS TRYING
TO DISRUPT THE EVENT,
BUT TO NO AVAIL.
AT LEAST TODAY,
THE ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS
OF THE PEACE PEOPLE MOVEMENT
PREVAILED.
[NARRATOR]
WHILE THEY WERE IN LONDON
PREPARING FOR THE RALLY,
BETTY AND MAIREAD RECEIVED
SOME STUNNING NEWS.
THEY WERE TO RECEIVE
THE FIRST-EVER NORWEGIAN
PEOPLE'S PEACE PRIZE
IN NORWAY THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
[TV ANNOUNCER]
MRS. BETTY WILLIAMS
AND MAIREAD CORRIGAN
WERE MET AT
THE OSLO AIRPORT TODAY
BY A NORWEGIAN
RECEIVING COMMITTEE AT
THE CITY CENTER HOTEL.
MAIREAD CORRIGAN,
CIARAN MCKEOWN,
AND BETTY WILLIAMS,
MET THE NORWEGIAN PRESS,
THEIR HOSTS
FOR THIS VISIT TO NORWAY.
AND THEY MET THE JOURNALIST
FROM THE NORWEGIAN NEWSPAPER
WHO MOBILIZED HIS READERS
TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT
FOR THE PEACE MOVEMENT
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
IN A MATERIAL WAY:
THROUGH DONATIONS.
I FELT THAT, UH...
THEY NEEDED THE SUPPORT NOW.
BETTY WILLIAMS AND
MAIREAD CORRIGAN,
I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR
OF ASKING YOU TO RECEIVE
THE NORWEGIAN PEOPLE'S
PEACE PRIZE.
[NARRATOR]
NO NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WAS
AWARDED BY THE NOBEL COMMITTEE
TO ANYONE IN 1976,
SO THE PEOPLE OF NORWAY
DECIDED TO GATHER TOGETHER
AND CREATE AN AWARD
OF THEIR OWN,
THE FIRST-EVER NORWEGIAN
PEOPLE'S PEACE PRIZE.
WHEN I LOOK AT
YOUR HAPPY CHILDREN,
AND I SEE THE CHILDREN
IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
I SAY,
"GOD FORGIVE US.
WE ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN."
WHEN I SEE THESE
CHILDREN STANDING HERE,
SO HAPPY AND SO PURE,
AND SINGING WITH JOY,
AND I THINK OF THE LITTLE
BOYS ON THE FALLS ROAD
OR THE SHANKHILL ROAD,
I DON'T KNOW WHY
WE LET IT HAPPEN.
BUT WITH YOUR HELP,
AND GOD'S,
WE WILL UNDO ALL THE WRONGS
WE HAVE DONE TO OUR CHILDREN.
IT MAY TAKE US
QUITE A FEW YEARS,
BUT AT LEAST
IN THE YEAR 1976,
WE HAVE-- WE HAVE STARTED.
THE VOICE OF SANITY
AND OF REASON
YELLED UP FROM THE GROUND.
IT DIDN'T CRY,
IT SCREAMED,
"PLEASE STOP."
IT MUST START
WITH OUR CHILDREN.
I REALLY CAN'T SAY
VERY MUCH MORE TO YOU
EXCEPT I DO LOVE YOU ALL,
-AND THANK YOU.
-[APPLAUSE]
[SINGING]
DO ANY OF YOU THINK,
AND REALLY BELIEVE,
THAT MARCHING
WILL HELP AT ALL?
MARCHING IS JUST THE START
OF WHAT WE HAVE IN MIND,
AND WE ARE NOW GOING
TO BUILD OUR PEACE,
BRICK BY BRICK,
WHICH WILL BE A HUGE
RECREATION CENTER,
RIGHT ON THE PEACE LINES
FOR CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT
CHILDREN
TO GET TOGETHER
AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
WE ASKED PEOPLE TO RALLY
BECAUSE WE WANT TO SHOW
THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND
BEHIND THE PEACE MOVEMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE VERY FIRST
WEEK OF OUR RALLY,
PEOPLE WENT BACK
INTO THEIR HOMES
AND THE FIRST COUPLE OF THINGS
THAT HAPPENED, ONE LITTLE LADY
SAT ON A BUS WHEN THE BOYS
CAME TO BURN IT AND SAID,
"IF YOU WANT TO BURN THIS BUS,
YOU MAY BURN ME WITH IT."
THAT WAS THE FIRST EXAMPLE
OF PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND
GAINING THEIR CONFIDENCE.
BUT THE SITUATION IN
NORTHERN IRELAND HAS BEEN
BY HISTORY AND RELIGION,
VERY COMPLEX.
DON'T YOU THINK
YOUR APPROACH
IS A LITTLE BIT
TOO SIMPLISTIC?
WELL MAYBE THAT'S WHY
IT'S WORKING SO WELL.
IT IS SIMPLE.
PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND
AND ASSOCIATE WITH IT.
THIS IS NOT A SEVEN YEAR OLD
PROBLEM WE'RE TACKLING.
IT'S A MONUMENTAL TASK
OF 800 YEARS.
INSTEAD OF SITTING BACK,
WAITING FOR SOME GREAT
MIRACLE TO HAPPEN,
PEOPLE MUST COME OUT
AND DO ALL THE LITTLE
SMALL THINGS
TOWARD WORKING FOR PEACE.
THE CATHOLICS MUST GO INTO
THE PROTESTANT HOMES
AND OVER A CUP OF TEA,
BECOME FRIENDS.
IF WE CAN BUILD THESE
FRIENDSHIPS BETWEEN OUR
TWO COMMUNITIES,
AND THEN IN FRIENDLINESS
THEY CAN GO FORWARD
TO DISCUSS ALL THE THINGS
THAT HURT DEEP DOWN THERE,
ONCE THEY BECOME FRIENDS.
BUT EVERY DAY
WE COLLECT NEW MEMBERS
TO THE PEACE MOVEMENT.
EVERY SINGLE DAY IN
THAT OFFICE, THERE'S A NEW
PEACE GROUP STARTS.
WHETHER THAT BE
A BIGOTED LOYALIST, OR
A STAUNCH REPUBLICAN,
WE DON'T CARE,
THEY'RE STARTING
TO THINK PEACE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE
THE GREATEST PROBLEMS
FOR YOU TO FACE
IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS
TO COME?
I THINK OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM
IS OUR YOUTH AND OUR CHILDREN.
SOME OF OUR ADULTS, OF COURSE.
WE HAVE THAT PROBLEM, TOO.
BUT MOSTLY OUR POOR CHILDREN
AND OUR YOUTH,
BECAUSE THE LITTLE BOY
WHO WAS 10 IS NOW 17.
