What I Learned About American Politics from Watching the Irish Peace Process

The achievement of the people of Northern Ireland in restoring peace to their country after decades of sectarian conflict is one of the most inspiring chapters of recent history. I was privileged to serve as America's Ambassador to Ireland during the critical time that gave birth to the peace process, and I saw up-close the immense struggle in the North to overcome bitter partisan divisions and finally achieve peace.

It's essential to understand the true lesson that the Irish peace process can teach us about the qualities that are necessary in our country's next leader -- the ability to bring people together around a larger vision, for the betterment of our whole country and our whole planet as well. One man more than any other embodied the persevering spirit and inspiring vision that led Northern Ireland out of its darkest night of the soul -- Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume. Emerson wrote that "if one man plants himself firmly upon his principles and there abides, the whole world will come round to him." John Hume did that. At many difficult moments, the tactics of wily opponents of any peace agreement appealed successfully to divisive interests and supporters of violence, but John helped us all cling to the vision of a better future.

He constantly reached out across the sectarian divide to Catholic and Protestant alike, and appealed to their stake in a common peace and the better angels of this nature. Even after the bombing at Canary Wharf in 1996, when the ceasefire seemed at an end, John lifted us all up. That night, at a gathering at my residence in Dublin, when men and women were stunned and in tears, John stepped to the center of the room and led us all in a song of hope.

What John Hume taught me was similar to what my brothers President Kennedy and Robert Kennedy taught me earlier -- that we need leaders who speak to our sense of hope, to the easily forgotten sense of fellowship that we all have with one another, and to our aspiration to live our lives in service to a worthy cause.

In one of his greatest speeches, John Hume offered this observation of America:

It is regrettable that the United States sees itself primarily as a military power and an economic power and not what it really is, a moral power.... It would be positive if the US were to remember the philosophy of its founding fathers. E Pluribus Unum--from many, we are one.... That is the message of real peace in the new world of the new century.

This year in the United States, the Democratic Party is blessed with two gifted candidates. As I assessed which candidate to support, I asked myself which of them embodies principles more than tactics and speaks the hopeful unifying message of John Hume.

Frequently in recent debates, Senator Clinton has told the story of the mother who was voting for her because she wanted her daughter to see a woman as president. As a woman, I found Senator Clinton's words appealing, but my experience in Ireland made me realize that first and foremost, we must choose a leader who appeals to what unites us, not what divides us. Race or gender should not be the basis for such a profound political choice.

I have also been troubled by the tactics and statements of some of Senator Clinton's supporters in appealing to divisive interests. And much has been made of Reverend Wright's controversial remarks. But Senator Obama, in contrast to divisive forces, has always spoken, as he did in his recent speech, of our common struggles as Americans. He presents a vision of an America "not riven by partisan divisions."

Some say this is a utopian dream that cannot be realized. But the Irish experience has taught me that if we don't believe, then we have nothing, and that what is possible is partly the result of what good leadership can inspire us to believe and try to do.

On my wall I have a poem by Nobel-Prize winning Irish poet, Seamus Heaney. It includes these enduring words:

History says, "Don't hope

On this side of the grave."

But then, once in a lifetime

The longed-for tidal wave

Of justice can rise up,

And hope and history rhyme.

I feel a deep sense of admiration for President Bill Clinton. I'm profoundly grateful for the opportunity he gave me to serve our country and for his own indispensable role in the peace process for Northern Ireland. But as I think back on my brothers' lives and John Hume's words and example, I know that my experience, my conscience, and my heart all point to Barack Obama, the messenger of hope, who speaks to the same principle of unity and the common good that John Hume and my brothers believed in. He offers the right moral vision for America in our dangerously divided but increasingly interconnected world.

Comments

[Yomper]

The Real IRA is still carrying on according to BBC etc.

[Bluedog12]

Thank God. I was afraid it was the fake IRA.

