I heard a radio report today that this year's violent (rock throwing) response to the parades in the Ardoyne district of North Belfast included children down to 9 years old, and that social networking and cell phone photos seemed to be bringing in young people who were not local, just out for a lark. The local priest who was being interviewed and who had been on the street with others working to keep the peace also pleaded for some compromise and common sense -- some of the parade times and locations are more inflammatory than others and adjustments should be made.

The interviewer asked if kids were on their own, or brought by parents. Many were not -- he contacted parents he knew and most did not know what their kids were up to and promised to retrieve them. But he did see one adult with a 4-year-old in tow cheering on some young rock-throwers. He said it made him despair.

He also pointed out the the cost of the policing required could have paid for a school or a hospital...

Violence in Belfast on Public Radio International's "The World" (with reporting from PRI, BBC, and WGBH).

So sad to me that this mess lingers on...

~ Becky in Tucson