HE'S A JUVENILE WITH A VERY
WARPED SENSE OF VALUES
AND A VERY WARPED VIEW
ON LIFE.
HE'S SEEN NOTHING,
ONLY VIOLENCE, REALLY.
YOU ARE, BECAUSE OF WHAT
YOU ARE DOING,
OBVIOUSLY IN DANGER, EVERY DAY.
ARE YOU AFRAID?
WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.
GETTING ON WITH THE WORK OF
PEACE IS OUR MAIN OBJECT,
NOT LOOKING OVER OUR SHOULDER
EVERY FIVE MINUTES TO SEE
WHO'S FOLLOWING US.
[NARRATOR]
AS THEIR MOVEMENT
CONTINUED TO GROW,
THE PEACE PEOPLE MOVED INTO
AN OLD BUILDING,
WHICH THEY NAMED
THE PEACE HOUSE.
[WILLIAMS]
WHEN WE GOT THE PEACE HOUSE,
AND I'M LEANING OVER
MY DESK,
AND I SAW
THE BARREL OF THE GUN,
AND THE HAND
WAS LIKE THIS.
BOY WAS-- HE WAS SENT
TO KILL ME.
BUT WHATEVER WAY,
I JUMPED FROM BEHIND
AND SHOVED AND HE FELL
ON THE FLOOR.
I NEVER SEEN ANYBODY
JUMP AS QUICK IN MY LIFE,
AND GRABBED THE GUN
AND OFF HE WENT DOWN THE STAIRS.
MY GOD, MY HEART, WAS...
BA-BUMP, BA-BUMP, BA-BUMP.
I NEVER SAID A WORD
TO ANYBODY,
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT
ANYBODY IN THE PEACE HOUSE
TO CALL THE POLICE.
OBVIOUSLY THE BOY WAS SCARED.
AND THEN I WOULD SEE THE BOY
AT VARIOUS THINGS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S,
"GOD, HE'S IN THE CROWD AGAIN."
I'M THINKING
THE I.R.A. HAS ME MARKED.
I'D SEE HIM OUTSIDE
THE GATE TO THE PEACE HOUSE.
ONE DAY I JUST TOOK A CHANCE
AND I SAID,
"DO YOU WANNA COME
AND HAVE A CUP OF TEA WITH ME?"
HE SAID,
"I WON'T GO ANYWHERE WITH YOU.
YOU'RE A TRAITOR.
YOU'RE NOTHING,
ONLY A BRITISH LACKEY,"
YOU KNOW.
BUT WE'RE
STARTING TO TALK.
[NARRATOR]
ACROSS NORTHERN IRELAND,
THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE
CONTINUED ON.
THE PEACE PEOPLE WERE
PELTED WITH ROCKS
AND THEIR CAR WINDOWS
WERE SMASHED.
[SIRENS WAILING]
BOTH THE PROTESTANT
MILITIA GROUPS AND THE
PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
CONTINUED TO CARRY OUT
ASSASSINATIONS, STRIKES,
AND INTIMIDATIONS.
WE DIDN'T GET IN
THAT KIND OF MESS OVERNIGHT,
AND WE WEREN'T GOING TO
GET OUT OF IT OVERNIGHT.
IT WAS GONNA TAKE A LONG TIME
TACKLING ALL THE WRONGS.
I MEAN, UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES
OFF THE WALLS,
PURSE TIGHTENING
IN WESTERN EUROPE.
ALL THOSE THINGS THAT
MAKE A NORMAL SOCIETY FUNCTION,
YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE
ANY OF THAT.
WE WERE OFF KILTER,
OFF BALANCE, OFF EVERYTHING.
[NARRATOR]
AT ONE OF THEIR RALLIES,
BETTY MET A GROUP
OF AMERICAN SUPPORTERS
FROM WASHINGTON D.C.
THEY TOOK ACTION AND SET UP
A MEETING WITH THE LEADING
U.S. VOICE
ON THE NORTHERN IRELAND ISSUE:
U.S. SENATOR TED KENNEDY.
I WAS CHOSEN TO GO OUT
AND MEET WITH TED KENNEDY,
AND WE BROUGHT ANOTHER LADY
WITH ME, NANCY MCDONALD.
SHE WAS PROTESTANT,
AND WE TRAVELED TOGETHER,
HER AND I.
AND I REMEMBER
THE MEETING WITH THEM,
AND I JUST LOST IT
AND SAID,
"WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS WRONG.
YOU'RE SUPPORTING POLITICAL
GROUPS THAT ARE KILLING PEOPLE."
NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT
HE CHANGED HIS MIND, THANK GOD,
AND HE MADE THE FAMOUS
ST. PATRICK'S DAY SPEECH,
SAYING WE SHOULD BE INVESTING
IN NORTHERN IRELAND'S FUTURE...
ECONOMICALLY
FOR HOUSES AND JOBS.
HE TURNED OUT DOING
A GREAT THING FOR
NORTHERN IRELAND.
HE REALLY DID.
[INTERVIEWER]
AND THE CYNICS WILL SAY,
AREN'T YOU BOTH BEING
A LITTLE NAIVE?
EVERYBODY WANTS PEACE.
IT ISN'T AS SIMPLE
AS THAT, IS IT?
NO, YOU'VE GOT TO WORK
DESPERATELY HARD FOR IT.
I'M AMAZED. I THOUGHT PEACE
WOULD COME A LOT EASIER
WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE
SAID THEY WANTED IT.
BUT PEACE IS A THING THAT'S
NOT GONNA DROP OUT OF THE SKY.
IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE WORKED AT,
EVERY DAY, 24 HOURS A DAY.
IT'S MONUMENTAL,
THE TASK THAT'S AHEAD FOR
NORTHERN IRELAND.
[NARRATOR]
THE SEEDS OF THE CRISIS
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
WERE PLANTED MORE THAN
800 YEARS AGO.
UNTIL THEN, LEADERSHIP
WAS DECENTRALIZED THROUGHOUT
THE BRITISH ISLES.
SEVERAL REGIONAL KINGS
RULED IN IRELAND.
SCOTLAND AND WALES
WERE ALSO RULED SEPARATELY,
AND ENGLAND HAD ONLY RECENTLY
BECOME A UNIFIED KINGDOM.
ENGLAND DID NOT PAY
MUCH ATTENTION TO IRELAND
UNTIL THE YEAR 1170,
WHEN ONE OF THE IRISH KINGS,
KING MAC MURCHADA OF LEINSTER,
ASKED FOR HELP IN WAGING WAR
AGAINST A RIVAL.