[PADDYWHACK]

I saw your brother Robert,deliver a speech calming the crowd in Indianapolis after MLK's assassination,when he quoted Aeschylus spontaneously.No one rioted in Indy,and he went on to die by violence.Another horrible loss for America and peace.I was born overseas and the Kennedys were like rock stars,America was a superpower loked on with genuine affection.Their wealth and cool made them even more remarkable.They spoke to foreign leaders as equals,and attracted crowds like the pope.I saw JFK when I was 13 and was almost trampled to death by the crowds.Now there are hostile riots whe W comes calling.You are to be commended on your contribution to the Irish peace process,Hume was critical to success but don't forget Trimble.

[SEQUOIABISON]

You are definitely the sister of John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Ted Kennedy, what a brave courageous woman you are and what an incredible analogy of Ireland and Hume, your brothers always quoted great poets and writers and it was certainly very moving and nostalgic to read your beautiful touching words and your sophisticated classy endorsement of Barack Obama.

[MSaldana]

I am sorry to hear about your endorsement of Senator Obama. Respectfully, he is, to me, anything BUT a uniter. You mention that we should be divided by neither race nor gender: absolutely!

But you fail to see the division engendered by the so-called "Candidate of Hope and Change." Mr. Obama engenders divisiveness based upon AGE. He has a thoroughly dismissive attitude regarding people my age (57) and our experiences. Categorizing our political experience as the "politics of the past," he essentially divides the baby boomers from their young counterparts.

Also, we are deeply concerned about the trance-like spewing of his supporters and their vitriol aimed squarely at Senator Clinton and her supporters. Such hatred belies their supposed "Politics ofHhope."

No, I believe that the only reasonable choice for 2008 is -- Hillary Rodham Clinton for President!

-MS

[nk007]

MSaldana:

I am much older than you and never at any time have I had Obama dismiss people on the basis of age. He is against the politics of the past that is built around identity politics rather than the common good. But as always Clinton supporters have to turn the appeal to the common good as a negative. But much more you are so hell bent on denigrating people who support Obama. I Does that includes Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith? Is her support part of "trance-like spewing...?"

[outnow]

Thank you for your kind thoughts. We can and should hope for the best. It is indeed a tragedy that America sees the entire world as its prey. When did we become so predatory as a people? Unbridled greed is everywhere in public life, especially in Washington. The neocolonial powers of the multinational corporations have usurped the rights of the People. Our constitution provides in the preamble that the purpose of our founding documents was to promote the general welfare. We now have an administration that wants to promote corporate welfare over that of the People because the corporations control much of the money for lobbyists and the fl,ow of campaign contributions to political parties.

The war in Iraq demonstrates that the media is under corporate control. The right of a free press is essential to a democracy. The "vetting process" ensures a continuity of the ruling elites and the profitability of their enterprises but now the welfare of the people of this country. My hope is that people are not so frightened as to vote for more wars based on misrepresentations.

[lynnn]

Did you watch the Senate hearins yesterday? I did and what you would have seen is one comittie (w/ McCain and Hillary) paracticing politics as they are now. The 2nd comittie (w/Obama) was politics as it once was and how it can be.

Please at the very least watch this video of the Republican Senator from Ohio, pound on the table and tell Crocker that we will/need to get out of Iraq.

I challenge you to watch both comitties and watch Lugar, Hagel, Voinovich and others express thier agreement w/ people like Feingold and Boxer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsJkHebt4fc&feature=user

[bobbym]

Thank You!
Well stated.

[mariemburns]

Hillary Clinton's claim that she helped bring peace to Northern Ireland has been largely discredited. Now, we hear from a woman who actually DID help bring peace to Northern Ireland, and she supports Barack Obama. Thank you, Ambassador Smith, for the work you and your husband and family have done to make this country 'a moral power,' as we all hope to become once again.

