Thank you, Brendy. I know that I am largely illerate on the Irish issue, in spite of trying to keep up. Sometimes, keeping up just seems impossible, esp. when it seems impossible to "get" the religious issue. I know that drugs are pervsasive to any modern society, and I was curious about this particular statement. I know that the issues here are not Simple, but I can't help thinking that an island as small as Ireland really should have a United government, even if the people disagree about the damn religion.

It is difficult for me as a Far West American to REALLY understand the difference between Prod and Catholic. To us, the differences between C of E,(which I believe is mostly Prod in Ireland) and RC are so minute as to be almost non existent. Ask any "American" Episcopalian (i.e. C of E) just why they are different from RC's and most of them will not be able to answer.

There are SO many differences among the Proddies here in the States that it is hard for us to understand the basic difference between Prods and Catholics.

PLEASE PLEASE understand that I do not use "Prods" as a denigrating word, it it just easier to type than Protestants, which after all, did mean the Protesters in the first place.