KING HENRY II OF ENGLAND
WAS TOO BUSY
WITH A WAR OF HIS OWN,
BUT ONE OF HIS LORDS,
NAMED STRONGBOW,
ANSWERED THE CALL,
AND BROUGHT HIS OWN PERSONAL
ARMY OVER THE SEA TO IRELAND.
STRONGBOW WON AND HE WAS NAMED
THE NEW KING OF THE LEINSTER
REGION OF IRELAND.
NOW, KING HENRY II OF ENGLAND
STARTED TO PAY ATTENTION,
AND HE DEMANDED TO BE
NAMED THE LORD OF IRELAND
AND THAT ALL OF THE IRISH KINGS
PLEDGE THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO HIM.
THE IDEA OF IRELAND AS
A TERRITORY OF ENGLAND WAS BORN.
FOR THE NEXT 340 YEARS,
THE POPE AND THE CHURCH
TRIED TO BRING
INDEPENDENT-MINDED
IRISH PRIESTS INTO LINE.
AND MANY ENGLISH FAMILIES
MOVED INTO SOUTHERN
AND EASTERN IRELAND
IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN
BOTH TITLES AND LAND.
BUT IN THE
NORTHERN PART OF IRELAND,
THE PEOPLE REMAINED
ALMOST 100% NATIVE IRISH.
THEN A DECISION WAS MADE
THAT WOULD CHANGE THE FUTURE
OF IRELAND FOREVER.
THE KING OF ENGLAND,
HENRY VIII,
BROKE WITH THE POPE
AND THE CHURCH
IN ORDER TO DIVORCE HIS WIFE,
CATHERINE OF ARAGON,
WHO HAD FAILED
TO BEAR HIM A MALE HEIR.
HE WANTED TO MARRY HIS
PREGNANT MISTRESS ANNE BOLEYN,
SO HE STARTED A CHURCH
OF HIS OWN,
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH,
AND NAMED HIMSELF
HEAD OF THE CHURCH.
AND THEN HE GRANTED HIMSELF
A DIVORCE.
ANNE BOLEYN BORE HIM
A DAUGHTER,
BUT NO SON.
HE SOON FOUND A WAY
TO GET RID OF HER AS WELL,
AND THEN HE WENT THROUGH
FOUR MORE WIVES.
YET WHEN HE DIED,
HE HAD ONLY ONE SON,
A NINE-YEAR-OLD NAMED EDWARD.
EDWARD BECAME THE FIRST
BRITISH KING EVER
TO BE RAISED AS A PROTESTANT.
WHEN THE YOUNG KING EDWARD
DIED ONLY SIX YEARS LATER,
A DEVASTATING STRUGGLE FOR POWER
ERUPTED IN THE BRITISH ISLES
ALONG CATHOLIC VERSUS
PROTESTANT LINES.
WHEN HE STARTED
HIS ANGLICAN CHURCH,
KING HENRY VIII
HAD CONFISCATED
MUCH OF THE WEALTH OF
THE MONASTERIES,
RESTRICTED THE PRACTICE
OF CATHOLICISM,
AND PUNISHED
LOYALTY TO THE POPE.
NOW THAT BOTH HE
AND HIS MALE HEIR WERE DEAD,
HIS DEVOUTLY CATHOLIC
DAUGHTER MARY
BECAME QUEEN OF ENGLAND,
AND SHE AGGRESSIVELY
REVERSED THESE POLICIES,
GOING EVEN FURTHER
AND BURNING THOUSANDS OF
PROTESTANTS AT THE STAKE.
SIX YEARS LATER,
MARY FELL ILL AND DIED,
AND HER SISTER
ELIZABETH I BECAME QUEEN.
PROTESTANT FORCES CONTINUED
TO GAIN POWER AND CONTROL
THROUGHOUT THE BRITISH ISLES
UNDER ELIZABETH'S LONG REIGN.
AFRAID OF HER ARCHRIVAL,
THE CATHOLIC KINGDOM OF SPAIN,
AND A POSSIBLE INVASION
ATTEMPT LAUNCHED FROM IRELAND,
ELIZABETH SENT EVEN MORE
ENGLISH SETTLERS TO IRELAND,
AND HER GENERALS FOUGHT
A BRUTAL NINE-YEAR WAR
AGAINST IRELAND'S LEADING EARLS.
SHE THEN FORCED THEM
TO SIGN A TREATY
STATING THAT THEY WOULD
BE RULED BY ENGLISH LAW
AND NOT IRISH LAW,
OR EVEN MORE OF THEIR LANDS
WOULD BE CONFISCATED.
MANY EARLS FLED SOUTH,
LOOKING FOR SUPPORT
FROM CATHOLIC SPAIN.
AND WHEN HER NEPHEW JAMES,
A STAUNCH PROTESTANT,
SUCCEEDED HER
AS THE NEW KING OF ENGLAND,
HE BEGAN PERSECUTING
EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVELY
THOSE LEADERS OF IRELAND
WHO REMAINED LOYAL
TO THEIR CATHOLIC FAITH.
IN 1609, THE LANDS OF MANY
LEADING IRISH-CATHOLIC FAMILIES
IN NORTHERN IRELAND WERE TAKEN
AND GRANTED TO
SCOTTISH AND ENGLISH SETTLERS.
THIS MASSIVE LAND GRAB
BECAME KNOWN AS
THE PLANTATION OF ULSTER.
IN 1642, A CIVIL WAR
ERUPTED IN ENGLAND,
AND AT THE SAME TIME,
A POPULAR REBELLION OF THOSE
OPPOSING BRITISH RULE
BEGAN IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
THE ULSTER REBELLION.
MORE THAN 3,000
PROTESTANT CITIZENS WERE KILLED.
THEN, IN 1649,
THE VICTOR OF
THE CIVIL WAR IN ENGLAND,
OLIVER CROMWELL,
LANDED ON IRISH SOIL
WITH AN ARMY OF HIS OWN
AND SLAUGHTERED ALMOST
THREE-AND-A-HALF THOUSAND
OF THE CATHOLIC CITIZENS
OF DROGHEDA
IN JUST ONE DAY.
HIS BRUTAL CRACKDOWN
ROLLED ACROSS THE COUNTRYSIDE
AND THE ULSTER REBELLION ENDED.
YET, IN ITS WAKE,
THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND
FOUND THEMSELVES
EVEN MORE BITTERLY DIVIDED.
THE NEXT 200 YEARS
WERE A PERIOD OF
EMPIRE-BUILDING FOR ENGLAND.
AT ITS HEIGHT,
THE BRITISH EMPIRE
HELD SWAY OVER 23%
OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION,
AND 24% OF THE EARTH'S
TOTAL LAND AREA.