[outnow]

Hillary Clinton did none of the heavy lifting for the end of the conflict in Northern Ireland. When the British forces withdrew, a peace was brokered. The same thing could assist the Iraqis in a real quest for democracy. So long as the United States has forces and the sectarian strife continues, it is unlikely that peace and stability will return to that country. By arming all sides and paying money to those in the Great Awakening, the United States has reinforced those who use force. Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Alright together in Ohio is a picture that speaks a thousand words. Her choice of Richard Holbrooke is yet another indication of the policies that she would endorse.

[politicsnut]

Thank you Jean Kennedy Smith for your heart felt blog. You make it very clear, based on your own experience, which of the candidates is far superior than the other to make this country and the world a better place: Barack Obama.

[DoninJoisey]

Jean -
N Ireland peace? So you must be familiar with the crucial contribution Hillary made. - Sorry, had to do that.

I want a change from the divisive politics that paralyze my country. Hillary does well in "closed" primaries, where you must be registered as a democrat to vote in the democratic primary, but Obama does well where independents are allowed to vote in democratic primaries. She clearly has an edge in party politics (but with her praising McCain over Obama, I don't know why).

I have hope in the fact that there are more independents than either republicans or democrats.
The record numbers in primaries, particularly young voters, I believe is due to Obama.

Hillary and McCain represent the same-old politics. Say whatever to get elected, then do what you want.

[stellanoir]

This thread desperately needs a wombat

http://www.global-mindshift.org/memes/wombat.swf

Consider sharing it with all the kids. They get it totally.

Towards a better world to come.

[JasonEverettMiller]

Awesome! Thanks for the smile. Passed it along to my list. Too funny. Too true. Peace!

[AlphaDoc]

A lovely and thoughtful post, Ms. Kennedy Smith. Thank you.

[CBS]

Obama represents more than Hope. He is really the face of America. Multi-racial, Multi-cultural. Only he can bring the incredibly diverse communities in this country together. His opposition, both Hillary and McCain have very narrow visions of this country and neither is capable of meeting the challenges of the future. It is about much more than Health Care and Iraq. Just imagine how the world's image of America will be changed with President Obama.

[aliceblue]

Beautifully written, I especially appreciate the
remarks on John Hume:

[Hume] constantly reached out across the sectarian
divide to Catholic and Protestant alike, and
appealed to their stake in a common peace and
the better angels of this nature.

There are historical precedents that prove that
John Hume's values really work.

After Henry VIII split with Rome leaving England
on the brink of terrible civil war, Sir Nicholas Bacon
(like Obama, Sir Nicholas had the most appealing thing
in a man or woman, a CALM MIND), enstated a policy
of 'via media.'

The poet Ben Jonson writes that Sir Nicholas Bacon
was the greatest man of his generation.

The idea of 'via media' is Roman Catholic but the
Protestant minority knew of no other way to stabilize
England. Via media is not a utopian solution, it
requires decades, even generations, of . . . talking.
And reading.

Sir Nicholas had to initiate a national literary move-
ment to support his policies, it may be no coin-
cidence that scholars find that the Shakespeare
works are written 'via media,' a little bit Catholic,
a little bit Protestant.

I see this as essentially what Obama is doing,
creating a middle ground where a discourse on
the healing reform of America can begin to take
place.

This guy is no extremist.

[Countess]

This goes to the heart and soul of what really matters in this contest. On the one hand to put it kindly we have Hillary Clinton surrounding herself with people like Mark Penn and other such rodents and appealing to the worst instincts of people and on the other side we have Barack Obama putting forward positive ideas and appealing to our hearts and our intellects to make the world a better place.

[norinrad10]

Ok, this is a nice and moving piece, but to compare John Hume to Barry Obama? Please lay the two mens biographies side by side and then tell me the differences. Oh yea one led hunger strikes and worked on the peace process for twenty years and one was a state senator. One worked hard to bridge different groups and one talked about it. One actually put his life on the line everyday for twent plus years, the other made a campaign speech about how the war was a bad idea. Similarities? Well they are both men and charismatic.This is like comparing Hillary Clinton to Indira Ghandi. Absolutely ridiculous and insulting to John Hume