As one who is as neutral as can be imagined...neither Catholic OR Protestant, and only vaguely Irish, and having read stories about all this since about 1970 or so, I see plenty or blame to go around and plenty of narrow, bitter, self-centered views about cause and solutions....much as in the middle-east, the Balkans or Los Angeles.

But in the current context, I must agree totally with Jimmy C. The spark in these troubles was a march, planned and carried out knowing it would open old wounds and dare the hot-heads on the other side to "do something about it" so a claim could be made that "he started it"! The marches seem to me to be 5% celebration and 95% provocation, with no real goal except to assert their 'rights'.

I can just imagine the result if the Israelis, having withdrawn from occupying Gaza, now assert their 'right' to march thru it a couple of times a year. (and I don't care if you consider that an inaccurate comparison...it makes the point)