ENGLAND HAD CREATED
THE LARGEST EMPIRE
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
IN IRELAND, THE BRITISH RULERS
CONTINUED TO OPPOSE
GIVING CATHOLICS THE ABILITY
TO VOTE OR TO HOLD OFFICE.
IN 1801,
THE ACT OF UNION WAS PASSED,
AND IRELAND
WAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED
TO BE A PART OF
THE UNITED KINGDOM.
THE IRISH PARLIAMENT
WAS ABOLISHED
AND THE PROTESTANT
ANGLICAN CHURCH
WAS DESIGNATED BY LAW
AS THE OFFICIAL
CHURCH OF IRELAND.
BETWEEN 1845 AND 1849,
FAILED POTATO CROPS
CAUSED DEVASTATION
IN IRELAND,
LEADING TO
WIDESPREAD STARVATION,
MASSIVE EMIGRATION,
AND THE DEATH OF OVER
1 MILLION PEOPLE.
THE FACT THAT
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
DID SO LITTLE
TO HELP THE PEOPLE
OF IRELAND AT THIS TIME
FUELED THE DESIRE OF
MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN IRELAND
FOR A GOVERNMENT
OF THEIR OWN.
THE EASTER UPRISING OF 1916
OPENED THE FLOODGATES TO CHANGE.
PRESSURE FOR THE CREATION
OF AN INDEPENDENT NATION
CALLED IRELAND
PROVED TOO POWERFUL
TO OVERCOME.
IN 1921,
ENGLAND NEGOTIATED
A COMPROMISE,
ONE THAT ALLOWED A
FREE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
IN THE SOUTH,
BUT WHICH ALSO RETAINED
TIGHT CONTROL OVER
NORTHERN IRELAND,
WHICH REMAINED A PART OF
THE BRITISH EMPIRE.
POLITICIANS ELECTED BY
THE PROTESTANT MAJORITY
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
PASSED THE SPECIAL POWERS ACT,
ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE
SWIFT AND AGGRESSIVE ACTION
AGAINST ANY CATHOLICS
WHO PUSHED FOR EQUALITY,
REFORM,
OR UNION WITH THE SOUTH.
THE STAGE WAS SET
FOR THE NEXT 60 YEARS
OF LOW PAY, POOR HOUSING,
AND LACK OF POLITICAL RIGHTS
THAT WOULD FINALLY BRING
NORTHERN IRELAND
TO THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR.
AND THE WOMEN SUFFERED
THE WORST OF THAT, TOO.
ALL OF IT FALLS
ON THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
[NARRATOR]
TO BEGIN TO BREAK DOWN
CENTURIES OF DIVISION,
HATRED, AND MISTRUST,
THE PEACE PEOPLE FOCUSED
ON WOMEN HELPING WOMEN,
ESPECIALLY AFTER ONE
OF THEIR CHILDREN WAS KILLED,
A TIME OF TOTAL DEVASTATION.
[WILLIAMS]
THAT'S WHAT WAR DOES
TO AN INDIVIDUAL WOMAN.
IT DESTROYS EVERYTHING
AROUND IT,
INCLUDING THE MENTALITY
OF THE LOSS.
[NARRATOR]
PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC WOMEN
BEGAN CALLING ON EACH OTHER
AT THEIR HOMES
IN FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT.
[WILLIAMS]
A LOT OF THEM WOULD ACTUALLY
GET ON A BUS,
BECAUSE THE BUS
WASN'T EXPENSIVE,
AND MAKE A CAKE
AND TAKE IT
AND THEN SHE WOULD FORM
FRIENDSHIPS WITH THE FAMILY
OF THE BEREAVED.
THERE WERE LINKS
THAT NEVER WERE BROKEN,
AND THEY DID IT EN MASSE.
[WOMAN]
THE NORWEGIAN NOBEL COMMITTEE
DECIDED TO HONOR
TWO WOMEN TODAY
FOR FEARLESSLY TACKLING
THE PERILOUS TASK
OF WORKING FOR PEACE
IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
SAYING,
"WHAT THEY HAVE DONE
IS AN EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD."
BETTY WILLIAMS
AND MAIREAD CORRIGAN
STARTED THEIR MOVEMENT
FOR PEACE
AFTER THE TRAGIC DEATH
OF THREE YOUNG CHILDREN
IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
AND THEY HAVE INSPIRED
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
TO PLEDGE FOR PEACE
IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY.
TODAY'S NOBEL PRIZE CEREMONY
MARKED THE CULMINATION
OF 16 MONTHS
OF TIRELESS WORK
IN HOPE OF SETTING
NORTHERN IRELAND
ON A NEW PATHWAY FORWARD.
BUT THE VOICE OF WOMEN,
THE VOICE OF THOSE
MOST CLOSELY INVOLVED
IN BRINGING FORTH NEW LIFE,
HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN
LISTENED TO
WHEN IT PLEADED AND IMPLORED
AGAINST THE WASTE OF LIFE
IN WAR AFTER WAR AFTER WAR.
THE VOICE OF WOMEN
HAS A SPECIAL ROLE
AND A SPECIAL SOUL FORCE
IN THE STRUGGLE
FOR A NONVIOLENT WORLD.
[APPLAUSE]
[NARRATOR]
BY THE END OF 1977,
ALMOST 100
DIFFERENT PEACE GROUPS
HAD FORMED ACROSS
NORTHERN IRELAND,
FOCUSED ON BREAKING DOWN
THE BARRIERS OF HATE
AND BUILDING BRIDGES
OF FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT
IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
THE ANNUAL DEATH TOLL
FROM THE TROUBLES
WAS CUT IN HALF,
AND IT NEVER RETURNED
TO PRE-1976 LEVELS.
THAT WAS A TRANSFORMATION,
AND IT CAME FROM THE WOMEN.
I KNOW WE SAVED LIVES.
[NARRATOR]
THE PEACE PEOPLE CREATED
TEAMS OF WOMEN
WHO WOULD ARRIVE
AT THE SITE OF BOMBINGS
WITHIN MINUTES
TO HELP FAMILIES
WHO WERE SEARCHING
FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.
IN FEBRUARY OF 1978,
THE LA MON HOUSE RESTAURANT
WAS BOMBED,
AND 12 PEOPLE WERE KILLED.
[NEWSCASTER]
TEN PEOPLE ARE STILL
IN HOSPITAL,
THREE IN SERIOUS CONDITION
WITH MASSIVE BURNS.
THE RESTAURANT WAS
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SPOTS
FOR BELFAST CITIZENS
WHO HAD BEEN AVOIDING CITY
CENTER RESTAURANTS AND PUBS
FOR FEAR
OF BOMB ATTACKS THERE.
THE LEADER
OF THE PEACE WOMEN,
MRS. BETTY WILLIAMS,
WAS AT THE RESTAURANT
WITHIN MINUTES
OF THE EXPLOSION.
WHAT SORT OF SCENE MET YOUR EYES
AT THE LA MON LAST NIGHT?
WELL, IT WAS STILL ABLAZE
AND THE FIRE APPLIANCES
WERE THERE
AND CARS WERE LINED FOR,
I'D SAY, A GOOD HALF A MILE
WITH PEOPLE WHO HAD PEOPLE GOING
TO LA MON HOUSE LAST NIGHT
WONDERING WHETHER
THEY WERE INSIDE
OR WHETHER
THEY GOT OUT SAFELY.
IT WAS UTTER DESTRUCTION.
[NARRATOR]
THEY ALSO BROUGHT PROTESTANT
AND CATHOLIC CHILDREN TOGETHER
FOR HOLIDAYS IN THE NORTH
SO THAT THEY COULD LEARN
TO KNOW EACH OTHER
AND SO THAT THEY COULD ESCAPE
THE CONTINUING VIOLENCE.
PEOPLE WOULD SEND MONEY
AND ALL FROM AMERICA
AND BRING THE CHILDREN, RIGHT,
AND GIVE THEM A GREAT TIME,
BUT THEN THE CHILDREN
WOULD HAVE TO COME HOME
TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
THEY'D LEFT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SISTER ANNA AND I GOT TOGETHER.
SHE WAS AN ANGLICAN NUN
AND HER BELIEF WAS LIKE MINE.
WE MUST EDUCATE
THE CHILDREN TOGETHER.
[NARRATOR]
SISTER ANNA WAS PART OF A GROUP
THAT WAS STRUGGLING TO OPEN
THE VERY FIRST INTEGRATED SCHOOL
EVER IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
DESPITE STRONG OPPOSITION
FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
AND MOST PROTESTANT
AND CATHOLIC PARENTS.
[WILLIAMS]
MY DEBRA WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST PEOPLE,
AND HER WEE FRIEND LISA,
UP THE STREET,
MY FRIEND GERALDINE'S
LITTLE GIRL
'CAUSE WE KNEW WE COULD BEGIN TO
GET OUR CHILDREN TOGETHER.
IN FACT,
ONE WEE FELLOW SAID,
"THE ONLY REASON I'M COMING
TO THIS SCHOOL
IS TO FIGHT
WITH CATHOLICS,"
BUT HE FELL IN LOVE WITH WEE
MARY IN THE THIRD ROW,
SO THAT WAS FINE.
BY THE SECOND DAY,
THAT WAS ALL CURED.
HE FORMED
A FRIENDSHIP WITH MARY
AND THAT SAVED
THE WHOLE THING.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING
WE DID.
WE JUST--
YOU TOOK THAT CHANCE.
[NEWSCASTER]
IT IS SUMMERTIME
IN NORTHERN IRELAND,
WHICH MEANS
THAT THE PROTESTANTS' DOMINATION
OF NORTHERN IRELAND
IS BEING PARADED THROUGH
THE STREETS OF EVERY TOWN
ONCE AGAIN
IN THE ORANGE DAY MARCHES,
WHICH CELEBRATES
THE ANNIVERSARIES
OF FAMOUS PROTESTANT VICTORIES
OVER CATHOLICS
IN IRELAND'S VIOLENT PAST.
YOU KNOW, THAT HISTORY
GOES BACK 850 YEARS,
SINCE THE INVASION OF CROMWELL,
BUT I THINK WE SHOWED, TOO,
THAT THE NORTHERN IRISH PEOPLE
DIDN'T WANNA LIVE
LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
IT WAS LIKE BIG JOHN.
THE NEXT TIME I SAW HIM,
HE GOT IN THE CAR,
AND I SAID,
"DO YOU LIKE DRIVING?"
AND HE SAID,
"OH, I LOVE DRIVING."
I SAID, "WELL--"
I PULLED OVER.
I SAID,
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO DRIVE ME?
AND HE FELL IN LOVE
WITH THE CAR.
FELL IN LOVE WITH DEBBIE,
AND HE STARTED TO HAVE
HIS DINNER AT OUR HOUSE,
AND ONE NIGHT,
OVER A COUPLE OF DRINKS,
HE JUST STARTED TO TALK
AND WE TALKED FOR FOUR,
MAYBE FIVE HOURS.
I WAS IN BITS
BY THE END OF IT,
AND HE WAS IN WORSE BITS.
AND SOME OF THE THINGS
JOHN HAD DONE
WERE SO SOUL-DESTROYING,
YOU KNOW,
THAT IT WAS SO HARD FOR HIM.
AND EVER SINCE THAT HE JUST
BECAME PART OF THE FAMILY.
AT NIGHT HE WOULD MAKE SURE
I WAS OKAY
AND THE CHILDREN WERE OKAY.
MY MUMMY AND DADDY ADORED HIM.
HE'D COME AT CHRISTMAS
AS FATHER CHRISTMAS.
HE STARTED GOING
TO THE NAZARETH LODGE,
ORPHANAGE, DOING FATHER
CHRISTMAS THERE.
YOU KNOW, HE JUST STARTED DOING
REALLY GORGEOUS STUFF.
THAT SHOWS YOU THAT ANYBODY CAN
BE BROUGHT BACK FROM VIOLENCE.
[NARRATOR]
AS 1979 COMES TO A CLOSE,
SEVERAL MORE EXPLOSIONS
AND DEATHS
OCCURRED IN COUNTY TYRONE
AND COUNTY ARMAGH
DUE TO TERRORIST ACTIONS
BY THE PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY'S MARRIAGE
STARTED TO SUFFER
FROM THE CONSTANT STRESS
AND TRAVEL,
THE CONSTANT HARASSMENT
FROM BOTH THE PROVISIONAL I.R.A.
AND THE PROTESTANT
PARAMILITARY GROUPS
AND FROM CRITICISM
AND PRESSURE
WITHIN THE PEACE MOVEMENT
ITSELF
OVER HOW THE FUNDS
SHOULD BE SPENT
AND WHETHER THEY
SHOULD BECOME MORE POLITICAL.
[WILLIAMS]
I DON'T THINK
THERE ARE MANY COUPLES
JUST AS HAPPY
AS MY MOTHER AND FATHER WERE.
I WISH I COULD'VE FOUND THAT
IN MY OWN RELATIONSHIPS.
I NEVER WAS LUCKY ENOUGH
TO FIND THAT PERSON
THAT WAS JUST RIGHT.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY'S MOTHER
HAD AN ANEURISM AND A STROKE
AND BECAME PARALYZED
ON ONE SIDE
WHEN BETTY WAS 13 YEARS OLD.
[WILLIAMS]
IT WAS A NATURAL THING
FOR ME
TO LOOK AFTER MY MOTHER.
I DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS
A SACRIFICE OR ANY OF THAT.
BUT THEN I CAN REMEMBER
SOMEBODY SAYING
TO MY DADDY ONE DAY,
"GEORDIE, LOOK, YOU HAVE
A TERRIBLE CROSS TO CARRY,"
JUST REFERRING TO MY MOTHER.
AND MY DADDY SAID,
"I'M NOT CARRYING THE CROSS.
MY WIFE IS.
I'M JUST HELPING HER UP
THE HILL WITH IT."
HOW MANY OTHER MEN WOULD LOOK
AT IT THAT WAY?
JUST AN AMAZING MAN
FOR THE WAY HE LOVED MY MOTHER.
IT WAS PURE LOVE.
[NARRATOR]
IN 1980, BETTY'S MARRIAGE ENDED,
AND SHE LEFT THE PEACE PEOPLE.
[WILLIAMS]
AFTER I'D LEFT
THE PEACE MOVEMENT,
GOT A RECREATION CENTER
BUILT AT THE MARKETS.
WE'D BE DOWN AT THE CITY HALL.
WE DID DOOR-KNOCKING CAMPAIGNS
IN THIS AREA
BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF
THE WORST HOUSING CONDITIONS
IN WESTERN EUROPE,
WAS WHERE JOHN LIVED.
AND HE SLIPPED INTO THE ROLE
OF PEACEMAKER.
HE COULD GET THINGS DONE,
AND SO WE ABSOLUTELY TORTURED
CITY COUNCIL.
THEY WERE SICK OF US,
YOU KNOW?
AND THEY FINALLY, FINALLY
APPROVED A BUILDING.
[NEWSCASTER]
CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN
NEXT MONTH
ON A LONG-AWAITED HOUSING
RENEWAL PROGRAM,
THE SUBSTANDARD HOUSING
BEING REPLACED WITH FLATS,
BOASTING INDOOR PLUMBING,
HEAT, AND ELECTRICITY.
THE MARKETS AREA OF BELFAST
HAS LONG BEEN
THE CENTER OF VIOLENCE
AND TERRORIST ACTIVITY
EVER SINCE THE START
OF THE TROUBLES.
[WILLIAMS]
PEOPLE GOT NICE HOMES
WITH INDOOR BATHROOMS,
ENOUGH BEDROOMS,
AND A RECREATION CENTER
WAS PART OF THAT.
AND WE HAD THEN
A WEE FOOTBALL CLUB
AND IT STARTED DOWN
AT THE MARKETS AREA IN BELFAST
WITH BIG JOHN IN CHARGE OF IT,
AND WE BOUGHT THEM
THEIR WEE UNIFORMS AND ALL
AND OFF THEY WENT
PLAYING TOGETHER.
YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE
THAT CHANGE.
I MEAN, IT WASN'T JUST ME
THAT COULD SEE THAT CHANGE.
SOCIETY GENERALLY COULD SEE
THAT CHANGE
BECAUSE THEN THE MOTHERS
WOULD BE COMING IN MINIBUSES,
AND THE INTERACTION WOULD BE
MOTHERS COLLECTING
AND DELIVERING CHILDREN
AND HAVING
A CUP OF TEA TOGETHER
BECAUSE THE CHILDREN
WERE PLAYING.
WE REALIZED, AS FEMALES,
WE HAD MUCH MORE IN COMMON
THAN WE EVER WOULD HAVE
TO DIVIDE US,
AND THE IN COMMON
WAS OUR OFFSPRING.
[NARRATOR]
IN 1981,
BETTY STARTED TO HEAR
ABOUT FAMINE
AND A GROWING CRISIS
IN AFRICA.
AND I USED
TO WATCH TELEVISION
LIKE EVERYBODY'D DONE,
AND YOU'D SEE CHILDREN
IN DISTRESS,
IN NEED AND STARVING.
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS
OF CHILDREN
GOING TO DIE
BECAUSE THEY HADN'T GOT
ENOUGH TO EAT.
IT'S GROSSLY UNFAIR
FOR A CHILD
TO BE CONDEMNED TO DEATH
AT BIRTH,
AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THEY ARE CONDEMNED TO DEATH
THE INSTANT THEY ARE BORN.
THEY GET NO CHANCE.
THERE'S NO FAIRNESS,
THERE'S NO JUSTICE,
THERE'S NO NOTHING.
THEY'RE JUST CONDEMNED
TO DEATH.
[NEWSCASTER]
THE HUNGRY FACE OF AFRICA.
OVER THE PAST YEAR,
THE OUTSIDE WORLD
HAS SLOWLY BECOME AWARE
OF THE HUMAN TRAGEDY UNFOLDING
ON THIS CONTINENT.
15 MILLION PEOPLE
ARE THREATENED.
IT'S A CRISIS CAUSED
BY PROLONGED DROUGHT,
FOOD SHORTAGES,
BORDER CONFLICTS,
AND REFUGEES,
AND IT'S STILL GOING ON.
AT THIS WATER HOLE
IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA,
THE WOMEN MUST DIG DOWN EIGHT TO
TEN METERS EVERY DAY
TO GET WATER.
FOR EVERYTHING ELSE,
THEY DEPEND ON OUTSIDE HELP.
[WILLIAMS]
NORTHERN IRELAND
IS SO VASTLY DIFFERENT.
WE KILLED OUR CHILDREN
WITH GUNS,
BUT WE DIDN'T STARVE THEM.
WE CERTAINLY
DIDN'T STARVE THEM.
[NARRATOR]
BETTY VOLUNTEERED
TO FLY TO AFRICA
AS PART OF
AN OFFICIAL DELEGATION
BRINGING DESPERATELY
NEEDED FOOD
AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
[WILLIAMS]
I WAS IN A VILLAGE.
WE HAD BROUGHT A LOAD
OF SUPPLIES OUT WITH US
THAT WERE NEARLY FINISHED.
IN THE VILLAGE THAT I WAS IN,
THERE WAS VERY LITTLE THERE.
THAT KIND OF SUFFERING
IN THE WORLD,
WHY DO WE PUT UP WITH THAT?
I MEAN, WHY IS THAT
ALLOWED TO HAPPEN
IN A WORLD
THAT CAN FEED ITSELF?
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN A BABY'S
DYING OF MALNUTRITION,
THE TUMMY IS ALL DISTENDED
AND SWOLLEN,
BUT THE SKULL IS THE HEAVIEST
BONE IN THE HEAD,
AND SO THEY CAN'T HOLD
THEIR WEE HEADS UP,
AND THEIR EYES
BECOME ENORMOUS
BECAUSE THEIR LITTLE FACE
HAS BECOME SMALLER.
AND YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT
THE HEAD, YOU KNOW?
AND MAYBE IT'S JUST ME,
BUT EVERY TIME I'VE HELD
A CHILD LIKE THAT WHO'S DYING...
IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THEY'RE
ASKING YOU WHY.
THOSE WEE EYES
ARE LOOKING UP AT YOU.
AND MAYBE THAT'S NOT
WHAT THEY'RE ASKING YOU.
MAYBE THAT'S ONLY
MY TAKE ON IT,
BUT I ALWAYS ASK THEM TO FORGIVE
US FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE.
[NARRATOR]
THE TRIP BECAME A TURNING POINT
IN BETTY'S LIFE.
SHE DECIDED TO ACCEPT
A TEACHING POSITION
AT SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
IN THE USA
AND TO DEDICATE
THE REST OF HER LIFE
TO FIGHTING FOR THE LIVES
OF ALL CHILDREN
ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
[WILLIAMS]
I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE CAN
WITNESS THE DEATH OF A CHILD
AND NOT BE AFFECTED BY IT,
AND THAT WAS THE CATALYST
TO THE WORK THAT I'M DOING NOW.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A TOWN
OUTSIDE MOSCOW.
I WISH THAT EVERY CHILD
IN THE WORLD
HAD SOMEWHERE SAFE TO LIVE.
THAT'S MY GREATEST WISH,
THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ORPHANS
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE
THE DESTRUCTION OF WAR,
WHICH REALLY IS SOMETHING
A CHILD CAN'T UNDERSTAND.
A CHILD CANNOT DECLARE WAR,
YET THEY'RE CAUGHT UP IN WARS.
MY GREATEST WISH
IS FOR EVERY CHILD TO BE SAFE.
SO THE ANSWER IS VERY SHORT.
I WORK FOR CHILDREN.
THE WORST UNHAPPINESS
THAT I SUFFER FROM
IS WHEN I GO OUT IN THE WORLD
AND SEE THE CONDITIONS
THAT THE CHILDREN ARE FORCED
TO LIVE UNDER.
MY LIFE AND MY WORK ARE ONE.
THEY'RE BLENDED TOGETHER.
WHAT MAKES LIFE UNLIVABLE
IS THE SUFFERING OF CHILDREN.
I FIND THAT GROTESQUE.
MY QUESTION FOR MANKIND
WOULD HAVE TO BE,
"WHY HAVE WE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER
AS ONE HUMAN FAMILY
AND NOT ALL
AS DIVIDED TRIBES?
WHY DO WE DESTROY CHILDREN?"
[NARRATOR]
1998 WAS A VERY IMPORTANT YEAR
IN NORTHERN IRELAND.
THE TORTUROUS PATHWAY
TO PEACE FINALLY PREVAILED.
A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN PROTESTANTS
AND CATHOLICS
WAS HAMMERED OUT
BRINGING AN END TO THE 30 YEARS
OF SECTARIAN CONFLICT
KNOWN AS THE TROUBLES,
AND IT WAS SIGNED IN APRIL.
IT WAS CALLED
THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT.
SOME WAY,
THE NORTHERN IRISH PEACE WOMEN--
AND I'VE GOTTA KEEP SAYING THAT.
WE ALWAYS FORGET,
IT'S THE WOMEN WHO HAVE DONE
THIS IN NORTHERN IRELAND--
I THINK THEY TURNED THAT CARD.
BECAUSE ONCE THEY STARTED
RUNNING WITH IT,
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN
THAT'S RAW COURAGE,
INCREDIBLY CONTAGIOUS.
[NARRATOR]
AND BETTY BEGAN WORKING
IN EARNEST
ON A NEW, IMPOSSIBLE DREAM:
CREATING WORLD CENTERS
OF COMPASSION FOR CHILDREN.
[WILLIAMS]
WELL, I HAD BEEN GOING ABOUT
WITH THIS IDEA IN MY HEAD
FOR A GOOD 30 YEARS.
THERE'S NO REASON
WHY WE CAN'T BUILD
CITIES OF PEACE FOR CHILDREN.
I DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE IT WOULD BE.
AND THEN MY VERY GOOD FRIEND,
WHO COMES FROM
THE REGION BASILICATA,
TOLD ME ABOUT THEM WANTING
TO DUMP NUCLEAR WASTE
ON THE LAND,
AND THAT THE PEOPLE WERE OUT
IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
PROTESTING,
SO I IMMEDIATELY CAME DOWN
AND JOINED THEM.
THIS IS A PART OF ITALY
WHICH IS--
SOMETIMES IT REMINDS ME
OF IRELAND.
THE PEOPLE HERE
ARE VERY PASSIONATE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PASSIONATE
ABOUT THE LAND.
THEY'RE PASSIONATE
ABOUT THEIR HOMES.
AND I MUST SAY,
THE WOMEN OF BASILICATA,
THEY'RE MAGNIFICENT
BECAUSE THEY WERE THE BULK
OF THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE OUT PROTESTING
THE DUMPING OF NUCLEAR WASTE.
[NARRATOR]
AFTER YEARS AND YEARS
OF PROTESTS,
LOBBYING, AND BUREAUCRACY,
BETTY AND THE PEOPLE
OF BASILICATA
FINALLY PREVAILED,
AND THEY WERE ALLOWED
TO USE THE LAND
FOR A NEW PROJECT,
FOCUSED ON LIFE
INSTEAD OF DEATH.
WITH HELP FROM THE DALAI LAMA,
SHARON STONE,
AND SO MANY OTHERS,
BETTY HAD FOUND THE PLACE
FOR HER FIRST WORLD CENTER
OF COMPASSION FOR CHILDREN.
WELL, TODAY'S
A REALLY EXCITING DAY
BECAUSE IT'S 16 YEARS OF WORK,
AND TODAY WE'RE ACTUALLY
BEGINNING THE BUILDING
OF THE HOUSES.
AND IT'S INCREDIBLE
BECAUSE EVERYTHING
ECOLOGICALLY
IS ALMOST SELF-SUSTAINING.
AND THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE
TO SELL ELECTRICITY
TO THE GRID.
I MEAN,
IT'S JUST STATE OF THE ART.
IT HASN'T BEEN EASY TO GETTING
TO WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN,
WITH ALL THE BUREAUCRACY
AND EVERYTHING
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
TO ASSURE
THAT YOU CAN BE THERE.
ONCE YOU'RE IN,
ONCE THAT FIRST HOUSE
IS BUILT,
YOU'RE SET IN CONCRETE,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE.
[NARRATOR]
TODAY, THE CORNERSTONE
FOR THE VERY FIRST BUILDING
WILL BE LAID DOWN.
IT'S NOT JUST FOR ITALY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING
IN GHANA.
WE'RE GOING TO
BE BUILDING IN CHILE.
SO THE MODEL IS BEING CREATED
OF HOW WE TREAT
OUR DISENFRANCHISED
BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP
300 FAMILIES SO FAR.
I AM "AMMA DUDRAME"
FROM THE GAMBIA.
[NARRATOR]
THEY HAVE BEEN HELPED
WITH HOUSING,
EDUCATION, AND TRAINING
AS THEY SETTLE INTO LIFE IN
THE BASILICATA REGION OF ITALY.
SO I'LL KEEP WORKING FOR YOU
WHILE I HAVE BREATH.
I LOVE YOU GUYS.
WE LOVE YOU, TOO.
I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.
BYE, DARLINGS.
BYE. THANK YOU.
OH, THE PEOPLE BASILICATA,
THEY LOVE BABIES.
WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT
THE FAMILIES HERE,
THERE WAS AN OLD GRANDMOTHER,
ONE OF THE HOUSES WE WERE
REDOING TO PUT THE FAMILY IN,
AND SHE SAID,
"IT'LL BE SO LOVELY
TO HEAR CHILDREN
LAUGH AND SING AND PLAY.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT
FOR YEARS."
IT'S HARD TO TELL YOU WHAT
MY EMOTIONS ARE RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE EVERY BAD TIME
DURING THE 16 YEARS
HAS BEEN WORTH IT,
AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF HICCUPS
AND BAD TIMES,
BUT NOW WE HAVE THE BUILDINGS,
THE ACTUAL BUILDINGS,
SO IT'S VERY SPECIAL.
IT'S NOW MY HONOR
TO GIVE THE FLOOR
TO MS. BETTY WILLIAMS,
WHO IS THE 1976 NOBEL PEACE
LAUREATE
AND WORLD-ACCLAIMED ADVOCATE
FOR CHILDREN.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MADAM.
I MADE A PROMISE
ON THE STREETS OF BELFAST
TO THOSE CHILDREN
THAT I WOULD FIGHT
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE
THAT THEY DID NOT DIE
IN VAIN.
I WOULD GET INVITATIONS
TO GO ALL OVER THE WORLD--
ETHIOPIA,
CAMBODIA, AFGHANISTAN,
NICARAGUA, CHILE, ARGENTINA,
RUSSIA...
AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE
WHAT I WAS SEEING.
ONE OF MY JOURNEYS TOOK ME
TO BURMA.
I MET TWO BEAUTIFUL
LITTLE GIRLS.
I WAS HOLDING THEM
IN MY ARMS.
THEY WERE HOLDING ME
LIKE I WAS THEIR MOTHER.
THEIR STORY,
TWO LITTLE GIRLS,
HAD TO WATCH THEIR MOTHER
AND FATHER
DIG A GRAVE.
THEY HAD TO WATCH
WHEN SLORC SOLDIERS
BLEW THEM APART,
THEIR HEADS.
THEY THEN HAD TO FILL IN
THE GRAVE,
AND WERE TAKEN
BY THE SLORC SOLDIERS
TO CARRY THE WEAPONS.
FOR THE GIRLS,
IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE.
THEY WOULD TIE THEM TO TREES
AND SYSTEMATICALLY RAPE THEM.
WHEN I SAID
TO ONE OF THE CHILDREN,
"DO YOU REMEMBER ANY OF THE MEN
WHO DID THIS TO YOU?"
AND SHE SAID,
"ONLY THE FIRST ONE."
I GET VERY PASSIONATE
ABOUT MY WORK.
AND IF YOU WERE IN THE S--
LIKE I DO,
WHEN YOU SEE IT UP CLOSE
AND PERSONAL--
I TRIED TO WRITE
A SPEECH COMING HERE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY--
"GOD, I'M GONNA BE
AT THE UNITED NATIONS.
I SHOULD WRITE A SPEECH."
I COULDN'T WRITE IT
BECAUSE I KEPT CRYING.
I HAD TO BRING TO MIND
ALL THE THINGS
THAT I WITNESSED.
IT IS TIME TO ALLOW
THE CHILDREN A VOICE.
THIS IS THE UNIVERSAL
DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS
OF CHILDREN.
WE, THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD,
ASSERT OUR INALIENABLE RIGHT
TO BE HEARD AND TO HAVE
A POLITICAL VOICE
AT THE UNITED NATIONS
AND AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS
OF GOVERNMENTS WORLDWIDE.
WE, THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD,
MUST LIVE WITH JUSTICE,
WITH PEACE, AND FREEDOM.
BUT ABOVE ALL,
WITH THE DIGNITY WE DESERVE.
WE, THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD,
HAVE HAD NO POLITICAL VOICE.
WE DEMAND SUCH A VOICE.
AND, LASTLY,
WE, THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD,
SERVE NOTICE ON OUR ABUSERS
AND EXPLOITERS,
WHOEVER THEY MAY BE,
THAT FROM THIS DAY HENCE,
WE WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS
OF HOLDING YOU RESPONSIBLE
FOR OUR SUFFERING.
[WILLIAMS]
I'VE SEEN THE BEST
OF HUMANKIND,
BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN THE WORST.
FEAR IS VERY CONTAGIOUS.
IT CRIPPLED ME,
PERSONALLY CRIPPLED ME
FOR MANY YEARS,
AND I OFTEN WONDER
WHY I DID NOT SPEAK OUT SOONER.
WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE THAT
THOSE WEE BABIES HAD TO DIE?
WHY COULDN'T I HAVE DONE
THIS SOONER?
I BLAME MYSELF
FOR THAT IN A LOT OF WAYS
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW,
WHEN I LOOK BACK
ON THAT IN RETROSPECT,
IT TOOK THAT INCIDENT
TO BREAK MY FEAR
AND TO SAY,
"WE'RE CRIPPLED HERE
WITH THIS FEAR."
'CAUSE I KNOW--
'CAUSE I HAD IT.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST MY STORY.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN
WERE BETTY WILLIAMS.
ONCE YOU SEE COURAGE
WALKING, COURAGE ON LEGS,
IT'S JUST AMAZING.
TO BE HONEST,
I THINK COURAGE
IS MUCH MORE CONTAGIOUS
THAN FEAR
ONCE A PERSON GETS IT,
'CAUSE NONVIOLENCE
IS THE WEAPON OF THE STRONG.
[MUSIC PLAYING]